In-line flock cutting process
AssigneeMicrofibres, Inc.
InventorsDavid I. Walsh, James P. Casey, George E. Corneau, William F. Laird
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuous in-line flock cutting process is disclosed, for making flock from tow which contains a lubricant which is detrimental to the flock and must be removed. The tow is continuously fed, heat treated and immersed in an aqueous scouring liquid, and is continuously wet-processed. The excess scouring liquid is squeezed out, the tow is rinsed with water, rinse water is squeezed out, and a finish is applied to the tow and partially squeezed out in an in-line continuous process to remove a portion of the applied finish. Thus processed, the still-wet tow is continuously cut into wet flock, the wet flock is then dried and beaten to open up and separate the individual flock particles, and screened.
Claims8
In a continuous in-line method for making flock from a tow selected from the group consisting of rayon, nylon, polyester and acrylic which comprises a plurality of filaments and which contains a lubricant which is detrimental to said flock, the steps which comprises:
- a. continuously feeding the tow and said lubricant as a running tow,
- b. continuously scouring said tow by contacting it with a liquid scouring agent for removal of said lubricant from said tow,
- c. continuously squeezing excess scouring liquid from said tow,
- d. continuously rinsing said tow with water,
- e. continuously applying a predetermined pressure to squeeze excess rinse water from said rinsed tow,
- f. continuously applying a liquid finish to said tow,
- g. continuously applying another predetermined pressure of from about 60 to 100 lbs./square inch to said tow to remove a portion of the applied finish,
- h. continuouslycutting the resulting tow into flock,
- i. continuously drying the resulting wet flock wherein the drying step is controlled to moisture regain values of:
- ______________________________________ % Regain ______________________________________ AC Flocking DC Flocking ______________________________________ for rayon 6 - 8 10 - 12 for nylon 2 - 2.4 3 - 5 for polyester 1 - 2 1 - 2 for acrylic 1 - 2 1 - 2 ______________________________________
- to produce a moist, hot air by-product, and wherein said by-product is continuously diverted from said flock,
- j. continuously beating the resultant dried flock with the admission of air, wherein the temperature of said admitted air is below about 100.degree. F, and
- k. packaging the flock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.