Plug Or Wad Control Patents (Class 28/250)
  • Patent number: 9410269
    Abstract: A method and a device for crimping a multifilament thread are described. The thread is blown by means of a transport nozzle through a compressed air stream guided in a thread channel into a gas-permeable compression chamber. Inside the compression chamber, the thread is compressed to form a thread plug, which is then continuously removed through an outlet of the compression chamber. The compression and the removal of the thread plug are monitored by measuring the pressure of the compressed air stream. According to the invention, a plurality of pressures of the compressed air stream in the compression chamber are measured at a plurality of measurement points distributed over the length of the compression chamber for monitoring the thread plug formation in order to perform the compressing and cooling of the thread plug with a uniform filling of the compression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: OERLIKON TEXTILE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Mathias Stündl, Claus Matthies, Christian Hubert
  • Publication number: 20140317895
    Abstract: A method and a device for crimping a multifilament thread are described. The thread is blown by means of a transport nozzle through a compressed air stream guided in a thread channel into a gas-permeable compression chamber. Inside the compression chamber, the thread is compressed to form a thread plug, which is then continuously removed through an outlet of the compression chamber. The compression and the removal of the thread plug are monitored by measuring the pressure of the compressed air stream. According to the invention, a plurality of pressures of the compressed air stream in the compression chamber are measured at a plurality of measurement points distributed over the length of the compression chamber for monitoring the thread plug formation in order to perform the compressing and cooling of the thread plug with a uniform filling of the compression chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Oerlikon Textile GMBH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mathias Stündl, Claus Matthies, Christian Hubert
  • Publication number: 20140053381
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling and improving the consistency of yarn texture in a yarn system. The system and method are configured to monitor, improve and/or control the operating parameters of the yarn system. A plurality of sensors sense the operating conditions and send the sensed conditions to a processor. The processor and/or a user monitoring the system can make adjustments to the operating parameters in a parameter is outside of a predetermined tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Eric Beard Boetsch, Kevin Cowart, Mark Spangler, Larry Sims, Brent Brown, Nathan Smith, Chris Cooper
  • Patent number: 6770867
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibration of a scanned beam system are provided by sampling a calibration specimen containing an array of targets with a spacing between samples that is greater than the spacing between targets in the array and forming an image from the samples to reduce calibration specimen degradation and to magnify calibration errors to enable very fine calibration of the scanned beam system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Henri J. Lezec, Christian R. Musil
  • Patent number: 6305059
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for stuffer box crimping a spun multifilament yarn, wherein the yarn is packed in a crimping device to form a yarn plug. After cooling the yarn plug, it is unraveled into a yarn. In so doing, the position of the unraveling point is adjusted by varying the withdrawal speed of the yarn. At the same time when the withdrawal speed is varied, a signal is generated for controlling at least one of the parameters of the crimping device, which influences the formation of the yarn plug, so that it is possible to produce a uniformly crimped yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Barmag AG
    Inventor: Manfred Mayer
  • Patent number: 5737815
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a yarn take-up point stationary. A first sensor, such as an optical sensor, is positioned proximate a first location of a yarn travel path to output a first signal representative of the position of a yarn at the first location. A second sensor, such as another optical sensor, is positioned proximate a second location of the yarn travel path to output a second signal representative of the yarn at the second location. A controller controls a temperature of a fluid employed to heat the yarn. The controller receives the first signal and the second signal, which are analyzed to produce a heat control signal that is used to control the temperature of the fluid. The heated fluid is used to texturize the yarn, such that the yarn is tensioned and maintained so that a yarn take-up point is substantially stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Fiberco Inc.
    Inventor: Sanh Le
  • Patent number: 5351374
    Abstract: Threads made from thermoplastic materials are textured, in that they are heated by a delivery medium in a delivery channel and conveyed through an orifice into a stuffer box where they are stuffed to form a plug. In order to maintain plug formation constant, the orifice area is monitored in a sensory manner and the measured signals are used for monitoring purposes as a measured quantity in a control loop, in which the supply of damming back medium, the conveying away speed of the plug, the position of the stuffer box walls, or the supply of delivery medium are used as manipulated variables. The measuring signals produced by monitoring can be compared with thresholds to produce control signals corresponding to the comparison result for activating alarm, warning or stopping elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Inventors: Werner Nabulon, Jorg Maier, Peter Grossenbacher, Felix Graf, Armin Wirz
  • Patent number: 5339502
    Abstract: A textured yarn is directed through a path in which the textured yarn plug forms a loop in which the direction of the yarn plug is changed and the speed of the yarn plug is increased via a draw-off bobbin. The yarn plug within the loop is loosened and the resulting yarn is stretched to form a yarn which can be wound up. The deflection loop in which the yarn plug is loosened is stable depending upon an appropriate choice of speeds between the speed at which the plug is guided into the loop and the speed at which the yarn is drawn from the loop. The deflection loop need not be supported by any mechanical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventors: Peter Grossenbacher, Werner Nabulon
  • Patent number: 5020198
    Abstract: An improved stuffer box used for crimping textile fibers, particularly fibrillated polyolefin films. The width of the stuffer box is related to the linear density of the fiber bundles to be crimped whereby there is one millimeter of width for each fiber bunder size in the range of from about 200 to about 750 denier. Pressure controlled hinged lid or fixed lid exit orifices may be employed. Also employed may be a distributing device for applying additive material to the textile fibers prior to crimping to enhance the crimping operation or to enhance the end use of the crimped fiber or both. Fibrillated polyolefin materials that are crimped in accordance with the invention are adapted for use as filter materials in smoking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Filter Materials Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Hill, Walter A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4956901
    Abstract: A layered yarn package is formed of continuous filament yarn wads wherein the yarn alternates between compacted an extended lengths by axially compacting the yarn into a length, segmenting the length into alternating extended and compacted lengths then arranging the compacted lengths in a common axial direction one next to the other to form a layer. The layer may be compressed. One or more layers may form the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Joseph E. Koskol, Robert J. Santucci, Louis G. Rosanio, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4936001
    Abstract: A layered yarn package is formed of continuous filament yarn wads wherein the yarn alternates between compacted and extended lengths by axially compacting the yarn into a length, segmenting the length into alternating extended and compacted lengths then arranging the compacted lengths in a common axial direction one next to the other to form a layer. The layer may be compressed. One or more layers may form the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Inventors: Joseph E. Koskol, Robert J. Santucci, Louis G. Rosanio, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4908919
    Abstract: Yarn 1 fron an extruder is stretched by heated rollers (3,5) and passes to a texturizer unit 2 where it is plasticized and crimped, leaving in the form of a crimp plug along a stack (8). The yarn is heated in the unit (2) by air passing along a pipe (7) and heated by a base heating element (9) in conjunction with a booster element (11). The plug of crimped yarn (6) passes to the surface of a rotating cooling drum (4), around which it makes a number of turns before crimped yarn (1') is withdrawn from the leading end of the plug at (6'). The plug length is monitored by a sensor unit comprising a light source (16) which directs light through holes 10 in the drum onto a receiver unit (14) including three diodes A, B and C. When the plug end (6') is at the datum position, the diode A is covered, the diode (C) is uncovered and the plug end flutters backwards and forwards over the diode (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: James Mackie & Sons Limited
    Inventor: Albert Irvine
  • Patent number: 4866822
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for crimping yarn wherein the yarn is introduced to the crimping chamber by means of an injector supplied with steam under constant pressure. The position of the wad in the crimping chamber is controlled by the position of discharge regulation means in response to the fluid pressure above the wad to maintain a space above the wad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Vincent W. Keedy, Jr., Elwood A. Roth
  • Patent number: 4707896
    Abstract: A gate/loading arrangement which balances applied gate force betweem the edges of tow being crimped in a stuffer box crimper. A single hinged gate has been replaced with two or three equal sized gates and force is applied to the gates from an air cylinder through a pivotal linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Lyles H. Sowell
  • Patent number: 4608736
    Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a bulky textured yarn from a thermoplastic multifilament yarn by applying a pressurized heated fluid in a condition of automatically controlling the operating characters of the texturing operation. During the steady operational condition of manufacturing the bulky textured yarn, the yarn tension is continuously detected in a drafting zone between a texturing device and a winding device, and the operating characteristics, such as surface temperature of the heating roller and, temperature of the pressurized heated fluid supplied to the texturing device which affect the shrinkage of the processing yarn passing through the texturing device are automatically adjusted so as to control the yarn tension in the drafting zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Koji Tajiri, Toshiharu Arimatu
  • Patent number: 4547934
    Abstract: Process and apparatus are provided for the preparation of crimped staple fibers. By automatically adjusting the pressure on the stuffer crimper box discharge means as a function of staple cutter speed, a crimped staple product with uniform fiber-to-fiber cohesion level is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Ford
  • Patent number: 4462143
    Abstract: A method is described for monitoring and controlling the texture level of a yarn produced in a moving cavity texturing apparatus. The texture level of the yarn is controlled by monitoring fluid pressure in the cavity. The pressure is used as a feedback signal for control of the texture level of the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Hendrikus J. Oswald, Hsin L. Li, Russell H. Butler
  • Patent number: 4408377
    Abstract: A process for stuffer box crimping of a yarn of synthetic thermoplastic filaments wherein the discharge resistance on the yarn plug formed in the stuffing chamber is increased or reduced in response to a continuously measured value of advancing pressure of the yarn plug within the stuffing chamber, preferably in response to the frictional force between the yarn plug and an axially movable inner wall surface of the stuffing chamber. Suitable measuring and control means may be provided to increase or decrease the discharge resistance in response to the difference between the measured value of the advancing pressure and a predetermined constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik AG
    Inventor: Heinz Schippers
  • Patent number: 4404718
    Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a bulky textured yarn from a thermoplastic multifilament yarn by applying a pressurized heated fluid in a condition of automatically controlling the operating parameters of the texturing operation. During the steady operational condition of manufacturing the bulky textured yarn, the yarn tension is continuously detected in a drafting zone between a texturing device and a winding device, and the operating characteristics, such as surface temperature of the heating roller and, temperature of the pressurized heated fluid supplied to the texturing device, which affect the shrinkage of the processing yarn passing through the texturing device, are automatically adjusted so as to control the yarn tension in the drafting zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Koji Tajiri, Toshiharu Arimatu
  • Patent number: 4399597
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing texturized multifilament yarn or the like which includes a control arrangement for controlling the length of a yarn plug in a bulking chamber and accumulating tube so that the processed yarn can be removed at a constant speed by a yarn take-up unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Akzona, Incorporated
    Inventor: Horace B. Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4337557
    Abstract: Thermoplastic yarn is texturized by the known method of forwarding it in a heated condition to a crimping zone at the entrance of a stuffer chamber (7) so as to form a plug (8) of crimped yarn within the chamber and withdrawing the yarn from the other end of the plug at a speed which is related to the input speed. The improvement comprises deriving signals from the speed of the yarn plug (8) in the stuffer chamber (7) by means of a sensing wheel (11) which drives a gapped monitoring disc (13). The disc (13) operates to intercept a beam of light from a source (14) which is directed on to a photo-sensor (15). The output of the photo-sensor is supplied to an electrical controller (36) which measures the time during which light is received for each gap in the disc (13) to provide a measure of the speed of the yarn plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: James Mackie & Sons Limited
    Inventors: William J. McDonald, Brian Robinson
  • Patent number: 4306450
    Abstract: The apparatus permits establishment of measuring values, yielding measuring values being representative of the material cross-section area solely of fiber slivers. A through-put duct converging, as seen, in the direction of transport of the fiber sliver is used into which two pressure measuring ducts merge at two measuring points at which the duct diameter is different. The two measuring ducts transmit measuring signals which are further processed in a division circuit means, which yields an output signal. The output signal is used for fiber sliver control or measuring purposes on machines processing fiber slivers or on spinning machines processing such fiber slivers further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Rieter Machine Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Moser
  • Patent number: 4302968
    Abstract: The method is used for producing measuring values depending on the linear density of a fiber sliver transported through a measuring funnel. A measuring signal transmitted from the measuring funnel is transformed into a proportional electric voltage signal and is continually integrated. The apparatus comprises a measuring funnel connected pneumatically with a pneumatic/electric transducer which transmits a signal to an integration circuit means. A control logic which cooperates with a gear of the transmission of the spinning preparatory machine is connected with the integrating circuit means via a proximity initiator which transmits an impulse to the control logic at each passage of a tooth. The integrating circuit means supplies measuring values suitable as a control signal for spinning preparatory machines, which signal is independent of the speed of the fiber sliver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Rieter Machine Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Moser
  • Patent number: 4270252
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed to count and control crimps in a moving tow of yarn. The apparatus comprises a target (the tow of yarn), a stroboscopic light, condenser lens, mirror, transparent support for the target, focusing lens, diode array to sense variations in light intensity from the striations in the target, electronic board circuit with terminal board, programmable calculator, and read-out means, such as a light emitting diode display. When used to control the crimping apparatus it also comprises a controller, exit control gate of the crimper and means to exert pressure on the exit control gate. The method for use of this apparatus is to cause an intense light pulse to issue from the stroboscopic light, passing the pulse of light through the condenser lens against the mirror through the transparent support to reflect from the striations in the yarn tow back through the focusing lens into the diode array which counts the variations in light intensity caused by the striations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Harrison, Walter E. Watson, III, Maurice S. Moore, Roger E. Jermyn
  • Patent number: 4162564
    Abstract: Textile strands are bulked or crimped by lengthwise compression, accompanied by flow of propellant fluid, into a foraminous region in which the strand is confined laterally but the fluid may escape except where the strand is compressed into a compact mass. Lateral escape of the propellant fluid is utilized to control an operating condition, such as temperature of strand input into and/or speed of removal of strand from the chamber, for improved uniformity of bulking or crimping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Inventor: Robert K. Stanley
  • Patent number: 4135511
    Abstract: The temperature of a heating fluid used in a yarn crimping zone is controlled in response to whether a yarn plug is detected at a predetermined point, and in another embodiment a fluid is heated, passed to a yarn heating zone and a yarn is heated in the zone in response to whether the yarn is being wound in a yarn winding zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Ronnie D. Nikkel
  • Patent number: 4122588
    Abstract: A straightened, textured yarn is produced employing an apparatus comprising a crimping means, an entangling means and a heating and tensioning means which heats and applies tension to the crimped and entangled yarn prior to packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: David E. Borenstein, Richard C. Newton
  • Patent number: RE31783
    Abstract: A continuous synthetic filament yarn is processed by crimping, entangling, and straightening the yarn. The yarn is straightened by heating under tension, resulting in a yarn that can be used in its straightened form and later bulked by a subsequent process such as dyeing, boiling, heating, etc. The length of a yarn plug formed by crimping is controlled by controlling the temperature of the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: David E. Borenstein, Richard C. Newton