Whirl-Tangling Crimped Compound Thread Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing crimped compound threads lack flexibility in achieving desired color effects, often resulting in undesirable 'flames' or excessive color separation, and are costly and complex, especially for multi-thread applications.

Innovation Solution

The method involves multiple stages of whirl-tangling of multifilament threads with adjustable compressed air settings and temperatures to control filament cohesion and color separation, allowing for a wide range of color effects from mixed to highly separated colors, and uses a specialized apparatus with multiple whirl-tangling units and a galette unit to achieve optimal thread tension and crimping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If individual threads are separately subjected to whirl-tangling and separately crimped, then color separation in the compound thread is improved, but equipment costs increase and process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor separationVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the crimping operations for multiple individual threads into a single common crimping chamber. Individual threads are introduced together into the crimping chamber with the aid of an advancing nozzle, where they undergo common crimping simultaneously. This merging of crimping operations reduces equipment complexity and process complexity while maintaining color separation effects achieved through prior separate whirl-tangling of each thread.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Stability of the object's composition

If individual threads are given a false twist before crimping, then thread cohesion is improved, but certain individual threads may become too dominant and crimping effect may be hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethread cohesionVSAvoidcolor uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies whirl-tangling to individual threads before crimping, which creates controlled filament interlacing and thread cohesion through mechanical action rather than false twist. The whirl-tangling process parameters (such as tangling intensity and duration) can be adjusted to achieve optimal cohesion without causing excessive dominance of individual threads or hindering the subsequent crimping effect. This parameter adjustment allows balanced control of both cohesion and color uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If compressed air pressure for whirl-tangling is increased, then filament cohesion is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilament cohesionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies whirl-tangling with compressed air to individual threads in a controlled manner, using just sufficient pressure to achieve the required filament cohesion for stable thread formation. The compressed air pressure is optimized to provide partial action - enough to create adequate interlacing and cohesion, but not excessive pressure that would waste energy. This balanced approach achieves functional cohesion with minimal energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach provides maximum flexibility and reproducible adjustability of color appearance in crimped compound threads, enabling the production of threads with desired color effects while maintaining texturizing effects and reducing equipment costs.

Implementation Method 1

each of which has a respective compressed air feed (12.3-12.5) with respective pressure adjusting means (14.3-14.5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a galette unit (18, 27) configured for drawing-out the individual threads (6.1-6.3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

the individual threads (6.1-6.3) are combined to form a compound fiber (21)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9194063B2Method and apparatus for manufacturing a crimped compound thread
Publication Date: 2015.11.24 OERLIKON TEXTILE GMBH & CO KG
  • US9194063B2 patent drawing
  • US9194063B2 patent drawing
  • US9194063B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a crimped composite thread, wherein the inventive method consists in extruding, cooling and in drawing several yarns in the form of a plurality of strand filaments and in jointly crimping them in order to obtain a crimped composite thread. The aim of said invention is to make it possible to pre-treat the threads in a manner adaptable to each treatment step. The aim is attained by that at least one multi-treaded yarn is whirl-tangled many times during several operations prior to crimping. For this purpose, a whirl-tangling device provided with a plurality of whirl-tangling units following each other in a direction of the yarn displacement is used.