Friction spinning apparatus with slub clearing means

A friction spinning unit including:

• (a) first and second friction spinning rollers defining a yarn formation nip;
• (b) means for opening the spinning unit for gaining access in order to remove fibrous debris in the event of a yarn break;
• (c) debris receptacle means positioned alongside said first friction spinning roller to receive debris from said yarn formation nip;
• (d) suction means effective to attract debris into said debris receptacle means;
• (e) means actuating said suction means when the friction spinning unit is shut down for cleaning in the event of a yarn break;
• (f) means for removing collected debris from the receptacle means;
• (g) first and second spaced end walls of said debris receptacle means having upper ends terminting adjacent the ends of said first friction spinning roller;
• and
• (h) first and second side walls of said debris receptacle means extending between said opposite ends of said first friction spinning roller, wherein said first and second end walls have differing angles of inclination with respect to said yarn formation nip and wherein said suction means open into said debris receptacle means at the foot of said first end wall of the debris receptacle means and nearer to said first end of the first friction spinning roller than to said second end thereof.

In a friction spinning unit including friction spinning roller means defining a yarn formation nip and means for opening the spinning chamber for gaining access in order to remove fibrous debris in the event of a yarn break;

• the improvement comprising:
• (a) debris receptacle means positioned to receive debris from the friction spinning roller means;
• (b) suction means effective to attract debris into said debris receptacle means;
• (c) means actuating said suction means when the friction spinning unit is shut down for cleaning in the event of a yarn break;
• (d) means for removing collected debris from the receptacle means;
• and
• (e) said debris receptacle means comprising first and second hopper parts defining a hopper having a bottom, with said suction means communicating with a valve in the bottom of said hopper serving as part of said suction actuating means, said hopper bottom being formed in said second hopper part and said first hopper part being disposed nearer to said yarn formation nip than is said second hopper part, and including means defining a gap between said first and second hopper parts to form an air passage therebetween.