CN112481865B

CN112481865B - Transfer dyeing equipment

Info

Publication number: CN112481865B
Application number: CN202011328833.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 钟博文
Original assignee: Newtech Textile Technology Development Shanghai Co ltd
Current assignee: NEWTECH TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (SHANGHAI) Co.,Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-11-24
Filing date: 2020-11-24
Publication date: 2022-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2040-11-24
Also published as: WO2022110616A1; JP7320125B2; CN112481865A; EP4253626A1; EP4253626A4; JP2023507699A

Abstract

The invention discloses a transfer dyeing device, comprising: a dyeing box, wherein inert gas is filled in the dyeing box; a dyeing sleeve device disposed within the dyeing box, the dyeing sleeve device configured to dye a surface of the fabric with a dye; the permeation box is arranged at the downstream of the dyeing box along the movement direction of the fabric, and the permeation box is filled with inert gas; and a penetration device arranged in the penetration box, wherein the penetration device is used for enabling the dye on the surface of the fabric to penetrate into the fabric, the dyeing box and the penetration box are communicated with each other, the fabric sequentially passes through the dyeing box and the penetration box, and the dyeing box is respectively provided with a sealing device at the fabric inlet of the dyeing box and the penetration box at the fabric outlet of the penetration box so as to carry out airtight sealing on the dyeing box and the penetration box relative to the environment.

Description

Transfer dyeing equipment

Technical Field

The invention relates to printing and dyeing machinery in textile industry, in particular to transfer dyeing equipment.

Background

Denim (Denim), also known as Denim, is a thick, yarn-dyed warp-faced twill cloth, also known as indigo-based Denim, in which the warp yarn is dark, typically indigo, and the weft yarn is light, typically light gray or scoured, inherently white yarn. The prior jean has two production methods, one is to weave the dyed warp, and the traditional production flow is as follows: white yarn → dyed yarn → colored woven cloth (fabric treatment) → cutting → sewing → manual water washing arrangement → finishing → packing, wherein the warp adopts the sizing and dyeing combined one-step dyeing process to dye and realize the dyed yarn; the other production method is to dye the white blank cloth into the denim, and the traditional production flow is as follows: white gray cloth → dyeing → colored gray cloth (fabric treatment) → cutting → sewing → manual water washing finish → finishing → packaging, wherein the white gray cloth is mostly dyed by a high-temperature high-pressure jet overflow dyeing machine. The dyeing machine consists of a machine body circulating pump heater, a nozzle, a lifting device, a feeding cylinder and the like, and the fabric repeatedly and circularly runs in a rope-shaped loose form in the dyeing machine and is continuously impacted and soaked by a dye solution to realize dyeing.

The current production method of denim can cause the washing wastewater to contain a large amount of inorganic salt and waste dye, increases COD of the sewage, and has CODcr as high as 2200-2800 mg/L, suspended solid concentration of 300-400 mg/L, pH value of 11-13 and chroma of 1500-1800 times, so the production process is not environment-friendly. With the tightening of environmental protection policy, the production cost will increase continuously.

In order to reduce the pollution caused by the traditional denim dyeing and finishing, some processes for coloring the surface of the denim are developed in recent years so as to save the consumption of dye and reduce the pollution of the subsequent finishing processing. At present, the jean cloth surface is colored by adopting a coloring mode of paint or reactive dye.

In practice, the applicant has found that, for example, indigo dyes and sulphur dyes, which are insoluble in water and have no affinity for the fibre, cannot be used directly for dyeing, but need to be reduced by strong reducing agents under alkaline conditions to water-soluble leuco dyes, which are light-colored substances that are slightly soluble in water and can therefore be used for dyeing. However, if the indigo dye and the sulfur dye are in large contact with oxygen in the air, the indigo dye and the sulfur dye cannot be reduced to a leuco body for coloring. For the dyeing of denim with indigo dye and sulfur dye, rope dyeing, sheet dyeing and suspension dyeing of warp yarn or dip dyeing of gray fabric are adopted at present. Which still results in the above-mentioned environmental pollution and increased costs.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a dyeing apparatus which meets the mechanism of leuco dye-dyeing of indigo dye and sulfur dye and can provide an environment suitable for leuco dye-dyeing of indigo dye and sulfur dye.

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a transfer dyeing apparatus which can conform to the mechanism of leuco dye-uptake of indigo dye and sulfur dye and can provide an environment suitable for leuco dye-uptake of indigo dye and sulfur dye, thereby greatly reducing environmental pollution and cost.

The technical scheme provided by the invention for solving the problems and the defects in the prior art is as follows: a transfer dyeing apparatus, comprising: a dyeing box, wherein inert gas is filled in the dyeing box; a dyeing sleeve device disposed within the dyeing box, the dyeing sleeve device configured to dye a surface of the fabric with a dye; the permeation box is arranged at the downstream of the dyeing box along the movement direction of the fabric, and the permeation box is filled with inert gas; and a penetration device arranged in the penetration box, wherein the penetration device is used for enabling the dye on the surface of the fabric to penetrate into the fabric, the dyeing box and the penetration box are communicated with each other, the fabric sequentially passes through the dyeing box and the penetration box, and the dyeing box is respectively provided with a sealing device at the fabric inlet of the dyeing box and the penetration box at the fabric outlet of the penetration box so as to carry out airtight sealing on the dyeing box and the penetration box relative to the environment.

Advantageously, the dyeing tank and the permeation tank communicate via a passage allowing the passage of the inerting gas and the fabric.

Advantageously, the dyeing tank and the permeation tank are integrally formed.

Advantageously, the sealing device has a housing and a pair of airbags arranged in the housing, wherein the housing is provided on its side walls with a cloth inlet and a cloth outlet through which the fabric can be passed, and the pair of airbags comprises two opposite airbags between which the fabric can be passed.

Advantageously, the number of airbag pairs is at least two and the airbag pairs are arranged one after the other in the direction of movement of the fabric.

Advantageously, both airbags of the airbag pair are in line or surface contact with the fabric.

Advantageously, each airbag is provided at its two ends with a respective fastening device, via which the airbag is fastened to a side wall of the housing.

Advantageously, the sealing device has an inflation device assigned to the airbags, which inflation device comprises an air pump and a line system connected between the air pump and the respective airbag, via which line system the air pump can fill air into each airbag.

Advantageously, each airbag is assigned its own air pressure indicator, via which it can be determined whether the air pressure in the airbag has reached a predetermined threshold value.

Advantageously, the balloon has a uniform circular cross-section over substantially its entire length after being filled with air.

Advantageously, the length of the airbag is greater than the width of the fabric, so that the fabric can be hermetically sealed circumferentially around the airbag.

Advantageously, the surfaces of the airbags are designed such that the fabric can slide between the opposing airbags without the inerting gas passing between the airbags.

Advantageously, the airbag is laterally pressed either against a side wall of the housing or against an adjacent airbag, so that a substantially gas-tight sealed space is formed between the opposing airbags.

Advantageously, the sealing device has a return connection through its housing side wall, via which the inerting gas entering the housing can be recovered.

Advantageously, the dyeing tank and the permeation tank are provided with a common inerting gas charging device capable of simultaneously charging the dyeing tank and the permeation tank with inerting gas via parallel charging lines.

Advantageously, the penetration means comprises at least two rows of guide rollers, each row of guide rollers being spaced apart from each other.

Advantageously, each row of guide rollers comprises a plurality of guide rollers arranged one after the other, and the guide rollers of different rows are offset from each other.

Advantageously, the fabric entering the infiltration tank extends meandering and substantially longitudinally in a plurality of fabric sections via guide rolls.

Advantageously, adjacent fabric sections extend parallel to each other and the directions of movement are opposite.

Advantageously, the dyeing kit has a direct dyeing group pair and a transfer dyeing group pair arranged one after the other in the direction of movement of the fabric, wherein the direct dyeing group pair has two direct dyeing groups arranged symmetrically with respect to the fabric, the direct dyeing groups comprise a mesh roller, and the transfer dyeing group pair has two transfer dyeing groups arranged symmetrically with respect to the fabric, the transfer dyeing groups comprise a plate roller and a transfer roller.

Advantageously, the number of said pairs of transfer dye pairs is at least two.

Advantageously, one of the pairs of direct dye couples is arranged on a mounting block which can be moved guided transversely in a straight line on a guide rail on the dyeing cabinet in order to move the one direct dye couple closer to or further away from the opposite other direct dye couple.

Advantageously, one of the pairs of transfer dye couples is arranged on a mounting block which can be moved guided transversely in a straight line on a guide rail on the dye vat in order to move said one transfer dye couple closer to or further away from the opposite other transfer dye couple.

Advantageously, the transfer dye set comprises a pressing assembly configured to adjustably provide a pressure of the printing roller against the transfer roller, wherein the pressing assembly is capable of selectively moving the printing roller into a pressing position in which the printing roller presses against the transfer roller, thereby generating a pressure of the printing roller against the transfer roller; in the rest position, the plate roller does not press against the transfer roller.

Advantageously, the transfer dye set comprises a plate changing device via which the plate rolls can be changed.

Advantageously, the transfer dye set comprises a diagonal draw via which the position and angle of the transfer roll can be finely adjusted.

Advantageously, the transfer dye group comprises an axial plate-drawing device associated with the plate roller to perform axial position adjustment of the plate roller.

Advantageously, the dyeing tank is provided with a sliding door, wherein the sliding door is movable between a hermetically sealed closed position and an open position in which the interior of the dyeing tank is accessible from outside the dyeing tank.

Advantageously, the fabric is denim.

Advantageously, the inerting gas is nitrogen.

Advantageously, each row of guide rollers comprises a plurality of guide rollers arranged one after the other, the guide rollers of the different rows being offset with respect to each other.

Advantageously, the fabric entering the infiltration tank extends meandering and substantially transversely with a plurality of fabric sections via guide rolls.

Other objects, features and details of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The benefits of respective embodiments, as well as various additional embodiments, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of respective embodiments, and by referring to the drawings, which are listed below. Furthermore, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. The dimensions of the various features and elements in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention.

Drawings

The invention is further illustrated with reference to the following figures and examples. Wherein,

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of a transfer dyeing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a direct dye couple according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a transfer dye set pair according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a sealing device according to the invention, seen in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the sealing device of FIG. 4 as seen in the direction of web movement; and

fig. 6 is a schematic view of another permeation device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Various illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the description, various systems, structures and devices are schematically depicted in the drawings for purposes of explanation only and not all features of an actual system, structure or device, such as a well-known function or structure, are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention in unnecessary detail. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such implementation decisions, while complex and time consuming, are nevertheless routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

The terms and phrases used herein should be understood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the understanding of those terms and phrases by those skilled in the relevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase, i.e., a definition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, is intended to be implied by consistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meaning, i.e., a meaning other than that understood by skilled artisans, such a special definition will be expressly set forth in the specification in a definitional manner that directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for the term or phrase.

Throughout the following description, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be interpreted in an open, inclusive sense, i.e., as "including but not limited to".

Throughout the description of this specification, references to the description of the terms "an embodiment," "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," etc., mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

As used in this specification, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include one or more of the referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless expressly stated or limited otherwise. For the purposes of this specification, a phrase in the form of "a or B" means "(a), (B), or (a and B)". For purposes of this specification, a phrase in the form of "at least one of A, B or C" means "(a), (B), (C), (a and B), (a and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C)".

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first," "second," etc. may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically defined otherwise.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "coupled," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; can be mechanically or electrically connected; they may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art according to specific situations.

The devices described herein may also utilize one or more controllers to receive information and transform the received information to generate output. The controller may comprise any type of computing device, computing circuitry, or any type of processor or processing circuitry capable of executing a series of instructions stored in a memory. The controller may include multiple processors and/or multi-core Central Processing Units (CPUs) and may include any type of processor, such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, or the like. The controller may also include a memory to store data and/or algorithms to execute a series of instructions.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail below.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a transfer dyeing apparatus 1 is provided, generally as shown in fig. 1. The transfer dyeing apparatus 1 may comprise the following parts: a fabric supply unit (such as a cloth vehicle) 2, a stentering and devillicating unit 3, a tension unit 4, a deviation correcting and opposite side unit 5, a cloth feeding and drawing unit 6, a dyeing sleeve device 7, a penetration device 8, a sealing device 9 and an inert gas filling device (not shown). The order of arrangement of the various parts may be as shown in figure 1. An operator can send an instruction to a central control unit (not shown) through a human-computer interaction unit (not shown) to uniformly manage and control each unit and device, so that automatic control is realized.

The fabric to be dyed to which the transfer dyeing apparatus 1 of the present invention is applied may be denim 10, or may be other fabrics that need to be colored in an inert gas environment. The denim 10 will be described as an example, but the fabric is not to be understood as being limited to the denim 10.

As can be seen from fig. 1, the dye house arrangement 7 of the transfer-dyeing apparatus 1 can be arranged in a dye box 11 and the permeation arrangement 8 of the transfer-dyeing apparatus 1 can be arranged in a permeation box 12. The permeate tank 12 may be arranged downstream of the dye tank 11, seen in the direction of movement of the denim 10, and communicates with the dye tank 11 in an air-tight manner to the outside via a passage 13. The channel 13 may be provided in the upper part of the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12. In other embodiments, the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12 may be constructed integrally, i.e., the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12 may be constructed as one and the same tank, and the dyeing kit 7 and the permeation device 8 may be disposed in the common tank.

The inerting gas charging device may charge an inerting gas, such as nitrogen, into the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12 through the inerting gas charging port 14. The inerting gas can be simultaneously charged into the dye box 11 and the permeation box 12 from an inerting gas charging port 14 through a parallel charging line 15. It is of course also conceivable that only one of the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12 may be filled with inerting gas, based on the communication of the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12. The former solution is better in terms of inflation speed and uniformity of inflation.

In order to prevent the inerting gas from escaping from the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12 into the environment in the operating state, the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12 can each be designed to be hermetically sealed from the outside at least in the operating state. Thus, the dyeing tank 11 may be provided with a sealing device 9 at its denim inlet 16, and the permeate tank 12 may be provided with a sealing device 9 at its denim outlet 17. Thereby, at least in the operating state of the transfer dyeing apparatus 1, the denim 10 inside the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12 can be always in the atmosphere of inerting gas without being in contact with oxygen.

As can be seen from fig. 1, the dye vat 11 can be provided with a sliding door 18, which sliding door 18 can be driven by a motor via a gear mechanism, for example a rack and pinion gear mechanism. In the operating state of the transfer dyeing apparatus 1, the sliding door 18 is in the closed position shown in solid lines, whereas when, for example, it is necessary to service or replace components inside the dyeing box 11, the sliding door 18 can be moved via the motor into the open position shown in dashed lines. Of course, the movement of the sliding door 18 can also be effected manually. In addition, the permeate tank 12 may also be provided with similar sliding doors.

Exemplary embodiments of the dyeing section kit means 7, the gas sealing means 9 and the permeation means 8 of the transfer dyeing apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described in detail next.

As can be seen in fig. 1, the dyeing kit 7 may comprise, from downstream to upstream, a pair of direct dyeing groups 19 and three pairs of transfer dyeing groups 20 arranged one after the other. A direct dye set pair may include two direct dye sets 19 opposed about a vertical line or fabric and a transfer dye set pair may include two transfer dye sets 20 opposed about the same vertical line or fabric. The logarithm and the arrangement order of the direct dye set 19 and the transfer dye set 20 in fig. 1 are merely exemplary, and may be adjusted according to the actual dyeing requirements in practice. In general, the direct dye set 19 and the transfer dye set 20 are arranged in a rocket-like structure, and the transfer dyeing apparatus 1 may also be referred to as a rocket-like transfer dyeing apparatus 1. In other embodiments, other suitable arrangements of direct dye set 19 and transfer dye set 20 are contemplated.

As can be seen from fig. 2, a direct dye couple may comprise two opposite anilox rolls 21 and two closed blade assemblies 22 arranged outside the anilox rolls 21. Each direct dye set 19 may thus comprise one anilox roll 21 and one closed blade assembly 22.

In the working position, the closed blade assembly 22 may be pressed against the corresponding anilox roller 21, whereby the two blade heads 23 of the closed blade assembly 22 together with the surface of the anilox roller 21 between the two blade heads 23 and the end sealing members (not shown) form a closed liquid receiving chamber. While in the inactive position the doctor head 23 may be separated from the anilox roller 21.

Referring to fig. 1, the direct dye couple 19 on the right of the direct dye couple, in particular the anilox roll 21 on the right and its associated closed doctor assembly 22, can be mounted on a mounting block 24, which mounting block 24 can be moved guided in a straight line transversely on guide rails (not shown) on the dye vat 11. A servomotor 25 fixed to the dye vat 11 can drive the mounting block 24 via an associated transmission mechanism to move it linearly so that the right anilox roller 21 on the mounting block 24 can be moved closer to and farther from the opposite left anilox roller 21. The servomotor 25 and the associated gear mechanism can form the propulsion mechanism of the mounting block 24. The left direct dye set 19, specifically the left anilox roll 21 and its associated closed blade assembly 22 may be mounted on the dye box 11.

It is of course also conceivable to mount the direct dye set 19 on the left on a mounting block 24, while the direct dye set 19 on the right is mounted on the dye box 11.

The pressure provided by the urging mechanism acting on the mounting block 24 to urge the anilox roller 21 against the denim 10 may be independently adjustable. The pressure is adjusted and set by a control system, and can be gradually increased or decreased according to a program. In fig. 1, the whole right direct dyeing group 19 is pushed by the pushing mechanism to realize the clutch with the left direct dyeing group 19, and the clutch stroke can reach 2-5 cm.

Each anilox roller 21 may be provided with its own servo motor (not shown) to drive it individually. It is of course also conceivable for the two anilox rollers 21 to be driven simultaneously by a servomotor and a suitable transmission.

The denim 10 can be moved through between two anilox rolls 21 and sized. Accordingly, a pretreatment liquid, such as a dyeing promoter, may be applied to the denim 10 via the direct dye set in order to enhance subsequent dyeing rate and dyeing effect.

As can be seen in fig. 3, each pair of transfer dye sets 20 may include two opposing transfer rolls 26, two form rolls 27 disposed outside of the transfer rolls 26, respectively, and two enclosed blade assemblies 22 disposed outside of the form rolls 27, respectively. Each transfer dye set 20 may thus include a transfer roll 26, a plate roll 27, and a closed blade assembly 22. The printing roll 27 may be a gravure printing roll, a flexographic printing roll, a circular printing roll, an offset printing roll, or the like.

In the working position, the enclosed blade assembly 22 can be pressed against the roll 27, whereby the two blade heads 23 of the enclosed blade assembly 22 together with the surface of the roll 27 between the two blade heads 23 and the end sealing members (not shown) form an enclosed liquid containing chamber. While in the rest position the doctor head 23 can be separated from the printing roll 27.

Referring to fig. 3, the left transfer dye couple 20, specifically the left plate roll 27 and its associated closed doctor assembly 22 and transfer roll 26, of the transfer dye couple can be mounted on a mounting block 24, which mounting block 24 can be moved in a linear, transversely guided manner on a guide rail on the dye box 11. A servo motor 25 fixed to the dye box 11 can drive the mounting block 24 to move linearly via a transmission mechanism so that a left transfer roller 26 on the mounting block 24 can be moved close to and away from an opposite right transfer roller 26. The servomotor 25 and the associated gear mechanism can form the propulsion mechanism of the mounting block 24. The right transfer dye set 20, specifically the right plate roll 27 and its associated enclosed blade assembly 22 and transfer roll 26, may be mounted on the dye box 11.

It is of course also conceivable to mount the right-hand transfer dye set 20 on one mounting block 24, while the left-hand transfer dye set 20 is mounted on the dye box 11, as shown in fig. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the right transfer dye sets 20 of the three pairs of transfer dye sets 20 are mounted on mounting blocks 24, respectively.

Also, the pressure provided by the urging mechanism acting on the mounting block 24 to urge the transfer roller 26 against the denim 10 may be independently adjustable. The pressure is adjusted and set by a control system, and can be gradually increased or decreased according to a program. The whole left side transfer dyeing group 20 in the figure 3 is pushed by the pushing mechanism to realize the clutch with the right side transfer dyeing group 20, and the clutch stroke can reach 2-5 cm.

The transfer roller 26 may be a hard material roller whose surface is coated with rubber. The surface of the rubber can be coated with seamless rubber. The rubber is natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, polyurethane rubber or any other rubber with good affinity to water-based ink. Preferably, the surface rubber shore hardness of the transfer roller 26 is 85-90 degrees.

Since the transfer roller 26 in each transfer dye set 20 is a rubber-coated hard material roller, the outer diameter of the transfer roller 26 is slightly larger than that of the plate roller 27, so that a certain tolerance space is provided. In the transfer printing process, when the rubber transfer roller 26 is in contact with the plate roller 27, the rubber of the rubber transfer roller 26 is deformed by a certain pressure; when the current surface of the plate roller 27 is separated from the rubber surface of the rubber transfer roller 26, the rubber surface can be quickly restored to its original shape. Preferably, the outer diameter of the form roll 27 < the outer diameter of the transfer roll 26 ≦ the outer diameter of the form roll 27 +1mm, that is, the outer diameter of the transfer roll 26 is larger than the outer diameter of the form roll 27, but the difference between the two is 1mm or less.

In the embodiment shown, the transfer rollers 26 of each pair of transfer dye sets 20 are parallel to and in the same plane as the axis of the plate roller 27.

Each transfer dye set 20 includes a pressure applicator assembly 28, and the pressure applicator assembly 28 can be used to provide an adjustable pressure of the roll 27 against the transfer roll 26. The pressure applying assembly 28 is used to adjust the amount of ink, the pressure being primarily used to stick out the amount of ink in the intaglio cells. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, pressure applicator assembly 28 includes an actuator 29 and an eccentric bushing 30. The actuator 29 includes a cylinder and a piston rod. In fig. 3, the cylinder of the left transfer dye set 20 is pivotally connected to the mounting block 24, and the cylinder of the right transfer dye set 20 is pivotally connected to the dye box 11. The actuator 29 may be of a hydraulic type, a pneumatic type or an electric type. In the case of the actuator 29 being of the hydraulic or pneumatic type, the length of extension of the piston rod can be adjusted by adjusting the fluid pressure in the chamber of the cylinder. Preferably, the actuator 29 may be a servo actuator, such as a servo electric cylinder.

The pressure applicator assembly 28 may also include a swing arm 31 and a link 32. The swing arm 31 is pivotally connected to the mounting block 24 or the dye box 11 by a swing arm pivot 33 located approximately at its center. The swing arm 31 may include a first end and a second end. A first end of the swing arm 31 is pivotally connected to an extended end of the piston rod of the actuator 29 by a pin. A second end of the swing arm 31 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 32 by a pin. The other end of connecting rod 32 is pivotally connected to eccentric bushing 30. The eccentric sleeve may be provided to the plate roller 27, whereby the plate roller 27 can be moved toward or away from the transfer roller 26 by the rotating operation of the eccentric sleeve 30 by the actuator 29.

Of course, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any other transmission means may be used to effect the rotational operation of the eccentric sleeve 30 by the actuator 29, in addition to the swing arm-link arrangement described herein. Optionally, a handle may be provided at the end of the swing arm pivot to manually adjust the rotation of eccentric bushing 30 by the operator during the commissioning phase.

When the eccentric sleeve 30 rotates to move the printing roller 27 to a pressing position, the distance between the printing roller 27 and the transfer roller 26 decreases, and the printing roller 27 and the transfer roller 26 are pressed together, thereby generating a pressure force with which the printing roller 27 presses the transfer roller 26. When the eccentric sleeve 30 rotates to move the printing roller 27 to the rest position, the distance between the printing roller 27 and the transfer roller 26 increases, the two are separated from each other (may or may not be in contact with each other), and the printing roller 27 does not apply pressure to the transfer roller 26.

In operation, the plate roller 27 can be moved to different pressing positions by rotating the eccentric sleeve 30 by the pressing assembly 28 as needed. By moving the printing roller 27 to different pressing positions by rotating the eccentric sleeve 30, the distance between the printing roller 27 and the transfer roller 26 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the pressure with which the printing roller 27 is pressed against the transfer roller 26. And since the rubber has the characteristics of flexibility, rebound resilience, small hardness and the like, the deformation of the transfer roller 26 can be finely controlled by adjusting the generated pressure.

Eccentric sleeve 30 may be set to be initially in the rest position. When the pressure is applied, the actuator 29 is actuated to extend the piston rod, the driving swing arm 31 pivots around the central axis of the swing arm pivot 33, so as to drive the connecting rod 32 connected with the swing arm 31 to move, and the movement of the connecting rod 32 drives the eccentric sleeve 30 to rotate, the eccentric sleeve 30 rotates to move the printing roller 27 to a pressing position (refer to fig. 3), the distance between the printing roller 27 and the transfer roller 26 is reduced, and the two are pressed, so that the pressure of the printing roller 27 pressing the transfer roller 26 is provided. Conversely, when no pressure is required, the actuator 29 is actuated to retract the piston rod, the driving swing arm 31 pivots about the central axis of the swing arm pivot 33, and the link 32 connected to the swing arm 31 is moved, and the movement of the link 32 in turn rotates the eccentric sleeve 30, and the eccentric sleeve 30 rotates to move the printing roller 27 to the rest position, and the distance between the printing roller 27 and the transfer roller 26 increases, and the two are disengaged from each other, so that the printing roller 27 no longer applies pressure to the transfer roller 26. The stroke of the piston rod of the actuator 29 may be set to 80-200mm, preferably 100 mm.

Each transfer dye set 20 may also comprise a plate changing device 34, via which plate changing device 34 the plate rolls 27 can be changed when required.

Each transfer dye set 20 may also include a diagonal plate puller 35 via which the position and angle of transfer roll 26 may be fine tuned to achieve precise alignment of the transfer roll 26 with adjacent rolls.

Each transfer dye group 20 can also comprise an axial plate-drawing device 36 associated with the plate roller 27, which can comprise an axial plate-drawing motor and a corresponding transmission mechanism to perform axial position adjustment of the plate roller 27.

Each plate roller 27 and transfer roller 26 can be provided with its own servomotor 25, respectively, to drive the plate roller 27 and transfer roller 26 individually. It is of course also conceivable that only the transfer roller 26 is provided with its own servomotor 25, and that the printing roller 27 and the transfer roller 26 are driven synchronously by a synchronization device, for example a synchronization gear.

The denim 10 from the direct dye pair may be moved between the two transfer rolls 26 of each transfer dye pair and applied with dyes, such as indigo and sulfur dyes. The sequential arrangement of a plurality (here three) of pairs of transfer dye pairs ensures that the surface of the denim 10 is uniformly coated with sufficient dye.

Since the dye coating of the denim 10 can be performed in an inert gas atmosphere in the dyeing tank, the indigo dye and the sulfur dye can be well reduced to a leuco body to color the denim 10.

The dyeing tank 11 may be provided with a sealing device 9 at its lower denim inlet 16, while the permeation tank 12 may be provided with a sealing device 9 at its lower denim outlet 17, the two sealing devices 9 being the same or different. The sealing device 9 hermetically seals the staining chamber 11 and the permeation chamber 12 to prevent the escape of inert gas therefrom.

Each sealing device 9 is shown in fig. 1 only simplified as a pair of balloons 37 with a cylindrical cross section. A preferred embodiment of the sealing means 9 can be seen in fig. 4 and 5. The sealing device 9 may have a housing 38 and a plurality of airbag pairs arranged one behind the other therein. The shell 38 may be fixedly disposed at the denim inlet 16 of the dyeing tank 11 and the denim outlet 17 of the permeation tank 12, and the shell 38 may have a cloth inlet and a cloth outlet on opposite side walls thereof, which substantially correspond to the cross-sectional structure of the denim 10. Each airbag pair may comprise two airbags 37 arranged opposite one another. Each airbag 37 is provided at its two ends with a respective fastening device 39, via which fastening devices 39 at the two ends the airbag 37 can be (preferably non-rotatably) fastened to a side wall of the housing 38.

The sealing device 9 may also have an inflator assigned to the air bags 37, which inflator may comprise an air pump 40 and a pipe system 41 connected between the air pump 40 and the respective air bag 37, via which pipe system 41 the air pump 40 may inflate gas, for example air, into each air bag 37. In the embodiment shown in fig. 4 and 5, the inflator has an air pump 40 and a parallel piping system 41 connected to each air bag 37. The advantage of this design is the lower number of parts and the simultaneous inflation of all the airbags 37. It is also conceivable to provide each air bag 37 with a separate air pump 40 and a line system 41, which facilitates separate inflation of the individual air bags 37. Other arrangements of the air pump 40 and the conduit system 41 are also contemplated, as long as inflation of the respective air bags 37 is achieved. Corresponding switches or valves may also be provided in the line system 41 for switching on or off the inflation of the airbag or airbags 37.

Each air-bag 37 may be provided with its own air pressure indicator (not shown) via which it may be determined whether the air pressure within the air-bag 37 has reached a predetermined threshold value. When the air pressure indicator detects that the air pressure inside the air bag 37 is below a predetermined threshold, air may be supplemented to the air bag 37 via the air pump 40. When the threshold value is reached, the inflation of the airbag 37 should be stopped. This process can be carried out manually, but can also be automated by means of a corresponding control device.

The bladder 37, after being inflated with gas, may have a uniform circular cross-section over substantially its entire length (see fig. 4), although other suitably shaped cross-sections are also contemplated. The circular cross-section of the cells 37 is advantageous because each pair of opposite cells 37, after inflation, can thus be substantially in line contact with the denim 10, which can exert a greater pressure and is therefore more robust with respect to an airtight seal. Further, the length of the contact line of the opposite air cells 37 may preferably be greater than the width of the denim 10 (see fig. 5), whereby the denim 10 may be hermetically sealed by each pair of air cells 37 circumferentially, thereby remarkably improving the sealing effect. Of course, it is also contemplated that the bladder 37 may contact the face of the denim 10 after inflation.

The surface of the air cells 37 is designed to be smooth so that the denim fabric 10 can pass or slide between the opposite air cells 37, but the inerting gas in the dyeing tank 11 and the permeation tank 12 cannot pass between the air cells 37, thus effectively blocking the escape of the inerting gas.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4 and 5, three pairs of air cells 37 are shown in the inflated condition, exemplarily in the direction of movement of the denim 10, the denim 10 passing between each pair of air cells 27 in succession. The air bags 37 are laterally pressed against each other. The airbags on the left and right sides are pressed against the side walls of the housing 38, respectively. Both ends of each air bag 37 are pressed against the side walls of the case 38. Thereby, as closed a space as possible is formed between the upper three airbags 37, the lower three airbags 37, and the side wall of the housing 38.

However, since the two ends of the airbag 37 may not be completely in contact with the side walls of the housing 38 (see fig. 5), i.e. the contact area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the airbag 37, there is still usually an inerting gas escaping out of the enclosed space in the housing 38 via the gaps at the two ends of the airbag 37. For this purpose, the housing 38 of the sealing device 9 can also be provided, preferably above or below it, with a return connection 42 for the inerting gas, which return connection 42 penetrates one wall of the housing 38, so that the inerting gas can be returned again via this return connection 42 into the inerting gas charging device via lines not shown, so that both an escape of inerting gas from the outlet opening into the environment and a reuse of inerting gas can be prevented.

Referring to fig. 1, the penetration device 8 according to an embodiment may include upper and lower rows of guide rollers 43. The guide roller 43 can be arranged with its axial end preferably rotatably, for example, on the side wall of the permeate tank 12. Each row of guide rollers 43 comprises a plurality of guide rollers 43 (here 9) arranged one after the other, the axes of these guide rollers 43 may be in the same plane. The two rows of guide rollers 43 may be offset from each other, for example by approximately the distance of one guide roller 43. Thereby, the denim 10 entering the infiltration tank 12 may be meanderly extended in a plurality of denim sections 44 via the guide roller 43. In this embodiment, the denim sections 44 may run substantially longitudinally within the infiltration tank 12 via the infiltration apparatus 8. This layout of the longitudinal walking can be adapted to the woven fabric. For example, the denim sections 44 extend parallel to each other and the movement directions of adjacent denim sections 44 are opposite. Of course, the adjacent denim sections 44 may also be at an angle, but the angle should be as small as possible to maximize the number of denim sections 44. Thereby maximizing the time that the denim 10 stays in the permeation tank 12, and allowing the dye to sufficiently permeate from the surface of the denim 10 to the inside thereof. Such as indigo and sulphur dyes, which are applied to the denim 10 via the dye house arrangement 7, may be reduced to leuco bodies in an inert gas atmosphere for a sufficient time to better color the denim 10. The volume of the permeate tank 12 may be in the range of 20-80 meters.

Referring to fig. 6, the penetration device 8 according to another embodiment may include two left and right rows of guide rollers 43. Reference may be made to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 for other arrangements of the permeation device 8 of the embodiment shown in fig. 6. In the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the denim section 44 may be run substantially transversely within the permeation tank 12 via the permeation device 8. This arrangement of the lateral walking step can be applied to knitted fabrics.

The infiltration tank 12 may also be equipped, inside it, with an inerting gas concentration detection device (not shown) that can detect and control the concentration of inerting gas inside the infiltration tank 12, so that the concentration of inerting gas inside it is always in the range that is most favorable for coloring the denim 10.

While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments.

Claims

1. A transfer dyeing apparatus comprising:

a dyeing box, wherein inert gas is filled in the dyeing box;

a dyeing sleeve device disposed within the dyeing box, the dyeing sleeve device configured to dye a surface of the fabric with a dye;

the permeation box is arranged at the downstream of the dyeing box along the movement direction of the fabric, and the permeation box is filled with inert gas; and

a penetration device disposed within the penetration tank, the penetration device configured to penetrate dye on a surface of the fabric into an interior of the fabric,

the dyeing box and the permeation box are communicated with each other, the fabric sequentially penetrates through the dyeing box and the permeation box, sealing devices are respectively arranged at a fabric inlet of the dyeing box and a fabric outlet of the permeation box so as to hermetically seal the dyeing box and the permeation box relative to the environment, each sealing device comprises a shell and at least one air bag pair arranged in the shell, a fabric inlet and a fabric outlet for the fabric to penetrate through are formed in the side wall of the shell, each air bag pair comprises two opposite air bags, and the fabric can penetrate through the two air bags.

2. The transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dyeing tank and the permeation tank are in communication via a passage allowing the passage of inerting gas and fabric.

3. The transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dyeing tank and the permeation tank are integrally constructed.

4. The transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of said air bag pairs is at least two, and each air bag pair is disposed one after another in the moving direction of the fabric.

5. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the number of said pairs of air bags is at least two and that the pairs of air bags are arranged one after the other in the direction of movement of the fabric.

6. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that both airbags of said airbag pair are in line or surface contact with the fabric.

7. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each air cell is provided at its two ends with fixing means, respectively, via which the air cell is fixed on the side wall of the housing.

8. Transfer dyeing apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sealing device has an inflation device assigned to the airbags, which inflation device comprises an air pump and a line system connected between the air pump and the respective airbag, via which line system the air pump can inflate air into each airbag.

9. A transfer dye apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each cell is provided with its own air pressure indicator by which it can be determined whether the air pressure within the cell has reached a predetermined threshold value.

10. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said balloon after filling with air has a uniform circular cross section over substantially its entire length.

11. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the length of the air bag is greater than the width of the fabric so that the fabric can be hermetically sealed circumferentially around the air bag.

12. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the surfaces of the air cells are designed so that the fabric can slide between the opposite air cells without the inerting gas passing between them.

13. Transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gas pockets are laterally pressed either against the side walls of the housing or against adjacent gas pockets, so that a substantially gas-tight sealed space is formed between the opposing gas pockets.

14. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said sealing means has a return interface through its housing side wall through which inerting gas entering the housing can be recovered.

15. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the dyeing tank and the permeation tank are provided with a common inerting gas charging device capable of simultaneously charging the dyeing tank and the permeation tank with inerting gas via parallel charging lines.

16. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the penetration means comprise at least two rows of guide rolls, the guide rolls of each row being spaced apart from each other.

17. The transfer dyeing apparatus of claim 16, wherein each row of guide rollers includes a plurality of guide rollers arranged in succession, and the guide rollers of different rows are offset from each other.

18. The transfer dyeing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the fabric entering the permeation box extends sinuously and substantially longitudinally with a plurality of fabric sections via guide rolls.

19. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that adjacent fabric sections extend parallel to each other and are moved in opposite directions.

20. The transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the dyeing section set has a direct dyeing group pair and a transfer dyeing group pair arranged one after the other in the fabric moving direction, wherein the direct dyeing group pair has two direct dyeing groups arranged symmetrically with respect to the fabric, the direct dyeing groups include the mesh rolls, and the transfer dyeing group pair has two transfer dyeing groups arranged symmetrically with respect to the fabric, the transfer dyeing groups include the plate rolls and the transfer rolls.

21. A transfer dye apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the number of transfer dye pair sets is at least two.

22. A transfer dye apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein one of said pairs of direct dye sets is provided on a mounting block which is linearly guidingly movable transversely on a guide rail on the dye box to bring said one direct dye set closer to or further from the opposite other direct dye set.

23. A transfer dye apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein one of said pair of transfer dye sets is provided on a mounting block which is linearly guidably movable transversely on a guide rail on the dye box to bring said one transfer dye set closer to or further from the opposite other transfer dye set.

24. The transfer dyeing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transfer dye set includes a pressure application assembly configured to adjustably provide pressure of the plate roll against the transfer roller, wherein the pressure application assembly is capable of selectively moving the plate roll to an abutment position and a rest position in which the plate roll abuts the transfer roller, thereby generating pressure of the plate roll against the transfer roller; in the rest position, the plate roller does not press against the transfer roller.

25. The transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the transfer dyeing group comprises a plate changing device via which a plate roll can be changed.

26. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the transfer dyeing group comprises a diagonal draw via which the position and angle of the transfer roll can be finely adjusted.

27. The transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the transfer dyeing group comprises an axial plate-drawing device associated to the plate rolls to perform axial position adjustment of the plate rolls.

28. A transfer dye device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the dye chamber is provided with a sliding door, wherein the sliding door is movable between a hermetically sealed closed position and an open position in which the interior of the dye chamber is accessible from outside the dye chamber.

29. Transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fabric is denim.

30. The transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inerting gas is nitrogen.

31. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the penetration means comprise at least two rows of guide rollers, each row of guide rollers being spaced apart from each other.

32. A transfer dyeing apparatus according to claim 31, characterized in that each row of guide rolls comprises a plurality of guide rolls arranged one after the other, the guide rolls of different rows being offset from each other.

33. The transfer dyeing apparatus of claim 31, wherein the fabric entering the permeation box extends serpentine and substantially transverse with a plurality of fabric sections via guide rolls.