A CENTRIFUGAL SPINNING DEVICE USED FOR NANOFIBER/MICROFIBER PRODUCTION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a centrifugal spinning device, which is suitable for industrial production by being connected to high flow-rate polymer solution tanks or an extruder used for nonwoven nano/microfiber production, and which essentially comprises at least one rotary cylindrical spinneret through which the polymer material is injected for fabrication of nonwoven articles, at least two bearings located on both ends of the spinneret which enable it to be fixed on the system and rotate around a specific orbit, at least one motor connection member located on at least one end of the spinneret which provides the connection to the power supply that enables the rotational movement, at least one spinning die located inside the spinneret which enables the polymer materials to be homogenously distributed within the spinneret by means of its sectional area that is in the form of a half die.

Claims

1. A centrifugal spinning device (1) which is used in production of nano and/or micro fibers for fabrication of nonwoven articles, comprising: at least one rotary cylindrical spinneret (2) through which the polymer material is injected for fabrication of nonwoven articles; at least two bearings (5) which are located on both ends of the spinneret (2) and which enable it to be fixed on the system (S) and rotate around a specific orbit; at least one motor connection member (6) which is located on at least one end of the spinneret (2) and which provides the connection to the power supply that enables the rotational movement; at least one spinning die (7) which is located inside the spinneret (2), and which enables the polymer materials to be homogenously distributed within the spinneret (2) by means of its sectional area that is in the form of a half die; at least one inlet orifice (8), which is located on at least one end of the spinning die (7), and through which the polymer material is fed into the spinning die (7); at least one flow channel (9) which extends from the end of the inlet orifice (8) and enables transmission of the polymer material along the spinning die (7); at least one flow section (10) which is located at the outer part of the flow channel (9) and in which the polymer material is distributed homogenously between the spinning die (7) and the spinneret (2); and at least one resistor (11) which enables to maintain the temperature and consistency of the polymer material in the spinning die (7).

2. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spinneret (2) is in the form of a perforated cylinder and comprises holes (3) thereon.

3. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spinneret (2) has a helical form and comprises slots (4) thereon.

4. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing (5) connects the spinneret (2) to the system (1) from both sides thereof and prevents the spinneret (2), which is under the effect of centrifuge, from oscillating out of its orbit.

5. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the spinning die (7), by means of its geometry which is symmetrically half of one of a fishtail type, a coat-hanger type and a T-type die, enables the polymer material to be distributed homogenously from the flow channel (9) towards the flow section (10) and to flow equally through the holes (3) or the slots (4) on the spinneret (2) and thereby to fabricate a textile product on the conveyor (K).

6. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inlet orifice (8) enables the polymer material that is in melt form to be fed into the spinning die (7) by means of an extruder (E).

7. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inlet orifice (8) enables the polymer material that is in solution form to be fed into the spinning die (7) by means of a pump.

8. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 6, wherein through one end of the spinneret (2), polymer material is fed via the extruder (E) or a pump, while at the other end, there is provided a motor (M) which enables the rotational movement.

9. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge-type resistor (11) is mounted on or within the spinning die (7) in order to provide temperature control.

10. A centrifugal spinning device (9) according to claim 1, wherein the resistor (11) is supported by a thermocouple for measurement of the temperature value.

11. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the spinning die (7), by means of its geometry which is symmetrically half of one of a fishtail type, a coat-hanger type or a T-type die, enables the polymer material to be distributed homogenously from the flow channel (9) towards the flow section (10) and to flow equally through the holes (3) or the slots (4) on the spinneret (2) and thereby fabricate a textile product on the conveyor (K).

12. A centrifugal spinning device (1) according to claim 7, wherein through one end of the spinneret (2), polymer material is fed via an extruder (E) or a pump, while at the other end, there is provided a motor (M) which enables the rotational movement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] A centrifugal spinning device used in nanofiber/microfiber production developed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the spinning device of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the application of the spinning die provided in the spinning device of the present invention in half fishtail/coathanger form.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the application of the spinning die provided in the spinning device of the present invention in half fishtail/coathanger form.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rotary slotted spinneret used in one embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rotary perforated spinneret used in another embodiment of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a general perspective view of the system wherein the spinning device of the invention is used and which enables fabrication of nonwoven articles.

[0029] The components in the figures are assigned reference numbers as follows: [0030] 1. Centrifugal spinning device [0031] 2. Spinneret [0032] 3. Hole [0033] 4. Slot [0034] 5. Bearing [0035] 6. Motor connection member [0036] 7. Spinning die [0037] 8. Inlet orifice [0038] 9. Flow channel [0039] 10. Flow section [0040] 11. Resistor [0041] S. System [0042] K. Conveyor [0043] E. Extruder [0044] M. Motor

[0045] The centrifugal spinning device (1) which is used in production of nanofibers for fabrication of nonwoven articles, essentially comprises [0046] at least one rotary cylindrical spinneret (2) through which the polymer material is injected for fabrication of nonwoven articles, [0047] at least two bearings (5) which are located on both ends of the spinneret (2) and which enable it to be fixed on the system (S) and rotate around a specific orbit, [0048] at least one motor connection member (6) which is located on at least one end of the spinneret (2) and which provides the connection to the power supply that enables the rotational movement, [0049] at least one spinning die (7) which is located inside the spinneret (2), and which enables the polymer materials to be homogenously distributed within the spinneret (2) by means of its sectional area that is in the form of a half die, [0050] at least one inlet orifice (8), which is located on at least one end of the spinning die (7), and through which the polymer material is fed into the spinning die (7), [0051] at least one flow channel (9) which extends from the end of the inlet orifice (8) and enables transmission of the polymer material along the spinning die (7), [0052] at least one flow section (10) which is located at the outer part of the flow channel (9) and in which the polymer material is distributed homogenously between the spinning die (7) and the spinneret (2), [0053] at least one resistor (11) which enables to maintain the temperature and consistency of the polymer material in the spinning die (7).

[0054] The spinning device (1) of the present invention is used in the systems (S) which are operated for fabrication of nonwoven textile products.

[0055] In one embodiment of the invention, the spinneret (2) is in the form of a perforated cylinder and comprises holes (3) thereon (FIG. 5). The polymer material is injected through the said holes (3) and transferred onto the conveyor (K) in the form of filaments (fibers). The holes (3) can be circular as well as in other geometric shapes such as a triangle, trilobate, square, etc. Thus fibers having different sectional areas can be obtained.

[0056] In another embodiment of the invention, the spinneret (2) is in a helical form and comprises slots (4) thereon (FIG. 4). In this embodiment of the invention, the polymer materials are spun from each point of these slots (4) and are collected on a conveyor (K) to fabricate the nonwoven article.

[0057] The bearing (5) connects the spinneret (2) to the system (1) from both sides thereof and prevents the spinneret (2), which is under the effect of centrifuge, from oscillating out of its orbit.

[0058] The spinning die (7) enables the polymer material to be distributed homogenously from the flow channel (9) towards the flow section (10) and then to flow equally through the holes (3) or the slots (4) on the spinneret (2) by means of its geometry which is symmetrically half of the fishtail type, coat-hanger type or T-type dies. The fibers flowing from the spinneret (2) are collected on the conveyor (K) under the influence of centrifuge. The fibers collected on the conveyor (K) form the two dimensional textile product form. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spinning die (7) has a three sided cross-sectional area (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).

[0059] In one embodiment of the invention, the polymer material is in melt form and it is fed into the spinning die (7) through the inlet orifice (8) by means of an extruder (E) or any other means for molten polymer transfer. In another embodiment of the invention, the polymer material is a solution and this polymer solution is fed into the spinning die (7) through the inlet orifice (8) preferably by means of pump and pipes.

[0060] In the spinning device (1) of the present invention, from one end of the spinneret (2) polymer material is fed via an extruder (E) or a pump, while at the other end thereof a motor (M) was provided which enables the rotational movement of the device (1). Larger drive forces are generated by using high-speed motors (M) and thus smaller fiber diameters can be achieved. In one embodiment of the invention, the device (1) is driven by a motor (M) reaching a speed of 40000 rpm.

[0061] The resistor (11) is mounted on or within the spinning die (7) in order to provide temperature control. In one embodiment of the invention, the resistor (11) is a cartridge-type located towards inside of the spinning die (7) and it is supported by a thermocouple for measurement of the temperature value.

[0062] Thanks to the coordinated use of the spinning die (7) and the resistor (11) provided in the spinning device (1) of the present invention, consistency of the polymer material can be adjusted as desired and homogenous distribution of the polymer material within the spinneret (2) can be ensured.