CA1249732A - Air comb arrangement for jet dyeing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Apparatus for the application of liquids to moving material, such as patterned application of dyes to moving textile material, including a liquid applicator positioned above the material path of travel for continuously discharging liquid in a row of plural streams downwardly onto the material, means for selectively deflecting selected of the continuously flowing streams in accordance with a pattern control device, and collection means for receiving the deflected liquid to prevent its contact with the moving material. The apparatus includes a novel air comb with air supply tubes in a pre-selected position relative to its particular dye jet in order to efficiently deflect the dye jet in the proper direction at the proper time.

Description

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Thls is a divisional o~ Canadian Pa~ent Application Serial No. 492,262, filed October 4th, 1985.
The present invention is directed to apparatus for applying liquids to moving materials and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus for the patterned application of dye or other liquids to moving textile materials, such as pile carpets, fabrics and the like.
It is known to apply liquid dyes to moving textile materia1s from plural strealns which are directed onto the materials and selectively controlled to produce a desired pattern thereon. McElveen, U. S. Pat. No 3,393,411, describes apparatus and process wherein plural streams of dye are selectively controlled in their flow to provide a distinct pattern on a pile carpet.
lJ. S. Pat. No 3,443,878 and 3,570,275 describe apparatus and process for the patterned dyeing of a moving textile web wherein continuously flowing streams of dye normally directed in paths to impinge upon the web are selectively deflected from contact with the web in accordance ~ith pattern information. The webs are thus dyed in a desired pattern and the deflected dye is collected and recirculated for use.
In such continuous flow, deflection-type d~yeing apparatus, it is known to position a plurality of dye applicators, or "dye gun bars", generally above the path of movement of a material to be dyed and wherein each of the gun bars extends across the path of material movement and is provided with a row of dye outlets which project streams of dye downwardly toward the material to be dyed. Each continuously flowing dye stream is selectively deflected by a stream of air which ls discharged, in accordance with pattern information, from an air outlet located adjacent each dye discharge outlet. The air outlet is positioned to direct the air stream into intersecting relation with the dye stream and to deflect the dye into a collection chamber or trough for recirculation. To accurakely control the amount of dye appl;ed to a given location on the material during the dyeing ~ g operation, and to insure that the dye strikes the material in a very small, precise spot, -the lower portion oF the collection chamber contains a collector plate supportably positioned in spaced relation above the lower wall of the collection chamber. This collector pla~e is adjustably attached to the lower wall so that its edge can be accurately positioned relative to the dye (lischarge a~es of the gun bar ~o insure prompt and precise interception oF the streams when de-Flected. Details of such a dyeing apparatus and collection chamber constructiGn are dèscribed and claimed in comlnonly assigned Klein, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.
471,111, filed ~lay ]7, 1974, now U.S. Pat. rlo. 3,9~2,343 As described in said application, each dye stream, when deFlected, passes across the edge of the collector plate and irrto the collection chamber. Upon removal of deflection from the stream, the stream moves back across the plate edge and resumes its normal path of travel toward the material to be dyed.
In apparatus of this type to obtain finer definition between colors, it is necessary to use more dye jets per unit measure of the gun bar and consequently, more air tubes per unit length. As the number oF air tubes per unit length increases, it is necessary to stagger the location of the air tubes in order to provide the desired number of tubes in a pre-determined length. These tubes must be correctly located with respect to ~he dye jet and secured in such position so that it will not move during operation of the machine during dyeing of the selected fabric.
Therefore, it is an object ol the invention to provide a new and improved air supply tube holder assembly in a jet dyeing machine which insures proper and secure location of the air tube relative to the dye jet.

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In accordance with-the invention of the present di~.~isional there is provided an apparatus to secure a plurality of tubular members each in a groove of a plurality of grooves comprising: a plurality of tubular menlbers conrlected to a holder a triangular shaped member pivot.ally mounted to said holder at olle end and abutting said tubular members at the other and mean assembly associated with saidi triangular member to pivot said triangular member in said holder toward and a~ay from said tubular rnembers.

The invention will be better understood and further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

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FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevdtion of appardtus for tlyein~ a Inovirl9 mdterial;
FIGURE 2 is a schematic drawing of a single dye dpplicator or gun b~r, of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 and shows a basiu arrangement for supplying dye to and from, and air under pressure to, each of the gun bars~ together with control means for programming the same;
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side view, partially in section, of a gun bar of the apparatus of the present invention, and showing in more detail the positiondl arrangement of the dye applicator section and dye collection chamber of the gun bar; and FIGURES 4-9 represent air supply tub~ holder assemblies for the jet dyeing machine of FIGURES 1-3 with the air tube holder assemblies rotated about 60 counter-clockwise for the purposes of illustration.
FIGURE 4 illustrates the arrangement employed when the air tubes were not staggered;
FIGURE 5 is an end view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;
FIGURE 6 is a cross-section view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 illustrating the effect when staggered ~ir tubes were employed.
FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 illustratirlg the new and novel air tube arrangement;
FIGURE 8 is a cross-section view taken on line 8-~ of FIGURE 7; and FIGURE 9 is an exploded view of the air tube support arrangemerlt of FIGURE 7.
Referring more specificcllly to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows, in schematic side elevation, apparatus for applying liquids to a rnoving material to which the present invention pertains. As shown and as will be described, the apparatus is particularly adapted for the patterned application of dyes to a moving length of pile carpet mat~rial; however, it is to be understood that the liquid applicator of the apparatus could be employed to apply various types of liquids to various moving materials in a programnled manner.
The dyeing apparatus shown generally comprises ~ dye applicator section 10, a steam chamber 12, a washer lq, and a dryer 16. The dye applicator section lO is conlposed of a main frame 1~ supporting an inclined conveyor 20 which jc clriven by motor means 22. Positioned above and spaced along the length of the conveyor are plurality of dye applicator members, or gun bars 24, (8 being shown), which extend in parallel, spdced relation across the width of the conveyor and are suitably supported at their ends by attachment to diagonal frame rllembers (one of which, 26, is shown) on either side of the conveyor. For pattern dyeing broadloom carpets, the conveyor convenierltly may be 12 to 15 feet in width and the gun bars 24 each are provided with a diFferent color dye to apply a colored pattern to the carpet.
In opera-tion, a length of carpet 28 is cGntinuously withdrawn from a supply roll 29 by a driven pinroller 27 and delivered to the incl'ined conveyor 20 which transports the carpet beneath the gun bars 24. Each gun bar i5 provided with a different colored liquid dye which is dispensed in streanls frorn orifices or outlets spaced along the gun bar onto the carpet as it passes through the applicator section 10. Details of the constructior, ~nd control of gun bars will be explained hereinafter. Dyed carpet leaving conveyor 20 is directed by suitable support mear,s, such as guide rollers, one of which 30 ls shown, throuah the stearn chamber l2, the.
washer 1~, and the dryer 16 where the dyed carpet is tredted ln conventional rrlarlner to fix the dye, remove excess dye, and dry the dyed carpet, respec.tively. Oetails o~ the dye-fixing steam cilarnber 12, washer 14, and dryer l~ do not form part oF the present invention and apparatus for per-Forming such convelltional practices are ~ell known in the art. The dyed carpet is collected on a collection roll 31.

The gun bars 24 are of substantially identical construc-tion and -the details of their construction and operation can he~ter be described by reference to FIGURES 2 and 3. As seen in FIGUR~ 2, which is a schematic side elevation of a gun bar 24, each gun bar is provided with a separate dye reservoir tank 32 which supplies liquid dye, by means of pump 34 and conduit rneans 36, under pressure to a dye manifold pipe 38 of the gun bar.
Pipe 38 communicates at suitable locations along its length with a sub-manifold section ~0 attached to the pipe. The manifold pipe 3& and sub-manifold section 40 extend across the width of the cGnveyor 20 and sub-manifold sectior, 40 is provided with a plurality of dye outlets 42 spaced along its length to continuously discharge a row of parallel dye strealns downwardly toward the material to be dyed.
PositiGned adjacent and at about a right ansle to each dye outlet 42 of sub-manifold section 40 is an outlet. of an air supply tube ~q. Each air tube communicates by way o-f a conduit or tube 45-with a separate valve, illustrated collectively by the symbol V9 located in a valve support box 46 of the gun bar. Each valve is, in turn, connected by a conduit or tube 47 to an air supply manifold 48 which is provided wilh pressurized air by a compressor 50. Each of the valves V3 which may be of the electromagnetic solenoid type, are individually controlled by electrical si~nals from a pattern control device 52. The air outlets of tubes 44 provide streams of air to impinge at approximately right angles agains~ ~he continuously flowing dye streanls from the dye outlets 42 and deflect the sarne into a collection cham~er or trough 60 from which ll~luid dye is removed, by way of suitable conduit means 62, to dye reservoir tank 32 for recirculation.
The pattern control device 52 -for operating the solenoid valves may be composed oF various type pattern control means, such as a computer with magnetic tape transport for patterrl information s-torage. Desired pattern information from control device 52 is transmitted to the solenoid valves of 73~

each gun bar dt appropria~e times in response to conveyor movement which is transmitted by suitable transducer means 64 operatively connecting the conveyor 2C and pattern control device 52 In a typical dyeing operation utilizing the presently disclosed appara~us, when no pattern information is supplied to the air valves of the gun bars from the control device 52, the val~es remain "open" to permit passage of pressuri~ed air through supply tubes 44 lo continuously deflect all of the continuously flowing dye streams trom the gun bar outlets 42 into the collect;on trough 60 for recirculation. When carpet to be dyed passes beneath the first gun bar of the dye applicator section 10, pattern control device 52 is actuated in suitable manner, such as manuall~y by an operator. Thereafter, signals from transducer 64 release pattern information from device 52 to selectively "close" the air valves so tha-~the corresponding dye streams are not deflected, bu~ pass in their normal discharge paths to strike the carpet. Thus, by operating the solenoid air valves of each gun bar in the desired pattern sequence, a colored.pattern of dye is placed on the carpet during its passage through the dye application section 10.
Details cf the construction of each gun bar are best shown in FIGURE 3 which is ar, end elevation view, partially in section, of orle of the gun bars 2~. As seen, each gun bar includes a main structural support plate 70 which extends across the full width of the conveyor and is supportably attached to the diagon~l members of the support frame 18. At-tached to the upper portion of plate 70 is the air supply maniFold 48 ~nd adjustably attached to the lower flanged edge of the plate, by suitable bracket and clamp mear,s 7~, which are spaced along the length of plate 70~ is th~ dye manifold pipe 38. Sub-manifolcl section 40 is suitably attached, as by bolts (not shown), to dye manifold pipe 38 and has d sub-manifold chamber 73 which communicates by way of a plurality of passageways 74 spaced along 3~ .

pipe 38 with an interior chalnber of manifold pipe 38 which receive dye therefrom. The dye recei~ing chamber 73 o-f sub-manifold sec~ion 40 is provided wi-th the plurality oF dye discharge outlets 42 which are spaced along the length of sub-nldnifold section ~0 and across the width of the conveyor to discharye dye in a row of parallel streams onto the moving carpet.
Details of the construction and arrangement of the dye collection trough or chamber of the present invention may be best described by reference to FIGURE 3. The collectiun chamber 60 includes a relatively thick, rigid main support plate, or bar 80 which extends the entire length of the gun bar and is attached thereto at spaced locations along the length of the gun bar by rod members 82 connecting plate 80 to the clamping means 72. To provide positional stability for the collectiGn chamber, the support plate 80 is formed of a high strength material, such as a relatively thick stainless steel plate.
The outer walls 84 of the collection chamber are conveniently formed of a thin, lightweight rnaterial, such as stainless stéel sheet metal, attached in suitable manner to support plate 80 and clamping means 72 Gf the gun bar (FIGURF 8). The outer edge porti~n ol plate &C is suitably tapered, as shown, to form a sharp edge which extends generally parallel to the row of dye outlets 42 of the gun bar. The support pldte 80 also serves as a secondary dye collector, as will be explained.
Supportably positioned in spaced relation above the upper surface of the tapered portion of support plate 80 is a first, or primary dye collector plate 86 which extends the length hf the gun bar and has a sharp outer edge positioned closely adjacent and parallel to the row of discharge outlets of -the gun bar. The primary collector plate 8~ is adjustably attached, as by bolt and spacer mealls 87, at spaced locations along its length to ~he upper surFace of suppGrt plate 80 so that the plate 86 may be ~2~ 3;~

moved to posi-tion its outer edge relative to the dye dischase axes of the dy~ olltlets. Various Fast~ning mealls may be employ~d for adjustably rr!ounting the primary collector plate and one such means is disclosed in previously ref~rred to Klein, U. S. PatLnt Application Ser. No. ~71,111, filed ~ay 17, 1974, nGw U. S. Pat. No. 3,9~2,3~3.
Supportably attached, dS by screw and spacer means 89, in spaced r~lation below the support plate 80 is a third dye collector plate 88, the outer edg~ of which exterids generally parallel to the outer edge of plate ~0 and 86 and is located at a further distance fronl the discharge axes of the dye outlets o-F the gun bar thdn these two edges. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, the third collector plate 88 does not communicate directly with the interior of the dye co!lection chamber, but extends in spaced relation below the collection chamber throughout its length to points beyond both sides of the conveyor so that dye collected by the third collector plate may drain from the open sides of the collector plate without striking the moving carpet being dyed.
As seen, the collection chamber 60 has an elongate open;ng or entrance 61 for Ihe reception of deflected dye. The opening exterlds the lerlgth of the gun bar and is located on the opposite side of the d;scharge axes of the dye outlets 42 from the air supply tubes 44. The dye deflected by streams of air from the air supply tubes passes into the opening of the dye collection chamher and flows by gravity into the lower interior portion of the chamber. The collected dye is removed, as by gravity, from the collection chamber through one or more drain lines 62, which direct the dye back to the dye reservoir 3~ for recirculation.
ln FIGURE 3, the reference numeral 90 represents a meter which senses the flow rate of the dye fluid from the dye jets by measuring a head ~ressure and through the transducer 92 controls the opening and closing of the flow valve 94 ~FIGURE 2~. The flow controller 90 receives dye fluid -- &-.

~4~32 fronl the ~anifold 38 through the inlet connec~ion 95 tO t~perate in the mdnner disclos~d in U. S. Patent No. 4 392 366.
Looking now to FIGURES 4 ar~d 5 the air tube holder assembly 96 is shown with th~ air tubes 44 assembled in d single row with their outlets perpendicular to their respective dye discharge outlet 42. To properly locate and mdintaill the air tubes ~ in correct position and alignnlellt with the dye outlet -the longituoinal rib 98 in the Face of the upper portion 1nC of the dye ejection module is formed with V-shaped grooves 102 perpendicular to the centerline of the dye discharge outlet 42. The sides of thr~ shaped grooves 102 are at 45 angles to the centerline of the dye outlets 42 with the apex aligned with the dye outlet centerline. The air tubes 44 in the air tube holder assembly 96 are maintained in correct position in the grooves 102 by the stainless steel spring strip 10~ secured in the air tube holder assembly.
The above described arrangenlent works well when you are dying fab ics where definitinn of designs are not critical; but when ;t is necessary to dye fabric with designs that definition is critical it is then necessary to provi~e more dye outlets per unit length an~ consequently more air tubes per unit length. Due to space limitations the air tubes 44 were staggered in the air -tube holder assembly 96. It was found as shown in FIGURE 6 that the spring strip loa h~as not strong enough to seat and maintain all of the air tubes 44 in correct position in the grooves 102 oF the rib 98. ~ue to space limitations and materials it was not Feasible to substitute a stronger sprinlJ strip 104.
To alleviate the above problem and secure the staggered air tubes 44 in correct position in the grooves 102 the air tube holder 106 is employed.
The air tube holder 106 is similar to the holder 96 except it has a longitudinal V~groove 107 in the bottom thereof and a plurality oF
clearance openings 1~8 therein to accomodate socket head capscrews 110.

Cooperating wi~h the air tube holder 106 is an elongated triangular shaped clamp bar 112 extending longitudinally of the holder 106 and having a V-shaped projection 11~ located in the groove 107 of the holder 106. At the other side of the clamp bar 11~ is a triangular shaped projection 116 restin~ against the air tubes ~ at a point opposite the grooves 102 in the rib 98 ot the upper portion 100 of the dye ejection module. To force the air tube 44 into position in the grooves 102 and maintain them there the screws 110 are tightened in the tapped holes 118 to prevent ~he projection 114 in the groove 107 to cause the triangular projection 116 to move clockwise dgainst the air tubes 44 to force ~hem into the grooves 10?. This positive force forces them into the grooves 102 and maintains them there until the screws 220 are rotated in the opposite direction.
It can be seen that the new and novel positive vise-like air tube holder allows the jet dying of fabrics requiring finer definition of desigr,. The novel air tube holder provides positive location of the air tubes relative to the dye orifices an~ nlaintains them in such position until it lS desired to replace or remove them. This a1lows the addition of a plurality of air tubes in a staggered arrangement to produce d finer gauge machine for the purpose of finer definition in the dyed fabric.
~0 Although ~he preferred embodiment has been described in detail it is contemplated that changes may be made without depart-ing from the scope or spirit of the invention and it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the claims.

Claims (3)

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus to secure a plurality of tubular members each in a groove of a plurality of grooves comprising: a plurality of tubular members connected to a holder a triangular shaped member pivotally mounted to said holder at one end and abutting said tubular members at the other and means assembly associated with said triangular member to pivot said triangular member in said holder toward and away from said tubular members.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said tube holder has an elongated groove in the bottom thereof and said triangular shaped member has a projection thereon engaging said elongated groove.

3. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said triangular member has a plurality of tapped holes therein said tube holder has a plurality of holes therein in alignment with the holes in said triangular shaped member and screws projecting through the holes in said air tube holder and screwed in said tapped holes in said triangular shaped member.