Heat setting machine with conveyor

Abstract

A continuous heat set line for setting yarn, having spaced-apart, elongate, tubular entrance and exit cooling chambers interconnected by an elongate intermediate steam heat-setting chamber communicating therewith. The entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber collectively define a single longitudinally-extending axis along the combined length thereof. Sealing heads seal the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber to a degree sufficient to maintain a pressurized condition within the heat-setting chamber. A yarn conveyor extends through the pretreatment chamber for conveying the yarn through the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the heat-setting chamber in a position substantially equidistant or very nearly equidistant from top and bottom walls. At least one piston and cylinder assembly moves sealing rolls into and out of position relative to each other, while independently-operating springs urge the rolls together sufficiently to effect a seal.

1 . A continuous heat set line for setting yarn, comprising: 
 (a) spaced-apart, elongate, tubular entrance and exit cooling chambers interconnected by an elongate intermediate steam heat-setting chamber communicating therewith, the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber collectively defining a single longitudinally-extending axis along the combined length thereof;    (b) a steam injector for injecting steam at a predetermined pressure into the heat-setting chamber;    (c) a yarn conveyor extending through the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the heat-setting chamber at a position equidistant from a top and bottom wall thereof for conveying the yarn therethrough; and    (d) a yarn depositing apparatus for depositing yarn in a uniform manner on the yarn conveyor upstream of the entrance sealing means.    
     
     
         2 . A continuous heat set line for setting yarn according to  claim 1 , further comprising sealing means for sealing the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber to a degree sufficient to maintain a pressurized condition within the heat-setting chamber.  
     
     
         3 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 1 , wherein the yarn depositing apparatus comprises a yarn coiler for depositing uniform, overlapping coils of yarn on the yarn conveying apparatus.  
     
     
         4 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 1 , wherein the yarn conveyor comprises an endless fluid permeable conveyor belt extending from the coiler to downstream of the exit cooling chamber.  
     
     
         5 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 1 , and including a yarn packaging apparatus for removing the yarn from the yarn depositing apparatus and forming the yarn into a package suitable for further downstream processing.  
     
     
         6 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means comprises an entrance sealing roll apparatus positioned upstream of the entrance cooling chamber and an exit sealing roll apparatus positioned downstream of the exit cooling chamber for sealing, respectively, the upstream end of the entrance cooling chamber and the downstream end of the exit cooling chamber, each of the entrance and exit sealing roll apparatuses including a pair of sealing rolls positioned adjacent each other for allowing yarn on the conveying apparatus to pass therebetween while preventing the escape of pressurized steam from within the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate steam heat-setting chamber.  
     
     
         7 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 2 , wherein the sealing means comprises: 
 (a) a frame defining an opening through which the conveyor extends;    (b) a bottom sealing roll assembly carried by the frame, including a rotatably-mounted bottom sealing roll positioned below the conveyor;    (c) a top sealing roll assembly carried by the frame, and including a rotatably-mounted top sealing roll mounted in spaced-apart relation to the bottom sealing roll above the conveyor whereby the conveyor extends between the bottom sealing roll and the top sealing roll for carrying the yarn past the top and bottom sealing roll assemblies and into the entrance cooling chamber;    (d) at least one piston and cylinder assembly interconnecting the frame and the top sealing roll assembly for moving the top sealing roll assembly between an opened position, and a closed position wherein the top roll rests against the bottom roll; and    (e) pressurizing means for exerting sufficient pressure on the top roll to seal the top roll against the conveyor and the yarn carried thereon as the conveyor is supported by the bottom roll.    
     
     
         8 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 7 , wherein the pressurizing means comprises springs carried by the frame for resiliently biasing the top roll against the yarn and conveyor when in its closed position.  
     
     
         9 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 8 , wherein the sealing means includes lateral seals positioned to contact and seal against radially-extending end walls of the top roll and the bottom roll.  
     
     
         10 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 1 , further including a locking lever for urging a top roll into contact with the conveyor.  
     
     
         11 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 10 , further including a locking pin for locking the locking lever into a position with the top roll urged into contact with the conveyor.  
     
     
         12 . A continuous heat set line according to  claim 1 , and including a top lamella sealingly engaging a top roll along the length thereof to prevent the escape of steam and pressure past the top roll and a bottom lamella sealingly engaging a bottom roll along the length thereof to prevent the escape of steam and pressure past the bottom roll.  
     
     
         13 . A continuous heat set line for setting yarn, comprising: 
 (a) spaced-apart, elongate, tubular entrance and exit cooling chambers interconnected by an elongate intermediate steam heat-setting chamber communicating therewith, the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber collectively defining a single longitudinally-extending axis along the combined length thereof;    (b) a steam injector for injecting steam at a predetermined pressure into the heat-setting chamber;    (c) a steam pretreatment chamber positioned upstream of the entrance cooling chamber for applying a conditioning charge of steam to the yarn before it enters the entrance cooling chamber;    (d) a yarn conveyor extending through the pretreatment chamber, the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the heat-setting chamber at a position equidistant from a top and a bottom wall thereof for conveying the yarn therethrough; and    (e) a yarn depositing apparatus for depositing yarn in a uniform manner on the yarn conveyor upstream of the pretreatment chamber.    
     
     
         14 . A method of setting yarn comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a continuous heat set line for setting yarn, comprising: 
 (i) spaced-apart, elongate, tubular entrance and exit cooling chambers interconnected by an elongate intermediate steam heat-setting chamber communicating therewith, the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber collectively defining a single longitudinally-extending axis along the combined length thereof;  
 (ii) a steam injector for injecting steam at a predetermined pressure into the heat-setting chamber;  
 (iii) a steam pretreatment chamber positioned upstream of the entrance cooling chamber for applying a conditioning charge of steam to the yarn before it enters the entrance cooling chamber;  
 (iv) a yarn conveyor extending through the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the heat-setting chamber at a position substantially equidistant from top and bottom walls thereof; and  
 (v) a yarn depositing apparatus for depositing yarn in a uniform manner on the yarn conveyor upstream of the pretreatment chamber;  
   (b) conveying yarn through the continuous heat set line.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of sealing the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber to a degree sufficient to maintain a pressurized condition within the heat-setting chamber.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of circulating cool, dry air through yarn in the entrance cooling chamber.