Devices and methods for heat-setting yarns

Abstract

This invention is directed to flow management improvement to the known yarn texturing process, and is directed to devices and methods to accumulate one or more yarns between texturing device(s) and coiling device(s) prior to treatment in a heat-setting chamber. The devices and methods of the present invention may further provide for the removal of texturizing media from yarn prior to setting. The present invention allows for the deposition of yarn or yarns onto conveyor for a setting treatment to set an applied form to impart desirable properties to the yarn. The present invention may include any natural or synthetically produced yarn. The devices and methods of the invention may be used to improve the production capability of said heat setting and texturing equipment.

1 . A device for use in the heat setting of one or more yarns, said device interposed between a texturing/frieze machine and a coiler, and comprising an accumulation control device to provide yarn flow management between the texturing/frieze machine and the coiler, and a texturing media removal system to remove at least a portion of the texturing media provided to the yarns from the texturing/frieze machine.  
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a tubular housing through which the one or more yarns pass.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said texturing media is steam.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 ,wherein said device further comprises an aperture.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said texturing media removal system comprises one or more portals in said tubular housing.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said texturing media removal system further comprises an exhaust fan in communication with one or more of said portals, said fan moving at a desired speed, based on electrical current frequency and voltage.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said accumulation control device comprises an output control sensor in electrical communication with a control system to monitor and control yarn output from said texturing/frieze machine and/or transit time for said one or more yarns through said device.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said accumulation control device further comprises an aperture in said tubular housing for the operation of said sensor.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said control system is computer controlled.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said tubular housing further comprises a tubular housing with an elbow portion  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 2 , comprising two or more tubular housings, accumulation control devices, and texturing media removal systems, arranged in parallel operation.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 2 , comprising two or more tubular housings, accumulation control devices, and texturing media removal systems, arranged in serial operation.  
   
   
       13 . A method of heat setting one or more yarns comprising the steps of: receiving yarns from a texturizing/frieze machine in which said yarns were treated with texturing media; accumulating said yarns within a tubular housing in a controlled manner; removing at least a portion of said texturing media from said yarns, and delivering said yarns to a coiler.  
   
   
       14 . A method of attaining desired characteristics in a woven product, wherein said product is fabricated from one or more texturized yarns, comprising the steps of: texturizing yarns with texturing media within a texturizing/frieze machine; accumulating said texturized yarns within a tubular housing in a controlled manner; removing at least a portion of said texturing media from said yarn; delivering said yarns to a coiler; and, depositing said coiled yarns to a heat-setting machine.  
   
   
       15 . A method of increased production of one or more yarns with desired texturized properties, comprising the steps of: texturizing yarns with texturing media within a texturizing/frieze machine; accumulating said texturized yarn within two or more tubular housings in a controlled manner; removing at least a portion of said texturing media from said yarns; delivering said yarns to a single coiler; and depositing said coiled yarns to a heat-setting machine via a conveyor.