Method and apparatus for removing broken filaments
AssigneeFortafil Fibers, Inc.
InventorsDouglas S. Roy, James M. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for removing broken filaments from a continuous filament tow (60) traveling at a tow velocity between a source and a collector. The tow (60) is contacted with a rotatable, cylindrical roller (13), having an axis of rotation and an outer surface, located in the path of travel by the tow from the source to the collector. The axis of rotation is oriented generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the tow (60). The roller (13) rotates in a direction counter to the direction of travel of the tow (60) to lift broken fibers from the tow. The lifted broken fibers are entrained in an airflow created by a tubular vacuum header (12) to remove the broken fibers from the tow.
Claims16
An apparatus for removing broken filaments from a continuous tow traveling at a tow velocity between a source and a collector comprising:
- a rotatable, cylindrical roller, having an axis of rotation and an outer surface, located in the path of travel by said tow from said source to said collector to contact said tow, said axis of rotation being oriented generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of said tow,
- a driver for rotating said roller in a direction counter to the direction of travel of said tow, and
- a vacuum nozzle located adjacent to said roller.
A method for removing broken filaments from continuous tow traveling at tow velocity between a source and a collector comprising:
- contacting said tow with a rotatable, cylindrical roller, having an axis of rotation and an outer surface, located in the path of travel by said tow from said source to said collector, said axis of rotation of said roller being oriented generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of said tow,
- rotating said roller in a direction counter to said direction of travel of said tow to lift broken fibers from said tow, and
- entraining said lifted broken fibers in an airflow to remove said broken fibers from said tow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.