EP0535287B1 - Method and apparatus for improving handle and surface of fabrics and knitgoods - Google Patents

Abstract

The material web (3) to be treated is supplied continuously to a first material web store (1) and stored there in sections, is removed therefrom by being pneumatically conveyed and is hurled compressively against a first impact surface (4). Thereafter, the material (3) compressed in this way is supplied to a second material web store (2) and stored there in sections. Then, the same procedure is carried out in the opposite direction of conveying from the second material web store (3) against a second impact surface (4') and thereafter to the first material web store (1), but with a smaller length advance of the material web, this alternating movement is repeated alternately, and the difference in advance between these length sections of material web moved to and fro is guided away continuously from the second material web store (2).

Description

The invention relates to a method for the continuous improvement of the grip and surface of textile fabrics and knitted fabrics according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a device for carrying out this method according to the preamble of claim 10.

It is already known to move a textile web back and forth between two treatment chambers with the aid of pneumatic conveying means. GB-A 2,158,472 shows a method and an apparatus for drying a textile web. The movement between the two web stores takes place practically without touching the channel connecting the two stores. This is to prevent mechanical stress and friction.

From EP-A 334 749 a device for the treatment of a textile web has become known, in which the endlessly rotating web of material each comes from a nozzle of is applied to a liquid or gaseous medium and hurled against an impact surface. This is intended to bring about intensive mechanical processing of the web.

When finishing textiles, a greater degree of softness would often be desirable, i.e. a better grip and surface improvement.

The object of the present invention is, in particular, to create a method by means of which a grip and surface improvement, that is to say a greater softness of textile fabrics and knitted fabrics, can be achieved.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a method having the features in claim 1.

It can be advantageous here if the web removed from the second web store is subsequently subjected to the same treatment process at least once again.
It is expedient if the material web to be treated is thrown against the respective impact surface at a speed in the range from 400 to 1000 m / min, preferably at a speed in the range from 600 to 800 m / min.

To achieve a loose storage of the web to be treated and a problem-free simultaneous removal of it from the web stores, it is advantageous if the web to be treated is temporarily stored in sections in at least approximately U-shaped web stores, the web to be treated and temporarily stored continuously introduces into the leg part of the first U-shaped web store, continuously alternating and in sections to the other, removes the second leg part, returns it in the opposite transport direction, removes it again and so on, continuously introduces the treated web alternately and in sections into the one leg part of the second web store, removes it again in the opposite transport direction, returns it to this and so on, and continuously takes the finished fabric from the other second leg part of the second U-shaped fabric store.

In order to avoid that the two web stores are on the one hand overfilled and on the other hand insufficiently emptied, it is expedient if the back-and-forth movement of the web sections to be treated between the two baffle surfaces by means of monitoring means, preferably optical ones, using the degree of filling of the two web stores Scanning means is controlled.

Advantageous further developments of the method according to the invention are the subject of claims 6 and 9.

The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the method according to the invention with the features in claim 10.

It is advantageous if the two web stores are at least approximately U-shaped and are preferably provided on their inside with optical scanning means for scanning their degree of filling with sections of the web to be treated, one leg of the U-shaped first web store for continuous, temporary , section-wise take-up of the material web to be treated and the other leg for continuously alternating and section-wise removal, return in the opposite direction of transport, new removal and so on, and the one leg of the U-shaped second web store for continuously alternating and section-wise pick-up, oppositely directed removal, re-picking and so on, and the other leg of the second web store for continuous removal of the treated web is formed.

In order to achieve a rapid acceleration which nevertheless does not negatively influence the goods to be treated, it is expedient if the pneumatic conveying means assigned to the accelerating channel are divided into two pneumatic conveying means groups acting in opposite directions of the accelerating channel, and these two groups are alternately separated from one another via a preferably after the Principle of the Cuanda effect switching element, are connected to a compressed air source, these two groups alternatingly arranged on both sides of the acceleration channel, laterally offset to one another, obliquely directed to the web transport plane and arranged in their respective conveying direction in the end region of the acceleration channel.

In order to achieve greater flexibility in the operation of the device according to the invention, it is advantageous if the feed and discharge arrangement are designed to be independently controllable with respect to their transport speed.

In order to avoid an air cushion reducing the compression effect, it is also advantageous if the material web impact surfaces have a lattice structure and are curved outwards and downwards to accommodate a material web section thrown against it.

In order to obtain the lowest possible residual shrinkage potential at the outlet of the device, it is expedient if at least one shrink dryer is connected upstream of the first web store and / or the second Web store at least one shrink dryer is connected downstream. It is particularly advantageous for the treatment of plush and terry goods if the at least one shrink dryer for receiving and transporting the goods to be treated through the shrink dryer and for dispensing the goods emerging from the latter into the first web store or for receiving the goods from the second or last goods web storage goods is provided with a continuously drivable, air-permeable, endlessly circulating conveyor belt, which has an upper, stationary and air-permeable boundary wall to form a transport channel which is limited in the vertical direction at the top and bottom and serves to receive and support the goods to be treated vertically is arranged, which is penetrated by downwardly directed, transverse to the web conveying direction blowing nozzles, and that preferably viewed in the direction of goods pass B offset to the latter arranged below the upper run of the lower conveyor belt, preferably The upper run of the latter is supported by blowing nozzles that are directed upwards.

Fig.1

einen Längsabschnitt durch eine beispielsweise Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Fig.2

in vergrössertem Massstab einen Bauteil der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Vorrichtung;

Fig.3

in vergrössertem Massstab einen Längsschnitt durch den Führungs- und Beschleunigungskanal des in Fig. 2 dargestellten Bauteiles; und

Fig.4

den Ausschnitt A in Fig. 1 in vergrössertem Massstab.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, for example. It shows

Fig. 1

a longitudinal section through an example embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

on an enlarged scale a component of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

on an enlarged scale, a longitudinal section through the guide and acceleration channel of the component shown in FIG. 2; and

Fig. 4

the section A in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 and 2, the device shown has two approximately U-shaped web stores 1 and 2 for loosely accommodating one web section 3 'or 3 "each, and one arranged between these two web stores 1, 2, connecting them and in its longitudinal direction on its two end faces delimited by a web impact surface 4 and 4 'web guiding and acceleration channel 5.

Pneumatic conveying means 6 and 6 'connected to the latter 5, in the two opposite longitudinal directions of which can be switched in effect, serve for the alternating conveyance of a web section of the web 3 to be treated in the opposite longitudinal directions 7,7' (FIG. 3) of the guide and acceleration channel 5 against the respective web impact surface 4 or 4 ′ arranged at the end and from this into the respectively assigned web store 2 or 1 arranged below the latter.

This component 8 can be used on its own or as in the exemplary embodiment shown, for example with two shrink dryers 9 and 9 'arranged on the inlet side, the latter also serving as a feed arrangement 9' for the continuous supply of the web 3 to be treated into the first web store 1.

To control the conveying direction of the pneumatic conveying means 6,6 ', optical scanning means 10 and 10' are provided in the lower deflection areas of the two web stores 1 and 2 in order to fill the degree of filling of the two web stores 1 and 2 with sections 3 'and 3' 'of those to be treated Scan web 3.

In order to achieve the opposite directions of conveyance of the goods 3 to be treated, the pneumatic conveying means assigned to the acceleration channel 5, as can be seen particularly in FIG. 3, are divided into two pneumatic conveying means groups (blowing nozzles) 6 and 6 'acting in opposite directions of the acceleration channel 5. These two blow nozzle groups 6 and 6 'are alternately separated e.g. connected to a compressed air source 12 via a flip-flop switching element 11 (see FIG. 2) which works on the principle of the Coanda effect. Depending on the material, the air used can have a temperature in the range of, for example, approximately 80 to 200 ° C.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 and 4, the two shrink driers 9 and 9 'are for receiving and transporting the goods 3 to be treated through the shrink driers and for dispensing the goods 3 emerging from the shrink dryer 9' into the first web store 1 provided with a common, continuously drivable, air-permeable, endlessly rotating conveyor belt 13, which is driven at a conveying speed of about 40 to 50 meters per minute. The latter has an upper, stationary and air-permeable boundary wall 15 arranged to form a transport channel 14 which is limited in the vertical direction at the top and bottom and serves to receive and support the goods 3 to be treated. which is penetrated by blow nozzles 16 directed downwards and extending transversely to the direction of web conveyance.

In order to achieve the lowest possible residual shrinkage potential, the upper, air-permeable perforated boundary wall 15 has at least approximately the shape of a shed roof in a vertical section running longitudinally to the web transport direction (see in particular FIG. 4), with between two mutually adjacent angular sections 15 ', 15 ″, 15 ″ ″, etc., each has a downwardly directed blowing nozzle 16, which are simultaneously designed to support the assigned sections 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ″ ″, etc.

For optimal individual adaptation of the flow conditions to the tissue to be dried, the distance a between the upper blowing nozzles 16 and thus the upper boundary wall 15 supported on them is opposite the bearing surface b of the conveyor belt 13, e.g. adjustable in a range of approximately 10 to 80 mm.

Viewed in a horizontal plane, two lower blowing nozzles 17, which support the upper run of the conveyor belt 13 and are directed upward into the associated angular sections 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ″ ″ etc. of the upper boundary wall 15, are provided between two upper blowing nozzles 16 .

The lateral horizontal spacing of the upper blowing nozzles 16 from one another is approximately 190 mm and that of the lower blowing nozzles 17 from each other is approximately 95 mm.

The upper and the lower, blowing air supplying blow nozzles 16 and 17 are each divided into groups and by switching means 18 can be connected to a hot air source 19 about 2 times per second in an alternating and pulsating manner. The subdivision and switchover is designed such that each active blow nozzle group is opposed by an inactive blow nozzle group and the blow nozzle groups immediately adjacent to the side of an active blow nozzle group are inactive. In this way it is ensured that, alternately, a section of the goods 3 passing through a shrink dryer 9 or 9 ′ is always pressed down by upper blow nozzles 16 onto the bearing surface b of the endlessly rotating conveyor belt 13 and thus inevitably together with it by the corresponding shrink dryer 9 or 9 'is transported through.

The pulsating and alternating loading of the goods moving through the shrink dryer from below and from above with hot air blows, the resulting fluttering movement of the goods 3 in the vertical direction of the transport channel 14 and the simultaneous compression of the passing goods 3 in the approximately angular, air-permeable sections 15 ', 15' ', 15' '' etc. of the upper boundary wall 15 results in an extremely effective drying, shrinking and relaxing of the goods 3 passing through.

The pretreated goods 3 emerging continuously from the second shrink dryer 9 'arrive with a residual moisture content of preferably less than 20%, but at least 6%, in the first web store 1 and are stored there in sections in a loose state. As already mentioned, the web 3 is pneumatically removed in sections from the latter with the aid of the nozzle arrangement 6, in the acceleration channel 5 to a speed of approximately 600 accelerated up to 800 m / min, depending on the type of goods, and at the end of this acceleration section 5 hurled against the grid-like and arched impact surface 4 and compressed there. The lattice-like and thus air-permeable design of the impact surface 4 makes it impossible to form an air cushion that dampens the impact between the impacting web section and the impact surface 4.

The same process is then repeated with the aid of the nozzle arrangement 6 'acting in the opposite direction from the second web store 2 via the baffle surface 4' into the second web store 1, but with a lower web length feed, these back and forth movements are repeated alternately, and the feed difference that occurs between these web length sections moved back and forth in this way, continuously discharged from the second web store 2 into the subsequent second shrink dryer 10 for the final treatment. The same treatment steps are then repeated in a subsequent, analog component 8 '.

In order to be able to easily accelerate both light and heavy goods through the acceleration channel 5, the two pneumatic conveying means groups 6, 6 'on both sides of the acceleration channel 5 are mutually offset by the distance from one another by the angle y directed obliquely to the web transport plane, which means that a waveform is given through the acceleration channel 5 against the impact surface 4 to be transported 3 in the area of the active blow nozzle group 6 (FIG. 3 on the right), as a result of which the transport air in this area is extremely efficient at the area to be transported Goods 3 attacks and causes a very good transport effect on the same.

Since the two blow nozzle groups 6, 6 ', viewed in the direction of transport, are arranged in the respective end region of the acceleration channel 5, any upsetting and jamming of the goods 3 during transport through the acceleration channel 5 becomes perfect as a result of the tensile force acting on the goods 3 to be transported in this way avoided.

Depending on the type of goods 3, it may also be expedient to supply saturated steam to the nozzle arrangement 6 and / or 6 'when they are used, in order to additionally pass the goods 3 passing through before they enter the second shrink dryer 10 to achieve an even stronger and more uniform shrinkage Suspend saturated steam treatment.

Depending on the type of goods 3 and the desired degree of treatment, it may be advantageous in some circumstances to connect one or more shrink dryers analogous to the last component 8 ′ to the shrink dryers 9 and 9 ′.

Claims (19)

1. A method of continuously improving texture and surface of textile woven and knitted fabrics, wherein the material web (3) to be treated is moved to and fro by means of pneumatic conveyor means alternately between a first material web storage device (1) and a second material web storage device (2) and is temporarily stored portion-wise therein, wherein a feed difference is maintained between the conveyor directions and in that case the material web is continuously fed to the first material web storage device and is continuously removed from the second material web storage device, characterised in that the material web is accelerated in an acceleration passage (5) between the two material web storage devices and in each conveyor direction is flung against an impingement surface (4, 4') arranged at the end of the acceleration section and is upset there.
2. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the material web (3) which is removed from the second material web storage device (2) is then exposed at least once again to the same treatment method.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the material web (3) is flung against the respective impingement surface (4, 4') at a speed in the range of from 400 to 1000 m/min, preferably at a speed in the range of from 600 to 800 m/min.
4. A method according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the material web (3) is temporarily stored in approximately U-shaped material web storage devices, wherein it is continuously introduced into the first leg portion (1') of the first material web storage device (1) and is continuously removed from the second leg portion (2") of the second material web storage device (2) and wherein the material web (3) is respectively reciprocated alternately between the second leg portion (1") of the first material web storage device (1) and the first leg portion (2') of the second web material storage device.
5. A method according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the reciprocating movement of the web material portions between the two impingement surfaces (4, 4') is controlled by means of monitoring means (10, 10'), preferably optical sensing means, which sense the degree of filling of the two material web storage devices (1, 2).
6. A method according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that acceleration of the material web (3) between the two impingement surfaces (4, 4') is effected by means of blowing nozzles which are arranged on both sides of the material web and which are directed inclinedly relative to the plane of transportation movement of the material web and which are disposed immediately in front of the impingement surfaces (4, 4') which are to be acted upon (Figure 3).
7. A method according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the material web which passes for the first time into the first material web storage device has a residual moisture content of at most 35%, preferably less than 20%, but at least 6%.
8. A method according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that before passing into the first material web storage device for the first time the material web is pre-treated in at least one shrinkage dryer.
9. A method according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the material web is subjected to a saturated steam treatment while it is conveyed from a material web storage device (1, 2) to the impingement surface (4 or 4') respectively, which is operative at a downstream position.
10. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1 comprising a first material web storage device (1) and a second material web storage device (2), wherein the two material web storage devices are connected together by way of a guide passage at which pneumatic conveyor means are arranged for alternately moving the material web to and fro, and comprising a feed arrangement for the continuous feed of the material web into the first material web storage device (1) and a removal arrangement for the continuous removal of the material web from the second material web storage device (2), characterised in that the guide passage is in the form of an acceleration passage (5) which is delimited in its longitudinal direction at both ends by respective impingement surfaces (4, 4') and that a respective material web storage device (2, 1) is arranged beneath each impingement surface.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterised in that the acceleration passage (5) extends in a horizontally extended condition.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11 characterised in that the pneumatic conveyor means are blowing nozzles (6, 6') which are arranged on both sides of the acceleration passage (5) and which, as viewed in their respective conveyor direction, are arranged in the end region of the acceleration passage.
13. Apparatus according to one of claims 10 to 12 characterised in that the impingement surfaces (4, 4') have a lattice structure and are of a configuration which is curved outwardly and downwardly for upsettingly receiving a material web portion which is flung against them.
14. Apparatus according to one of claims 10 to 13 characterised in that the two material web storage devices (1, 2) are at least approximately of a U-shaped configuration, wherein the first leg (1') of the first material web storage device (1) is designed for the continuous feed of the material web (3) and the second leg (1") is designed for the continuously alternating and portion-wise removal, return directed in the opposite transportation direction, further removal, and so forth, and the first leg (2') of the second material web storage device (2) is designed for the continuously alternating and portion-wise reception, removal directed in opposite relationship, further reception and so forth, and the second leg (2") of the second material web storage device (2) is designed for the continuous removal of the treated material web (3).
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 characterised in that in their interior the material web storage devices have optical sensing means (10, 10') for sensing the degree of filling thereof with portions of the material web.
16. Apparatus according to one of claims 10 to 15 characterised in that the feed and removal arrangements (3', 3") are designed to be regulatable independently of each other in respect of their transportation speed.
17. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterised in that a plurality of such apparatuses are connected together in series.
18. Apparatus according to one of claims 10 to 17 characterised in that at least one shrinkage dryer (9) is connected upstream of the first material web storage device (1) and at least one shrinkage dryer (9) is connected downstream of the last material web storage device (2).
19. Apparatus according to claim 18 characterised in that the at least one shrinkage dryer (9, 9') is provided with a continuously drivable, air-permeable, endlessly circulating transportation belt for receiving and transporting the material web (3) to be treated through the shrinkage dryer and for discharge of the material web (3) issuing from the shrinkage dryer into the first material web storage device (1) and for receiving the material web (3) which can be discharged from the second or last material web storage device (2).

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