Apparatus and method for spinning and depositing a tow

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for spinning and depositing a tow ( 15 ). To this end, one or more fiber bundles ( 7 ) are melt spun by means of a spinning device ( 1 ), and withdrawn as a tow by a withdrawal system ( 2 ). Subsequently, the tow ( 15 ) is laid by means of a depositing device ( 3 ) into a can ( 4 ). To be able to apply the necessary withdrawal forces to the tow ( 15 ), the tow ( 15 ) advances along an S-shaped guide path by partially looping the rolls ( 9, 10 ) of the withdrawal system ( 2 ). To be able to change the degree of the looping on the rolls, in particular for piecing and threading the tow ( 15 ), some of the rolls ( 10 ) of the withdrawal system ( 2 ) are mounted for displacement on the machine frame in such a manner that they permit changing the guide path of the tow ( 15 ).

1 . An apparatus for spinning and depositing a tow, comprising 
 a spinning device for spinning at least one fiber bundle to form a tow,    a withdrawal system for withdrawing the tow from the spinning device, with the withdrawal system comprising a plurality of rolls arranged in an offset relationship on a machine frame, and so that the tow advances with a partial looping along the rolls in an S-shaped guide path, and    a depositing device for laying the withdrawn tow into a can, and    wherein at least one of said rolls of the withdrawal system is supported for movement on the machine frame in such a manner to permit changing the guide path of the tow.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one movable roll is adjustable between a threading position and an operating position, with the one roll permitting the tow to advance along a straight path without a partial looping when the one roll is in the threading position.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the at least one moveable roll is adjustable between a threading position and an operating position, and    wherein the withdrawal system further comprises at least one roll which is mounted at a fixed location on the machine frame, and such that the at least one moveable roll and the one fixed roll form a spacing when the one moveable roll is in the threading position which permits the two to advance therebetween without significant contact with the rolls.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the withdrawal system comprises a plurality of said moveable rolls, with the moveable rolls being mounted for synchronous movement on the machine frame.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the withdrawal system comprises a plurality of said moveable rolls, with the moveable rolls being mounted for sequential movement on the machine frame.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the depositing device comprises two cooperating conveying rolls, with at least one of the conveying rolls being movable for displacement between an operating position and a threading position, with a spacing being formed between the conveying rolls in the threading position to facilitate threading of the tow.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the withdrawal system and the depositing device are successively arranged such that in the threading position of the at least movable roll of the withdrawal system and in the threading position of the movable conveying roll of the depositing device, the tow can be threaded along a common straight line guide path.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spinning device, the withdrawal system, and the depositing device are arranged in tiers one on top of the other.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein for forming the tow, the spinning device comprises a fiber lubrication device.  
   
   
       10 . The method of spinning and depositing a tow, comprising the steps of 
 spinning a plurality of advancing filaments in a spinning device to form an advancing tow,    withdrawing the tow from the spinning device by partially looping the tow along an S-shaped guide path formed by a plurality of rolls,    depositing the tow into a can, and    wherein the withdrawing step includes displacing the rolls relative to each other so as to adjust the guide path between the rolls.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein as an initial step, the rolls are displaced relative to each other so that the tow is advanced along a substantially straight line guide path without partially looping the rolls to facilitate piecing and/or threading of the tow between the rolls.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the depositing step includes passing the tow through a depositing system, and wherein during said initial step the tow is advanced without significant contact through the depositing system.  
   
   
       13 . A method of spinning and depositing a tow, comprising the steps of 
 spinning a plurality of advancing filaments in a spinning device to form an advancing tow,    providing a withdrawal system which comprises a plurality of rolls arranged in offset relationship on a machine frame,    moving at least one of the rolls to a threading position to form a substantially straight line guide path between the rolls,    threading the advancing tow along the guide path between the rolls,    moving the at least one roll to an operating position wherein the tow is advanced by partially looping the rolls along an S-shaped guide path, and then    depositing the tow into a can.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of depositing the tow into a can includes passing the tow between a pair of depositing rolls, and wherein during the step of moving at least one of the rolls to a threading position, the pair of depositing rolls are separated so that the tow can be easily threaded therebetween.