Method of and apparatus for open-end spinning

Claim 2

In a method of open-end spinning of the type including the known steps of (a) feeding loose fibers into an annular fiber groove of a rotating portion of a spinning chamber, (b) depositing said loose fibers into a circular fiber groove provided in the wall of the rotating portion of the spinning chamber, (c) spinning a yarn from the fibers by virtue of the rotation of the spinning chamber, and (d) continuously withdrawing the spun yarn substantially coaxially with the rotary axis of the spinning chamber, any portion of said yarn describing simultaneously a motion from said fiber groove to said axis and a rotary, orbiting motion thereabout, the improvement comprising the step of generating an annular air drain spacedly surrounding the rotary axis by forming an annular opening in a stationary portion of the spinning chamber, the annular opening being so positioned that at any instant during the travel of the yarn in the spinning chamber a yarn length having a loose twist is within the zone of said air drain, and that the air flow in said air drain is at an angle to the travelling path of the yarn in the spinning chamber.

Claim 3

In an open-end spinning apparatus of the known type that has (a) a spinning rotor having a hollow interior constituting a spinning chamber, said spinning rotor having a circular terminal wall bounding said spinning chamber, (b) a fiber groove provided circumferentially in the wall of said spinning chamber, (c) means feeding loose fibers into said spinning chamber and depositing them into said fiber groove, said feeding means terminating in said spinning chamber substantially adjacent said fiber groove, (d) means for continuously withdrawing yarn from said spinning chamber substantially coaxially with the axis of said spinning rotor, said last-named means including a yarn outlet channel substantially coaxial with said axis, wherein said yarn is spun from said fibers by virtue of the rotation of said spinning rotor, and wherein said yarn describes a rotary motion in said spinning chamber about said axis, the improvement comprising A. means stationarily supported with respect to said spinning rotor defining in said spinning chamber an annular suction opening spacedly surrounding the rotary axis of said spinning rotor and disposed adjacent the travelling path of said yarn in said spinning chamber, said annular suction opening being spaced from said circular terminal wall. B. conduit means communicating with said spinning chamber through said annular suction opening and C. a vacuum source in said conduit means downstream of said suction opening to generate an air drain in said spinning chamber, at least an annular zone of said travelling path contained in said air drain.

Claim 4

In an open-end spinning apparatus of the known type that has (a) a spinning rotor having a hollow interior constituting a spinning chamber, said spinning rotor having a circular terminal wall bounding said spinning chamber, (b) a fiber groove provided circumferentially in the wall of said spinning chamber, (c) means feeding loose fibers into said spinning chamber and depositing them into said fiber groove, said feeding means terminating in said spinning chamber substantially adjacent said fiber groove, (d) means for continuously withdrawing yarn from said spinning chamber substantially coaxially with the axis of said spinning rotor, said last-named means including a yarn outlet channel substantially coaxial with said axis, wherein said yarn is spun from said fibers by virtue of the rotation of said spinning rotor, and wherein said yarn describes a rotary motion in said spinning chamber about said axis, the improvement comprising A. means stationarily supported with respect to said spinning rotor defining in said spinning chamber an annular suction opening spacedly surrounding the rotary axis of said spinning rotor and disposed adjacent the travelling path of said yarn in said spinning chamber, said annular suction opening being spaced from said circular terminal wall. B. conduit means communicating with said spinning chamber through said annular suction opening and C. a vacuum source in said conduit means downstream of said suction opening to generate an air drain in said spinning chamber, at least an annular zone of said travelling path contained in said air drain.

Claim 5

An improvement as defined in claim 2, including means for generating a uniform effective depth of said air drain.

Claim 6

An improvement as defined in claim 2, said spinning chamber having an open side, said means defining said annular suction opening extending into said spinning chamber through said open side.

Claim 7

An improvement as defined in claim 2, including A. a housing defining a housing chamber for accommodating said spinning rotor and B. further conduit means communicating with said housing chamber and connected to said vacuum source for continuously drawing air from said housing chamber.

Claim 8

An improvement as defined in claim 2, including means for controlling the intensity of suction generated by said vacuum source.

Claim 9

An improvement as defined in claim 6, said last-named meAns including throttle means disposed in said conduit means.

Claim 10

An improvement as defined in claim 2, said yarn outlet channel having an inlet opening in said spinning chamber, said annular suction opening being situated at about the same height as said inlet opening.

Claim 11

An improvement as defined in claim 2, including means defining a circular array of suction slots extending radially from said annular suction opening.

Claim 12

In an open-end spinning apparatus of the known type that has (a) a spinning rotor having a hollow interior constituting a spinning chamber, said spinning rotor having a circular terminal wall bounding said spinning chamber, (b) a fiber groove provided circumferentially in the wall of said spinning chamber, (c) means feeding loose fibers into said spinning chamber and depositing them into said fiber groove, said feeding means terminating in said spinning chamber substantially adjacent said fiber groove, (d) means for continuously withdrawing yarn from said spinning chamber substantially coaxially with the axis of said spinning rotor, said last-named means including a yarn outlet channel substantially coaxial with said axis, wherein said yarn is spun from said fibers by virtue of the rotation of said spinning chamber, and wherein said yarn describes a rotary motion in said spinning chamber about said axis, the improvement comprising A. means stationarily supported with respect to said spinning rotor defining a plurality of suction openings in said spinning chamber adjacent the travelling path of said yarn, B. conduit means communicating with said spinning chamber through said suction openings and C. a vacuum source in said conduit means downstream of said suction openings to generate at least one air drain in said spinning chamber in a zone of said travelling path, the shape of said air drain being such that a length portion of said yarn is within said air drain at any point of its travel.

Claim 13

In an open-end spinning apparatus of the known type that has (a) a spinning rotor having a hollow interior constituting a spinning chamber, said spinning rotor having a circular terminal wall bounding said spinning chamber, (b) a fiber groove provided circumferentially in the wall of said spinning chamber, (c) means feeding loose fibers into said spinning chamber and depositing them into said fiber groove, said feeding means terminating in said spinning chamber substantially adjacent said fiber groove, (d) means for continuously withdrawing yarn from said spinning chamber substantially coaxially with the axis of said spinning rotor, said last-named means including a yarn outlet channel substantially coaxial with said axis, wherein said yarn is spun from said fibers by virtue of the rotation of said spinning chamber, and wherein said yarn describes a rotary motion in said spinning chamber about said axis, the improvement comprising A. means stationarily supported with respect to said spinning rotor defining a plurality of suction openings in said spinning chamber adjacent the travelling path of said yarn, B. conduit means communicating with said spinning chamber through said suction openings and C. a vacuum source in said conduit means downstream of said suction openings to generate at least one air drain in said spinning chamber in a zone of said travelling path, the shape of said air drain being such that a length portion of said yarn is within said air drain at any point of its travel.