CIRCULATION AND ITS MECHANISM

The Related Art

The invention relates to the mechanism, which reorganizes air circulation in the steam boilers of yarn blowing and/or steaming machines to provide bi-directional circulation of the heated air and/or steam applying heat treatment for more effective and efficient heat treatment on textile yarn loops or stacks.

The Prior Art

Yarn blowing or steaming operation is made in a dense medium with steam and/or heated air. In such mediums, heat transfer is made in a very intense manner. In order to perform this operation in a sound manner, each part of the yarns found within yarn loops or yarn stacks has to contact continuously and equally with this heated air and/or steam. In the prior art systems, the yarns found in denser and tighter state at the inner parts and in more open and free state at the upper and lower parts of these yarn loops or stacks have to contact equally with this heated air and/or steam. Since the yarns found at the inner parts of the yarn loops or stacks are in denser and tighter state than the yarns found at the upper and lower surfaces of the yarn loops or stacks, the heated air and/or steam that would perform heat treatment reaches these parts with more difficulty. In order to eliminate this negative situation, in the prior art systems, air recirculation mechanisms are used, which force the heated air and/or steam to go through the yarn loops or stacks and reach the yarns found at the inner parts of the yarn loops or stacks. These air and steam recirculation mechanisms are comprised of impellers or vanes that accelerate the natural circulation speed of fluids.

In the prior art systems, recirculation mechanisms are uni-directionally positioned for ventilating the heated air and/or steam to the whole yarn stack or loops. In some of the prior art systems, these mechanisms are positioned such that they would be able to route the heated air and/or steam only from the upper surface of the yarn loops or stack towards the inner parts or in some of the systems only from the lower surface of the yarn loops or stack towards the inner parts. Irregularities or density differences may occur in the yarns laid on the belt with special laying unit. Having air circulation only from the upper side towards the lower side compress the yarn loops towards the belt due to gravity. Therefore, this situation prevents air flow. Having air flow only from the lower side towards the upper side also prevents contact of sufficient air or steam to the dense or irregular parts of the upper surface of yarn loops or stack.

As a result; improvement is to be made in the embodiments wherein the heated air and/or steam recirculation mechanisms are bi-directionally placed for improving heat treatment effectiveness and efficiency, and therefore need has occurred for novel embodiments which would eliminate the above said drawbacks and bring in solutions to present problems.

Purpose of the Invention

The present invention relates to bi-directional placement of heated air and/or steam recirculation mechanisms for improving heat treatment effectiveness and efficiency, which meets the above said requirements, eliminates all of the drawbacks and brings about some additional advantages.

A purpose of the invention is to provide access of the air and/or steam, which would perform heat treatment, to the inner parts of the dense and tight yarn loops or stacks. In order to achieve this, heated air or steam is routed bi-directionally from both the lower surface and the upper surface towards the inner parts of the yarn loops or stacks. Thus, continuous and effective contact of the heated air and/or steam is provided with the entire parts of the yarn loops or stacks including the upper surface, inner parts, and the lower surface.

Another purpose of the invention is to perform air and steam circulation within the heat treatment boiler such that it would be applied on the yarn loops or stack both from below and above in order to provide full contact of the yarn with the heated air and/or steam with regard to the irregularities or density differences of the yarns laid on the belt. In this way, regular air passage is ensured through yarns and regular, homogeneous, and continuous heat treatment can be conducted. From this point of view, another purpose of the invention is to increase efficiency of yarn heat treatment machines and improve the quality of treated yarns.

In order to achieve the above said purposes, the invention relates to a mechanism applying heat treatment on textile yarns found on at least one conveyor belt via bi- directional air passage, and it comprises:

- At least one recirculation boiler, through which the said conveyor belt passes, and in which continuous circulation of heated air, steam, or their mixture is performed,

- At least one recirculation mechanism connected to the said recirculation boiler and providing guiding of the heated air, steam, or their mixture from the upper surface towards the lower surface of the said yam, and at least one different recirculation mechanism providing guiding from its lower surface towards its upper surface, and

- At least one air passage channel providing entrance of said heated air, steam or their mixture into the boiler.

In order to achieve the above said purposes, the invention relates to heat treatment applied on textile yarns, and it is characterized in that; while yarn stack found on a conveying belt passes through a recirculation boiler, the heated air, steam or their mixture required for applying heat treatment is bi-directionally passed from the upper surface towards the lower surface and also from the lower surface towards the upper surface of the said yarn stack. ^" - ·

In order to achieve the above said purposes, the heated air, steam, or their mixture circulating within the said recirculation boiler is routed by at least two recirculation mechanisms. In order to achieve the above said purposes, at least one of the said recirculation mechanisms routes heated air, steam, or their mixture from the upper surface towards the lower surface of the yarn stack and at least one of them routes it from the lower surface towards the upper surface of the yarn stack.

The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all advantages will be understood better in detailed descriptions with the figures given below and with reference to the figures, and therefore, the assessment should be made taking into consideration the said figures and detailed explanations.

Brief Description of the Figures

For better understanding of the embodiment of present invention and its advantages with its additional components, it should be evaluated together, with below described figures. Figure 1 : is the perspective view showing air circulation in the steaming boilers of the mechanism having bi-directional air recirculation characteristics.

Figure 2: is the view about making bi-directional air circulation through the conveyor belt and the yarn loops or yarn stack found on it.

Figure 3: gives the general view of the mechanism with the tunnel-type recirculation boiler having bi-directional air circulation feature and the conveyor belt passing through it.

Figure 4: shows the air circulation in the heat treatment tunnel steaming boiler, which can direct the air coming from a single direction into two directions.

Figure 4a: shows routing of the air, which is received through the upper surface of the heat treatment tunnel, from the upper side of the conveyor belt towards the lower side of it.

Figure 4b: shows routing of the air coming from the upper surface of the heat treatment tunnel towards the lower side of the conveyor belt.

Figure 5: a different drawing of bi-directional air circulation is given.

Figure 6: is the view showing how air circulation is performed at the inner part of the recirculation boiler. Drawings do not have to be scaled and details not necessary for understanding the present invention may be neglected. Moreover, components which are at least widely equal or which have at least widely equal functions are shown with the same number. Reference Numbers

1. Conveying belt

2. Recirculation boiler

21. Recirculation mechanism

22. Air hole

23. Air channel

3. Yarn stack

4. Air passage zone

Detailed Description of the Invention In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the heat treatment mechanism of the invention, which provides contact of the heated air or steam to the whole surface of the yarn (3) by means of providing bi-directional air circulation during heat treatment on the yarn stacks (3), will only be disclosed for better understanding of the subject, and will not form any limiting effect. The structure and operation of the invention is as follows: Yarns (3) are laid to the conveyor belt (1 ) in the form of loop or stack by a special mechanism and enter into the recirculation boiler (2). The heated air, steam, or their mixture required for performing heat treatment on the yarns (3) is found in the said boiler (2). All of the yarns found in the yarn loops or stack (3) to be treated have to contact equally and continuously with the said heated air, steam, or their mixture. For this, the air found within the steaming/recirculation boiler (2) is continuously directed onto this yarn stack (3) with a suitable and adjustable speed by means of an air recirculation mechanism (21 ). Recirculation speed of the air found within the boiler (2) is determined by electronically adjusting the speed of the electromotor driving the mechanism (21 ) that performs recirculation. As it is shown in Figure 1 to 6, air is directed on the yarn stack (3) bi-directionally in order to eliminate the negativities such as uneven or discontinuous air contact occurring as a result of unidirectional guiding of the air found within the recirculation boiler (2) towards the yarn stack (3) on a single surface of the yarn (3).

One part of the said air recirculation mechanism (21 ) is positioned such that air would approach the yarn stack (3) from its upper part towards the lower part, and another part of the air recirculation mechanism (21) is positioned such that air would be directed from the lower surface of the yarn stack (3) towards its upper surface. Arrangement of these air recirculation mechanisms (21 ) in terms of numbers, capacity, or operating directions depend on the size or capacity of the steaming boiler (2).

In Figure 1 , air circulation of the steaming boiler (2) having divided, bi-directional air recirculation mechanism (21 ) is shown. Yarns (3) that are laid on the conveying belt (1 ) in the form of loops or stacks with a special mechanism are sent to the boiler (2). Air recirculation mechanism (21 ) is placed in the steaming boilers (2) in order to provide recirculation of the air found within. One of these mechanisms (21 ) sucks air from the suction zone and directs it towards the upper surface of the yarn loops or stack (3). Depending on the speed, and thus the intensity of recirculation of air, the air passes through the yarn loops or stacks (3) and gets out from the lower surface and again heads for the air recirculation mechanism (21 ). In this way, a continuous air circulation is performed from the upper surface and towards the lower surface of the yarn loops or stack (3).

The other air recirculation mechanism (21 ) found on the same line, on the contrary to the other air recirculation mechanism (21 ), routes the air it sucks from the suction zone towards the lower surface of the yarn loops or stack (3). This air passes through the yarn loops or stacks (3) and gets out from the upper surface and again heads towards the air recirculation mechanism (21 ). Then, an air recirculation is. made from the lower surface and towards the upper surface of the yarn loops or stack (3). During this operation, heat treatment of the yarns (3) contacting with the heated and/or steamed air would be made. In Figure 4, the air circulation in the heat treatment tunnel (2) steaming boiler, which can route the air coming from a single direction towards two directions, is shown. Here, again, the yarns (3) laid on the conveying belt (1 ) with a special mechanism enter into the heat treatment tunnel. This tunnel can be considered as a non-partial recirculation boiler (2). At least one air recirculation mechanism (21 ) is positioned in the steaming boiler (2) in order to circulate the air found within. These mechanisms (21 ) suck air from the suction zone and direct it towards the upper surface of the heat treatment tunnel (2) found in the steaming boiler (2). In the tunnel-type recirculation boiler (2) wherein heat treatment is made, this routed air passes through suitable passage holes from a fixed zone (4) according to the size and capacity of the boiler

(2) and reaches the upper surface of the yarn loops or stack (3). Depending on the adjustable circulation speed of air, the air passes through the yarn loops or stack (3) and from the lower surface it reaches the lower part of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2).

Figure 4a shows routing of the air received through the upper surface of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2), from the upper side of the conveyor belt (1 ) towards the lower side of it. Here, the air arriving at the upper surface of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) from the air recirculation mechanism (21 ) goes through suitable passage holes, in other words air holes (22). Arriving of the air and steam mixture at the upper surface of the yarn loops or stack (3), going through the yarn loops or stack

(3) and through their lower side reaching the lower surface of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) is schematically shown. At the remaining other part of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2), heated air, steam or their mixture is routed towards the lower part of the air conveying belt (1 ) with the help of at least one air channel (23). The air routed towards the lower part of the conveying belt (1 ), here, brings the yarn loops or stack (3) into floating form and passes through them and emerges at the surface. In this way, yarns are homogeneously subjected to heat treatment. Afterwards, through the upper. surface of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2), it mixes with the air directly passing to the upper surface of the yarn loops or stack (3) and leaves the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) from the discharge hole found at the lower part of the heat treatment tunnel (2). The air leaving the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) is again routed towards the suction zone of the air recirculation mechanism (21 ) and thus continuous air circulation would be achieved within heat treatment boiler (2).

In Figure 4b, routing of the air coming from the upper surface of the heat treatment tunnel (2) towards the lower side of the conveying belt (1 ) is described. Here, schematic view shows that, the air coming from the air recirculation mechanism (21 ) towards the upper surface of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) is routed towards the air channels (23) and the conveyor belt (1 ), and then by means of passing through the conveying belt (1 ) and the yarn loops or stack (3), it reaches to the inner part of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2).

Air reaching the inner part of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) bumps to the upper closed area of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) and then is directed towards the edges. After that, it joins the air circulation passing from the upper surface and towards the lower surface of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) and it is directed to the suction zone of the air recirculation mechanism (21 ) after leaving the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2) from the lower discharge hole of the heat treatment tunnel/boiler (2).

In Figure 2, view about the bi-directional air circulation performed over the yarn loops or yarn stack (3) found on the conveyor belt (1 ) is given. Here, the air coming out of one of the air recirculation mechanisms is directly routed towards the lower surface of the conveying belt (1 ) and then by means of passing through the conveying belt (1 ) and then the yarn loops or stack (3) it is routed towards the air recirculation mechanism (21 ).

The air coming out of the other air recirculation mechanism (21 ) found on the same line is directly routed towards the upper surface of the yam loops or stack (3) and then towards the air circulation mechanism (21 ) by first passing through the yarn loops or stack (3) and then through the conveying belt (1 ).