CN100347350C - Method for producing yarn and apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination of a tension door (18) in a loose region in the manufacturing process of fibers and an air shielding piece (24). The combination provides an increased effect which surpasses the effect of a single air shielding piece (24), or the effect of a single tension door (18), or the added effects of the tension door (18) and the air shielding piece (24). The air shielding piece (24) is in a plate-shaped structure and is provided with a hole or is not provided with a hole, and air shielding plates (26 and 28) are abutted on a pair of rollers (20 and 22) behind the tension door (18). The air shielding plates (26 and 28) are positioned on the inner side of spinning yarn between the rollers (20 and 22) in pairs. The tension door (18) can be no less than one air resistance device, no less than one liquid resistance device or no less than one solid surface contact device or can be the combination of any device in the devices. The device and the process for using the device are disclosed and claimed.

Description

Yarn manufacturing method and device thereof

technical field

The present invention relates to a synergistic combination of an air shield and a portal tensioner device and a method of operating the synergistic combination in a slack zone during yarn manufacture. Air shields and door tensioner devices are included in the relaxation zone during the yarn manufacturing process to increase the stability of the yarn on the relaxation rolls, especially at process speeds greater than 4,000 m/min in the case of. In particular, the invention relates to the part of yarn manufacture in which the yarn is relaxed to control its shrinkage without reducing the stability of the yarn on the relaxation rolls. Typical methods with means for relaxing the yarn during manufacture are spin-draw, draw-twist, draw-twist, draw-bulk methods.

Background technique

It is known to use air shields in the relaxation phase of yarn manufacture. It is also known to use portal tensioners in the slack zone.

US Patent 5,240,667 to Andrews, Jr. et al. discloses a method of making nylon yarn with a slack zone between a pair of rollers. Specifically, one pair of rollers was operated at a processing speed approximately 11% lower than the speed of the other pair of rollers. Between said pair of rollers is a pair of draw point fixing bars for increasing the tension of the yarn advancing to the pair of rollers following said fixing bars. This patent discusses winding speeds in excess of 2,000 yards/minute, and preferably 2,400 yards/minute. Instead, the present invention looks at speeds in excess of 3,500 m/min, and preferably in excess of 5,000 m/min. The stretch point fixing rods used at the speeds mentioned in the Andrews, Jr. et al. patent are suitable for nylon, however at the increased speeds of the present invention, the stretch point fixing rods are not suitable for polyester because they Rubs and wears polyester, reducing its mechanical quality. This patent does not teach the use of air shields.

The following patents relate to the use of air shields during yarn manufacture. In general, these patents teach the use of an air shield with or without holes in the vicinity of a pair of godets. None of these patents teach the use of air shields in conjunction with portal tensioners.

Japanese Patent No. 58-26767 assigned to Toray Industries Co., Ltd. by Ishihara Masatoshi et al. describes an air shield to prevent yarn vibration and thereby improve the quality of the wound yarn in high speed winding applications. This patent uses the limiting yarn guide and air shielding plate in Fig. 2 of JP 58-26767.

Japanese Patent No. 62-116477 assigned to Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd. by Ohata Takahiro et al. discloses an air shield between a pair of godets to prevent yarn vibrations from occurring.

Korean Patent Applications 94-4689 and 94-4690 to Baek et al., assigned to Cheil Synthetics Co., Ltd., both relate to porous air shields used in the /min speed to prevent air flow, thereby reducing fiber breakage and ensuring high productivity of the process.

Japanese Patent 2761789 by Takashi Inoue, assigned to Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd., describes an air shield type device. Specifically, two godet rolls are used at locations where the yarn moves excessively on the roll surface. Each pair of godet rollers includes a driven roller and a separation roller. The air shield is a single plate mounted between the rolls with one edge abutting against the surface of the driven godet roll. The plate is perforated with a plurality of holes which disperse the deflected air flow which bounces off the plate and reduces the occurrence of roll wrap.

Despite all the prior art listed above, there is still a need in the market for improved yarn stability, improved wear and breakage that occurs during the manufacture of textile fibres. This demand increases as the winding speed increases. In said technical field, there is also a need to provide greater slack on the rollers as the yarn is wound around the rollers without losing the stability of the yarn. These needs are met by the present invention.

Contents of the invention

The present invention relates to the combination of a portal tensioner and an air shield. Not only is this combination unknown in the prior art, but it also provides a synergistic effect that exceeds the effect of using air shields alone or gate tensioners alone. The air shield can be any blocking plate with or without holes. Also, these air shields may be placed next to the pair of relax rolls that follow the portal tensioners in the relax zone of the fiber manufacturing process. The plate is located inside the spin so that the air flow around the spin is substantially reduced. Portal tensioners can be one or more air resistance devices, one or more liquid resistance devices, one or more solid surface contact devices, or any combination of these devices, as filed on July 10, 2000 The same as disclosed by the inventor in the US patent S.N.09/613,225. A preferred embodiment of the invention is with a portal tensioner comprising one or more rollers in the slack zone of the fiber manufacturing process, with an air shield located in a pair of rollers following the portal tensioner. The inside of the fiber (spun) that strings up between the rollers.

In its broadest sense, the present invention includes air shields and portal tensioners for use in slack zones in fiber manufacturing processes.

Likewise, the present invention relates to a method of fabricating fibers in a slack zone, comprising the steps of: introducing a portal tensioner into the slack zone; and introducing an air shield into the fiber slack zone, said air shield positioned behind said Around the paired rolls (relaxation rolls) after the tensioner.

Preferably, the portal tensioner comprises one or more air resistance devices, one or more liquid resistance devices, one or more solid surface contact devices or a combination of any of these devices.

Preferably, the air resistance device comprises a mixing element or an air counterflow device.

Preferably, the liquid resistance device includes an oil feed device or a liquid pool on the spinning path.

Preferably, said solid surface contacting means comprises one or more rollers.

Preferably, said one or more rollers comprise turbine driven rollers or free rotating rollers, or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the yarn is polyester.

Preferably, the air shield comprises a pair of plates.

Preferably said plate is perforated.

Preferably, said plates are arranged between relaxation rolls.

Preferably, said portal tensioner produces a tension differential across said yarn of at least 5 mg/denier.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use in a relaxation zone in a yarn manufacturing method, comprising: a pair of spaced first rollers, arranged on said first rollers in a yarn sliver line A subsequent gate tensioner, a pair of separate relax rolls disposed after said gate tensioner in the yarn sliver line, and an air shield disposed between said relax rolls.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings are provided to help those skilled in the art understand the present invention, concepts related to the present invention, and the scope of the present invention. However, the drawings are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, or to impose any limitations on the invention other than those in the claims.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the combination of an air shield and a gate tensioner arrangement, where the air shield is located on the inside of the spin between the two rollers following the gate tensioner;

Figure 2 shows a second schematic view of the combination of an air shield and a portal tensioner device with an additional spinning resistance device;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the rollers following the portal tensioner with the air shield positioned on the inside of the spin between the two rollers;

Figure 4 is a graph of process speed versus yarn stability on relax rolls.

Detailed ways

The applicant has filed a patent application concerning portal tensioners and their use in the slack zone in the fiber manufacturing process. US S.N. 09/613,225, filed July 10, 2000 by DeBenedictis et al. is cited herein.

The present invention is a combination of an air shield and a door tensioner device. Existing methods such as spin-drawing methods, draw-twisting methods, draw-winding methods or draw-bulking methods include a relaxation zone so that the method and apparatus of the present invention can be used in such a relaxation zone. Any melt-spun polymer used by any of the above methods, such as polyesters, polyamides (nylons), polyolefins, polyketones, polyetherketones, polyphenylene sulfides, and polyarylates, can be used in this invention invention. Typical polyesters are polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate or these Mixtures of any of polyesters, or copolymers of these polyesters containing up to about 15% by weight of polyolefins, polyalkylene glycols, or such polyesters as polyethylene terephthalate isophthalate Other copolyesters of the class. Typical nylons are nylon 6 and nylon 66. Typical polyolefins are polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene or mixtures thereof. Any of these polymers or combinations of any of these polymers with other polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene in the form of bicomponent fibers or heterogeneous composite filament fibers are also subject to the present invention. In the range.

As the degree of relaxation increases, the yarn tension in the relaxation zone decreases, which causes the yarn to become unstable on the rollers downstream of the relaxation zone. As the processing speed increases, the stability becomes poorer at a constant relaxation rate due to the increased centrifugal force acting on the yarn resting on the relaxation rollers. Thus, as processing speed increases, the degree of slack must decrease to maintain stability. Yarns that move or wobble across the roll surface due to low tension are defined as unstable yarns. Highly unstable yarns lead to reduced mechanical quality and, in severe cases, breakage (broken yarn).

When the method or apparatus of the present invention is used in any of the yarn manufacturing processes having a relaxation zone, a higher degree of relaxation and consequently lower through-air shrinkage can be achieved compared to conventional methods and apparatus. By using the present invention at higher processing speeds, the same level of relaxation can be achieved at high speeds compared to conventional low speed conditions, or the processing speed can be maintained while increasing the relaxation level so that hot air shrinkage can be greatly improved (i.e. be reduced), or both at the same time.

The portal tensioner of the present invention separates the relaxation zone in the conventional method into a relaxation zone and a small stretching zone. Different devices can create separation when placed in a traditional slack zone. A portal tensioner can be created by applying resistance to the yarn using air resistance, liquid resistance, or the resistance created by pulling the yarn on a fixed surface. Air resistance can be imposed on the yarn by using, for example, one or more interminglers or counter-current air-flow devices. Typically, the air pressure for the air resistance means is from 5 to 50 psi, more typically from 10 to 40 psi, and preferably about 10 to 30 psi. The air pressure blown through the spin can be directly related to the amount of tension the mixing element is placed on the spin. The higher the air pressure, the greater the tension.

For example, by using one or more finishers (a finisher is a device well known to those skilled in the textile industry that applies a finish or paint to the yarn) or by stretching the yarn so that it Through the liquid pool, liquid resistance can be introduced. Typically, the liquid is applied at a rate of about 4-7 ml/minute for 1000 denier yarn. Coating rates will vary with process speed, denier, desired tension, and other factors known to those skilled in the art to experiment.

Fixed surface resistance can be introduced by bringing the yarn into contact with one or more solid surfaces, such as rollers, over which the yarn passes or surrounds, however because the yarn does not have multiple turns on the rollers, So there is no problem of yarn moving or swinging back and forth on the portal tensioner, and there is no yarn breakage. In cases where only low tension gradients (e.g. 5mg/d) are desired across one or more free-wheeling rolls, or where it is desired to limit the tension gradient across such rolls, it is necessary to assist a or more rotations of the gate tensioner rolls. In other words, since the total rotational resistance may exceed the tension gradient, the freely rotating roll has sufficient bearing friction and air resistance so that it is difficult to obtain a tension gradient of only about 5 mg/d. To achieve low tension gradients, a turbine drive using air to help drive the rolls can be used to assist the roll rotation. Operating the rolls with turbine drives or very sensitive secondary assistance such as electric motors is well known to those skilled in the art and within the scope of the present invention.

A gate tensioner is a device that, when used in the slack zone of a yarn manufacturing process, has an outlet yarn tension greater than an inlet yarn tension, thereby creating a tension differential. Additionally, the portal tensioner of the present invention comprising one or more rollers is a non-multi-roll yarn roller device. Tension differentials are generally greater than 5 milligrams per denier (mg/d), such that if the yarn is 1000 denier yarn, the gate tensioner of the present invention is 5 grams, and if the yarn has 2000 denier, Then the portal tensioner is at least 10 grams. For the present invention, a preferred embodiment is a portal tensioner or method having a tension differential of at least about 7 mg/denier, more preferably greater than about 9 mg/d. The use of the portal tensioner and method of the present invention in the relaxation zone of a yarn manufacturing system allows for a higher degree of relaxation at the same process speed and a corresponding significant reduction in yarn shrinkage through air.

If we assume, a significant 10% increase in processing speed, or if we assume, a significant 15% increase in slack, then the difference in tension between the yarn leaving the portal tensioner and the yarn entering the portal tensioner is approximately The 7mg/denier portal tensioner achieved a significant improvement. This is the preferred embodiment. Of course, good stability is obtained even with an increase in processing speed of less than 10% and/or an increase in relaxation of less than 15%. Such results are not characterized as "significantly improved", but are within the scope of the present invention.

Figure 1 schematically shows the invention comprising a combination of a portal tensioner and an air shield. Referring to Figure 1, the numeral 10 indicates throughout the apparatus of the present invention in the relaxation zone of the fiber manufacturing process. The relaxation zone has a pair of spaced draw rolls 12, 14 upon which the spun fiber 16 is multiple wound. After passing the draw rolls, the spun yarn 16 proceeds to a portal tensioner assembly 18, and from there to a pair of let-down rolls 20, 22 (such that the rolls 20, 22 follow the portal tensioner along the spin path). ). The pair of relaxation rolls had an air shield, shown throughout at 24, mounted adjacent the rolls 20, 22 and separated from the rolls by about 1 cm. Shield 24 may be perforated or solid as is known in the art. The air shield 24 is supported by brackets (not shown) which may be secured to support frames (also not shown) of the rollers 20,22. Air shields are located inside the spins 16 to prevent air flow from blowing through the spins and creating motion on the rolls 20,22. The air shield 24 includes at least one plate (thin and flat - roughly two-dimensional), and preferably a pair of plates 26 , 28 . The plates can be made of any material that can be perforated or solid such as: metals such as aluminum or copper (virtually any metal will work equally well); plastics such as polycarbonate, polyester, Polyamide, etc., these materials are well known in the technical field; wood, rubber; or a combination of these materials. Preferably, the spaced apart plates 26, 28 are located between the let-down rolls 20, 22, and within each tangent connecting the outer surfaces of each roll, and thus within the spinning line 16. The plates block air flow due to the rotation of the rollers 20, 22, as well as any air flow generated by fans or blowers, for example in production equipment. Relying on the fact that the air shield 24 is about 1 cm from the rollers 20, 22 and the same distance from the spinning 16, a static clarification zone is created near the air shield 24, thereby significantly reducing the air flow caused by air flow on the rollers 20, 22. Any damage caused by the spinning movement.

The gate tensioner device 18 may be any of the devices discussed in the inventor's prior patent applications, such as one or more air resistance devices, one or more liquid resistance devices, one or more solid surface contact devices , or a combination of two or more of any of these means. Referring to FIG. 1 , the portal tensioner device includes a pair of rollers 30 , 32 . The yarn exiting the portal tensioner 18 has a higher tension than the yarn entering the portal tensioner.

In operation of the apparatus described in FIG. 1 , the spun yarn 16 , for example from a drawing stage (not shown), is wound multiple times on a pair of rollers 12 , 14 . The function of the rollers 12, 14 is not part of the invention and is dependent on the type of process in which there is a slack zone (the slack zone comprising the rollers 12, 14, the gate tensioner 18 and the rollers 20, 22). The roller pair 12, 14 has a faster processing speed (velocity) than the roller pair 20, 22 so that the yarn relaxes during operation. Thus, the rolls 12, 14 may be a pair of draw rolls in a spin-drawing process, or a pair of rolls in a draw-twisting process, or a pair of rolls in a draw-winding process, Or a pair of rolls in stretch puffing process. Upon exiting the pair of rolls 12 , 14 , the spun yarn 16 enters a portal tensioner 18 . The portal tensioner shown in FIG. 1 includes a pair of rollers 30, 32 that increase the tension on the spin as compared to the tension of the spin entering the portal tensioner. The spun yarn 16 then proceeds to a pair of rolls 20, 22, which may be, for example, a pair of relax rolls. The spun yarn is wound multiple times onto rolls 20, 22 and further advanced or wound away from the rolls. Adjacent the rolls 20, 22 are plates 26, 28, the outer surfaces of which the spinning 16 passes. Because the plates 26, 28 are located inside the spinning produced by the multiple windings of the yarn or fiber 16, as shown in Fig. 3, the air shield 24, for example, does not interfere with the string-up. The gate tensioner 18 utilizes the rotational speed of the rollers 30, 32 to increase the tension on the spin 16 from the entrance of the gate tensioner to the exit of the gate tensioner. Typically, the first roller 30 in a portal tensioner can rotate at a slower speed than the rollers 12,14. The rotational speed of the second roller 32 of the portal tensioner is higher than the rotational speed of the first roller 30, and preferably, the same as or slightly slower than the speed of the rollers 20, 22 so as to maintain the , 22 taut winding, thereby increasing the stability on these rollers.

Figure 2 shows a second modified embodiment of the invention in which an air or liquid resistance device 34 is used in conjunction with a pair of rollers 30, 32 in a gate tensioner. The combination of devices used to form the gate tensioner device 18 is disclosed in the previously mentioned applicant's patent application. The operation of the device shown in Figure 2 is substantially similar to the operation of the device shown in Figure 1, with the obvious difference that: when leaving the rolls 12, 14, the spinning 16 first passes through the air or liquid resistance device 34, and then winds around the pair of rolls 30 , 32 on. A gaseous or liquid resistance device 34 provides tension to the spinning 16 from that portion of the relaxation zone, for example, between the rolls 12 , 14 and the gate tensioner 18 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , a side view of the rollers 20 , 22 is shown. Located between the rolls 20, 22 is a plate 28 inside the spin, allowing the observer to see the spin rolls around the rolls 20, 22, and the spin extends outside of the plate 28 (the plate 28 is located between the rolls 20, 22 inside of the tangent). The coiled portion is located on the outside of the plate 28 so that the plate does not interfere with the string-up of the device. When looking at Figure 3, the spin 16 comes from the portal tensioner on the top right side of roll 20, winds around rolls 20, 22, and exits the top left hand side of roll 20 for further processing or winding.

The roller pairs 12, 14 and 20, 22 may be of the same or different dimensions. Additionally, the pair of rollers 12, 14 or the pair of rollers 20, 22 need not be of the same size either. For example, roll 12 may be a driven roll and roll 14 may be a smaller breakaway roll, and similarly roll 20 may be a driven roll and roll 22 may be a smaller breakaway roll.

example

In traditional spin-drawing methods, polyester polymer is extruded through a spinneret, then spun, drawn and relaxed. The intrinsic viscosity (IV) of the spun yarn was 0.88 (measured in o-chlorophenol at 25°C).

The spun yarn is stretched in a two-stage process. The final draw rolls had a temperature of 242°C. At a temperature of 240°C, the yarn was relaxed by 9.62% between these draw rolls and the pair of relaxation rolls.

Initial conditions were a spinning speed of 678 mpm, a final drawing speed of 3658 mpm. The final drawing speed was increased in 250 mpm increments to produce the yarn shown in Figure 4, while the spinning speed was also increased to maintain constant yarn physical properties (tenacity and elongation). The throughput was adjusted (increased) to maintain a final stretch denier of 1000. The yarn stability of the winding on the relaxation roll was recorded as a function of the draw roll speed.

A subjective scale is used to define yarn stability. A rating of 1 (excellent) is defined as very stable with no spin movement or wobbling and a rating of 5 (extremely poor) is defined as sufficient yarn movement to cause an immediate spin break. A rating of 3.0 to 3.5 is considered the maximum degree of instability allowed in the manufacturing process. A preferred acceptable stability is from 1.0 to 2.5.

Example 1

Run 1 had no portal tensioner or air stripper between the relax rolls (control).

Trial 2 had a portal tensioner including 2 two air driven rollers, as shown in FIG. 1 . The angle of failure on the first roll was 161 degrees and the angle of failure on the second roll was 175 degrees. This produces a portal tensioner of 55-70 grams.

Trial 3 used an air stripper plate between the pair of relax rolls and approximately 1 cm from the rolls.

Trial 4 combined the portal tensioner of Trial 2 with the air stripper plate of Trial 3.

Figure 4 shows the yarn stability on the first set of rollers following the portal tensioner as a function of the stretching speed for these tests. In particular, the measurement of the drawing speed, measured in meters per minute (mpm), was performed on the drawing rolls immediately preceding the portal tensioner. From this figure, the processing speeds corresponding to Class 3 yarn stability are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 test speed, mpm Increment over Trial 1 1 4,180 2 4,540 360 3 4,460 260 4 5,280 1,100

It was previously thought that the combination would not produce significantly better results than either the air shield or the gate tensioner alone, as at best only minor improvements could be expected once the yarn on the relax roll had stabilized. The best that can be hoped for is that the combination of the portal tensioner and the air stripper produces an additive effect, a speed increment of 620 mpm, while maintaining a stability rating of 3. But surprisingly, the speed increment is 60% higher at 1,100mpm, thus showing the synergistic effect.

Example 2

Using the configuration of Example 1, Trial 4, an additional gate tensioner was added before the two roller gate tensioners, as shown in Figure 2. This portal tensioner is an air intermingler operating at a pressure of 30 psig. Using a draw speed of 5000 mpm, the relaxation rate on the relax roll was 8.91% at a temperature of 150°C (draw roll held at 242°C).

At 5,000 mpm, the spinning stability improved from 3.0 to 2.75 when air was supplied to the mixing element.

It will thus be appreciated that in accordance with the present invention there has been provided a method and apparatus which fully satisfy the above objects, objects and advantages. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident from the foregoing description that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention intends to cover all such alternatives, modifications, and variations within the true and broad scope of the claims.

Claims (29)

1. A method of manufacturing yarn having a low-strength relaxation zone with at least one pair of relaxation rollers, said method comprising: providing a relaxation zone in which the yarn is relaxed; Provide a portal tensioner in the zone; and provide an air shield near the relax roll to reduce the impact of air on the yarn on the relax roll. 2. The yarn manufacturing method of claim 1, said portal tensioner comprising one or more air resistance devices, one or more liquid resistance devices, one or more solid surface contact devices, or Any combination of devices. 3. The yarn manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein said air resistance means comprises a mixing element or an air counterflow means. 4. The yarn manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein said liquid resistance means comprises an oil feed means or a liquid pool on a spinning path. 5. The yarn manufacturing method of claim 2, wherein said solid surface contacting means comprises one or more rollers. 6. The yarn manufacturing method of claim 5, wherein the one or more rolls comprise turbine driven rolls or free rotating rolls, or a combination thereof. 7. The yarn manufacturing method of claim 1, wherein the yarn is polyester. 8. The yarn manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: spinning drawing, drawing twisting, drawing winding or drawing bulking methods. 9. The yarn manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein said air shield comprises a pair of plates. 10. The yarn manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein said plate is perforated. 11. The yarn manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein said plate is disposed between relaxation rolls. 12. The method of making yarn as recited in claim 1, wherein said portal tensioner produces a tension differential across said yarn of at least 5 mg/denier. 13. The yarn manufacturing method of claim 1, further comprising: Supplied as a pair of split first rollers where: The portal tensioner is arranged behind the first roller; The relaxation rollers are a pair of separated rollers, and the relaxation rollers are arranged after the gate tensioner. 14. The yarn manufacturing method according to claim 13, wherein said air shield comprises a pair of plates. 15. The yarn manufacturing method of claim 14, wherein the plate is perforated. 16. The yarn manufacturing method of claim 13, wherein said plate is located between said pair of relaxation rolls. 17. The method of making yarn as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plate is approximately 1 centimeter from said relax roll. 18. The yarn manufacturing method of claim 14, wherein said plates are separate, located between said let-down rolls, and within respective tangents connecting the outer surfaces of each of the let-down rolls. 19. An apparatus for use in a relaxation zone in a yarn manufacturing process, comprising: a pair of spaced first rolls, a gate tensioner disposed after said first rolls in a yarn threadline, A pair of separate relaxation rolls disposed after the portal tensioner in the yarn thread line and an air shield disposed between the relaxation rolls. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the gate tensioner comprises one or more air resistance devices, one or more liquid resistance devices, one or more solid surface contact resistance devices, or The combination. 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the air resistance means comprises a mixing element or an air counterflow means. 22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said liquid resistance means comprises an oil feed or a liquid pool in the spinning path. 23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the solid surface contacting means comprises one or more rollers. 24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more rollers comprise turbine driven rollers or free rotating rollers or combinations thereof. 25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the air shield comprises a pair of plates. 26. The device of claim 25, wherein the plate is perforated. 27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said plate is disposed between said pair of relax rolls. 28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said plate is approximately 1 cm from said relax roll. 29. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said plates are spaced apart between said let-down rolls and within respective tangents connecting the outer surfaces of each of the let-down rolls.

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