Apparatus for tow opening

1. An apparatus for opening a crimped multifilament tow comprising:

at least one pair of opposed gripping rollers comprising a first roller which is a metal roller and a second roller which is a smooth-surfaced roller made of a material having an elongation of between 350-550% and a tensile strength at 100% modulus of between 200 to 600 psi and being selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane or silicone rubber;

where said multifilament tow passes between and in contact with both said rollers and filaments of said tow are separated from one another and opened.

2. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 1 where the material of the smooth surface roller is a polyurethane.

3. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 2 where the smooth surface polyurethane roller has chamfered edges.

4. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 2 where said polyurethane has a Shore A hardness of 45 to 85.

5. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 1 where said material further comprises an antistatic component.

6. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 1 where said metal roller is selected from the group consisting of: smooth surface metal rollers or textured metal rollers.

7. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 6 where said textured metal roller is selected from the group consisting of: grooved; threaded; ridged; helically threaded; parallel circular rings; parallel elliptical rings; embossed patterns; carved patterns; helically threaded for half their lengths in a counter-clockwise direction and for the other half in a clockwise direction where the base of each grove is v-shaped, u-shaped, where the tops of the ridges separating adjacent grooves are slightly flattened; or any arrangement of protrusions and indentations which would give the roller a textured surface.

8. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 1 further comprising a second pair of opposed gripping rollers comprising a first roller which is a metal roller and a second roller which is a smooth-surfaced roller made of a material selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane or silicone rubber.

9. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 8 where said metal roller is selected from the group consisting of: smooth surface metal rollers or textured metal rollers.

10. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 9 where said textured metal roller is selected from the group consisting of: grooved; threaded; ridged; helically threaded; parallel circular rings; parallel elliptical rings; embossed patterns; carved patterns; helically threaded for half their lengths in a counter-clockwise direction and for the other half in a clockwise direction where the base of each grove is v-shaped, u-shaped, where the tops of the ridges separating adjacent grooves are slightly flattened; or any arrangement of protrusions and indentations which would give the roller a textured surface.

11. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 8 further comprising a third pair of opposed rollers selected from the group consisting essentially of: a first roller which is a smooth-surfaced metal roller and a second roller which is a smooth-surfaced roller made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane or silicone rubber; two smooth-surfaced rollers made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane or silicone rubber; two smooth-surfaced metal rollers.

12. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 1 where said multifilament tow is selected from the group consisting of: polyolefin, polyester or cellulosics.

13. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 12 where said multifilament tow is cellulose acetate.

14. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 12 where said multifilament tow has a denier equal to or less than 200,000.

15. The apparatus for opening crimped multifilament tow according to claim 2 where said polyurethane has a tensile strength at break of between 1500 psi to 3000 psi.

16. An apparatus for opening a crimped multifilament cellulose acetate tow comprising:

at least one pair of opposed gripping rollers comprising a first roller which is a metal roller and a second roller which is a smooth-surfaced roller made of a material having an elongation of between 350-550% and a tensile strength at 100% modulus of between 200 to 600 psi and being selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane or silicone rubber;

where said multifilament cellulose acetate tow passes between and in contact with both said rollers and filaments of said cellulose acetate tow are separated from one another and opened.

17. A process of opening a coherent multifilament tow comprising the steps of:

providing a source of crimped multifilament tow;

advancing said tow;

gripping said tow at a plurality of points, each of said points being defined by a pair of opposite surfaces, one textured and one smooth, the smooth surface being made of a material having an elongation of between 350-550% and a tensile strength at 100% modulus of between 200 to 600 psi and being selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane or silicone rubber; where said pair of opposite surfaces are spaced from one another; and

separating filaments of said tow.

18. A process of opening a coherent multifilament tow comprising the steps of:

providing a source of crimped multifilament tow;

advancing said tow;

gripping said tow at a plurality of points, each of said points being defined by a pair of opposite smooth surfaces, both smooth surfaces being made of a material having an elongation of between 350-550% and a tensile strength at 100% modulus of between 200 to 600 psi and being selected from the group consisting of: urethane and silicone rubber; where said pair of opposite surfaces are spaced from one another; and

separating filaments of said tow.