Title of Invention: ACOMPACTOR TO BE USED IN COMPACT

YARN MACHINES

[I] This invention is related to compactors used in compact yarn machines.

[2] Compact yarn is increasingly gaining importance due to its tenacity and less hairiness. Presently pneumatic systems are commonly used to convert ring yarn to compact yarn.

[3] In prior art, in references such as EP 1526194; WO2006005207; US5915510, several alternatives for compactors were described. All these systems and embodiments are based on the explanation provided in RU 160973 dated 26 February 1964. In that document, it was described that the ring yarn was converted to compact yarn by means of a mechanical system.

[4] In that system, as drafting is over, yarn band passes through the compactor channel

(5) which is narrowed gradually on the front face of a compactor (4) pressing to the front bottom roller (2) with its front side. At that moment, fibers are lined and squeezed. As the fiber band leaves the compactor channel (5), the fibers are fixed on the front bottom roller (2) by means of the delivery top roller(3) and then sent over to twisting.

[5] Figures Ia and Ib show schematically where and how the compactor (4) is used in the system. Since the fibers are brought in line before twisting and the 'spinning triangle' is reduced significantly, a ring yarn which is relatively less hairy and more tenacious is obtained.

[6] However, although hairiness is actually decreased and tenacity is increased in the yarn in that system, some negative results can be seen in other features required in the yarn according to Uster tests.

[7] The main objective of this invention is to provide a compactor (4) to increase the tenacity of the yarn while decreasing the hairiness and at the same time improving some of the yarn values and thus Uster values.

[8] The invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings:

[9] Figure Ia shows the schematic side view of the mechanical compact yarn system.

[10] Figure Ib is the schematic perspective view of the mechanical compact yarn system.

[I I] Figure 2a is the perspective views of a modified compactor. [12] Figure 2b is the front view of the compactor shown in Figure 2a. [13] Figure 2c is the side view of the compactor shown in Figure 2a. [14] Figure 2d is the top view of the compactor shown in Figure 2a. [15] Figure 3a is the view of the compactor with the addition of a fly guide.

[16] Figure 3b is the front view of the compactor with the addition of a fly guide.

[17] Figure 3c is the top view of the compactor with the addition of a fly guide.

[18] Figure 4a shows that the compactor channel and thus the compactor is made up of two parts that are connected via a bridge from the back of the compactor.

[19] Figure 4b is the front view of the compactor in Figure 4a.

[20] Figure 4c is the side view of the compactor in Figure 4a.

[21] Figure 4d is the bottom view of the compactor in Figure 4a.

[22] In present compactors, the height of the front surface of the compactor (4) (h) (figure

Ia, Ib) is equal to the height of the compactor channel (5) all along its width and the top and bottom contours pressing to the front bottom roller (2) are parallel to each other.

[23] Delivery top roller(3) presses onto the yarn band at a point which is the closest to the point where that band leaves the compactor channel (5).

[24] Therefore, there is almost no gap between the delivery top roller(3) and bottom contour of the compactor (4) along its width.

[25] Thus, this brings about a disadvantage to the system. Namely; some of the flies that occur during the drafting, move down over the compactor (4) and towards the delivery top roller(3). Besides, some other flies that are left on the front bottom roller(2) are held by the delivery top roller(3) and as that roller (3) rotates towards the compactor (4), flies are accumulated between the bottom contour of the compactor (4) and delivery top roller(3).

[26] Those flies cling to the yarn band that leaves the compactor (4) from time to time and they are fixed and sent to twisting via delivery top roller (3) and thus this has a negative effect on the yarn characteristics.

[27] A new compactor (4) is being recommended in order to eliminate or lessen above mentioned disadvantages to a great degree.

[28] This invention is related to a compactor (4;4a;4b;4c)to be placed between the delivery top roller(3) and top roller (1), comprising a surface (13) pressing to the front bottom roller(2), a yarn channel (5) formed on said surface (13) through which the yarn passes, wings (8)placed on one or both sides of said surface (13) having a certain height difference with the surface (13) pressing to the front bottom roller (2).

[29] In order to prevent the accumulation of flies between the delivery top roller (3) and bottom contour (15) of the compactor (4)(Figure 2b), basically the width of the front surface (13) of the compactor (4) that is pressing to the front bottom roller (2) is to be minimized.

[30] Therefore, as seen in Figure 2b, it is preferred that the width (a) of the compactor surface (13) pressing onto the said front bottom roller (2) is narrower than 12 mm from border ends of the compactor channel (5) inlet to the left and right and the width (b) is narrower than 14 mm from border ends of the compactor channel (5) outlet to the left and right.

[31] The height (h) of the compactor (4a) is preferably shorter than 10 mm.

[32] As seen in Figure 2b, there is a difference (d) between the heights of the bottom contour (15) of the surface (13)of the compactor (4a) pressing to the front bottom roller(2) and bottom contours (16) of the compactor wings (8).

[33] Thus, there is not a fly accumulation zone between the delivery top roller (3) and the compactor wings (8). Said 'd' is preferably bigger than 0,1 mm.

[34] In order to decrease the friction surface and to prevent the transmission of the flies from those wings (8) and over to the delivery top roller(3) and compactor channel (5)outlet, the bottom wall (12) of those wings (8) does not touch the front bottom roller(2) and there is a gap (c) which is bigger than 0,1 mm between them (See Figure 2d).

[35] As seen in figures 2a,2c,2d,3a,3c,4a,4c a protrusion (6) having a crosswise opening

(7) on it (6) is provided on the back (14) of the compactor (4a,4b,4c). That protrusion (6) gradually widens to the ends and it (6) is located between the delivery top roller(3) and top roller (1) and it is tightened between those two rollers (1,3) when the pendulum arm is opened and thus prevents the compactor (4) to fall down.

[36] Said opening (7) can be provided on any cross section to enable a passage for any compactor rod to press the compactor (4a,4b,4c) to the front bottom roller (2).

[37] It has been determined that some of the flies, disadvantages of which were mentioned above, are accumulated within the compactor channel (5). Some of the fibers do not enter into the compactor channel (5) neatly and in parallel to each other due to the narrowed width and decreasing volume of the channel (5) and thus the fibers cannot be compacted. They leave the yarn band and by means of the air flow caused by the top roller (1) and front bottom roller (2), the flies are sprayed to the top of the delivery top roller(3)and can be attached to the yarn band that is leaving the compactor (4).

[38] In order to eliminate those disadvantages, following solutions are offered:

[39] In the first embodiment of the invention, the capacity of the outlet of the compactor channel (5) is increased by keeping the necessary outlet width (e) (figure 2d, 4d) of the part that is narrowed towards the outlet of the compactor channel (5) stable.

[40] To provide that feature, the back (10) of that part is partly left open. The length (y) of that open part (10) as seen in Figure 2a is preferably longer than 0,5 mm. Therefore, some of the fibers that are stucked in the narrow section of the compactor channel (5) and then sprayed out, can find a place towards the outlet since the back part (10) of the compactor channel (5) is open so that they do not squeeze and leave the yarn band.

[41] In the second embodiment of the invention, a bulge (9) which has a width, height and length preferably higher than 0,1 mm, is provided at the back (14) of the compactor

(4b) behind the compactor channel (5) to keep the flies of the yarn band and guide the air flow to each side. (Figures 3a,3c). [42] In the third embodiment of the invention, as seen in Figures 4a,4b,4d the back (10) of the compactor channel (5) is completely open and the compactor (4c) is made up of two pieces (14). [43] Protrusions (6) that are present on each of these pieces (14) are connected from their upper side via a central connection piece (11) like a bridge and thus one compactor

(4c) is obtained. [44] These protrusions (6) are squeezed between the delivery top roller(3) and top roller

(1) to prevent the falling down of the compactor (4c) when the pendulum arm is released. [45] The yarn channel (5) that is provided on the surface (13) of the compactor (4;

4a;4b;4c) pressing down the front bottom roller(2)can be partly and/or fully lengthwise and it can be at uniform height, and/or at different heights [46] One or more protrusions (6) can be provided at the back (14) of the compactor

(4,4a,4b,4c) to enable the compactor (4,4a,4b,4c) to be placed between the delivery top roller(3) and top roller (1). In case said protrusions (6) are several and in parallel to each other, these protrusions (6) can be connected via a central piece (11).