Condenser and method of thread-up

A condenser for receiving a fiber strand in a textile fiber processing machine, the condenser comprising:

• a condenser head for condensing the fiber strand;
• said condenser head defining a fiber strand slot for receiving the fiber strand, and said condenser head defining at least one peripheral guide surface;
• said fiber strand in said fiber slot defining a fiber slot centerline, said fiber slot having an open end adjoining said peripheral guide surface;
• said condenser head including a first portion extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber strand positioned away from the fiber slot and having a first width;
• a second portion extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber strand centerline of a second width;
• said first width being less than and extending to said second width;
• said second portion narrowing to said open end of said fiber slot;
• and said peripheral guide surface extending continuously through said first portion and said second portion and terminating at said open end of said fiber slot;
• said peripheral surface being of a continuously diminishing radii curvature with respect to said fiber strand centerline;
• a support structure connected to said condenser head for supporting said condenser head in the textile fiber processing machine;
• and
• wherein said peripheral guide directs a fiber strand into said fiber slot upon contact of the fiber strand with said guide surface.

A condenser device for receiving a fiber strand in a textile fiber processing machine, the condenser device comprising:

• a first condenser head and a second condenser head, each being for receipt of the fiber strand and each being elongated having a first end and a second end opposite said first end;
• said first and second condenser heads each defining a fiber passage proximate said first end for receiving a fiber strand, said fiber strand in each said fiber strand defining a fiber passage centerline;
• each of said first and second condenser heads including an upper surface and first and second lower surfaces substantially opposite said upper surface, said upper surface extending from said first end to said second end;
• said first lower surface extending from said first end to said fiber passage and said second lower surface extending from said fiber passage to said second end;
• said second end defining a substantially perpendicular surface portion adjacent each of said upper and first lower surfaces;
• each of said upper, first lower, and second lower surfaces being of a curvature of continuously diminishing radii with respect to said fiber strand centerline for automatically guiding a fiber strand into a respective fiber passage upon contact of the fiber strand with any one of said upper, first lower and second lower surfaces;
• and
• support means connected to each of first and second condenser heads for supporting each of said first and second condenser heads with respect to one another, and with respect to the textile fiber processing machine.

A drafting system for a textile fiber processing machine for drafting a fiber strand, the drafting system comprising:

• drafting means for receiving and carrying the fiber strand, said drafting means having an entry portion for receiving the fiber strand at a first speed and a delivery portion for delivering the fiber strand at a second speed, said second speed being faster than said first speed, such that the fiber strand is drafted between said entry and delivery portions;
• said drafting means defining a drafting zone between said entry and delivery portions;
• and
• condenser means for condensing the fiber strand in said drafting zone;
• said condensing means defining a fiber passage for receiving the fiber strand, said fiber strand in said fiber passage defining a fiber strand centerline, and said condensing means defining at least one peripheral surface for contacting the fiber strands;
• said fiber passage having an open end adjoining said peripheral surface;
• said condensing means including a first portion extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber passage positioned away from the fiber passage and having a first width;
• a second portion extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber strand centerline and having a second width;
• said first width being less than and expanding to said second width;
• said second portion narrowing to said open end of fiber passage;
• and said peripheral surface extending substantially continuously through said first portion and said second portion and terminating at said open end of said fiber passage;
• said peripheral surface being of a continuously diminishing radii curvature with respect to said fiber strand centerline, and wherein said peripheral surface directs the fiber strand into said fiber passage upon contact of the fiber strand with said peripheral surface;
• and
• support means connected to said condensing means for supporting said condensing means in the textile fiber processing machine.

A method for threading a condenser with a fiber strand, said method comprising:

• providing a moving fiber strand in a textile fiber processing machine;
• positioning a condenser adjacent the side of said moving fiber strand;
• said condenser defining a fiber passage for receiving the fiber strand, said fiber strand in said fiber passage defining a fiber passage centerline, and said condenser defining at least one peripheral surface;
• said fiber passage having an open end adjoining said peripheral surface;
• said condenser including a first portion extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber passage positioned away from the fiber passage and having a first width;
• a second portion extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber strand centerline and having a second width;
• said first width being less than and expanding to said second width;
• said second portion narrowing to said open end of fiber passage;
• and
• providing a diminishing radii peripheral guide surface on said condenser extending substantially continuously through said first portion and said second portion and terminating at said open end of said fiber passage, such that said fiber strand contacts said peripheral guide surface and said peripheral guide surface causes said fiber strand to migrate towards and into an open fiber passage defined in said condenser, thereby automatically threading said condenser.

A condenser for a fiber strand in a textile fiber processing machine, the condenser comprising:

• condensing means for condensing the fiber strand;
• said condensing means defining a fiber passage for receiving the fiber strand, and said condensing means defining at least one peripheral surface;
• support means connected to said condensing means for supporting said condensing means in the textile fiber processing machine;
• said support means including a substantially vertically extending portion extending away from said condensing means and a substantially horizontally extending portion extending outwardly from said vertically extending portion;
• and
• fiber guidance means associated with said condensing means for automatically guiding the fiber strand into said fiber passage upon contact of the fiber strand with said peripheral surface.

A condenser for a fiber strand in a textile fiber processing machine, the condenser comprising:

• condensing means for condensing the fiber strand;
• said condensing means defining a fiber passage for receiving the fiber strand, and said condensing means defining at least one peripheral surface;
• support means connected to said condensing means for supporting said condensing means in the textile fiber processing machine and for allowing lateral movement of said condenser means with respect to the textile processing machine, and said support means including limit means for allowing substantially vertically extending portion extending away from said condensing means and a substantially horizontally extending portion extending outwardly from said vertically extending portion;
• and
• fiber guidance means associated with said condensing means for automatically guiding the fiber strand into said fiber passage upon contact of the fiber strand with said peripheral surface.

A condenser for a fiber strand in a textile fiber processing machine, the condenser comprising:

• condensing means for condensing the fiber strand;
• said condensing means defining a fiber passage for receiving the fiber strand, and said condensing means defining at least one peripheral surface;
• support means connected to said condensing means for supporting said condensing means in the textile fiber processing machine;
• lateral movement means associated with said condensing means for allowing lateral movement of said condenser means by the fiber strand;
• limit means associated with said lateral movement means for limiting movement of said condensing means;
• said peripheral surface being for contacting the side of a fiber strand, and upon said limit means limiting movement of said condenser means, said peripheral surface directing the fiber strand into said fiber passage;
• and
• fiber guidance means associated with said condensing means for automatically guiding the fiber strand into said fiber passage upon contact of the fiber strand with said peripheral surface.

A method for threading a condenser with a fiber strand, said method comprising:

• providing a moving fiber strand in a textile fiber processing machine;
• positioning a condenser adjacent the side of said moving fiber strand;
• providing a diminishing radii peripheral guide surface on said condenser;
• and
• moving said condenser laterally with said side of said fiber strand to initiate migration of said fiber strand along said peripheral guide surface such that said fiber strand contacts said peripheral guide surface and said peripheral guide surface causes said fiber strand to migrate towards and into an open fiber passage defined in said condenser, thereby automatically threading said condenser.

A condenser device for receiving a fiber strand in a textile fiber processing machine, the condenser device comprising:

• a condenser head for receipt of the fiber strand, said condenser head being elongated having a first end and a second end opposite said first end;
• said condenser head defining a fiber passage proximate said first end for receiving a fiber strand, said fiber strand in said fiber passage defining a fiber strand centerline;
• said condenser head including an upper surface and first and second lower surfaces substantially opposite said upper surface, said upper surface extending from said first end to said second end;
• said first lower surface extending from said first end to said fiber passage, and said second lower surface extending from said fiber passage to said second end;
• said second end defining a substantially perpendicular surface adjacent said upper and first lower surfaces;
• each of said upper, first lower, and second lower surfaces being of a curvature of continuously diminishing radii with respect to said fiber strand centerline for directs a fiber strand into said fiber passage upon contact of the fiber strand with any one of said upper, first lower, and second lower surfaces;
• and
• support means connected to said condenser head for supporting said condenser head with respect to the textile fiber processing machine.