Patent Issued for Yarn Texturizing Apparatus And Method (USPTO 10,494,743)

2019 DEC 12 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A patent by the inventors Beavers, Larry Aldon (Chatsworth, GA); Plemmons, Joe (Blue Ridge, GA), filed on April 8, 2016, was published online on December 16, 2019, according to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx correspondents.

Patent number 10,494,743 is assigned to Columbia Insurance Company (Omaha, Nebraska, United States).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Twisted, plied yarns can be used to form carpet products. In known high-speed processes for producing such twisted, plied yarns, individual yarns are fed from a creel under tension to a twist block that alternately imparts ‘S’ and ‘Z’ twists to the individual yarns, which ply together to form twisted yarns. Typically, in these processes, to lock the twists in place, a single jet of air is used to cause entanglement between the individual yarns. However, the activation of this entanglement air must be timed to exactly coincide with the passage of a small segment of ‘zero-twist’ yarn positioned between sequential twists and twist reversal points. Otherwise, as is often the case, the segment of yarn passes through the device without being tacked. Such skips in tacking reduce the quality of the final carpet product while also reducing efficiency.

“Therefore, there is a need in the pertinent art for a means to add additional tack to yarn between twist reversals. There is a further need for means to add tack within the twist strand to minimize the rolling effect of the yarn as it is taken off in subsequent processes. There is still a further need for improving the quality of carpet products that make use of twisted, plied yarns.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.

“Disclosed herein, in one aspect, is an apparatus and method for yarn texturizing. The yarn texturizing apparatus texturizes a plurality of yarns. The yarn texturizing apparatus has a yarn path extending between a yarn inlet port and a yarn outlet port.

“In one aspect, the yarn texturing apparatus can have a tack assembly, a nip roller, a jet box assembly, and a pull roller assembly. In this aspect, the tack assembly can be configured to receive at least one bundle of yarns. In this aspect, each bundle of yarns can comprise at least two yarns from the plurality of yarns. In a further aspect, the tack assembly can also comprise conventional means for imparting a plurality of twists to each bundle of yarns that pass through the tack assembly. It is contemplated that the plurality of twists can comprise one type of twist repeated sequentially, or, optionally, the plurality of twists can comprise at least two different types of twists that are repeated sequentially as desired. In an exemplary aspect, it is contemplated that at least two different twists of the plurality of twists can comprise a S-twist and a Z-twist. In a further aspect, it is contemplated that the tack assembly can also comprise conventional means for placing a first tack point onto each bundle of yarns at a point corresponding to a twist reversal between the at least two different twists.

“The nip roller can be positioned downstream of the tack assembly along the yarn path and can be configured to pull the at least one bundle of yarns through the tack assembly at a selectively adjustable speed.

“The jet box assembly can be positioned downstream of the nip roller. The jet box assembly can be configured to place a plurality of additional tack points onto each bundle of yarns as the at least one bundle of yarns passes through the jet box assembly. In one exemplary aspect, the plurality of additional tack points can be placed intermittently along the plurality of twists of each bundle of yarns. In an additional aspect, the pull roller assembly can be positioned downstream of the jet box assembly along the yarn path and can be configured to pull the at least one bundle of yarns through the jet box assembly at a selectively adjustable speed.

“In an additional aspect, the yarn texturing apparatus can further comprise at least one elongate body positioned upstream of the tack assembly. In one aspect, the at least one elongate body can have an inner surface that defines a bore that extends from a first end of the elongate body to an opposed second end of the elongate body. The elongate body can also, optionally, define a plurality of conduits disposed therein. In this aspect, each conduit of the plurality of conduits can be configured to guide a single yarn of the plurality of yarns along the yarn path. In this aspect, it is contemplated that the tack assembly can be configured to receive the at least one bundle of yarns from the plurality of yarns emerging from the plurality of conduits.

“Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“What is claimed is:

“1. A yarn texturizing apparatus for texturizing a plurality of yarns, wherein the yarn texturizing apparatus has a yarn path extending between a yarn inlet port and a yarn outlet port, comprising: a tack assembly configured to receive at least one bundle of yarns, wherein each bundle of yarns comprises at least two yarns of the plurality of yarns, wherein the tack assembly is configured to impart at least a first and a second twist onto each bundle of yarns, and wherein the tack assembly is further configured to place a first tack point onto each bundle of yarns at a point corresponding to a twist reversal between the first and second twists; a nip roller located downstream of the tack assembly along the yarn path, wherein the nip roller is configured to pull the at least one bundle of yarns through the tack assembly at a selectively adjustable speed; a jet box assembly positioned downstream of the nip roller relative to the yarn path, wherein the jet box assembly is configured to place a plurality of additional tack points onto each bundle of yarns as the at least one bundle of yarns passes through the jet box assembly, wherein the plurality of additional tack points are placed intermittently along the twists of each bundle of yarns; a pull roller assembly positioned downstream of the jet box assembly along the yarn path, wherein the pull roller assembly is configured to pull the at least one bundle of yarns through the jet box assembly at a selectively adjustable speed; and at least one elongate body positioned upstream of the tack assembly, the at least one elongate body having an inner surface that defines a bore that extends from a first end of the elongate body to an opposed second end of the elongate body and a plurality of conduits disposed therein, wherein each conduit of the plurality of conduits is configured to guide a single yarn of the plurality of yarns along the yarn path, and wherein the tack assembly is configured to receive the at least one bundle of yarns from the plurality of yarns emerging from the plurality of conduits.

“2. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tack assembly comprises: a twist plate assembly positioned downstream from the at least one elongate body relative to the yarn path; and a roto-jet assembly positioned downstream of the twist plate assembly relative to the yarn path.

“3. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the twist plate assembly is configured to receive the at least one bundle of yarns, wherein the twist plate assembly comprises: a first plurality of twist plates oriented to rotate the at least one bundle of yarns in a first direction to impart the first twist to each bundle of yarns; and a second plurality of twist plates oriented to rotate the at least one bundle of yarns in a second direction to impart the second twist to each bundle of yarns.

“4. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the roto-jet assembly is configured to place a first tack point in the bundle of yarns at a point corresponding to a twist reversal between the first twist and the second twist of the bundle of yarns as the bundle of yarns passes through the roto-jet assembly.

“5. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first twist is a S-twist and the second twist is a Z-twist.

“6. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a winder that is positioned downstream of the pull roller assembly, wherein the winder is configured to pull the yarn through the yarn texturizing apparatus.

“7. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the yarn texturizing apparatus is configured to receive at least one continuous filament yarn.

“8. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the continuous filament yarn comprises nylon, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate yarns.

“9. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of yarns comprises at least two different colored yarns.

“10. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second plurality of twist plates rotate in a range between 1.9 turns per inch (TPI) to 2.1 TPI in both the first and second directions.

“11. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nip roller is configured to operate at speeds ranging from 300 to 800 ypm.

“12. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the speed of the pull roller assembly is selected to run at a speed that is at least 5% faster than the speed of the nip roller.

“13. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nip roller comprises a driven flat belt operably associated with a plurality of rollers.

“14. The yarn texturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the additional tack points on the bundle of yarns is positioned between sequential twist reversals.

“15. A yarn texturizing apparatus for texturizing a plurality of yarns, wherein the yarn texturizing apparatus has a yarn path extending between a yarn inlet port and a yarn outlet port, comprising: a tack assembly configured to receive at least one bundle of yarns, wherein each bundle of yarns comprises at least two yarns of the plurality of yarns, the tack assembly being configured to impart a plurality of twists to each bundle of yarns, wherein the plurality of twists comprises at least two different twists, and wherein the tack assembly is further configured to place a first tack point onto each bundle of yarns at a point corresponding to a twist reversal between the at least two different twists; a nip roller comprising a driven flat belt operably associated with a plurality of rollers, wherein the nip roller is located downstream of the tack assembly along the yarn path, wherein the nip roller is configured to pull the at least one bundle of yarns through the tack assembly at a selectively adjustable speed; a jet box assembly positioned downstream of the nip roller relative to the yarn path, wherein the jet box assembly is configured to place a plurality of additional tack points onto each bundle of yarns as the at least one bundle of yarns passes through the jet box assembly, wherein the plurality of additional tack points are placed intermittently along the plurality of twists of each bundle of yarns; a pull roller assembly positioned downstream of the jet box assembly along the yarn path, wherein the pull roller assembly is configured to pull the at least one bundle of yarns through the jet box assembly at a selectively adjustable speed; and at least one elongate body positioned upstream of the tack assembly, the at least one elongate body having an inner surface that defines a bore that extends from a first end of the elongate body to an opposed second end of the elongate body and a plurality of conduits disposed therein, wherein each conduit of the plurality of conduits is configured to guide a single yarn of the plurality of yarns along the yarn path, and wherein the tack assembly is configured to receive the at least one bundle of yarns from the plurality of yarns emerging from the plurality of conduits.

“16. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tack assembly comprises: a twist plate assembly positioned downstream from the at least one elongate body relative to the yarn path; and a roto-jet assembly positioned downstream of the twist plate assembly relative to the yarn path.

“17. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the twist plate assembly is configured to receive the at least one bundle of yarns, wherein the twist plate assembly comprises: a first plurality of twist plates oriented to rotate each at least one bundle of yarns in a first direction to impart a first twist to the bundle of yarns; and a second plurality of twist plates oriented to rotate each at least one bundle of yarns in a second direction to impart a second twist to the bundle of yarns.

“18. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the roto-jet assembly is configured to place a first tack point in each bundle of yarns at a point corresponding to a twist reversal between the first twist and the second twist of each bundle of yarns as the at least one bundle of yarns passes through the roto-jet assembly.

“19. The yarn texturizing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first twist is a S-twist and the second twist is a Z-twist.

“20. The yarn texturing apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the additional tack points on the bundle of yarns is positioned between sequential twist reversals.”

URL and more information on this patent, see: Beavers, Larry Aldon; Plemmons, Joe. Yarn Texturizing Apparatus And Method. U.S. Patent Number 10,494,743, filed April 8, 2016, and published online on December 16, 2019. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=10,494,743.PN.&OS=PN/10,494,743RS=PN/10,494,743

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