Machine and method for producing wool yarn

Abstract

A spinning machine for spinning a strand of travelling wool fibers to form a yarn. The machine includes an exit nip, a rotatable spindle for drawing the fiber assembly from the nip while a twist is inserted into the fiber assembly to form a yarn, and a false twisting device, which in use is a travelling continuous belt. The belt has a pair of runs at least one of which is engaged by the twisted yarn as it is drawn past such that a surface surface(s) of the belt imparts a false twist into the yarn. The belt includes a core made from a first material and surrounded by an external portion which is made from a second material, both the core and external portion extending through the belt. Rigidity of the first material is substantially higher than that of the second material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spinning machine for spinning a strand of travelling wool fibers to form a yarn, comprising:
 an exit nip;   a rotatable spindle for drawing the fiber assembly from the nip while inserting a twist into the fiber assembly to form a yarn; and   a false twisting device, which in use is a travelling continuous belt, including a pair of runs at least one of which is engaged by the twisted yarn as it is drawn past such that at least one surface of the belt imparts a false twist into the yarn,   wherein the belt includes a core made from a first material and surrounded by an external portion made from a second material, both the core and external portion extending through the belt, and wherein rigidity of the first material is substantially higher than that of the second material.   
     
     
         2 . The spinning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the rigidity of the first material is at least twice that of the second material. 
     
     
         3 . The spinning machine of  claim 2 , wherein the core is made by a continuous filament yarn. 
     
     
         4 . The spinning machine of  claim 3 , wherein the core is made from polyester or polyamide. 
     
     
         5 . The spinning machine of  claim 3 , wherein the core is made from aramid fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The spinning machine of  claim 5 , wherein the external portion is made from polyurethane. 
     
     
         7 . The spinning machine of  claim 3 , wherein the belt has a substantially smooth surface. 
     
     
         8 . The spinning machine of  claim 7 , wherein the belt travels at a first speed and the yarn travels at a second speed, and wherein a ratio of the first and second speeds is in the range of 2-6. 
     
     
         9 . The spinning machine of  claim 8 , wherein the ratio of the first and second speeds is in the range of 3-5. 
     
     
         10 . The spinning machine of  claim 9 , wherein the ratio of the first and second speeds is in the range of 3.5-4.5. 
     
     
         11 . The spinning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the core and external portion are fixedably attached to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The spinning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is arranged such that the two runs thereof travelling in opposite directions intersect the yarn path, the yarn passing behind one of the runs and in front of the other run, and wherein both runs are engaged by the twisted yarn as it is draw past for imparting two false twists into the yarn by the runs respectively. 
     
     
         13 . A method for spinning a strand of travelling wool fibers to form a yarn, comprising
 drawing the fiber assembly from a nip while inserting a twist into the fiber assembly to form a yarn; and   downstream of the nip, imparting a false twist into the yarn by at least one of a pair of runs of a false twisting device, which in use is a travelling continuous belt,   wherein the belt includes a core made from a first material and surrounded by an external portion made from a second material, both the core and external portion extending through the belt, and wherein rigidity of the first material is substantially higher than that of the second material.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rigidity of the first material is at least twice that of the second material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the core is made by a continuous filament yarn. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the core is made from polyester or polyamide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the core is made from aramid fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the external portion is made from polyurethane. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the belt travels at a first speed and the yarn travels at a second speed, and wherein a ratio of the first and second speeds is in the range of 2-6. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the ratio of the first and second speeds is in the range of 3-5. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the ratio of the first and second speeds is in the range of 3.5-4.5. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the core and external portion are fixedably attached to each other. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the belt is arranged such that the two runs thereof travelling in opposite directions intersect the yarn path, the yarn passing behind one of the runs and in front of the other run, and wherein both runs are engaged by the twisted yarn as it is draw past for imparting two false twists into the yarn by the runs respectively. 
     
     
         24 . A yarn made from a strand of wool fiber by using any method of  claims 13 - 23 .