Apparatus for producing spun yarn from textile fibers

Claim 1

Apparatus for producing spun yarn from textile fibers, comprising a suction drum having a horizontal axis and being operable to rotate in a predetermined direction about said axis, means operable to form on the periphery of said suction drum a suction zone which is angularly spaced by an acute angle from the zenith of said drum in a direction which is opposite to said predetermined direction, said suction zone having a sharply defined edge adjacent to said zenith, a disintegrating unit operable to disintegrate feed material into individual fibers and to release said fibers to fly off freely and to be scattered and impinge on said suction drum throughout said suction zone, whereby said fibers which have impinged on said suction drum in said suction zone are twisted together to form a yarn tail and are subsequently spun to form a yarn under the action of components of force which are due to the rotation of said suction drum and the suction in said suction zone, the width of said suction zone, measured in said predetermined direction, being equal to the diameter of said yarn tail, and draw-off means disposed adjacent to and axially spaced from one end of said suction drum and operable to draw off said yarn from said suction zone parallel to the axis of said drum.