Method and apparatus for treating thermoplastic yarns

Claim 2

In a method for imparting crimp characteristics to continuous traveling thermoplastic yarns wherein the yarns are drawn through a heating apparatus and false twisted by spindles driven by a common drive belt, the steps of feeding a plurality of yarns from supply sources, converging the yarns into a common prescribed yarn path while maintaining the yarns in substantially parallel relation, heating the yarns in said common prescribed yarn path, diverging the yarns into spaced, parallel paths, separately twisting each of said yarns whereby the twist extends at least into said common prescribed yarn path, positively drawing the yarns through the spindles and the common prescribed yarn path, and collecting said yarns, said yarns being twisted by directing each yarn through a twist spindle while biasing the spindles about a vertical plane transversely of the driving belt into frictional engagement therewith, and frictionally driving the spindles.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the yarns are separately twisted in opposite directions by biasing adjacent yarn spindles in opposite directions about a vertical plane extending between adjacent yarns.

Claim 4

Apparatus for imparting crimp to a plurality of thermoplastic yarns comprising at least two yarn supply means, a yarn heater unit having a common yarn guide path, means for continuously simultaneously drawing at least two parallel yarns over said heater unit in said common yarn path, a support frame, at least two yarn spindles mounted adjacent each other for imparting a twist to the yarns emerging from said heater unit, a common drive member for said spindles, a displaceable mounting unit for supporting said spindles for simultaneous displacement into and out of engagement with said common drive member, means pivotally supporting said spindle mounting unit upon said support frame, means for biasing said mounting unit relative to said frame for simultaneously urging said spindles into driving engagement with said common drive member, means for displacing and releasably locking said mounting unit and said spindles out of engagement with said spindle drive member, and means for collecting said yarns.

Claim 5

Apparatus for imparting crimp to a plurality of thermoplastic yarns comprising at least two yarn supply means, a yarn heater unit having a common yarn guide path, means for continuously simultaneously drawing at least two parallel yarns over said heater unit in said common yarn path, a support frame, at least two yarn spindles mounted adjacent each other for imparting a twist to the yarns emerging from said heater unit, a common drive member for said spindles, a displaceable mounting unit for supporting said spindles for simultaneous displacement into and out of engagement with said common drive member, means pivotally supporting said spindle mounting unit upon said support frame, means for biasing said mounting unit relative to said frame for simultaneously urging said spindles into driving engagement with said common drive member, means for displacing and releasably locking said mounting unit and said spindles out of engagement with said spindle drive member, and means for collecting said yarns.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3, said displaceable spindle mounting unit including a first member pivotally mounted upon said frame and a spindle retaining member pivotally mounted upon said first pivoted member for permitting said spindles to float and center with respect to said Common drive member.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3, said displacing means including a toggle mechanism for maintaining said spindles out of driving relation.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3, including yarn guide means secured to said common mounting unit and positioned below said spindles.