METHOD FOR ENRICHING A TEXTILE FIBER BUNDLE INTENDED FOR A SPINNING LINE, ELECTROSPINNING STATION, ENRICHED YARN AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

A method for enriching a textile fiber bundle for a weaving machine involves moving a textile fiber bundle along a bundle running direction, providing a first electrospinning station for producing solid nanofibers by an electrospinning device, depositing, the solid fibers on the textile fiber bundle to obtain an enriched textile fiber bundle, and moving the enriched textile fiber bundle towards a work station. An electrospinning station for enriching a textile fiber bundle has an electrospinning device having a reserve for containing an electrospinnable enrichment solution, an emitter electrode, and a collector electrode, facing and spaced apart from the emitter electrode, so that, by effect of a generated electric field, formation and transport of solid nanofibers on the textile fiber bundle take place. A yarn is composed of an enriched textile fiber bundle having textile fibers enriched with solid nanofibers obtained by electrospinning and interwoven with the textile fibers.

Claims

1. A method for enriching a textile fiber bundle for a weaving machine, said method comprising steps of: a) moving the textile fiber bundle, optionally the textile fiber bundle being a sliver, a roving or a thread, along a bundle running direction; b) providing a first electrospinning station, suitable for producing solid nanofibers by an electrospinning device; c) by the first electrospinning station, depositing the solid nanofibers on the textile fiber bundle to obtain an enriched textile fiber bundle, the enriched textile fiber bundle being enriched with the solid nanofibers deposited as a result of electrospinning on a first side of the textile fiber bundle; and d) moving the enriched textile fiber bundle towards a work station downstream of the first electrospinning station in the bundle running direction, the work station optionally being a winding station for winding the enriched textile fiber bundle onto an enriched bobbin, or towards the weaving machine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing a weaving machine, wherein in step b) the first electrospinning station is positioned upstream of the weaving machine, or downstream of the weaving machine, or on the weaving machine, in the bundle running direction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) comprises a step of: c10) winding the textile fiber bundle around one or more bundle winding rollers, wherein guide means are configured to guide the textile fiber bundle to form coils in a helical shape around multiple bundle winding rollers, such that in an electrospinning space region, resulting between at least two rollers of said bundle winding rollers, multiple coils of a same textile fiber bundle are formed, spaced apart from each other along a direction parallel to a roller rotation axis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) comprises the operating a step of: c1) winding the textile fiber bundle around one or more bundle winding rollers, wherein each of the one or more bundle winding rollers comprises protuberances or depressions for guiding the textile fiber bundle to be wound around the one or more bundle winding rollers in coils spaced apart from one another along a roller rotation axis.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, in step c1), the one or more bundle winding rollers comprise a first group of rollers and a second group of rollers, spaced apart from the first group of rollers, and wherein step c1) comprises steps of: c11) winding the textile fiber bundle first around the first group of rollers so as to expose the first side of the textile fiber bundle to the solid nanofibers coming from the electrospinning device; and c12) after step c and downstream of the first group of rollers in the bundle running direction, winding the textile fiber bundle around the second group of rollers so as to expose a second side of the textile fiber bundle to the solid nanofibers coming from the electrospinning device, said second side being at least partly free from the solid nanofibers deposited as a result of electrospinning on the first side during passage of the textile fiber bundle on the first group of rollers.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of: b1) providing a second electrospinning station, arranged downstream of the first electrospinning station in the bundle running direction; and b2) providing a bundle conveying station and, by said bundle conveying station, rotating the enriched textile fiber bundle an at from outlet the first electrospinning station so as to expose a second side of the enriched textile fiber bundle for receiving the solid nanofibers, said second side being at least partly free from the solid nanofibers deposited as a result of electrospinning in the first electrospinning station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) is performed by an electrospinning station with a needleless electrospinning device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the weaving machine is one of a carding machine, a combing machine, a drawing frame, a lap drawing frame, a roving frame, or a spinning frame.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the textile fiber bundle is a roving or a thread.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein, in step b2), the bundle conveying station comprises a guide, optionally the guide being a bent sheet, which slidably supportingly receives the textile fiber bundle on a curved guide surface of said guide for rotating the enriched textile fiber bundle at the outlet from the first electrospinning station so as to expose the second side of the enriched textile fiber bundle.

11. An electrospinning station for enriching a textile fiber bundle, comprising: an electrospinning device comprising: a reserve suitable for containing an electrospinnable enrichment solution, said electrospinnable enrichment solution being suitable for forming solid nanofibers as a result of electrospinning, said solid nanofibers being deposited on the textile fiber bundle as a result of electrospinning, an emitter electrode, suitable for being arranged on a first side of the textile fiber bundle; and a collector electrode, facing and spaced apart from the emitter electrode and suitable for being arranged on a second side of the textile fiber bundle, opposite the first side, so that, due to an electric field generated between the emitter electrode and the collector electrode, the solid nanofibers are formed starting from the electrospinnable enrichment solution and transported on the textile fiber bundle, with consequent deposition of the solid nanofibers on the textile fiber bundle in order to obtain an enriched textile fiber bundle.

12. The electrospinning station of claim 11, wherein said electrospinning station comprises one or more bundle winding rollers, wherein each bundle winding roller of the one or more bundle winding rollers is rotatable about its own roller rotation axis for guiding the textile fiber bundle to be wound around the one or more bundle winding rollers in coils about the roller rotation axis, said one or more bundle winding rollers being arranged between the emitter electrode and the collector electrode so that, as a result of electrospinning, the solid nanofibers are deposited onto a first side of the textile fiber bundle wound around the one or more bundle winding rollers.

13. The electrospinning station of claim 12, further comprising guide means configured to guide the textile fiber bundle to form coils in a helical shape around multiple bundle winding rollers, such that in a electrospinning space region, resulting between at least two rollers of said bundle winding rollers, multiple coils of a same textile fiber bundle are formed, spaced apart from each other along a direction parallel to the roller rotation axis.

14. The electrospinning station of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more bundle winding rollers comprises protuberances or depressions for guiding the textile fiber bundle to be wound around the one or more bundle winding rollers in coils spaced apart from one another along the roller rotation axis.

15. The electrospinning station of claim 12, wherein the one or more bundle winding rollers comprise a first group of rollers and a second group of rollers, spaced apart from the first group of rollers, wherein the first group of rollers is arranged so as to expose the first side of the textile fiber bundle to the solid nanofibers coming from the electrospinning device; and wherein the second group of rollers is arranged downstream of the first group of rollers in a bundle running direction so as to receive the textile fiber bundle already enriched on the first side and so as to expose the second side of the textile fiber bundle to the solid nanofibers coming from the electrospinning device.

16. The electrospinning station of claim 15, wherein the second group of rollers comprises one or more second group rollers, each rotatable about its own roller rotation axis in an opposite direction to a rotation direction of the first group of rollers.

17. The electrospinning station of claim 15, further comprising an idler roller arranged between the first group of rollers and the second group of rollers in the bundle running direction, said idler roller being out of alignment with respect to the first group of rollers and the second group of rollers.

18. The electrospinning station of claim 15, wherein the first group of rollers comprises a first group first roller and a first group second roller and wherein the second group of rollers comprises a second group first roller and a second group second roller, wherein the first group first roller and the first group second roller are each rotatable about their own roller rotation axis and both in a same first rotation direction, and wherein the second group first roller and the second group second roller are each rotatable about their own roller rotation axis and both in a same second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction.

19. The electrospinning station of claim 15, comprising a textile fiber bundle, movable along the bundle running direction and arranged around the first group of rollers and the second group of rollers, the textile fiber bundle forming a first helical shape around the first group of rollers and a second helical shape around the second group of rollers.

20. The electrospinning station of claim 15, further comprising a chamber containing the electrospinning device, and suction means configured to suction any residual textile fibers inside the chamber.

21. A yarn or textile composed of an enriched textile fiber bundle obtained by the method of claim 1.

22. A yarn composed of an enriched textile fiber bundle comprising textile fibers enriched with solid nanofibers obtained by electrospinning and interwoven with the textile fibers.

23. The yarn of claim 22, wherein the textile fibers are natural textile fibers, optionally the natural textile fibers being cotton, linen or wool.

24. The yarn of claim 22, comprising silver ions embedded with the solid nanofibers interwoven with the textile fibers.

25. A method for creating a fiber by weaving, wherein the fiber is created using the yarn of claim 22.

26. The electrospinning station of claim 17, wherein said idler roller is rotatable about an idler roller rotation axis out of alignment with respect to the roller rotation axes of the first group of rollers and the second group of rollers.

Description

[0012] The features and advantages of the textile fiber bundle enrichment method, electrospinning station, spinning line and yarn or fabric according to the present invention will be evident from the description provided below, given by way of non-limiting example, according to the attached figures, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a textile production line, that is, a spinning, according to the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a planar elevation view of an electrospinning station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view from above of the electrospinning station in FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 3a is a planar elevation view of an electrospinning station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 3b is a plan view from above of the electrospinning station in FIG. 3a, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 3c is a planar elevation view of an electrospinning station according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 3d is a plan view from above of the electrospinning station in FIG. 3c, wherein, for the sake of representational clarity, the chamber 9 containing the electrospinning device is not shown;

[0020] FIG. 4 is an axonometric view of a bundle winding roller, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 shows three orthogonal views of a drawing frame system according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising a drawing frame 100, a creel 110, and an electrospinning station 1, 1 arranged downstream of the creel and upstream of the drawing frame; in particular, a plan view from above of the drawing frame system is shown at the top, a planar elevation view is shown at the bottom, and a planar lateral view of the drawing frame system is shown on the left;

[0022] FIG. 6 shows three orthogonal views of a roving frame system according to an embodiment of the present invention and comprising a roving frame 800, bobbins 802, and an electrospinning station 1, 1 arranged downstream of the bobbins and upstream of the roving frame; in particular, a plan view from above of the roving frame system is shown at the top, a planar elevation view is shown at the bottom, and a planar lateral view of the roving frame system is shown on the left;

[0023] FIG. 7 is an axonometric view of a bundle conveying station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, with reference to FIG. 1, a spinning line 1000, installed in a spinning mill, comprises one or more weaving machines 200, 400, 600, 800, e.g. comprises one or more blowroom machines 200 (e.g. a plucker, a mixer, an opener, a mixer loader, a scale loader, or a tuft blender), one or more carding machines 400, one or more combing machines 600 (e.g., a drawing frame, lap winder, or comber), one or more spinning machines 800 (e.g., a roving frame or spinning frame), installed in the spinning mill, and one or more electrospinning stations (1, 1), arranged upstream or downstream of one or more of the weaving machines.

[0025] According to the invention, the electrospinning station 1 is suitable for enriching a textile fiber bundle 2 with solid nanofibers 25 generated by electrospinning. The textile fiber bundle 2, once enriched, is preferably intended for processing in a weaving machine 3 of a spinning line 1000 comprising one or more weaving machines 3, e.g., a blow room machine 200 or a carding machine 400, or a combing machine 600 or a spinning or slubbing machine 800.

[0026] It is clear that the terms enrich, enriched, and enrichment mean that the basic textile fiber bundle is enriched with additional solid nanofibers 25 from the electrospinning process that are not part of the basic textile fiber bundle and generally used in standard processes of the spinning line.

[0027] The electrospinning station 1 comprises an electrospinning device 120, preferably a needleless electrospinning device.

[0028] The electrospinning device 120 comprises a reserve 11, 11 suitable for containing an enrichment solution 13 (i.e., an electrospinnable solution), for example a solution containing natural and/or artificial polymers and/or monomers dissolved in one or more solvents. The enrichment solution 13 is suitable for forming solid nanofibers 25 by electrospinning that are deposited on the textile fiber bundle 2 in the electrospinning process.

[0029] The electrospinning device 120 comprises an emitter electrode 10, 10, in some cases known as a spinneret, preferably a rotating electrode (e.g., a rotating drum), suitable for being arranged on a first side 22 of the textile fiber bundle 2.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the emitter electrode 10, 10 is at least partially or totally bathed in the enrichment solution 13.

[0031] The electrospinning device 120 comprises a collector electrode 12, 12 facing and spaced apart from the emitter electrode 10, 10 and suitable for being arranged on a second side 23 of the textile fiber bundle 3, opposite to the first side 22, so that, due to an electric field generated between the emitter electrode 10, 10 and the collector electrode 12, 12, the solid nanofibers 25 are formed starting from the enrichment solution 13 and these solid nanofibers 25 are transported on the textile fiber bundle 2, with the consequent deposit of the solid nanofibers 25 on the textile fiber bundle 2 in order to obtain an enriched fiber bundle 21.

[0032] According to one embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 2 to 3b, the electrospinning station 1 comprises one or more bundle winding rollers 7, wherein each bundle winding roller 7 is rotatable about its own roller rotation axis Z, Z1, 22, Z3 for guiding the textile fiber bundle 2 to be wound around the bundle winding roller 7 in coils 71 (that is, so as to form coils 71) about the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3. The one or more bundle winding rollers 7 are arranged between the emitter electrode 10, 10 and the collector electrode 12, 12 so that, due to electrospinning effect, solid fibers 25 are deposited onto a first side 22 of the textile fiber bundle 2 wound around said one or more bundle winding rollers 7.

[0033] It is clear that the coils 71 may be formed partially around the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3. For example, in the case in which there are multiple winding rollers, the coils 71 are formed around more than one roller rotation axis so as to span two or more roller rotation axes Z, Z1, Z2, Z3, as for example shown in FIGS. 3 to 3d.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the electrospinning station 1 comprises guide means 720 configured to guide the bundle of textile fibers 2 to form coils 71 in a helical shape 81, 82 around multiple bundle winding rollers 7, so that, in an electrospinning space region S resulting between at least two rollers 700, 701; 702, 703 of said bundle winding rollers 7, multiple coils 71 of the same textile fiber bundle 2 are formed, spaced apart along a direction Z parallel to the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3.

[0035] This makes it possible to create, in the space region S, a structure of successive coil segments 713, 714, 715 of the same fiber bundle 2 side by side and spaced apart, which from time to time are struck with the solid nanofibers 25 from the emitter electrode 10, 10 as the textile fiber bundle 2 advances in the bundle running direction X. Advantageously, the guide means are configured in such a way that the optimal distance between the coils 71 may be adjusted according to the type and size of the textile fiber bundle 2. This makes it possible to minimize the amount of dispersed solid nanofibers 25, that is, those solid nanofibers 25 that, when passing between the coils 71, are not retained on the textile fiber bundle 2 and are deposited on the collector electrode 12, 12. Furthermore, this allows the number of passes of the textile fiber bundle 2 in the region in which the depositing of solid nanofibers 25 takes place to be optimized according to specific needs.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the guide means are suitable for guiding the textile fiber bundle 2 in such a way that the distance between the coils 71 is increasing or decreasing along the direction Z parallel to the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3. This makes it possible to adjust the appropriate amount of solid nanofibers 25 that are gradually deposited on the textile fiber bundle, since the amount of solid nanofibers 25 that are deposited also depends on the amount of solid nanofibers 25 already deposited.

[0037] Preferably, the electrospinning space S resulting between at least two rollers 700, 701; 702, 703 is defined as the region of space facing towards both rollers, that is, the region of space defined between two imaginary planes P1, P2; P3, P4 tangent to an outer surface of the two rollers 700, 701; 702, 703, parallel to the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3 of each winding roller 7 and traversable by the coils 71.

[0038] In particular, advantageously, the guide means 720 allow the distance between the coils 71 to be varied without changing the size of the electrospinning space S.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the guide means 720 comprise protuberances or depressions 72 present on each bundle winding roller 7.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the guide means comprise coil guides 721 that are either fixed with respect to the one or more bundle winding rollers 7 or movable (e.g., rotatable) independently of the rotation of the one or more bundle winding rollers 7 and are suitable for receiving the textile fiber bundle 2 in sliding contact. Preferably, the fact that the coil guides 721 are movable independently of the rotation of the one or more bundle winding rollers 7 means that they are not directly connected to the bundle winding roller for rotation but may rotate independently or may be dragged in motion by the textile fiber bundle 2 or other transmission system or otherwise may rotate around a rotation axis different from the rotation axis of the bundle winding rollers 7.

[0041] For example, according to one embodiment, the coil guides comprise one or more bulkheads, one or more fixed or rotatable cylinders, one or more posts or a combination thereof, or similar mechanical guides.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the coil guides 721, preferably posts or cylinders (e.g., rotatable posts or cylinders), are placed in the electrospinning region of space S. This allows the spaces of the electrospinning station to be optimized.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the coil guides 721, preferably posts or cylinders (e.g., rotatable posts or cylinders), are placed outside the electrospinning space region S. This allows the electrospinning process not to be affected.

[0044] According to one embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 3c and 3d, the coil guides 721 are posts or cylinders positioned in such a way as to have their main axis of extension (or of rotation, if rotatable) positioned incident to or perpendicular to the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3. Moreover, these posts or cylinders are spaced apart along a direction Z parallel to this roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3.

[0045] According to one embodiment, said posts or cylinders are repositionable along the direction Z parallel to the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3 so that the distance between the posts or cylinders, and consequently the distance between the coils 71, may be adjusted.

[0046] According to one embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, each bundle winding roller 7 comprises protuberances or depressions 72 (that is, the guide means 720 in the form of protuberances or depressions) for guiding the textile fiber bundle 2 to be wound around the bundle winding roller 7 in coils 71 spaced apart along the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3.

[0047] It is clear that, in the variant with the previously described coil guides 721, for example shown in FIGS. 3c and 3d, each bundle winding roller 7 may also have a smooth outer surface, without depressions or protuberances 72.

[0048] Preferably, the depositing of the solid fibers 25 occurs while the textile fiber bundle 2 is moving along a bundle running direction X, preferably a direction incident to or perpendicular to the direction of transport of the enrichment solution from the emitter electrode toward the textile fiber bundle 2.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the one or more bundle winding rollers 7 comprise a first group of rollers 7 and a second group of rollers 7, spaced apart from the first group of rollers. The first group of rollers 7 is arranged so as to expose the first side 22 of the textile fiber bundle 2 to the solid fibers 25 coming from the electrospinning device 120. The second group of rollers 7 is arranged downstream of the first group of rollers 7 in the bundle running direction X so as to receive the textile fiber bundle 2 already enriched on the first side 22 and so as to expose a second side 23 of the textile fiber bundle 2 to the solid fibers 25 coming from the electrospinning device 120.

[0050] Preferably, the second group of rollers 7 comprises one or more second group rollers 700, 701, each rotatable about its own roller rotation axis Z, Z1 in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the first group of rollers 7, so that the second side 23 of the textile fiber bundle 2 is easily exposed, and a small footprint of the electrospinning station 120 is maintained, along with mechanical symmetry and an equal utilization of components.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the electrospinning station 1 comprises an idler roller 7 arranged between the first group of rollers 7 and the second group of rollers 7 in the bundle running direction X. The idler roller 7 is out of alignment with respect to the first group of rollers 7 and the second group of rollers 7. Preferably, the idler roller 7 is rotatable about an idler roller rotation axis Z4 out of alignment with respect to the roller rotation axes Z, Z1, Z2, Z3 of the first group of rollers 7 and the second group of rollers 7.

[0052] Preferably, the roller rotation axes Z, Z1, Z2, Z3 of the first group of rollers 7 and of the second group of rollers 7 all lie on a single plane of rotation axes. Preferably, the idler roller 7 is out of alignment with respect to the first group of rollers 7 and the second group of rollers 7 in that its idler roller rotation axis Z4 does not lie on the same plane of rotation axes, e.g., the idler roller rotation axis Z4 lies on a plane parallel to the plane of rotation axes.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the first group of rollers 7 comprises a first group first roller 702 and a first group second roller 703. Preferably, the second group of rollers 7 also comprises a second group first roller 700 and a second group second roller 701. According to this embodiment, the first group first roller 702 and the first group second roller 703 are each rotatable around their rotation axis Z2, Z3 and both in a same first rotation direction R1.

[0054] Preferably, the second group first roller 700 and the second group roller 701 are also each rotatable around their rotation axis Z, Z1 and both in the same second rotation direction R2 opposite to the first rotation direction R1.

[0055] In this way, when the fiber bundle 2 is transported by passing around the first group first roller 702 and the first group second roller 703, the first side 22 of the fiber bundle 2 is enriched; subsequently, when the fiber bundle 2, already enriched on the first side 22, is transported by passing around the second group first roller 700 and the second group second roller 701, the second side 23 of fiber bundle 2 then is enriched.

[0056] Thus, it is clear that the present invention also refers to an electrospinning station 1 that comprises a textile fiber bundle 2 which is transported therein, which is movable along the bundle running direction X and arranged around the first group of rollers 7 and the second group of rollers 7. When in use, that is, when the electrospinning station 1 is operational, the textile fiber bundle 2 is therefore preferably arranged around the first group of rollers 7 and the second group of rollers 7.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the textile fiber bundle 2 forms a first helical shape 81 around the first group of rollers 7 and a second helical shape 82 around the second group of rollers 7.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the electrospinning station 1 comprises a chamber 9 that contains the electrospinning device 120.

[0059] Preferably, the electrospinning station 1 also comprises suction means 91 configured to suction any residual textile fibers inside the chamber 9 and/or fumes deriving from the evaporation of solvents from the enrichment solution.

[0060] The present invention also refers to a method for enriching a textile fiber bundle 2 preferably intended for a weaving machine 3, such as a blowroom machine 200 or a carding machine 400, or a drawing machine 600 or combing machine, or a spinning or slubbing machine 800.

[0061] The method according to the present invention comprises the operating steps of: [0062] a) moving a textile fiber bundle 2, e.g., a sliver or a roving or a thread, along a bundle running direction X; [0063] b) providing a first electrospinning station 1, e.g., of the type described in the present document, which is therefore suitable for producing solid nanofibers 25 by an electrospinning device 120, which is preferably needleless; [0064] c) by means of this first electrospinning station 1, depositing solid fibers 25 on the textile fiber bundle 2 to obtain an enriched textile fiber bundle 21, said enriched textile fiber bundle 21 being enriched with solid fibers 25 deposited as a result of electrospinning on a first side 22 of the textile fiber bundle 2; [0065] d) moving the enriched textile fiber bundle 21 towards a work station 31 downstream of the first electrospinning station 1 in the bundle running direction X, for example a station for winding the enriched textile fiber bundle 21 onto an enriched bobbin 32, or towards the weaving machine 3.

[0066] Preferably, in step b), the first electrospinning station 1 is positioned in the process of treating or creating the textile fiber bundle 2, e.g. upstream of a weaving machine 3, or downstream of a weaving machine, or on a weaving machine 3 (e.g., integrated into the weaving machine 3), in the bundle running direction X.

[0067] Therefore, it is clear that, according to one embodiment, the method also comprises the operating step of providing the weaving machine 3.

[0068] According to one embodiment, in step c) the step of depositing solid fibers 25 on the textile fiber bundle 2 for obtaining an enriched textile fiber bundle 21 is carried out with the textile fiber bundle 2 in motion.

[0069] According to one embodiment, in step c) the step of laying solid fibers 25 on the textile fiber bundle 2 to obtain an enriched textile fiber bundle 21 is carried out with the textile fiber bundle 2 stationary or temporarily stationary in the bundle running direction X.

[0070] According to one embodiment, step c) comprises the operating step of: [0071] c10) winding the textile fiber bundle 2 around one or more bundle winding rollers 7, wherein guide means 720 are configured to guide the textile fiber bundle 2 to form coils 71 in a helical shape 81, 82 around multiple bundle winding rollers 7, so that in a electrospinning region of space S, resulting between at least two rollers 700, 701; 702, 703 of said bundle winding rollers 7, multiple coils 71 of the same textile fiber bundle 2 are formed, spaced apart along a direction Z parallel to the roller rotation axis Z, Z1, Z2, Z3.

[0072] According to one embodiment, step c) comprises the operating step of: [0073] c1) winding the textile fiber bundle 2 around one or more bundle winding rollers 7, wherein each bundle winding roller 7 comprises protuberances or depressions 72 for guiding the textile fiber bundle 2 to be wound around the bundle winding roller 7 in coils 71 spaced apart along a roller rotation axis Z.

[0074] In an advantageous embodiment, the protuberances or depressions 72 are either a single helix-shaped protuberance or a single helix-shaped depression, each winding continuously around the roller rotation axis Z, preferably substantially along the entire length of the roller along the roller rotation axis Z.

[0075] Preferably, in step c1), the one or more bundle winding rollers 7 comprise a first group of rollers 7 and a second group of rollers 7, spaced apart from the first group of rollers, and said step c1) comprises the operating steps of: [0076] c11) winding the textile fiber bundle 2 first around the first group of rollers 7 in such a way that the first side 22 of the textile fiber bundle 2 is exposed to the solid fibers 25 from the electrospinning device 120; [0077] c12) subsequent to step c11) and downstream of the first group of rollers 7 in the bundle running direction X, winding the textile fiber bundle 2 around the second group of rollers 7 in such a way that a second side 23 of the textile fiber bundle 2 is exposed to the solid fibers 25 coming from the electrospinning device 120; said second side 23 is at least partially free from the solid fibers 25 deposited as a result of electrospinning on the first side during the passage of the textile fiber bundle 2 on the first group of rollers 7.

[0078] According to a further embodiment, the method comprises the additional steps of: [0079] b1) providing a second electrospinning station 1, arranged downstream of the first electrospinning station 1 in the bundle running direction X; [0080] b2) providing a bundle conveying station 4 and, by means of said bundle conveying station 4, rotating the enriched textile fiber bundle 21 at the outlet from the first electrospinning station 1 so as to expose a second side 23 of said enriched textile fiber bundle 21 for receiving the solid fibers 25; this second side 23 is at least partially free from the solid fibers 25 deposited as a result of electrospinning in the first electrospinning station 1.

[0081] In this embodiment, it is therefore possible to enrich two opposite sides of the textile fiber bundle 2 along the path of the fiber bundle, without the need for each electrospinning station 1, 1 (the first and second electrospinning stations) to provide for the enrichment of both sides of the bundle. This simplifies the components of the single electrospinning station while making it more compact.

[0082] In addition, this embodiment, however, does not exclude the possibility that each first and second electrospinning station may itself enrich both sides of the fiber bundle 2, as described in the embodiments of the present invention (e.g. in FIGS. 2, 3, 3a and 3b). In the variant wherein each first and second electrospinning station 1, 1 are configured to enrich both sides of the fiber bundle 2, due to the additional bundle conveying station 4, it is therefore possible to perform a double enrichment on both sides of the bundle, reversing the side between the first and second electrospinning stations 1, 1, thus improving the homogeneity of the enrichment.

[0083] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, step c) is carried out by means of an electrospinning station with a needleless electrospinning device.

[0084] According to one embodiment, in step b2), the bundle conveying station 4 comprises a guide 41, such as a bent sheet, which slidably supportingly receives the textile fiber bundle 2 on a curved guide surface 410 of said guide 41 to rotate the enriched textile fiber bundle 21 at the outlet from the first electrospinning station 1 so as to expose the second side 23 of said enriched textile fiber bundle 21 to the solid fibers 25 coming from the electrospinning device 120.

[0085] It is understood that the present invention also refers to a yarn or fabric composed of an enriched textile fiber bundle 21 obtained by the enrichment method described herein. It is clear that yarn may also mean a sliver obtained from blow room or carding or combing machines or even a roving obtained from spinning machines, such as a fly frame, or a thread.

[0086] According to one aspect, the present invention also refers to a yarn composed of an enriched textile fiber bundle 21 comprising textile fibers, e.g., natural textile fibers or synthetic textile fibers, enriched with solid nanofibers 25 obtained by electrospinning and interwoven with the textile fibers.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the solid nanofibers 25 are not only superficially deposited on the yarn but are woven and embedded together with the textile fibers that make up the yarn.

[0088] According to an alternative embodiment, solid nanofibers 25 are only superficially deposited on the yarn.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the textile fibers are natural textile fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the textile fibers are synthetic textile fibers, for example textile fibers made from synthetic polymers such as polyamides or polyesters.

Roving Frame System Example

[0091] In a spinning line 1000 comprising a roving frame 800 and an electrospinning station 1, 1 according to the present invention, an electrospinning station 1, 1 is preferably located directly upstream of the roving frame 800, as for example shown in FIG. 6.

[0092] For example, an electrospinning station 1, 1 is positioned immediately upstream of a flyer rail 801 of the roving frame 800, or upstream of a roving frame pressure arm.

[0093] Therefore, in this example, the electrospinning station is suitable for enriching the feed sliver of the roving frame 800, or the roving being formed in the roving frame 800 directly, depending on the positioning of the electrospinning station.

Drawing Frame System Example

[0094] In a spinning line 1000, comprising a drawing frame 100 and an electrospinning station 1, 1 according to the present invention, an electrospinning station 1, 1 is preferably placed directly upstream of the drawing frame 100, as for example shown in FIG. 5.

[0095] Therefore, in this example, the electrospinning station 1, 1 is suitable for enriching the feed sliver of the drawing frame 100.

[0096] In another example, the electrospinning station is installed on the drawing frame to directly enrich the sliver being formed in the drawing frame 100, depending on the positioning of the electrospinning station.

[0097] Innovatively, the electrospinning station and method according to the present invention make it possible to successfully overcome the techniques of the prior art due to the possibility of enriching, by means of electrospinning, a textile fiber bundle with nanofibers, which is used in the subsequent processing steps of a spinning line or used as an end product for subsequent weaving, such as in a textile line or loom.

[0098] In particular, an advantageous aspect is due to the possibility of enriching the bundle with textile fibers in the course of its production and processing in the spinning line (that is, processing or creating the yarn). This allows for increasing production volumes and efficiency, reducing complexities while at the same time lowering the cost of producing yarns or fabrics made by using the usual production techniques exclusively by electrospinning.

[0099] In a particularly advantageous way, moreover, the method according to the present invention enables the textile fiber bundle to be enriched in line, that is, directly during the process of treating and producing a sliver or a roving or a thread in the spinning line. This allows the usual textile fibers to be enriched during the process of forming and treating with electrospun solid nanofibers that are then incorporated into the textile fibers (and thus into the sliver or roving or thread formation process), improving the properties of the textile fibers with respect to the fabrics obtained by the prior art that instead provide for only superficial depositing of electrospun solid nanofibers.

[0100] Furthermore, in the case of the thread, the method according to the present invention also allows nanofibers to be incorporated into the final fabric obtained from the enriched thread produced according to the method of the present invention. This is true even if the nanofibers are deposited only on one first side of the thread or even on both sides of the thread, but without being woven into the thread itself. As a matter of fact, at the time of weaving the thread, the nanofibers are embedded in the fabric.

[0101] Additionally, due to the possibility of enriching the textile fiber bundle in line, that is, directly during the process of treating and producing a sliver or a roving or a thread in the spinning line, there is no need to interrupt the normal sliver/roving/thread feed process. Moreover, according to some e variants, the modification of standard weaving machines in the spinning line is not necessarily required.

[0102] Even more advantageously, the electrospinning method and the station according to the present invention also make it possible to enrich two or more sides of the fiber bundle being processed (sliver, roving or thread) with the solid nanofibers of the electrospinning process, without having to modify the weaving machines of the spinning line and without having to interrupt the working process of the spinning line. This is done, moreover, in a simple, efficient and compact manner.

[0103] Additionally, still advantageously, thanks to the enrichment method according to the present invention, it is possible to enrich the sliver/roving/thread in its normal production process with nanofibers having specific chemical/physical properties. For example, due to the present invention, it is possible to generate a sliver/roving/thread having properties that cannot be achieved by the normal production process except from an original fiber already having said properties. For example, advantageously, it is possible to enrich the textile fiber bundle with nanofibers incorporating silver ions with an antibacterial effect or with nanofibers capable of increasing the basic mechanical strength of the textile fiber, as well as flame resistance or a bactericidal property.

[0104] It is clear that a person skilled in the art may make changes to the invention described above in order to meet contingent needs, these changes all falling within the scope of protection as defined in the following claims.