US4012816A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for processing thermoplastic yarn
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1975-06-02
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1995-06-02
Abstract
Abstract In processing thermoplastic yarn a value is monitored to determine whether said value is above or below a predetermined value. The monitored value is related to the denier of the yarn and associated with a yarn plug. The interval for the monitored value associated with said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined value is timed and the yarn is processed in response thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles S. Hatcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:31
CPC Classifications
D; D02; D02G; D02G1/00; D02G1/12; D02G1/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: continuously monitoring a value which is related to the denier of said yarn and associated with a yarn plug to determine whether said value is above or below a predetermined value; timing the interval for the monitored value of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined value; comparing said timed interval with a fixed period of time; and processing the yarn in response to said comparison, thereby maintaining the denier of said yarn within quality control limits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: continuously monitoring a value which is related to the denier of said yarn and associated with a yarn plug to determine whether said value is above or below a predetermined value; timing the interval for the monitored value of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined value; comparing said timed interval with a fixed period of time; and processing the yarn in response to said comparison, thereby maintaining the denier of said yarn within quality control limits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said yarn is taken from the group of polyolefins, polyamides and polyesters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said yarn is polypropylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined value is a length of yarn plug and the length is monitored by detecting the presence and absence of the yarn plug at a fixed point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: monitoring means for continuously monitoring a value which is related to the denier of said yarn and associated with a yarn plug to determine whether said value is above or below a predetermined value; timing means to time the interval for the monitored value of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined value; and means activated by said timing means in response to said time interval as an indication of whether the denier of said yarn is within quality control limits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: monitoring means for continuously monitoring a value which is related to the denier of said yarn and associated with a yarn plug to determine whether said value is above or below a predetermined value; timing means to time the interval for the monitored value of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined value; and means activated by said timing means in response to said time interval as an indication of whether the denier of said yarn is within quality control limits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means activated by said timing means is means for sending said yarn to waste where said time interval is at least equal to a fixed time period and means for packaging said yarn where said time interval is below said fixed time period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fixed time period is in the range of from about 1/2 to 5 minutes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: continuously monitoring the presence or absence of a yarn plug at a point; timing the interval subsequent to detection of said yarn plug until the next detection; cutting the yarn and sending it to waste if the time interval for said detection is at least equal to a fixed time period; and packaging the yarn if the time interval for said detection is less than said fixed time period.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: continuously monitoring the presence or absence of a yarn plug at a point; timing the interval subsequent to detection of said yarn plug until the next detection; cutting the yarn and sending it to waste if the time interval for said detection is at least equal to a fixed time period; and packaging the yarn if the time interval for said detection is less than said fixed time period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said thermoplastic yarn is polypropylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: an electric eye to detect the presence or absence of a yarn plug at a point; a timer to time the interval subsequent to detection until the next detection; a cutting means to cut the yarn and send said yarn to waste wherein said time interval is at least equal to a fixed time period; and packaging means for packaging said yarn wherein said time interval is less than said fixed time period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: an electric eye to detect the presence or absence of a yarn plug at a point; a timer to time the interval subsequent to detection until the next detection; a cutting means to cut the yarn and send said yarn to waste wherein said time interval is at least equal to a fixed time period; and packaging means for packaging said yarn wherein said time interval is less than said fixed time period.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: continuously monitoring a value which is related to the denier of said yarn and associated with a yarn plug to determine whether said value is above or below a predetermined value; timing the interval for the monitored value of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined value; and processing the yarn in response to said time interval by sending said yarn to waste if said time interval is at least equal to a fixed time period and packaging said yarn where said interval is below said fixed time period, thereby maintaining the denier of said packaged yarn within quality control limits.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: continuously monitoring a value which is related to the denier of said yarn and associated with a yarn plug to determine whether said value is above or below a predetermined value; timing the interval for the monitored value of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined value; and processing the yarn in response to said time interval by sending said yarn to waste if said time interval is at least equal to a fixed time period and packaging said yarn where said interval is below said fixed time period, thereby maintaining the denier of said packaged yarn within quality control limits.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the said fixed time period is in the range of from about 1/2to 5 minutes.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: passing a yarn to a heating zone; passing the heated yarn to a texturing zone wherein the textured yarn exits the texturing zone in the form of a yarn plug, said yarn plug having an end from which the textured yarn is pulled, said end oscillating with respect to a predetermined point; controlling the temperature of the heated yarn by controlling the temperature of the heating zone; controlling the temperature of the heating zone by employing a temperature controller which maintains the temperature of the heating zone at or above a first set point; continuously monitoring the presence or absence of said yarn plug at the predetermined point; timing the interval for the end of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined point; comparing the time interval with a fixed time period; and changing the set point of said temperature controller from the first set point to the second set point in response to the comparison of said time interval with said fixed time period.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising: passing a yarn to a heating zone; passing the heated yarn to a texturing zone wherein the textured yarn exits the texturing zone in the form of a yarn plug, said yarn plug having an end from which the textured yarn is pulled, said end oscillating with respect to a predetermined point; controlling the temperature of the heated yarn by controlling the temperature of the heating zone; controlling the temperature of the heating zone by employing a temperature controller which maintains the temperature of the heating zone at or above a first set point; continuously monitoring the presence or absence of said yarn plug at the predetermined point; timing the interval for the end of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined point; comparing the time interval with a fixed time period; and changing the set point of said temperature controller from the first set point to the second set point in response to the comparison of said time interval with said fixed time period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the yarn is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides and polyesters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the yarn is polypropylene.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the fixed time period ranges from about 1/2to about 5 minutes, and wherein the presence or absence of said yarn plug is monitored using an electric eye.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the second set point is higher than the first set point if the electric eye detects the presence of the yarn plug at the predetermined point for a time interval longer than the fixed time period or wherein the second set point is lower than the first set point if the electric eye detects the absence of the yarn plug at the predetermined point for a time interval longer than the fixed time period.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the difference between the second set point and the first set point ranges from about 1° to about 10° C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the yarn is cut and sent to waste if the time interval for the end of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined point is equal to or longer than the fixed time period with the set point of the temperature controller changed to the second set point.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising heating means for heating a yarn; texturing means for texturing the heated yarn to produce a yarn plug, said yarn plug having an end from which the textured yarn is pulled; temperature control means for maintaining the temperature of the heating means at or above a first set point; monitoring means for monitoring the end of said yarn plug, the end of said yarn plug oscillating with respect to a predetermined point; timing means for timing the interval for the end of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined point; and means for changing the set point of the temperature control means from the first set point to a second set point if the interval for the end of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined point is equal to or longer than a fixed time period.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for processing thermoplastic yarn comprising heating means for heating a yarn; texturing means for texturing the heated yarn to produce a yarn plug, said yarn plug having an end from which the textured yarn is pulled; temperature control means for maintaining the temperature of the heating means at or above a first set point; monitoring means for monitoring the end of said yarn plug, the end of said yarn plug oscillating with respect to a predetermined point; timing means for timing the interval for the end of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined point; and means for changing the set point of the temperature control means from the first set point to a second set point if the interval for the end of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined point is equal to or longer than a fixed time period.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the heating means is a set of draw rolls, the texturing means is a fluid jet and the monitoring means is an electric eye which detects the presence or absence of the yarn plug at a predetermined point.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the second set point is higher than the first set point if the electric eye detects the presence of the yarn plug at the predetermined point for a time interval equal to or longer than the fixed time period or wherein the second set point is lower than the first set point if the electric eye detects the absence of the yarn plug at the predetermined point for time interval equal to or longer than the fixed time period.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the difference between the second set point and the first set point ranges from about 1° to about 10° C.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 20 including means for cutting the yarn and sending it to waste if the interval for the end of said yarn plug to oscillate with respect to said predetermined point is equal to or longer than the fixed time period with the set point of the temperature controller adjusted to the second set point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |