Micro heating apparatus for synthetic fibers

• US 6,180,950 B1
• Filed: 07/11/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Don Olsen
• Original Assignee: Don Olsen
• Inventors: Olsen, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Bruce C.
• Application Number:
  US09/114,107
• Time in Patent Office: 934 Days
• Field of Search: 250/452.1, 442/327
• US Class Current: 250/492.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/023 Half-products, e.g. films, plates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0838 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/731 Filamentary material, i.e. comprised of a single element, e.g. filaments, strands, threads, fibres cables B29L2031/707
• CPC Class Codes: D02J 13/00 Heating or cooling the yarn, thread, cord, rope, or the like, not specific to any one of the processes provided for in this subclass heating, cooling or drying during spinning or twisting D01H; drying of yarns or the like, in general F26B
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 10/005 Laser beam treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/60 Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]

Abstract

This invention provides an improved apparatus for non-contact quantum mechanical heating of thermoplastic fibers by resonant energy absorption of laser energy by the fiber. In one embodied form, the unique apparatus for continuous heating of thermoplastic fibers comprises a) a laser producing a CO continuous wave laser beam of resonant frequency for the prescribed fiber being treated; b) a mechanism for traversing the fiber to be treated across the path of the laser beam in a prescribed direction to the beam of radiation from the laser source; c) a mechanism for adjusting the rate of traversement of the fiber to maintain the temperature of the thermoplastic fiber within a temperature range of about five percent below the melting point of the thermoplastic fiber to continuously heat the fiber by resonant energy absorption of the laser beam. In a presently preferred embodiment, the unique micro heater apparatus is provided comprising a laser heater furnished with a collimator steering mirror and back reflector, to enhance the heating efficiency of the non-contact quantum mechanical process. The unique micro heater apparatus accordingly provides a source of non-contact heat before, after or during a false twisting process or fiber stretching process.

Claims

1. An improved apparatus for non-contact quantum mechanical heating of a thermoplastic fiber by resonant energy absorption of laser energy by the fiber, the apparatus comprising in combination:

a) means for illuminating at least one thermal plastic fiber with an intense light source from a carbon monoxide continuous wave laser beam of resonant frequency for the prescribed fiber being treated;

said means comprising a microheater cell having an internal reflective coating which is wave-length dependent on the laser beam;

b) means for traversing the fiber to be treated across the path of the laser beam in a direction perpendicular to the beam of radiation from the laser source; and

c) means for adjusting the rate of traversement of the fiber to maintain the temperature of the thermoplastic fiber within a temperature range of about five percent below the melting point of the thermoplastic fiber to continuously heat the fiber by resonant energy absorption of the laser beam.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said internal reflective coating effects specular reflection of the laser beam.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said internal reflective coating effects diffuse reflection of the laser beam.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further comprising an optical train for directing the laser beam with respect to said internal reflective coating.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said optical train comprises a lens.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical train comprises a beam expander.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical trans comprises fiber optics.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for traversing the fiber is at least one adjustable winding spool.