DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of devices for preventing static charge induction on polymer filaments.
DEFINITIONS
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
Throw-down – The term ‘throw-down’ used hereinafter in the complete specification refers to a method of passing filament yarns from one floor to another. Here, the filaments from all ends of a position are collected, and the collected filament bundle is thrown down from inter-floor tube where eventually the filaments get collected in a suction system.
Tribo-electric effect – The term ‘tribo-electric effect’ used hereinafter in the complete specification refers to a type of contact electrification in which certain materials become electrically charged after they come into frictional contact with a different material.
Ring – Although the general meaning of the term ‘ring’ is a circular piece having a central aperture, the ring disclosed in the present disclosure can have any cross-sectional shape.
These definitions are in addition to those expressed in the art.
BACKGROUND
Continuous strands of polymer filaments are manufactured using a spinning machine. The spinning machine includes a circular inflow quench (CIQ) box in which a plurality of polymer filaments are cooled using an air quenching process. Further, the filaments are threaded on a winder. In an event of yarn break, an operator collects the filaments from all ends for throw-down so that the filaments can be threaded again on the winder. In this process, the operator continuously pulls the filaments while collecting them. The filaments are pulled at an angle causing friction between an operative bottom portion of the quench box and the filaments. As the quench box is made of a metallic material, the friction between the filaments and the quench box induces static charge on the filaments, more specifically on the surface of the filaments. The amount of static charge induced depends upon the material of the filaments and its tribo-electric effect. Due to the induced static charge, a ballooning phenomenon is observed in the filaments, which leads to difficulty in threading. Further, the filaments tend to stick to side walls of the quench box leading to increased throw-down time and increased waste generation.
Therefore, there is felt a need of a device and a method that alleviates the abovementioned drawbacks and prevents the static charge induction on the polymer filaments.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and a method that prevent static charge induction on polymer filaments.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and a method that facilitate easy and faster throw-down of polymer filaments.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and a method that reduce waste generation.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a device for preventing static charge induction on polymer filaments. The device comprises a ring and a guiding structure. The ring is configured to provide a passage to at least one polymer filament to pass therethrough. At least a portion of the ring is of a material selected from the tribo-electric series having the electron affinity similar to the electron affinity of the material of the polymer filament. The guiding structure is disposed upstream of the ring, and is configured to guide the polymer filament to pass through the ring.
The material of at least the portion of the ring is selected from the group consisting of Teflon, Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS), Polyethylene, Polyester, and any combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the ring is of Teflon.
In another embodiment, the ring is Teflon coated.
In yet another embodiment, at least an operative inner surface of the guiding structure is of the material same as the material of the ring.
In another embodiment, the operative inner surface of the guiding structure is of Teflon.
In an embodiment, the width of the guiding structure is less than the width of the ring.
The ring has a shape selected from the group consisting of circular, triangular, rectangular, any geometrical and non-geometrical shapes.
The present disclosure further envisages a method for preventing static charge induction on polymer filaments. The method comprises a step of guiding at least one polymer filament by a guiding structure to pass through a ring. The method further comprises a step of passing the polymer filament through the ring. At least a portion of the ring is made of a material selected from the tribo-electric series having the electron affinity similar to the electron affinity of the material of the polymer filament.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A device and method for preventing static charge induction on polymer filaments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of the device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the device, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 depicts a front view of the device of figure 2; and
Figure 4 illustrates a photographic view depicting an application of the device of Figure 2, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Device
102 – Ring
104a, 104b – Guiding structure
106 – Polymer filaments with ballooning effect
108 – Polymer filaments without ballooning effect
110 – Circular inflow quench box
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure envisages a device and a method for preventing static charge induction on polymer filaments. The device and method facilitate easy and faster throw-down of polymer filaments, and reduce waste generation.
The device and method, of the present disclosure, are now described with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 4.
Referring to figure 1 to figure 3, the device 100 comprises a ring 102 and a guiding structure 104a, 104b disposed upstream of the ring 102. The ring 102 is configured to provide a passage to at least one polymer filament to pass therethrough. At least a portion of the ring 102 is of a material selected from the tribo-electric series. Further, the material of at least the portion of the ring 102 has the electron affinity similar to the electron affinity of the material of the polymer filament passing through the ring 102. As the electron affinities of the material of the portion of the ring 102 and the material of the polymer filament are similar, the static charge induction on the polymer filament is prevented when the polymer filament passes through the ring 102.
The selection of material for the ring 102 primarily depends upon the material of the polymer filament. The material of at least the portion of the ring 102 is selected such that the material of the portion of the ring 102 and the material of the polymer filaments have similar electron affinities. In an embodiment, the material of at least the portion of the ring 102 is selected from the group consisting of Teflon, Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS), Polyethylene, Polyester, and any combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, if the polymer filament is of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), the suitable material of at least the portion of the ring 102 is selected from the group consisting of Teflon, Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS), Polyethylene, Polyester, and any combinations thereof. It was observed that Teflon effectively prevents the static charge induction on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) as compared to other aforementioned materials.
Referring to the tribo-electric series, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) has high electron affinity. Further, Teflon also has high electron affinity similar to that of the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Thus, friction between the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Teflon does not induce static charge on the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET).
In an embodiment, the ring 102 is itself made of the material having similar electron affinity to the material of the polymer filament. If the material selected is Teflon, the sheets of Teflon are cut in a shape of a ring and fitted within a spinning machine at desired location where the static charge induction is observed.
In another embodiment, the ring 102 is coated with a layer of the material having similar electron affinity to the material of the polymer filament. In case of Teflon, the ring 102 is Teflon coated. More specifically, a Teflon coating is applied on an entire outer portion of the ring 102. An inner portion of the ring 102 can be of any suitable material.
The ring 102 can have any suitable shape and thickness. The shape and size of the ring 102 are primarily determined in accordance with a shape and size of an opening of a machine in which the ring 102 is installed.
In an embodiment, the ring 102 has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, triangular, rectangular, any geometrical and non-geometrical shapes.
Further, the guiding structure 104a, 104b is disposed upstream of the ring 102. The guiding structure 104a, 104b is configured to guide at least one polymer filament to pass through the ring 102. More specifically, the guiding structure 104a, 104b extends away from the ring 102 in the direction of incoming polymer filament. As the device 100 is installed in a spinning machine, the guiding structure 104a, 104b prevents contact between metal surface of the machine and the polymer filament.
The arrangement of the guiding structure 104a on the ring 102 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in figure 1. The guiding structure 104a extends from a portion of the ring 102.
Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the guiding structure 104b on the ring 102 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The guiding structure 104b extends from entire periphery of the ring 102.
Referring to figure 2 and figure 3, in an embodiment, the width of the guiding structure 104b is less than the width of the ring 102. In case the ring 102 and the guiding structure 104b are circular in shape, the diameter of the guiding structure 104b is less than diameter of the ring 102. Due to lesser width of the guiding structure 104b, the ring 102 can be easily inserted in the machine and is secured to the machine using fasteners or any other suitable means. More specifically, the ring 102 acts as a collar which can be easily fitted with the machine.
In an embodiment, a static charge detector is used to identify the locations in a machine where the static charge induction is observed.
In an embodiment, the device 100 is installed at each of the outlets of a circular inflow quench (CIQ) box 110 as shown in Figure 4. Typically, the static charge is induced on the polymer filaments when the polymer filaments touch metal surface at the outlet of the quench box 110. The induced static charge results in ballooning phenomena observed on the polymer filaments. To avoid the ballooning phenomena, the polymer filaments are passed through the ring 102 installed at each outlet of the quench box 110 as shown in Figure 4.
In an operative configuration, the guiding structure 104a, 104b is inserted through an opening on an operative bottom portion of the quench box 110. The ring 102 rests on the operative bottom portion of the quench box 110, and is screwed to the quench box 110. The polymer filaments are then passed through the guiding structure 104a, 104b and the ring 102. The polymer filaments exit through the quench box via the ring 102.
The ring 102 prevents static charge induced on the polymer filaments 108 exiting through the ring 102. The absence of static charge is clearly visible in Figure 4. The reference numeral 106 shows polymer filaments exiting through openings which are not provided with the rings 102 of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, some of the openings of the quench box 110 are provided with the rings 102. The reference numeral 108 shows polymer filaments exiting through the openings which are provided with the rings 102. As shown in Figure 4, no ballooning phenomena is observed in the polymer filaments 108 exiting through the openings provided with the rings 102. This shows that there is no induced static charge on the polymer filaments passing through the ring 102.
The present disclosure further envisages a method for preventing the static charge induction on polymer filaments. The method steps are now described in subsequent paragraphs.
Initially, the rings 102 are fitted to a spinning machine at locations where the induced static charge is observed.
The method comprises the following steps:
o guiding at least one polymer filament by the guiding structure 104a, 104b to pass through the ring 102; and
o passing the polymer filament through the ring 102, wherein at least a portion of the ring (102) is of a material having the electron affinity similar to the electron affinity of the material of the polymer filament.
The device and method prevents the static charge induction on polymer filaments. As no static charge is induced on the polymer filaments, no ballooning phenomena are observed in polymer filaments. This leads to reduction in throw-back time, and reduces waste generation.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a device and a method that:
• facilitate easy and faster throw-down of polymer filaments; and
• reduce waste generation.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A device (100) for preventing static charge induction on polymer filaments emanating from a quench box of a yarn spinning machine, said device (100) comprising:
a ring (102) configured to provide a passage to at least one polymer filament to pass therethrough, wherein at least a portion of said ring (102) is of a material selected from the tribo-electric series having the electron affinity similar to the electron affinity of the material of said polymer filament; and
a guiding structure (104a, 104b) disposed upstream of said ring (102), and configured to guide said polymer filament to pass through said ring (102).
2. The device (100) claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of at least said portion of said ring (102) is selected from the group consisting of Teflon, Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS), Polyethylene, Polyester, and any combinations thereof.
3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring (102) is of Teflon.
4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring (102) is Teflon coated.
5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least an operative inner surface of said guiding structure (104a, 104b) is of the material same as the material of said ring (102).
6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said operative inner surface of said guiding structure (104a, 104b) is of Teflon.
7. The device (100) claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of said guiding structure (104b) is less than width of said ring (102).
8. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring (102) has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, triangular, rectangular, any geometrical and non-geometrical shapes.
9. A method for preventing static charge induction on polymer filaments emanating from a quench box of a yarn spinning machine, said method comprising the following steps:
guiding at least one polymer filament by a guiding structure (104a, 104b) to pass through a ring (102); and
passing said polymer filament through said ring (102), wherein at least a portion of said ring (102) is of a material selected from the tribo-electric series having the electron affinity similar to the electron affinity of the material of said polymer filament.