Vibrating roller

Abstract

An apparatus for applying traveling waves in a plurality of filaments moving in a web is provided. The apparatus includes a web damper, a vibrating roller, and an actuator. The web damper and vibrating roller are arranged to contact the plurality of wires from opposite sides of the web, for example from the top and bottom (or vice versa), respectively. The vibrating roller is attached to the actuator such that the vibrating roller imparts movement to the vibrating roller in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the wire. The web damper is configured to provide damping of any waves transmitted through the wire toward the web damper such that the traveling waves are allowed to travel only in a direction away from the web damper.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of processing elongated elements such as filaments. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus for applying vibration to a moving filament during a processing procedure. This procedure may be an acid pickling process or a coating process. Background Technology

[0002] Before undergoing further processing (such as electroplating), metal wires require treatments such as washing, cleaning, and descaling. For example, pickling is used to remove surface impurities or oxides. Strong chemicals (such as acids, including sulfuric acid) are used as pickling solutions. The large volume of wire processed results in significant amounts of waste pickling solution. Disposing of waste pickling solution is expensive and an environmental burden. Therefore, pickling waste should be minimized. Contact between the wire and pickling solution typically causes chemical reactions that can lead to bubble formation, etc. This reduces processing efficiency.

[0003] Alternatively, the wire can be coated in an electrolytic bath. During electrolytic deposition, positive metal ions are deposited on the positively charged wire. Near the wire, the deposition of metal ions is diffusion-limited, and the formation of a bilayer slows down the deposition process. This reduces the efficiency of electrolytic deposition.

[0004] The aim is to improve the contact quality between the yarn and the fluids used for processing (such as pickling liquids or electrolytes) in order to increase efficiency and reduce processing costs, time and / or waste.

[0005] US 3,082,119 describes a galvanizing facility in which a wire is agitated by a rotating motor having a disc comprising pins that provide regular pulses to the wire. The fluid properties of a hot-dip galvanizing bath are entirely different from those of an electrolytic or pickling bath. Furthermore, the mentioned accelerations (20g to a maximum of 1000g) are sufficient to cause the wire to plastically bend upon impact. This is undesirable. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, facility, and method for effectively cleaning and / or chemically treating multiple metal wires.

[0007] In a first aspect, an apparatus is provided for applying a traveling wave in a plurality of filaments moving in a web. The apparatus includes a web damper, a vibrating roller, and an actuator. The web damper and the vibrating roller are arranged to contact the plurality of filaments from opposite sides of the web, for example, from the top and bottom, respectively (or vice versa).

[0008] The vibrating roller is attached to the actuator, causing the vibrating roller to move in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the yarn. The movement applied to the yarn by the vibrating roller can be up-and-down movement, i.e., in the vertical direction, or left-and-right movement, i.e., in the horizontal direction, or a combination of both, i.e., elliptical movement, such as circular movement.

[0009] The web damper is configured to provide damping for waves transmitted through the yarn toward the web damper, allowing the traveling wave to travel only toward and past the vibrating roller in a direction away from the web damper. The web damper can take the form of felt contacting the yarn web. The felt largely dampens the vibration of the yarn. Simultaneously, the felt can aid in drying the yarn when leaving the previous step or entering the next step. Alternatively, the web damper can take the form of a brush that holds the yarn in place. The web damper can also be a roller that holds the yarn in place and pushes it toward the vibrating roller, possibly a grooved roller. The roller can be passive, i.e., the roller rotates by friction with the passing yarn, or the roller can be driven.

[0010] Preferably, the vibrating roller rotates freely with the yarn web, and there is no friction between the vibrating roller and the yarn forming the yarn web. If there is friction between the vibrating roller and the yarn, it will damage not only the vibrating roller but also the yarn surface, which is unacceptable.

[0011] The contact between the yarn web and the web damper and the vibrating roller ensures that the vibrating roller contacts, engages with, and moves the yarn web for at least half of the actuator's vibration cycle. More preferably, the vibrating roller contacts, engages with, and moves the yarn web for the entire vibration cycle of the actuator. This can be achieved by changing the height of the web damper and / or by changing the height of the vibrating roller, or by changing both.

[0012] Preferably, the diameter of the vibrating roller at the point of contact with the yarn is at least ten times, or fifteen times, or even twenty times, the diameter of the yarn. If the diameter of the vibrating roller is too small, the yarn will experience localized, periodic, and potentially plastic bending due to the vibration impact of the roller. This must be avoided. The diameter of the vibrating roller is also limited by space constraints within the facility at the other end.

[0013] An advantage of embodiments of the invention is the increased agitation of the pickling fluid. This allows for better mechanical cleaning of the yarn, accelerated chemical cleaning, and / or better use of the pickling fluid, thereby reducing waste. An additional advantage of embodiments of the invention is the ability to achieve better electrochemical deposition from the electrolyte to the yarn, resulting in improved deep plating capability. An advantage of embodiments of the invention is the prevention of vibration in the yarn section (e.g., in the pretreatment section, such as in the washing section) before it reaches the tank containing the fluid.

[0014] In some embodiments of the invention, the device further includes a carrier and a frame. The carrier is fixedly connected to the ground and separate from the web damper. The vibrating roller and actuator are held by the frame. The frame is movably connected to the carrier via connectors.

[0015] Alternatively, the vibrating roller is held by the frame, which is movably connected to the carrier via a connector. An actuator is fixedly connected to the ground and is configured to actuate the frame.

[0016] In some implementations, the connection between the frame and the carrier is elastic; that is, it is a resilient connection. No vibration is transmitted to nearby devices, for example, through the ground. An "elastic connection" is a flexible, elastic, rubber-type connection. Such a connection rebounds after being stretched or compressed, returning to its original shape.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the actuator is an unbalanced rotary motor, an axial motor, a resonant device, etc. An advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that a simple rotary motor can be used.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the vibrating roller and the web damper are mechanically separated from each other. "Mechanical separation" means that the vibration of the vibrating roller does not reach the web damper except through the yarn web.

[0019] In some embodiments of the invention, the actuator is configured to apply a zero-point speed to the wire between 20 mm / s and 100 mm / s, more preferably between 50 mm / s and 100 mm / s, for example between 55 mm / s and 90 mm / s. The inventors have determined that this zero-point speed is a key parameter for determining the effectiveness of the facility (e.g., for improving the pickling efficiency or deep plating capability of the facility).

[0020] In embodiments of the invention, the term "zero-point velocity" refers to the maximum speed of the yarn in the amplitude direction during vibration. At the highest and lowest points of vibration, the yarn's velocity in the amplitude direction is zero as it transitions from upward to downward motion. The speed of the yarn at the zero point (where the yarn is stationary, i.e., as if it were not vibrating) is at its maximum. In other words, the zero-point velocity is the highest speed of the yarn in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction should be understood as the direction in which the yarn is stationary, or similarly, the direction of movement of the yarn web.

[0021] In some embodiments of the invention, the actuator is configured to apply a vibration amplitude between half and five times the diameter of the wire, more preferably between half and two times the diameter of the wire. The vibration amplitude is half the distance between the extreme displacements of the actuator.

[0022] In some embodiments of the invention, the actuator is configured to apply a frequency different from the fundamental frequency of the system to multiple filaments. The fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency at which the entire assembly actuated by the actuator enters resonance. "The entire assembly" includes all parts that move under the action of the actuator, and this assembly also includes the filament webs. "Different from" means that the applied frequency is outside the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the resonance peak. The entire assembly exhibits only one resonance peak. If the wave applied to the filament webs is a standing wave rather than a traveling wave as in this invention, more resonance peaks will appear. More preferably, the applied frequency is greater than the fundamental frequency. Preferably, the applied frequency is relatively large and outside the full WHM of the resonance peak.

[0023] In a second aspect, a thread handling facility is provided. The thread handling facility includes a fluid container and an overflow tray. Fluid overflows from the overflow tray into the container. For example, a pump can be used to pump the fluid from the container into the overflow tray. The facility is configured for multiple threads to enter or exit the fluid at the overflow point. The thread handling facility also includes equipment according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, located at the inlet or outlet of the thread handling facility. The equipment is placed outside the fluid container, for example, completely outside, with no parts entering the container. In some embodiments, the equipment and its parts do not overlap with the container.

[0024] The advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that mechanical vibration can be provided within the tank in a simple manner using a single actuator without splashing at the tank outlet. The device is self-contained and not connected to other parts of the facility, being mechanically isolated from them. This mechanical isolation from the container and overflow tray prevents the device from being damaged by the fluid (typically corrosive) in the overflow tray. From the container side, it is important that the vibration is not transmitted to other parts of the facility, which could otherwise cause damage to, for example, the container's piping and bolts, as well as associated pump lines.

[0025] In some embodiments of the invention, the facility includes a thread holder for holding multiple threads, wherein the thread holder is located at the end of the processing facility opposite to the end having the equipment. The thread holder is used to eliminate any lateral movement that may be present in the thread web, such as due to fluid movement in the overflow tray.

[0026] In a third aspect, a method for handling multiple webs of filaments is provided on a filament handling facility according to an embodiment of the second aspect. The method includes introducing the filaments into a fluid while simultaneously applying vibration using waves traveling toward the fluid. The method also includes damping vibrations transmitted away from the fluid through the filaments.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present invention, vibration is applied to multiple filaments at a frequency greater than the fundamental frequency and at which standing waves are not allowed.

[0028] In some embodiments of the invention, the vibration is applied at a zero-point velocity between 20 mm / s and 100 mm / s, more preferably between 50 mm / s and 100 mm / s, for example between 55 mm / s and 75 mm / s.

[0029] The advantages of the embodiments of the present invention are that they provide effective processing (e.g., acid washing, electrolytic deposition, etc.) while reducing waste output and / or increasing product output.

[0030] In some embodiments of the invention, applying vibration includes providing vibration such that its amplitude is zero when it leaves the overflow pan.

[0031] In some embodiments of the invention, introducing the filament into the fluid includes introducing the filament into the electrolyte.

[0032] In some embodiments of the invention, vibration is applied to a portion of the moving thread before the thread is introduced into the fluid.

[0033] Specific and preferred aspects of the invention are set forth in the appended independent and dependent claims. Features from the dependent claims may be appropriately combined with features of the independent claims and other dependent claims, and not merely as shown in the claims.

[0034] These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 An apparatus including a vibrating roller is shown according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 2 The apparatus of the present invention is shown, which is located between two modules of a thread processing facility for moving threads from one module to the next.

[0037] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a filament subjected to vibration in a processing fluid of a facility, according to an embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, is shown.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a filament subjected to vibration in a processing fluid of a facility, according to an alternative embodiment of a second aspect of the invention.

[0040] The accompanying drawings are illustrative only and not restrictive. In the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the size of some elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale.

[0041] Any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0042] In different accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The invention will be described with respect to specific embodiments and with reference to certain accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto, but is limited only by the claims. Dimensions and relative dimensions do not correspond to an actual reduction in the practice of the invention.

[0044] Furthermore, the terms top, bottom, etc., used in the specification and claims are for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate, and embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in orientations other than those described or exemplified herein.

[0045] It should be noted that the term "comprising" as used in the claims should not be construed as limited to the components listed thereafter; it does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Therefore, the term "comprising" covers both the presence of only the stated features and the presence of these features plus one or more other features. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising components A and B" should not be construed as limited to a device consisting solely of components A and B. This means that, for the purposes of this invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

[0046] Throughout this specification, references to "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that at least one embodiment of the invention includes a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing in different places throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, but may refer to the same embodiment.

[0047] Similarly, it should be understood that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes combined in a single embodiment, drawing, or description therein for the purpose of simplifying this disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. However, this approach of the disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the following claims, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the claims following the detailed description are thus expressly incorporated into this detailed description, wherein each claim independently serves as a separate embodiment of the invention.

[0048] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include features that are not included in other embodiments, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to fall within the scope of the invention and form different embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any claimed embodiment may be used in any combination.

[0049] This invention relates to the industrial processing of wires, particularly multiple metal wires that need to come into contact with a processing fluid. The wires, as a group or “webs,” move parallel to each other through a processing stage comprising a tank or vessel containing the fluid. The wire webs are driven so that they come into contact with the fluid in the vessel. The vessel may be a continuously replenished overflow tray. Replenishment may include, for example, pumping the overflowing fluid back into the tray.

[0050] This invention can be used with any metal filament made of copper, copper alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, tungsten, titanium, or steel (such as ordinary carbon steel or stainless steel), but is not limited to these examples. The metal filament may, for example, be coated with tin, nickel, brass, or bronze.

[0051] This application can be advantageously applied to the pickling of metal wires, particularly steel wires, because improving the efficiency of this treatment helps reduce chemical waste. The invention can also be used to increase the deposition rate in metal electrolytic deposition. By applying vibration to the wire, the charge "double layer" at the wire surface is mechanically disturbed, leading to an increased deposition rate. As metal ions are deposited on the wire, a "double layer" forms near the wire surface as the metal ions are depleted from the electrolyte. The replenishment of the deposited metal ions is diffusion-limited. Through mechanical agitation, metal ions can more easily reach the surface of the metal wire substrate. In short, the invention is also advantageous in any treatment where effective contact between the wire surface and the treatment liquid is desired.

[0052] It has been found that vibrations applied to the wires improve their contact with the desired fluid. This is beneficial because contact with the wire surface can be provided with less fluid or less contact time. For example, in the case of pickling, air bubbles on the wire surface can be easily eliminated or avoided. In the case of electrolytic deposition, double-layer deposition can be effectively overcome.

[0053] In certain pickling conditions, increasing the agitation of the pickling solution allows for mechanical cleaning of the yarn and accelerates chemical cleaning. Alternatively or in combination with this, chemical cleaning can be carried out with a lower concentration of pickling solution.

[0054] In certain cases of electrolytic deposition, the fracture of the bilayer leads to an increased “deep plating capability,” thereby allowing for an increase in the mass of metal deposited per unit residence time in the electrolyte.

[0055] Vibration is applied so that the wave formed in the thread is a traveling wave, not a standing wave. Attenuation is achieved through the thread itself, so that the thread does not vibrate at the opposite ends of the can.

[0056] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus or vibration module for applying such vibration to a yarn web. The vibration is applied by a vibrating roller connected to an actuator. The vibration module is positioned on the side of the tank such that no part of the module is immersed in the fluid, and splashing is reduced. The web is driven through the tank; in other words, the yarn moves through the tank in its longitudinal direction.

[0057] An actuator moves the vibrating roller in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The device is configured to move the yarn such that the yarn vibrates with a traveling wave. Unlike a standing wave, a traveling wave is a wave that travels along the yarn. In some embodiments, the wave travels in the direction of the yarn's movement. Because the wave is a traveling wave, there are no static nodes throughout the yarn. These waves can be described by the following equation: y = f(x – vt). Where “y” is the position in the amplitude direction (perpendicular to the thread), “x” is the position along the thread or in the horizontal direction, “t” is time, and “v” is the wave propagation speed.

[0058] According to Mersenne's law, the propagation speed "v" is determined by the tension and linearity of the wire. The tension on a single wire is greater than 15 N or even 20 N. This tension increases as the wire passes through different stations in the facility. For steel wires in a typical facility, this propagation speed is well over 1000 m / s.

[0059] In addition, there is a linear velocity of the yarn in the longitudinal direction. Typically, this linear velocity is between 1 / 3 m / s and 4 m / s.

[0060] This device can be implemented on existing processing pipelines. It can be implemented between two modules for different processes, where adjacent modules do not require vibration. One advantage is that the device can be inserted independently without mechanical connection to other parts of the facility. In this way, no damage to other parts of the facility is induced. The device is suitable for providing a traveling wave that allows it to travel in one direction toward the processing tank. The device includes a web damper for damping or preventing wave transmission to adjacent modules.

[0061] This invention can be applied to pickling, therefore the fluid can be a corrosive liquid. Because the vibration module is located outside the pickling module and does not overlap with it, this invention has the advantage that the fluid used for pickling does not affect the equipment used to apply the vibration.

[0062] Figure 1 A device as a vibration unit 100, as an exemplary embodiment of the invention, is shown. Both a web damper 101 with a static, non-vibrating axis and a vibrating roller 102, which is a roller made to vibrate, are configured such that the yarn is tensioned, held, and pressed between them, thus damping the vibration in one direction (e.g., upstream of the yarn). For example, the yarn can run on the vibrating roller and can be damped by pushing the yarn downward with the web damper. The web damper 101 can be mounted on a carrier 107 (as an articulated carrier 107). During assembly, when the yarn is laid before starting the facility, the yarn runs on top of the vibrating roller 102, while the web damper is raised during assembly by tilting the articulated carrier 107 upward. The articulated carrier 107 is then lowered. A counterweight 108 can be added to the articulated carrier 107 to facilitate opening and closing the carrier when pressing the yarn web from above. This is Figure 3 The configuration is shown. The carrier can then be locked by locking member 109. This configuration can also be different, with the web damper at the bottom of the web and the vibrating roller at the top. Typically, in some embodiments, the web damper and the vibrating roller are positioned on opposite sides of a plane formed by the coplanar yarns of the web.

[0063] In some embodiments of the invention, the vibration unit 100 includes a carrier, which is a fixed carrier 104 holding the vibration frame 105 to which the vibration roller 102 is mounted. This means that the shaft of the vibration roller vibrates together with the frame. Vibration is effectively transmitted to the roller by reducing (e.g., minimizing) the transmission of vibration to the fixed carrier 104. The carrier may be fixedly connected to the ground; for example, the carrier 104 may include support legs or columns. To reduce the transmission of vibration to the web damper 101, the carrier 104 is disconnected from the web damper 101, for example, from its carrier 107, for example, separated. The vibration frame 105 is a rigid body such as a support and holds the vibration roller 102. Vibration is applied to the vibration roller from the actuator 103 through the frame. In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, actuator 103 is attached to frame 105 such that when actuator 103 is activated, frame 105 and roller 102 vibrate. This arrangement advantageously reduces losses due to friction or deformation in the motion transmission from actuator to roller.

[0064] In some embodiments of the invention, an elastic connector 106 exists between the frame and the carrier. For example, the connector may be adapted to absorb vibrations transmitted to the carrier; for example, the connector 106 may be adapted to absorb shocks. For example, an elastic spring may be used.

[0065] In some implementations, an elastic rubber block can be used, such as a cylinder with a diameter of 50 mm and a height of 50 mm made of natural rubber with a Shore A hardness between 30 and 40. Alternatively, the connector can be a leaf spring made of tempered steel, or it can be a coil spring, such as a suspension spring used in vehicles or trucks.

[0066] The properties of the connectors must be chosen so that the fundamental frequency of the system remains below 50Hz, for example, below 30Hz or even below 20Hz. If the fundamental frequency is too high, the amplitude of vibration applied to the wire becomes too small. At the other end, the fundamental frequency must be greater than 10Hz to achieve a zero-point rate higher than 20mm / s.

[0067] In some embodiments of the invention, the actuator 103 is a resonant device. In some embodiments, it can be a simple device; for example, it can be a motor, such as an axial motor. For example, it can be an unbalanced motor that vibrates during startup.

[0068] The actuator is adapted to provide sufficient vibrational motion to the moving yarn web, making the interaction with the fluid more effective than without vibration. The actuation should be high enough to provide significant results, requiring less residence time for the yarn to contact the fluid. This allows for faster processing or the use of shorter tanks, thus saving fluid. Alternatively, vibration helps to achieve sufficient pickling at lower pickling concentrations within the same residence time. However, the vibration should not be so fast that it may cause strain on the yarn and / or rollers. In some embodiments of the invention, the actuator is adapted to provide a zero-point velocity between 20 mm / s and 100 mm / s, for example, between 50 mm / s and 100 mm / s, for example, between 55 mm / s and 90 mm / s, approximately 80 mm / s. The zero-point velocity is related to the rate of interaction between the fluid and the yarn. Too low a rate will not result in increased interaction. At excessively high zero-point velocities, it is difficult to generate sufficient amplitude on the yarn.

[0069] Additionally, before vibration processing, such as before the yarn reaches the vibration unit 100, the yarn is typically driven through grooves in a cleaning station, for example, for drying. If the vibration is too strong, some vibrational energy can even be transmitted through the web damper. Therefore, the amplitude of the vibration should not be too high to avoid the yarn breaking or jumping out of these cleaning grooves. In some embodiments, the actuator 103 applies vibration with an amplitude, for example, up to twice the diameter of the yarn. The diameter of the yarn can be between 0.5 mm and at most 3.00 mm.

[0070] Because the yarn moves longitudinally within the web and vibrates with the traveling wave, and because the wave attenuates as it progresses, the wave is not a standing wave. In some embodiments, the actuator may also be adapted to provide the yarn with a vibration frequency greater than the fundamental frequency of the system portion of the yarn being processed. The “system fundamental frequency” is the vibration frequency at which the assembly of the vibrating roller, carrier, actuator, and connector resonates with the yarn web. Preferably, the applied vibration frequency differs from the fundamental frequency: because at the fundamental frequency, energy is highly absorbed into the assembly, which can lead to damage to the facility. Preferably, the vibration frequency is maintained outside the full width at half maximum (FWHM) frequency range of the resonance peak at the fundamental frequency. For example, the frequency may be 1.5 times higher than the fundamental frequency, or twice higher. Alternatively, the frequency may be lower than the fundamental frequency, provided the zero-point rate is sufficiently high.

[0071] In another aspect, the present invention provides a thread processing apparatus for processing multiple threads by exposing them to a processing fluid. The apparatus includes a module serving as a processing bath and a vibration unit as described above.

[0072] like Figure 3As shown, the module corresponding to the treatment bath 200 includes a fluid container 201 and an overflow tray 202. A pump 203 is included that pumps fluid from below into the overflow tray, and then the fluid overflows back into the container. In some embodiments, the fluid is reused from the container by returning it to the overflow tray. The pump can be used, for example, to reuse the fluid and pump it from the container to the overflow tray.

[0073] Facility 500 also includes a vibration unit 100 according to any embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, for applying vibration to the yarn toward the module. Parts of facility 500 according to some embodiments are shown. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this process, the yarn can be continuously driven through several modules 200, 401 for continuous processing. The addition of the device of the first aspect improves the immersion of the yarn web in the fluid. Typically, the yarn web is processed by dragging the yarn through the fluid on an overflow tray. The device of the first aspect (vibration unit 100) is used to apply vibration of the yarn web into the processing bath from outside the fluid container (e.g., outside the processing bath 200). The vibration unit 100 is placed outside the processing bath 200. For example, the vibration unit can be placed at the inlet or outlet of the bath.

[0074] In some embodiments, the vibrating unit 100 is located between two processing modules 401, 200 (e.g., washing unit 401 and processing bath 200), which may be a chemical treatment, such as chemical surface cleaning. The yarn is pulled from the washing unit 401 through the vibrating unit 100 to the processing bath 200 along the arrow at the top of the figure. The web damper 101 of the vibrating unit 100 is configured to reduce or stop all vibrations from the vibrating roller 102 to the adjacent module 401, while the vibrating unit allows the wave to travel in the intended direction of the processing bath 200.

[0075] Typically, the web damper 101 advantageously reduces or prevents vibration of the yarn 300 in unwanted parts of the facility. For example, a wash bath 401 for washing the yarn surface may optionally include a dryer retainer, which may include a drying groove, etc. The web damper 101 between the vibrating roller 102 and the adjacent module reduces wave transmission toward the dryer retainer, which reduces unwanted lateral movement of the yarn, jumping out of the drying groove, etc., or prevents tangling before the processing module.

[0076] In some embodiments of the invention, such as those discussed above, a thread holder 204 is included on the side of bath 200 opposite to the side with the vibration unit 100. In some embodiments, it is a roller that receives and drives the thread out of bath 201, thus the vibration unit is positioned on the side where the thread enters the bath. This reduces splashing of the processing fluid from the thread because the vibration is applied to a portion of the thread that has not yet come into contact with the processing fluid. The invention is not limited thereto, and if such a configuration is desired, the thread holder can drive the thread web into the bath. In this case, a vibrating roller at the opposite end of the bath pulls the thread out of the bath, thus combining the motion with vibration. If the vibrating roller is positioned at the outlet of the bath, the wave travels longitudinally along the thread after the thread has been processed, but opposite to the horizontal movement of the thread through the bath.

[0077] In some embodiments of the invention, the treatment liquid in the bath comprises a pickling fluid or pickling liquid, which may contain an acid or alkali, depending on the metal to be treated, as known in the art. Typical pickling liquids include hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. Pickling is used to deeply clean and descale the surface of the yarn in the pickling bath. In this particular embodiment, it is preferred that the yarn web is vibrated at the inlet and before pickling. This reduces the amount of splashing pickling liquid compared to when the vibrating roller is placed after the pickling bath, thus preventing damage to actuators and moving parts (frames, etc.) from excessive splashing of the typically corrosive pickling liquid.

[0078] In another embodiment of the invention, the liquid is an electrolyte used to process the metal wire. Embodiments of the invention include, but are not limited to, for example, copper pyrophosphate electrolytes, copper sulfate electrolytes, or zinc sulfate baths. Electrodeposition can also be considered for depositing a bronze exchange layer from a copper sulfate-tin bath, for example.

[0079] In some embodiments of the invention, the configuration of the facility allows for attenuation of the traveling wave on the side of the overflow tray opposite the inlet. The characteristics of the vibration (frequency, amplitude) and the distance between the vibrating roller and the yarn holder can be adapted to achieve partial or complete attenuation on the side of the bath opposite to the vibrating roller. In this way, the vibration of the yarn web is confined to the desired area.

[0080] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, such as Figure 5 As illustrated, the frame 105 holding the vibrating roller 102 is driven by an actuator 103. The difference is that the actuator 103 is fixedly connected to the ground. The actuator may be in the form of a rotary motor pulley 112 that drives the frame 105 via a crank 111. The frame 105 is held by a resilient connector 106 and moves between the guides 110.

[0081] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for processing multiple filaments. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of the method. These threads are processed simultaneously as moving webs. The method includes introducing the threads into the S01 processing fluid while simultaneously applying S02 vibrations using traveling waves, wherein the waves propagate toward the processing fluid in the bath. The method also includes damping S03 or blocking vibrations transmitted through the threads away from the fluid (and bath). In some embodiments, introducing the threads into the S11 fluid includes introducing the threads into the pickling fluid.

[0082] This method can be performed using an apparatus as described in any embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, for example in a processing unit as described in an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

[0083] Applying vibration S02 includes providing continuous vibration of the yarn with a traveling wave; in embodiments of the invention, the vibration prevents standing waves from occurring. In some embodiments, it may include applying vibration S12 at a zero-point velocity (as defined above) between 50 mm / s and 100 mm / s, for example between 60 mm / s and 90 mm / s, for example about 80 mm / s. In some embodiments, the method includes applying vibration S22 at a frequency greater than the fundamental frequency. For example, it may be 1.5 times or greater than the fundamental frequency, for example, it may be twice or greater than the fundamental frequency. The method may include applying vibration to the yarn such that attenuation reduces the amplitude along the yarn. Negligible vibration or no vibration reaches the other side of the treatment bath. Due to attenuation, the yarn vibrates as an open yarn. The yarn holder on the side of the bath opposite the vibrating roller does not act as a fixed node because the vibration hardly reaches or does not reach the yarn holder at all. Therefore, there is no wave reflection.

Claims

1. An apparatus (100) for applying a traveling wave in a plurality of filaments moving in a web, the apparatus comprising a web damper (101), a vibrating roller (102), and an actuator (103), the web damper (101) and the vibrating roller (102) for contacting the plurality of filaments from opposite sides of the web, the vibrating roller (102) being attached to the actuator, wherein the actuator is adapted to apply movement toward the vibrating roller in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the filaments, wherein the web damper is configured to dampen filament vibrations traveling toward the web damper such that the traveling wave travels only in a direction away from the web damper and toward the vibrating roller.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating roller (102) is freely rotatable to follow the speed of the yarn web.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, the device further comprising a carrier (104) and a frame (105), the carrier being fixedly connected to the ground and separated from the web damper (101), the vibrating roller (102) and the actuator (103) being held by the frame (105), the frame being movably connected to the carrier by a connector (106).

4. The device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a carrier and a frame, the carrier being fixedly connected to the ground and separate from the web damper, the vibrating roller being held by the frame, the frame being movably connected to the carrier via a connector, and the actuator being fixedly connected to the ground, the actuator being configured to actuate the frame.

5. The device according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the connector (106) between the frame and the carrier is an elastic connector.

6. The device according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the actuator (103) is an unbalanced rotary motor, an axial motor, or a resonant device.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the actuator (103) is configured to apply a zero-point velocity between 20 mm / s and 100 mm / s.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the actuator (103) is configured to apply a frequency greater than the fundamental frequency of the system to the plurality of filaments.

9. A thread processing facility (500) comprising a fluid container (201) and an overflow tray (202) wherein the overflow tray overflows into the container (201) for allowing multiple threads (300) to enter or exit the fluid at the overflow point, the thread processing facility further comprising an inlet or outlet of the thread processing facility and a device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 located outside the fluid container.

10. The thread processing facility according to claim 9, further comprising a thread holder (204) for holding the plurality of threads, wherein the thread holder is located at an end of the processing facility (200) opposite to an end having the device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A method for processing a moving web of multiple filaments on a filament processing facility according to claims 9 to 10, the filament processing method comprising: The thread is introduced into the fluid (S01), and vibration is applied (S02) by using a wave traveling toward the fluid. The thread processing method further includes damping (S03) the vibration transmitted away from the fluid through the thread.

12. The thread processing method according to claim 11, wherein the vibration applied to the plurality of threads is performed at a frequency greater than the fundamental frequency and standing waves are not allowed (S22).

13. The thread processing method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein vibration is applied (S12) by means of the vibrating roller according to claims 1 to 8 and at the vibrating roller, wherein the vibration has a zero-point velocity between 50 mm / s and 100 mm / s.

14. The thread processing method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein applying vibration comprises providing vibration such that its amplitude is almost zero when leaving the overflow tray.

15. The method for processing a filament according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein introducing the filament into the fluid (S11) comprises introducing the filament into an electrolyte.

16. The thread processing method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein before introducing the thread into the fluid (S01), vibration is applied to a portion of the moving thread (S02).

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