Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
Method and apparatus for producing a yarn
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a yarn.
Methods and apparatuses for producing yarns are known in principle from the
prior
art in a wide variety of different embodiments.
A known method of producing a yarn formed by spinning at least two individual
fibers,
implemented e.g. as a ring spinning method, comprises the following steps:
providing
at least two individual fibers to be spun to form the yarn to be produced,
feeding the
at least two provided fibers to a spinning device comprising at least one
spindle
element via a guide device comprising a plurality of, in particular cylinder-
like or
cylindrical, guide elements, and spinning the fed fibers in the spinning
device, forming
the yarn to be produced.
Corresponding methods of producing a yarn are well understood with respect to
the
influencing of the properties of the yarns that can be produced thereby, but
nevertheless there is a constant need to develop methods that allow the
production
of yarns with improved properties. In particular, there is a need to develop
methods
by means of which yarns can be produced having improved properties with
respect to
the formation of so-called neps (knops, burls), i.e. yarns with a lower
tendency to
form neps, or yarns with low hairiness.
The present invention is based on the object of providing an improved method
of
producing a yarn, in particular with respect to producing a yarn with improved
properties.
The object is achieved by a method as described herein.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-08-30
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The method described herein generally serves to produce at least one yarn.
Naturally, a plurality of yarns can also be produced by the method in a
corresponding
manner.
The method comprises three essential steps, which are explained in more detail
below. In a first step of the method, at least two individual fibers are
provided, which
are to be spun together to form the yarn to be produced. The fibers can be
e.g. staple
fibers. The fibers can also be referred to or considered as a roving or pre-
yarn. When
a "fiber" is mentioned herein, this can therefore also be understood to mean a
roving
or pre-yarn. The fibers can in each case be provided via a fiber supply unit,
such as
e.g. a fiber bobbin, from which a fiber to be spun into a yarn within the
framework of
the method is unwound. The number of fiber supply units is typically
determined
according to the number of fibers to be spun into a yarn according to the
method.
In a second step of the method, the at least two provided fibers are fed to a
spinning
device comprising at least one spindle element or bobbin element via a guide
device
comprising a plurality of guide elements. In the second step of the method,
the fibers
to be spun into the yarn are thus fed to a spinning device via a guide device.
The
guide device typically comprises a plurality of guide elements. The guide
elements
are typically arranged consecutively in the fiber guiding direction, such that
a fiber to
be guided can be guided from a first guide element to a further guide element
arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction. A first guide
element of
the guide device in the fiber guiding direction is arranged immediately
downstream of
the respective fiber supply units in the fiber guiding direction; a last guide
element in
the fiber guiding direction is arranged immediately upstream of the spinning
device in
the fiber guiding direction. Between guide elements that are arranged one
(immediately) after the other in the fiber guiding direction, although
separated in the
fiber guiding direction, suitable e.g. plate-like or plate-shaped support
elements can
be provided, which perform a desired supporting action for the fibers to be
guided.
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Appropriate support elements can also be arranged e.g. between the first guide
element and the fiber supply units.
Respective guide elements typically have a cylinder-like or cylindrical
geometric form
or basic shape; the guide elements can therefore be referred to or considered
as
guide rollers or rolls or cylinders. Respective cylinder-like or cylindrical
guide
elements are typically mounted rotatably around their axis of symmetry or
central
axis, such that a guided movement of the fibers to be guided in the direction
of the
spinning device can be enabled by rotating movements of the guide elements
around
their respective axis of symmetry or central axis.
Individual, a plurality of or all the guide elements can be provided with a
particular
adhesive area or surface, achieved e.g. by rubber coating, which allows a
desired
guiding of the fibers owing to an adhesive effect exerted on the fibers, i.e.
in
particular impedes or prevents an undesirable lateral slipping of the fibers
in terms of
the fiber guiding direction.
In a third step of the method, a spinning of the fibers fed to the spinning
device takes
place in the spinning device, forming the yarn to be produced. The spinning of
the
fibers to form the yarn to be produced typically takes place in a spinning
region
following the last guide element. The spinning device comprises at least one
spindle
element or bobbin element, on to which the fibers that have been spun together
or
the yarn formed by spinning the fibers is/are wound. A spindle element or
bobbin
element can be a bobbin or cop. The number of spindle elements or bobbin
elements
or the number of spinning regions resulting therefrom is determined in
accordance
with the number of yarns to be produced.
According to the method, in contrast to conventional methods rthe at least two
fibers
to be spun into a yarn are fed to the spinning device not via one (common)
guide
element but via at least two separate, in particular cylinder-like or
cylindrical, guide
elements that are arranged such that they are spatially separated from each
other in
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at least one spatial direction. In other words, a first fiber to be spun to
form the yarn
to be produced is fed to the spinning device via a first guide element and a
second
fiber to be spun with the first fiber to form the yarn to be produced is fed
to the
spinning device via a second guide element which is arranged such that it is
separated from the first guide element in at least one spatial direction.
Within the framework of the method, therefore, a guide device is used which
comprises at least two separate, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical,
guide
elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in at
least
one spatial direction immediately upstream of the spinning device. The guide
device
used within the framework of the method thus comprises at least two last guide
elements; as will be seen below, these guide elements are typically arranged
at the
same level in relation to the spinning device, i.e. at the same distance from
the
spinning device, but laterally offset from each other. It can be seen from the
above
statements that the at least two fibers are fed to the spinning device via the
at least
two separate guide elements, arranged such that they are separated from each
other
in at least one spatial direction, immediately before being brought together
at the fiber
merging point. By means of feeding the fibers to be spun into a yarn via at
least two
separate guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from
each
other in at least one spatial direction, it is possible to influence, i.e. in
particular to
increase, the free length of the fibers to be spun into a yarn between leaving
the
guide device and a fiber merging point at which the fibers are brought
together, which
has a positive impact on the properties of the yarn that is to be or has been
produced. The increase in the free length of the fibers is due to the fact
that the fiber
merging point, at which the fibers are brought together, is comparatively
significantly
further away from the last guide elements and thus significantly closer to the
spinning
device when the fibers are fed via separate guide elements.
A corresponding fiber merging point typically represents part of a so-called
spinning
triangle. The fiber merging point in this case typically forms an apex of the
spinning
triangle facing the spinning device. The shape of the spinning triangle can
therefore
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also be modified according to the method compared to conventional methods,
since
the spinning triangle is "stretched" in the fiber guiding direction owing to
the
aforementioned increase in the free length of the fibers forming the sides of
the
spinning triangle.
The method is based on the finding that, by means of influencing, i.e. in
particular
increasing, the free length of the fibers to be spun into a yarn between
leaving the
guide device, i.e. the respective last guide element (from the point of view
of the
fiber), and the fiber merging point at which the fibers are brought together,
certain, in
particular mechanical, properties of the yarn that is to be or has been
produced can
be obtained. This results in particular from the fact that the free length of
the fibers to
be spun into the yarn is increased (significantly) before the fiber merging
point
compared to conventional methods. The (individual) fibers can already be
twisted
(considerably) before the fiber merging point, which has a positive effect on
the
properties of the yarn that is to be or has been produced. With the aid of
studies, it
has been shown that in particular the formation of so-called neps (knops,
burls) can
be reduced in this way; the yarns produced according to the method accordingly
display a (significantly) lower tendency to form neps and (significantly)
lower
hairiness. Accordingly, yarns with improved properties can be produced by the
method.
The free length of a respective fiber between the guide device and the merging
point
can be in a range of e.g. between 4 and 20 cm, in particular in a range of
between
7.5 and 15 cm and preferably 10 cm. In particular, from fiber lengths of at
least 4 cm,
in particular at least 6 cm, particularly advantageous fiber properties can be
obtained.
In principle, however, upper and lower exceptions to these figures are
possible.
According to the method, in particular a spinning device is used of which the
spindle
element or bobbin element is arranged in alignment with a space formed between
the
guide elements by the spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements
assigned thereto in the fiber guiding direction. The spindle element or bobbin
element
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is accordingly arranged with a lateral offset relative to the guide elements
assigned
thereto in relation to the fiber guiding direction; in particular the spindle
element or
bobbin element, although separated from the guide elements in the fiber
guiding
direction, is arranged centrally between the guide elements assigned thereto.
The
same applies to the spinning of a plurality of yarns each composed of at least
two
fibers. In this case the respective spindle elements or bobbin elements are
each
arranged in alignment with a space formed between the guide elements
respectively
assigned thereto by the spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements
respectively assigned thereto in the fiber guiding direction.
As has been mentioned, the guide elements are typically arranged at the same
level
in relation to the spinning device, but laterally offset from each other.
Within the
framework of the method, therefore, in particular at least two guide elements
arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial
direction
or plane running transversely, optionally also at an angle, to the fiber
guiding
direction are used. Where guide elements each having a cylinder-like or
cylindrical
basic shape are used, these are typically arranged coaxially and such that
they are
spatially separated from each other in the direction of their respective
central axes.
Two guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each
other
in a spatial direction or plane running transversely or at an angle to the
fiber guiding
direction can be referred to or considered as a guide element pair assigned to
a
specific spindle element or bobbin element, via which the fibers forming the
yarn to
be wound on the respective spindle element or bobbin element are fed.
The free length between respective points at which the respective fibers leave
the
respective guide element in the direction of the or a merging point can be in
a range
of e.g. between 4 and 10 cm, in particular between 5 and 9 cm and preferably
at least
approx. 6 cm. In principle, however, upper and lower exceptions to these
figures are
possible.
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Besides the described use of an arrangement of guide elements such that they
are
spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction or plane running
transversely or at an angle to the fiber guiding direction, it is
alternatively or in
addition also possible, at least in principle, that at least two guide
elements arranged
such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction
running
parallel to the fiber guiding direction or plane are used. At least in
principle, therefore,
guide elements arranged such that they are offset in the fiber guiding
direction can
also be used.
As has been mentioned, the fibers are brought together at a fiber merging
point. The
fiber merging point, as likewise mentioned, typically forms an apex of a
spinning
triangle facing the spinning device. The angle of the spinning triangle in the
region of
the apex facing the spinning device is typically in a range of between 0 and
900 or 1
and 90'; in particular the angle is less than 90 , in particular less than 45
and in
particular less than 30 . The angle between the at least two fibers after
leaving the
respective guide elements is thus typically in a range of between 0 and 90 or
1 and
90'; in particular the angle is less than 90 , in particular less than 45 and
in
particular less than 30 . Accordingly, the angle is typically an acute angle.
Within the framework of the method it is also possible that at least three
fibers are
spun together to form the yarn. The at least three fibers are typically
brought together
at the fiber merging point. Yarns can therefore be produced from more than two
fibers (multi-fiber yarns).
The spinning of at least three fibers to form a yarn according to the method
can be
carried out such that at least two fibers are fed to the spinning device
jointly via a first
guide element and at least one further fiber is fed via a further guide
element
arranged such that it is spatially separated from the first guide element in
at least one
spatial direction or plane. At least two fibers can thus be fed via a first
guide element
and at least one further fiber via a further guide element. In this context,
even or
uneven divisions of fibers over a given number of guide elements are possible,
such
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that in the case of an exemplary feeding of four fibers and an exemplary
number of
two guide elements, two fibers are fed via a first guide element and two
fibers via a
second guide element or three fibers are fed via a first guide element and one
fiber is
fed via a second guide element.
Alternatively, the spinning of at least three fibers to form a yarn according
to the
method can be achieved such that the at least three fibers are fed to the
spinning
device via three separate guide elements arranged such that they are separated
from
each other in at least one spatial direction or plane, wherein at least one
first fiber is
fed via a first guide element, at least one second fiber is fed via a second
guide
element arranged such that it is spatially separated from the first guide
element in at
least one spatial direction or plane, and at least one third fiber is fed via
a third guide
element arranged such that it is spatially separated from the second guide
element in
at least one spatial direction or plane. Thus, each fiber can also be fed via
a separate
guide element.
Within the framework of the method it is also possible that at least two
fibers and at
least one filament ¨ which can be a single or multi-filament ¨ are spun
together to
form the yarn. The at least two fibers and the at least one filament are
typically
brought together at the fiber merging point. Yarns can therefore be produced
from at
least two fibers and at least one filament. An appropriate filament can be a
continuous filament. An appropriate filament can be made of or can comprise an
elastic filament material; a filament can be e.g. a filament of elastane
(sometimes
referred to commercially as Lycra), polyamide, polyester or polypropylene.
The spinning of at least two fibers and at least one filament according to the
method
can be carried out such that at least two fibers are fed to the spinning
device via two
separate guide elements arranged such that they are separated from each other
in at
least one spatial direction or plane, and the at least one filament is fed
from a
(separate), in particular spool-like or spool-shaped, filament storage unit,
such as e.g.
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a filament bobbin, or via a third guide element which is separate from the two
separate guide elements.
Naturally it is possible that the at least two fibers are fed to the spinning
device with a
pre-tension produced by a drafting, in particular a longitudinal drafting, of
the fibers.
The same applies to fed filaments. In particular, it is possible in this case
to
implement different drafting regions or zones, i.e. for example a pre-drafting
zone and
a main drafting zone, in which the fibers and/or filaments are subjected to
different
degrees of drafting.
Within the framework of the method, fibers with identical and non-identical
chemical
and/or geometric and/or physical, in particular mechanical, properties can be
spun
together to form the yarn. The fibers spun according to the method, where they
are
not identical, can therefore differ in at least one chemical property, i.e. in
particular in
at least one property relating to the chemical properties of the fiber, such
as e.g. the
chemical composition, and/or in at least one geometric property, i.e. in
particular in at
least one property relating to the geometry of the fiber, such as e.g. the
fiber
diameter, and/or in at least one physical, in particular mechanical, property,
i.e. in
particular in at least one property relating to the physical, in particular
mechanical,
properties of the fiber, such as e.g. fiber strength.
At this point, the general comment should be made that in principle, within
the
framework of the method, all the natural fibers, i.e. for example alpaca
fibers, cotton
fibers, cashmere fibers, mohair fibers, silk fibers, linen fibers, wool
fibers, in particular
new wool fibers, and/or artificial (synthetic) fibers, i.e. for example
plastic fibers, in
particular polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, viscose
fibers, can
be spun together to form the yarn to be produced. In particular, blends of
natural and
artificial fibers are also possible. The fibers can be continuous or staple
fibers,
depending on availability.
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An (individual) fiber can also be made of or comprise at least two chemically
and/or
geometrically and/or physically different fiber materials. An appropriate
fiber,
accordingly also to be referred to as a blended fiber (blended roving), can
accordingly
be made e.g. of a first fiber material (roving material) and at least one
further fiber
5 material (roving material). A first fiber material can be e.g. a natural
fiber material,
such as e.g. wool, and a further fiber material can be e.g. an artificial
(synthetic) fiber
material, such as e.g. polyamide, polyester or polypropylene. The fibers can,
as
mentioned, be continuous or staple fibers, depending on availability.
10 Besides the method, the invention also relates to a yarn that is or has
been produced
by the described method, and to a textile product that is formed using a yarn
produced by the described method or comprises at least one such yarn. The
textile
product can be a semi-finished product (precursor) or a finished product (end
product).
The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for producing a yarn formed
by
spinning at least two individual fibers, in particular by a method as
described. All the
statements made in connection with the method therefore apply mutatis mutandis
to
the apparatus.
The apparatus comprises as essential components a guide device comprising a
plurality of, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical, guide elements,
which is
configured to guide a number of fibers to a spinning device arranged
downstream
thereof in the fiber guiding direction, and a spinning device arranged
downstream of
the guide device in the fiber guiding direction comprising at least one
spindle element
or bobbin element mounted rotatably around a spindle or bobbin axis, which is
configured to spin together at least two of these fibers fed via the guide
device,
forming a yarn.
The apparatus is distinguished by the fact that the guide device comprises at
least
two separate, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical, guide elements
arranged such
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that they are spatially separated from each other in at least one spatial
direction or
plane, via which the at least two fibers can be fed or are fed to the spinning
device.
The guide device thus comprises at least two separate, in particular cylinder-
like or
cylindrical, guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated
from each
other in at least one spatial direction or plane. The guide device therefore
comprises
at least two last guide elements, which are typically arranged at the same
level in
relation to the spinning device but laterally offset from each other.
The apparatus can be formed as or can comprise e.g. a ring spinning machine or
apparatus.
The spindle element or bobbin element of the spinning device is in particular
arranged in alignment with a space formed between the guide elements by the
spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements assigned thereto in the
fiber
guiding direction. A respective spindle element or bobbin element of the
spinning
device is accordingly arranged with a lateral offset relative to the guide
elements
assigned thereto in relation to the fiber guiding direction; in particular,
the spindle
element or bobbin element, although separated from the guide elements in the
fiber
guiding direction, is arranged centrally between the guide elements assigned
thereto.
The same applies to spinning a plurality of yarns from at least two fibers
each. In this
case the respective spindle elements or bobbin elements are each arranged in
alignment with a space formed between the guide elements respectively assigned
thereto by the spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements
respectively
assigned thereto in the fiber guiding direction.
In this way, it is possible to increase the free length of the fibers to be
spun into a
yarn between leaving the guide device and a fiber merging point at which the
fibers
are brought together, as already mentioned in association with the method,
which
has a positive impact on the properties of the yarn that is to be or has been
produced. Accordingly, yarns with improved properties can be produced using
the
apparatus.
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As mentioned, the guide elements are in particular arranged at the same level
in
relation to the spinning device, but laterally offset from each other. The
apparatus
therefore comprises in particular at least two guide elements arranged such
that they
are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction or plane
running
transversely, optionally also at an angle, to the fiber guiding direction.
Where the
apparatus comprises guide elements having a cylinder-like or cylindrical basic
shape
in each case, these are typically arranged coaxially and such that they are
spatially
separated from each other in the direction of their respective central axes.
Two guide
elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a
spatial
direction or plane running transversely or at an angle to the fiber guiding
direction can
be referred to or considered as a guide element pair assigned to a specific
spindle
element or bobbin element, via which the fibers forming the yarn to be wound
on the
respective spindle element or bobbin element can be fed.
Alternatively or in addition, at least in principle, it is also possible that
the apparatus
comprises at least two guide elements arranged such that they are spatially
separated from each other in a spatial direction running parallel to the fiber
guiding
direction or plane. At least in principle, therefore, the apparatus [can] also
comprise
guide elements arranged such that they are offset in the fiber guiding
direction.
The apparatus can comprise a drafting device, which is configured for the
drafting, in
particular longitudinal drafting, of the fibers fed to the spinning device.
The drafting
device can be functionally and/or structurally integrated in the guide device.
By way
of the drafting device, different drafting regions or zones, i.e. for example
a pre-
drafting zone and a main drafting zone, can be implemented, in which the
fibers are
drafted to different degrees.
The invention is explained in more detail with the aid of exemplary
embodiments in
the drawings. The figures show the following:
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Figs. 1, 2: schematic diagrams of an apparatus for producing a yarn
according to
an exemplary embodiment,
Fig. 3: an enlarged view of the detail Ill shown in Fig. 1, and
Fig. 4: an enlarged view of the detail IV shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus 1 for producing a yarn 3
formed
by spinning at least two individual fibers 2a, 2b according to an exemplary
embodiment. Fig. 1 represents a schematic top view of the apparatus 1. Fig. 3
shows
an enlarged view of the detail Ill shown in Fig. 1.
The apparatus 1 formed as or comprising e.g. a ring spinning machine comprises
the
following components: at least two fiber supply units 4a, 4b, a guide device 5
arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction indicated by the
arrow P
and a spinning device 6 arranged downstream of the guide device 5 in the fiber
guiding direction. The functional interaction of the aforesaid components of
the
apparatus 1 will be explained in more detail below:
By way of the fiber supply units 4a, 4b, which can be e.g. fiber bobbins, from
which
the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun into a yarn 3 within the framework of the method
are
unwound, the individual fibers 2a, 2b to be spun together to form the yarn 3
to be
produced are provided. The fibers 2a, 2b can also be referred to or considered
as a
roving or pre-yarn. In the exemplary embodiment, purely by way of example,
only two
fiber supply units 4a, 4b are shown; however, the principle described below
can be
extended at will to more than two fiber supply units 4a, 4b and thus more than
two
fibers 2a, 2b. The number of the fiber supply units 4a, 4b is determined
according to
the number of the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun into a yarn 3 according to the
method.
The guide device 5 is configured to guide the provided fibers 2a, 2b to the
spinning
device 6 which is arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction.
For this
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purpose the guide device 5 comprises a plurality of ¨ five by way of example
in each
of the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures ¨ guide elements 5a ¨ 5e
arranged consecutively in the fiber guiding direction, such that the fibers
2a, 2b to be
guided can be guided from a first guide element 5a to the further guide
elements 5b -
5e arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction. The first guide
element
5a in the fiber guiding direction is arranged immediately downstream of the
respective fiber supply units 4a, 4b in the fiber guiding direction, and the
last guide
elements 5d, 5e in the fiber guiding direction are arranged immediately
upstream of
the spinning device 6 in the fiber guiding direction. Between guide elements
5a ¨ 5e
arranged one (immediately) after the other in the fiber guiding direction,
although
separated in the fiber guiding direction, suitable, e.g. plate-like or plate-
shaped,
support elements 7 can be provided, which perform a desired supporting action
for
the fibers 2a, 2b to be guided. In the exemplary embodiments shown in the
figures,
an appropriate support element 7 is arranged by way of example between the
first
guide element 5a and the fiber supply units 4a, 4b.
The guide elements 5a ¨ 5e each have a cylinder-like or cylindrical geometric
form or
basic shape; the guide elements 5a ¨ 5e can thus be referred to or considered
as
guide rollers or rolls or cylinders. The guide elements 5a ¨ 5e are each
mounted
rotatably around their axis of symmetry or central axis, such that a guided
movement
of the fibers 2a, 2b to be guided towards the spinning device ,6 can be
enabled by
rotating movements of the guide elements 5a ¨ 5e around their respective axis
of
symmetry or central axis.
Individual, a plurality of or all the guide elements 5a ¨ 5e can be provided
with a
particular adhesive area or surface (not shown), achieved e.g. by a rubber
coating,
which allows a desired guiding of the fibers 2a, 2b owing to an adhesive
effect
exerted on the fibers 2a, 2b, i.e. in particular impeding or preventing an
undesirable
lateral slipping of the fibers 2a, 2b in terms of the fiber guiding direction.
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In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 3, furthermore ¨ the same
applies to
the exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 2, 4 ¨ (optional) drafting elements
(condensers) 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of an unspecified drafting device are illustrated.
The
fibers 2a, 2b can therefore be fed to the spinning device 6 with a pre-tension
generated by a drafting, in particular longitudinal drafting, of the fibers
2a, 2b. In this
case, it is possible to implement different drafting regions or zones by means
of
different drafting elements 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, i.e. for example a pre-drafting
zone and a
main drafting zone, in which the fibers 2a, 2b are drafted to different
degrees. The
drafting elements 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b can be drafting elements that have been
structurally
modified especially for the method described herein, which allow a guiding or
drafting
of the fibers 2a, 2b as required for the method described herein.
The spinning device 6 is configured to spin together the fibers 2a, 2b fed
thereto via
the guide device 5, forming a yarn 3. For this purpose, the spinning device 6
comprises a spindle element or bobbin element 10 mounted rotatably around a
spindle or bobbin axis (not shown), on which the yarn 3 can be wound. A thread
guide or monitor 16 is provided upstream of the spindle element or bobbin
element
10 in the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures.
As can be seen with the aid of the figures, the apparatus 1 is distinguished
by the fact
that the guide device 5 comprises at least two separate guide elements 5d, 5e
arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in at least
one spatial
direction, via which the fibers 2a, 2b can be fed or are fed to the spinning
device 6. It
can be seen that the guide elements 5d, 5e are the last guide elements 5d, 5e
before
the spinning device 6 in the fiber guiding direction. The guide elements 5d,
5e are
arranged at the same level in relation to the spinning device 6, but laterally
offset
from each other (see in particular Fig. 3).
Using the apparatus 1 shown in the figures, a method of producing a yarn 3
having
improved yarn properties formed by spinning two fibers 2a, 2b can be
implemented.
An exemplary embodiment of such a method is described in more detail below.
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In a first step of the method, the individual fibers 2a, 2b to be spun
together to form
the yarn 3 to be produced are provided via the fiber supply units 4a, 4b.
In a second step of the method the provided fibers 2a, 2b are fed to the
spinning
device 6 via the guide device 5.
In a third step of the method the fibers 2a, 2b fed to the spinning device 6
are spun in
the spinning device 6, forming the yarn 3 to be produced. The spinning of the
fibers
2a, 2b takes place in a spinning region 11 following the last guide elements
5d, 5e.
The produced yarn 3 is wound on to the spindle element or bobbin element 10.
With the aid of the figures, it can be seen that according to the method the
fibers 2a,
2b to be spun into a yarn 3 are fed to the spinning device 6 via two separate
guide
elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each
other in a
spatial direction. The figures show that a first fiber 2a to be spun to form
the yarn 3 is
fed to the spinning device 6 via a first guide element 5d and a second fiber
2b to be
spun with the first fiber 2b to form the yarn 3 is fed to the spinning device
6 via a
second guide element 5e arranged such that it is separated from the first
guide
element 5d.
Within the framework of the method, accordingly, a guide device 5 is used
which
comprises at least two separate guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they
are
spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction immediately before
the
spinning device 6. The guide elements 5d, 5e are, as mentioned, arranged at
the
same level in relation to the spinning device 6, i.e. at the same distance
from the
spinning device 6, but laterally offset from each other. Since, as mentioned,
the guide
elements 5d, 5e have a cylinder-like or cylindrical geometric form or basic
shape, in
the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures they are arranged coaxially and
such that they are spatially separated from each other in the direction of
their
respective central axes and thus separated from each other in a spatial
direction
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running transverse to the fiber guiding direction in a parallel arrangement.
Two guide
elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each
other in a
spatial direction running transverse to the fiber guiding direction can be
referred to or
considered as a guide element pair assigned to a particular spindle element or
bobbin element 10, via which the fibers 2a, 2b forming the yarn 3 to be wound
on the
respective spindle element or bobbin element 10 are fed.
By way of feeding the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun into a yarn 3 via separate
guide
elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each
other in a
spatial direction it is possible to influence, i.e. in particular to increase,
the free length
L of the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun between leaving the guide device 5 and a
fiber
merging point 12 at which the fibers 2a, 2b are brought together, which has a
positive
impact on the properties of the yarn 3 that is to be or has been produced. The
increasing of the free length L of the fibers 2a, 2b results from the fact
that the fiber
merging point 12 is significantly further away from the last guide elements
5d, 5e
compared to conventional methods, and thus significantly closer to the
spinning
device 6.
The fiber merging point 12 represents part of a so-called spinning triangle.
The fiber
merging point 12 forms an apex of the spinning triangle facing the spinning
device 6.
The shape of the spinning triangle can therefore also be modified according to
the
method, compared to conventional methods, since the spinning triangle is
"stretched"
in the fiber guiding direction owing to the aforementioned increasing of the
free length
L of the fibers 2a, 2b, forming the sides of the spinning triangle.
The angle a of the spinning triangle in the region of the apex facing the
spinning
device 6 is less than 90 , in particular less than 45 and in particular less
than 30 .
Accordingly, the angle a between the fibers 2a, 2b after leaving the guide
elements
5d, 5e is less than 90 , in particular less than 45 and in particular less
than 30 . The
angle a is accordingly an acute angle.
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The method is based on the finding that, by influencing, i.e. in particular
increasing,
the free length L of the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun between leaving the guide
device 5,
i.e. the last guide elements 5d, 5e, and the fiber merging point 12, specific,
in
particular mechanical, properties of the yarn 3 that is to be or has been
produced can
be obtained. This results in particular from the fact that the free length L
of the fibers
2a, 2b to be spun is increased (significantly) before the fiber merging point
12
compared to conventional methods. The (individual) fibers 2a, 2b can already
be
twisted (considerably) before the fiber merging point 12, which has a positive
impact
on the properties of the yarn 3 that is to be or has been produced.
The free length L of a respective fiber 2a, 2b between the guide device 5 and
the
merging point 12 at which the fibers 2a, 2b are brought together can be e.g.
in a
range of between 4 and 20 cm, in particular in a range of between 7.5 and 15
cm and
preferably 10 cm.
The free length L' between respective points 14, 15 at which the fibers 2a, 2b
leave
the respective guide element 5d, 5e in the direction of the merging point 12
can be
e.g. in a range of between 4 and 10 cm, in particular between 5 and 9 cm and
preferably at least approx. 6 cm.
With the aid of the figures, it can be seen that a spinning device 6 is used
according
to the method, of which the spindle element or bobbin element 10 is arranged
in
alignment with a space 13 formed between the guide elements 5d, 5e by the
spatially
separated arrangement of the guide elements 5d, 5e assigned thereto in the
fiber
guiding direction. The spindle element or bobbin element 10 is accordingly
laterally
offset (in relation to the fiber guiding direction) relative to the guide
elements 5d, 5e
assigned thereto; in particular, the spindle element or bobbin element 10,
although
separated from the guide elements 5d, 5e in the fiber guiding direction, is
arranged
centrally between the guide elements 5d, 5e assigned thereto.
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In Fig 3, finally, it is indicated by dashed fibers that, in principle,
further fibers
(dashed) can also be guided via a respective last guide element 5d, 5e, but
these are
fed to another spindle element or bobbin element (not shown), i.e. typically a
further
spindle element or bobbin element arranged parallel to the spindle element or
bobbin
element 10, i.e. to another spinning region, of the spinning device 6. It also
applies to
this other spinning region that the fibers to be spun there into a yarn 3 are
fed via
separate guide elements in the same way as in the figures.
Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus 1 for producing a yarn 3
formed
by spinning at least two individual fibers 2a, 2b according to a further
exemplary
embodiment. Fig. 2 represents a schematic top view of the apparatus 1. Fig. 4
shows
an enlarged illustration of the detail IV shown in Fig. 2.
With the aid of Figs. 2, 4 it can first be seen that it is also possible
within the
framework of the method that at least three fibers 2a ¨ 2c are spun together
to form
the yarn 3. The at least three fibers 2a ¨ 2c are brought together at the
fiber merging
point 12. Yarns 3 can therefore be produced from more than two fibers 2a ¨ 2c
(multi-
fiber yarns).
The spinning of at least three fibers 2a ¨ 2c to form a yarn 3 can, as shown
in Figs. 2,
4, be implemented such that at least two fibers 2a, 2c are fed to the spinning
device 6
jointly via a first guide element 5d and at least one further fiber 2b is fed
via a further
guide element 5e arranged such that it is spatially separated from the first
guide
element 5d in a spatial direction. At least two fibers 2a, 2c can thus be fed
via a first
guide element 5d and at least one further fiber 2b via a further guide element
5e. In
this context, even or uneven divisions of fibers 2a ¨ 2c over a given number
of guide
elements are possible. In the case of an exemplary feeding of four fibers as
additionally shown in Fig. 4 (the fourth fiber is indicated by a dashed line)
and an
exemplary number of two guide elements 5d, 5e, two fibers can be fed via a
first
guide element 5d and two fibers via a second guide element 5e or three fibers
via a
first guide element 5d and one fiber via a second guide element 5e.
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Although not shown in the figures, the spinning of at least three fibers 2a ¨
2c
according to the method could alternatively also be implemented such that the
at
least three fibers 2a ¨ 2c are fed to the spinning device 6 via three separate
guide
elements, arranged such that they are separated from each other in at least
one
spatial direction, by feeding at least one first fiber 2a via a first guide
element, at least
one second fiber 2b via a second guide element arranged such that it is
spatially
separated from the first guide element in at least one spatial direction and
at least
one third fiber 2c via a third guide element arranged such that it is
spatially separated
from the second guide element in at least one spatial direction. Each fiber 2a
¨ 2c
can thus also be fed via a separate guide element.
In Fig. 4, finally, it is indicated that it is also possible within the
framework of the
method that at least two fibers 2a ¨ 2c and at least one filament 17 are spun
together
to form the yarn 3. The at least two fibers 2a ¨ 2c and the at least one
filament 17 are
brought together at the fiber merging point 12. Yarns 3 can therefore be
produced
from at least two fibers 2a ¨ 2c and at least one filament 17.
The spinning of at least two fibers 2a ¨ 2c and at least one filament 17
according to
the method can be implemented such that at least two fibers 2a ¨ 2c are fed to
the
spinning device 6 via two separate guide elements 5d, 5e, arranged such that
they
are separated from each other in a spatial direction and the at least one
filament 17 is
fed from a filament storage unit 18, in particular a spool-like or spool-
shaped filament
storage unit 18, such as e.g. a filament bobbin, or via a third guide element
separate
from the two separate guide elements 5d, 5e.
Although not shown in the figures, besides the described arrangement of guide
elements 5d, 5e such that they are spatially separated from each other in a
spatial
direction running transverse to the fiber guiding direction, it is
alternatively or in
addition also possible, at least in principle, that at least two guide
elements 5d, 5e
arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial
direction
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running parallel to the fiber guiding direction are used. At least in
principle, therefore,
guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are offset in the fiber guiding
direction
can also be used.
Within the framework of the method, fibers 2a, 2b with identical and non-
identical
chemical and/or geometric and/or physical, in particular mechanical,
properties can
be spun together to form the yarn 3.
Within the framework of the method, all the natural fibers, i.e. for example
alpaca
fibers, cotton fibers, cashmere fibers, mohair fibers, silk fibers, linen
fibers, wool
fibers, in particular new wool fibers, and/or artificial (synthetic) fibers,
i.e. for example
plastic fibers, in particular polyamide fibers, polyester fibers,
polypropylene fibers or
viscose fibers, can be spun together to form the yarn to be produced. In
particular,
blends of (individual or a plurality of) natural and (individual or a
plurality of) artificial
fibers are also possible. The fibers can be continuous or staple fibers,
depending on
availability.
An (individual) fiber 2a, 2b can also be made of or comprise at least two
chemically
and/or geometrically and/or physically different fiber materials. A
corresponding fiber
2a, 2b, accordingly also to be referred to as a blended fiber (blended
roving), can
accordingly be made of e.g. a first fiber material (roving material) and at
least one
further fiber material (roving material).
