Process and apparatus for making spun threads from textile fibers

Claim 2

A process of making a spun thread from textile fibers, comprising the steps of 1. delivering loose and freely movable textile fibers to a spinning station, 2. moving the loose and freely movable fibers through the spinning station in the longitudinal direCtion of the strand, with the fibers extending substantially in said direction, 3. frictionally contracting the fibers with two surfaces wherebetween the fibers are moved in the spinning station, 4. moving at least one of the surfaces relative to the other surface transversely of the longitudinal direction to twist the loose fibers into a spun thread, and 5. withdrawing the spun thread from the spinning station while holding it against rotation.

Claim 3

moving the loose and freely movable fibers through the spinning station in the longitudinal direCtion of the strand, with the fibers extending substantially in said direction,

Claim 4

moving the loose and freely movable fibers through the spinning station in the longitudinal direCtion of the strand, with the fibers extending substantially in said direction,

Claim 5

A process as set forth in claim 1, in which said two surfaces are moved in mutually opposite directions transversely to said longitudinal direction.

Claim 6

frictionally contracting the fibers with two surfaces wherebetween the fibers are moved in the spinning station,

Claim 7

frictionally contracting the fibers with two surfaces wherebetween the fibers are moved in the spinning station,

Claim 8

A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the other surface is formed by a smooth stationary trough having a depth smaller than the diameter of the strand, the trough confining and guiding the loose fibers of the strand, and the other surface is continuously moved transversely of the trough.

Claim 9

A process as set forth in claim 1, further comprising directing an air stream in said longitudinal direction to deliver the loose and freely movable fibers to the spinning station to extend substantially in said direction.

Claim 10

moving at least one of the surfaces relative to the other surface transversely of the longitudinal direction to twist the loose fibers into a spun thread, and

Claim 11

moving at least one of the surfaces relative to the other surface transversely of the longitudinal direction to twist the loose fibers into a spun thread, and

Claim 12

withdrawing the spun thread from the spinning station while holding it against rotation.

Claim 13

withdrawing the spun thread from the spinning station while holding it against rotation.

Claim 14

Apparatus for making spun threads from textile fibers, which apparatus comprises a table which is formed with a trough defined by a first surface and adapted to receive a strand of loose fibers, a revolvable endless belt having a course extending transversely to said trough, said course having a lower surface which forms a second surface disposed closely above said trough, said belt being revolvable to move said second surface relative to said first surface transversely to the longitudinal direction of said trough, whereby said strand is frictionally contacted with said first and second surfaces and twisted to form a thread, and delivery means operable to withdraw said thread from said trough while holding said thread against rotation.

Claim 15

Apparatus for making spun threads from textile fibers, which apparatus comprises a table which is formed with a trough defined by a first surface and adapted to receive a strand of loose fibers, a revolvable endless belt having a course extending transversely to said trough, said course having a lower surface which forms a second surface disposed closely above said trough, said belt being revolvable to move said second surface relative to said first surface transversely to the longitudinal direction of said trough, whereby said strand is frictionally contacted with said first and second surfaces and twisted to form a thread, and delivery means operable to withdraw said thread from said trough while holding said thread against rotation.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which said table is formed with a plurality of said troughs, which are parallel to each other, each of said troughs is defined by a first surface and adapted to receive a strand of loose fibers, said second surface is disposed closely above all said troughs, said belt is revolvable to move said second surface relative to all said first surfaces transversely to the longitudinal direction of said troughs, whereby each of said strands is frictionally contacted with one of said first surfaces and said second surface and twisted to form a thread, and said delivery means are operable to withdraw all said threads from said troughs while holding said threads against rotation.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, which comprises an inlet unit adapted to receive fiber material, a carding drum adapted to receive fiber material from said inlet unit and having an axis which is transverse to said troughs and a surface which faces said table, said carding drum being operable to impart an upward movement to said surface facing said table, to disintegrate said fiber material into loose fibers, and to discharge said loose fibers, a housing enclosing said carding drum, and having a bottom, said housing being open toward said troughs, a plurality of air supply nozzles opening into said housing through the bottom thereof and extending in a direction which is substantially tangential to said carding drum and parallel to said troughs, each of said nozzles being directed toward one of said troughs, said endless belt being disposed between said housing and said delivery means and spaced from said housing, and a perforated cover on top of said troughs between said housing and said belt.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which said delivery means comprise a pair of delivery rolls.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which said trough tapers in its depth and width toward said delivery means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for making spun threads from textile fibers, wHich apparatus comprises a funnel adapted to receive loose fibers and having an outlet for discharging a strand of loose fibers, an eye spaced from said outlet, two endless belts having parallel confronting courses which are disposed one over the other and extend transversely to the direction in which said eye is spaced from said outlet, said confronting courses having confronting first and second surfaces which are closely spaced apart, said belts being operable to revolve in the same sense so that said confronting first and second surfaces move in mutually opposite directions transversely to the longitudinal direction of a strand extending from said outlet to said eye and said first and second surfaces are in frictional contact with said strand to twist the same and form it into a thread, the eye receiving the thread, and delivery means arranged to receive said thread from said eye and hold it against rotation.

Claim 21

Apparatus for making spun threads from textile fibers, wHich apparatus comprises a funnel adapted to receive loose fibers and having an outlet for discharging a strand of loose fibers, an eye spaced from said outlet, two endless belts having parallel confronting courses which are disposed one over the other and extend transversely to the direction in which said eye is spaced from said outlet, said confronting courses having confronting first and second surfaces which are closely spaced apart, said belts being operable to revolve in the same sense so that said confronting first and second surfaces move in mutually opposite directions transversely to the longitudinal direction of a strand extending from said outlet to said eye and said first and second surfaces are in frictional contact with said strand to twist the same and form it into a thread, the eye receiving the thread, and delivery means arranged to receive said thread from said eye and hold it against rotation.