Testing texturized yarn

Claim 2

Method of testing textured yarn to obtain a measurement of its crimping force, comprising: continuously advancing the yarn through a first zone, applying a fixed pre-tension to the yarn in said first zone, advancing the yarn through a second zone, heating the yarn in said second zone, partially relaxing same, applying a known force to the yarn in said second zone by suspending a weight therefrom to exert tension thereon to cause same to assume a path dependent upon the magnitude of the yarn crimping force, the disposition of said weight depending on the configuration of said path, said tension varying in correspondence with changes of said disposition to permit determination of said crimping force from said disposition.

Claim 3

Method according to claim 1, wherein the yarn is advanced through a heater in said second zone and is looped back to again advance through the heater, the yarn loop supporting a weight, which is self-adjusting to balance the crimping force.

Claim 4

Method according to claim 1, wherein the yarn is advanced at a speed of the order of 5 to 15 meters per minute.

Claim 5

Method according to claim 3, wherein the yarn is overfed in the second zone and is heated to a temperature of the order of about 120*C.

Claim 6

Method according to claim 4, wherein the yarn is overfed by about 6 percent.

Claim 7

Apparatus for determining the crimping force in a textured yarn, comprising: means for continuously advancing a textured yarn from a source of supply to a collection position, said means including first and second sets of feed rolls, said sets of feed rolls being operable to overfeed the yarn into the region therebetween, pre-tensioning means in advance of the first set of feed rolls, means for heating the advancing yarn in the region between said sets of feed rolls, and means in said region for determining the magnitude of the crimping force in the yarn, said last-mentioned means including a weight acting on the yarn to cause it to assume a path dependent on the magnitude of its crimping force, said weight exerting tension on said yarn which tension variably depends on the disposition of said weight, said tension thereby balancing said crimping force and said disposition corresponding to variations of said path.

Claim 8

Apparatus for determining the crimping force in a textured yarn, comprising: means for continuously advancing a textured yarn from a source of supply to a collection position, said means including first and second sets of feed rolls, said sets of feed rolls being operable to overfeed the yarn into the region therebetween, pre-tensioning means in advance of the first set of feed rolls, means for heating the advancing yarn in the region between said sets of feed rolls, and means in said region for determining the magnitude of the crimping force in the yarn, said last-mentioned means including a weight acting on the yarn to cause it to assume a path dependent on the magnitude of its crimping force, said weight exerting tension on said yarn which tension variably depends on the disposition of said weight, said tension thereby balancing said crimping force and said disposition corresponding to variations of said path.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the yarn passes vertically through said heater, is looped around said weight and again passes vertically through said heater.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first set of feed rolls and said weight are arranged whereby the yarn passes through said heater at an angle to a vertical plane through said weight, and said weight and said second set of feed rolls are arranged whereby said yarn advances from said weight to said second set of feed rolls at an angle to said plane equal to said first-mentioned angle.