GB1197180A - Application of Liquid to Filaments - Google Patents

Abstract

1,197,180. Liquid treatment of filaments. COURTAULDS Ltd. 23 Nov., 1967 [24 Nov., 1966], No. 52633/66. Heading BSB [Also in Division D1] Apparatus for the continuous application of liquid to a plurality of moving bundles of continuous filaments comprises a treatment roll 6, the peripheral surface of which is divided into a plurality of cylindrical sections 7 to 10 of substantially equal axial length, at least a surface layer of each of said cylindrical sections being made of a material which is readily wettable by the liquid which is to be applied, a reservoir 11 for the liquid to be applied into which the treatment roll dips, guide means 5 to ensure presentation of each bundle of filaments to the surface of a different one of the cylindrical sections of the treatment roll, and wind-up means 21 to 24 for the bundles of filaments. Specified readily wettable materials include glass, ceramics, bonded silicon carbide, or bonded alumina. Thus the roll may be made of such material, or it may be a metal roll coated with such material, e.g. a ceramic. The division of the peripheral surface of the treatment roll into a plurality of cylindrical sections may be effected by providing circumferential grooves or cuts in the peripheral surface of the roll. Alternatively, such division may be effected by applying to the peripheral surface of the roll circumferential strips of the composition which resists wetting by the liquid which is to be applied, for example a silicone composition. Alternatively, the treatment roll may comprise a plurality of substantially identical roll sections separated by suitable distance pieces, suitably discs of material which resists wetting by the liquid which is to be applied, e.g. a tetrafluoroethylene, said discs having a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the roll sections. As shown, the treatment roll may also comprise two outer cylindrical sections 33 which need not be of equal size, but are of differential axial lengths from that of the cylindrical sections. As shown, at least one additional treatment roll 18 may be provided with its associated reservoir 19 for liquid to be applied to the bundles of filaments, the peripheral surface of each such additional treatment roll being divided into a plurality of cylindrical sections 14 to 17 of substantially equal axial lengths, and further guide means 13 may be provided to ensure presentation of each bundle of filaments to the surface of a different one of the cylindrical sections of each additional treatment roll. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an apparatus suitable for the application of textile lubricants Lo bundles of continuous polyamide filaments, melt spun from four spinnerets (not shown) to provide four filament bundles 1 to 4. These bundles, after cooling and/or steaming as desired, are led between pairs of guides 5 to the surface of the treatment roll 6. Liquid textile lubricant is applied from the roll, which dips into the reservoir 11, and is rotated at such a speed as to provide the correct amount of liquid on the filaments. After this treatment the filament bundles are led between further pairs of guides 13 to the second treatment roll 18, which dips into reservoir 19 containing a liquid textile lubricant, the roll being rotated at such a speed as to provide the correct amount of liquid on the filaments. The textile lubricant supplied to reservoir 19 may or may not, be of the same composition as the liquid in reservoir 11. After the treatment the filament bundles 1 to 4 are wound to separate cakes on bobbins 21 to 24, respectively, after passage over pairs of godets 25 to 28 respectively. The rolls 6 and 18 may be constructed in the manner described above. Fig. 3 shows a modified form of treatment roll, indicated by 34, intended for applying liquid to five bundles of filaments. The peripheral surface of the roll is divided into five cylindrical sections 35 to 39 by narrow circumferential strips 40 of a composition which resists wetting by the liquid into which the roll dips. Thus the strips 40 may be thin strips of a silicone coating composition. Alternatively, the strips 40 may be formed by the peripheral surface of distance pieces 41 formed of a material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. Fig. 3 also shows how the treatment roll 34 may be formed from cylindrical core members 42, made for example of metal, which have their peripheral surfaces coated with a layer 43 of a composition which is readily wettable by the liquid into which the roll dips, for example a coating of ceramic material. The use of the apparatus of the invention enables liquid to be applied substantially uniformly to each of the filament bundles.