EP1262588A1

EP1262588A1 - Machine for rope fabric treatment

Info

Publication number: EP1262588A1
Application number: EP01830351A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianpietro Brazzoli
Original assignee: Brazzoli SpA
Current assignee: Brazzoli SpA
Priority date: 2001-05-30
Filing date: 2001-05-30
Publication date: 2002-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-30
Also published as: DE60118895D1; EP1262588B1; ATE323792T1; DE60118895T2

Abstract

A machine for treatment of rope fabrics comprises a tank (2); a bath (5) for treatment of the rope fabrics (4) contained in the lower portion (6) of the tank (2); at least one powered winch (8) to support and guide the rope fabric (4) along a closed path of travel (19) placed at least partly in the bath (5); a fabric-collecting vat (20) placed in the lower portion (6) of the tank (2) and driven in a reciprocating motion in a direction (23) transverse to the feed direction (18) of the fabric (4); mechanical stirring means (30) for the treatment bath (5) movable relative to said tank (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for treatment of rope fabrics of the type comprising the features set forth in the preamble of claim 1.
In the following by the term "rope fabrics" it is intended fabrics such twisted that they take the conformation of a cord or a rope.
In particular, the machine in accordance with the invention is used during industrial processes relative to fabric production and lends itself to perform different working operations such as dyeing, bleaching or washing.
For the purpose machines are used that, among other things, comprise a tank containing a bath of a treatment liquid.
Such a type of machine is described in document IT1304158. At the upper portion of the tank a powered winch is located on which the rope fabric to be treated is laid down, which fabric in the form of a closed ring comes down from the winch until within the bath and from the bath goes up again along the opposite side of the winch.
Circulation of the rope fabric occurs through rotation of the winch while the fabric is caused to be impinged on by a jet of treatment liquid sprayed from appropriate nozzles.
Located at the lower portion of the tank, partly or completely dipped in the bath is a perforated vat which is driven in motion along a direction transverse to the feed direction of the fabric.
This movement of the vat, in combination with the fabric feed movement, enables the fabric to be folded and piled up at the vat bottom so that it is coil-wise disposed forming several layers in a regular manner.
The fabric in the form of a closed ring is then rotated inside the machine during the whole time necessary to optimize the treatment.
The Applicant has found that the machines of the above described type can be improved from different points of view, in particular in connection with the process efficiency, the quality of the treated product and the reduction in the treatment costs.
A machine of this type in fact does not enable a perfectly treated fabric to be obtained.
In fact, stretches of the rope fabric are alternately left out of the bath and are not sprayed at least during part of the cycle; in particular, this occurs at the passage in the regions between the nozzles and the point where the fabric is dipped into the bath and between the emerging point and said nozzles.
Therefore, during treatment the fabric is not always and completely in contact with the dye or, alternatively, with the washing liquid.
In addition, the bath is substantially stationary, i.e. no important liquid exchanges between regions close to and far from the folded fabric exist.
In fact, the liquid movement in the bath is caused by suction of the bath liquid itself from the lower region of the machine to bring it back to the nozzles through a recycle circuit, and by a weak stirring induced by the movement of the perforated vat.
Due to said weak bath stirring, a difficult and slow mixing of the colouring agents or dyes or of the auxiliary products occurs, which will bring about an increase in the treatment time.
In addition, movement between the liquid and the fabric is substantially caused by the only movement of the fabric in the bath.
Due to lack of important components determining the liquid velocity with respect to the fabric surface, an efficient molecular exchange between the fibre and the bath is not ensured, which exchange would enable a greater penetration of the colouring agents in the case of dyeing, and an easy separation and moving away of the dirt particles in the case of washing. This drawback too involves an increase in the treatment time and in the amount of water used; in fact there is not a quick change of the bath close to the fibre and the liquid really acting thereon is only that lapping on the fabric.
Therefore, the water amount efficiently taking part in the dyeing or cleaning processes is only represented by the amount passing close to the fabric; the remaining part circulating in any case in the plant is not active.
It is an aim of the present invention to conceive a compact machine for treatment of rope fabrics capable of eliminating the above mentioned problems.
In particular it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine ensuring a greater efficiency and uniformity in the fabric treatment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine enabling the water consumption during the washing or dyeing steps to be drastically reduced.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine enabling a reduction in the treatment time and costs.
The foregoing and further objects that will become more apparent in the following description are achieved by a machine for treatment of rope fabrics comprising the features set forth in the characterizing portion of claim 1 and in the claims depending thereon.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for treatment of rope fabrics comprising the features set forth in claim 10.
Further features and advantages will be best understood from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a machine for treatment of rope fabrics in accordance with the present invention. This description will be set forth hereinafter by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for treatment of rope fabrics made in accordance with the present invention, in which a wall has been removed;
Fig. 2 is a section taken along line II-II of the machine in Fig. 1, associated with the fabric to be treated;
Fig. 3 is a section taken along line III-III of the machine in Fig. 1;
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the machine in Fig. 1 according to a section in Fig. 3, in three different treatment times.

With reference to the drawings, a machine for treatment of rope fabrics in accordance with the present invention has been generally identified by reference numeral 1.
The machine 1 comprises a tank 2 holding a treatment liquid 3 which can be a dye for a rope fabric 4 or a detergent to submit the fabric 4 to a washing cycle. The liquid 3 forms a bath 5 occupying the lower portion 6 of tank 2.
Disposed at the top 7 of the machine 1 is a powered winch 8 the rotation axis 9 of which extends horizontally. Winch 8 serves to support and guide the rope 4 made up of the fabric.
In fact, when the fabric 4 is introduced into the machine 1, the first end 10a of the rope fabric 4 is passed over winch 8, then it is caused to go down to within the bath 5 and is finally joined to the second end 10b opposite to the first one 10a to form a closed ring. The rope 4 has such a length that most of same keeps a gathered position at the bottom of tank 2, being immersed in the liquid bath 5.
According to a preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, winch 8 is placed over tank 2 and closed in an appropriate housing 11; housing 11 is connected with tank 2 by means of two tubular inlet/ outlet portions 12, 13 through which rope 4 passes.
The winch 8 can also be placed within tank 2, at the upper portion 14 thereof, not occupied by the liquid bath 5.
The machine 1 can also be formed with several pulleys 8 placed at the inside or outside of tank 2 for even distribution of the wet fabric load 4 on each of them.
The machine 1 is also provided with nozzles 15 that in the accompanying figures are inserted in the tubular inlet portion 12 for entry of fabric 4 in tank 2 and form an acute angle
with the rope fabric 4 itself.
Nozzles 15 submit fabric 4 to the spraying action of the treatment liquid 3 which is drawn, through an appropriate recycle circuit 16, from an opening 17 placed at the bottom of tank 2.
Such nozzles have a dual function, i.e. that of wetting the fabric 4 before dipping and that of supplying the necessary thrust to move the fabric forward towards bath 5, along a feed direction 18.
Then, during operation, the rope fabric 4 is moved round in tank 2 by means both of the action of nozzles 15 and the rotation of winch 8, along a closed path of travel 19 substantially defined by the ring consisting of the fabric 4 itself, which extends from the upper part 7 of the machine 1 to the lower portion 6 of tank 2 and sequentially from the lower portion 6 of tank 2 to the upper part of the machine 1.
In order to prevent the fabric 4 from accumulating at the tank bottom, once it has been dipped thereinto, the machine 1 is equipped with a vat 20 for fabric collection which is disposed in the lower portion 6 of the tank 2 itself being at least partly immersed in bath 5 and being provided with a plurality of holes 21 to enable passage of the treatment liquid 3.
Actuating means 22 drives vat 20 in a reciprocating motion following a curvilinear or rectilinear trajectory, in a direction 23 transverse to the feed direction 18 of fabric 4.
This movement enables the fabric rope 4 to be coil-wise piled up at the bottom of vat 20 avoiding stretches of the cord 4 itself being superposed on each other in an irregular manner, i.e. avoiding a localized fabric accumulation.
Advantageously, the tank 2 and vat 20 are both of cylindrical shape and are disposed in coaxial relationship with each other.
In particular, according to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, vat 20 is formed of a first cylinder 24 and a second cylinder 25 disposed inside the first one 24, which are coaxial and have incomplete side walls 26, 27
Both cylinders in fact have a transverse section in the form of an arc of a circle of about 220° and therefore confine a chamber 28 therebetween the section of which has the shape of an arc of an annulus.
Chamber 28 is closed at the bases of cylinders 24, 25 and is only open towards the upper portion of tank 2, to enable entry and exit of the rope fabric 4.
In order to enable a reciprocating motion of vat 20 relative to tank 2 along the longitudinal axis 29 of the tank 2 itself, the height L1, L2 of each cylinder 24, 25 must be lower than the height L3 of tank 2.
The machine 1 further comprises mechanical stirring means 30 for the liquid bath 5, placed at the lower portion 6 of tank 2 and at least partly immersed in the bath 5 itself.
This stirring means 30 allows the liquid 3 in the bath 5 to be moved so as to form waves 31 capable of reaching the upper portion 14 of tank 2 and spraying the fabric stretches that are not immersed in the bath.
Advantageously, the stirring means 30 consists of at least one blade 32 integral with vat 20 and extending transversely of the latter.
This configuration enables the means 22 intended for actuation of vat 20 to be also used for stirring of bath 5.
Advantageously, to optimize stirring of bath 5, the blade 32 is perpendicular to the movement direction 23 of vat 20.
According to one embodiment not shown, the machine 1 is provided with a plurality of blades 32 that are disposed on the outer side surface 33 of the first cylinder 24.
Alternatively, blades 32 project from the inner side surface 35 of the second cylinder 25.
Preferably, a first series 32a of trapezoidal blades 32, visible in the figures, and a second series of trapezoidal blades 32 not shown are disposed in the form of two arcs of a circle on the outer side surface 33 of the first cylinder 23 at right angles to the surface 33 itself, at a first 34a and a second 34b end respectively of the first cylinder 24.
In addition, a third 32c and a fourth (not shown in the figures) series of trapezoidal blades 32 are disposed on the inner side surface 35 of the second cylinder 25 at right angles to the surface 35 itself, at a first 36a and a second 36b end respectively of the second cylinder 25.
The machine 1 is therefore able to create three main actions of the treatment liquid 3 on the rope fabric 4: the first action is due to direct spraying against the fabric 4 at the upper part 7 of the machine 1; the second action is created by the forward movement of fabric 4 in bath 5 and simultaneously by the suction carried out by the recycle circuit 16, through the opening 17 placed at the bottom of tank 2; the third action is due to the movement of the bath 5 itself created by the blades 32 generating a motion in liquid 3 which is orthogonal to the feed motion of fabric 4, said blades being also able to displace the liquid 3 to the upper portion 14 of tank 2 to wet the fabric 4 that is not immersed.
After illustrating the invention mainly as regards structure, a method of treating rope fabrics will be now described.
In a first treatment step, the rope fabric 4 is disposed along a closed path of travel 19, the opposite ends 10a, 10b of the fabric 4 itself being joined together. The path of travel 19 is at least partly disposed within a treatment bath 5 contained in a tank 2.
Subsequently, the fabric 4 is caused to move forward along the closed path 19 in a feed direction 18.
Concurrently with the last-mentioned step, the treatment bath 5 is stirred by moving appropriate mechanical stirring means 30 at least partly immersed in bath 5, so as to form waves 31 extending to an upper portion 14 of tank 2 and generate a motion of the liquid 3 which is orthogonal to the feed direction 18 of fabric 4.
The present invention achieves important advantages.
First of all the movement generated by the blades ensures a homogeneous and quick mixing of the detergents or colouring products in the bath with a consequent reduction in the process times.
In addition, the fabric is impinged on by the fluid in a variety of directions obtained by combining the three above mentioned movements. This feature, in combination with the fact that also the fabric portions that are not immersed are sprayed with the waves created in the bath, ensures a greater molecular exchange between the fibre and the bath which results in a better penetration of the colouring substances in the case of dyeing, and in a more efficient elimination of the dirt particles in the case of washing, and consequently in an improvement on the quality of the treatment itself.
Finally, the whole bath, due to mixing, takes part in the cycle in an active manner because the renewal of the liquid particles close to the fabric is continuous, which makes it possible to use a lower amount of water.
Therefore the present invention ensures a reduction in times and costs as well as an improvement in the process quality.

Claims

A machine for treatment of rope fabrics comprising:

a tank (2) having an upper portion (14) and a lower portion (6);

a bath (5) of a liquid (3) for treatment of rope fabrics (4); said bath (5) being contained in the lower portion (6) of tank (2);

at least one powered winch (8) placed in an upper part (7) of the machine (1) to support and guide the rope fabric (4) along a closed path of travel (19) for treatment; said closed path of travel (19) extending from the upper part (7) of the machine (1) to the lower portion of the tank (2) and sequentially from the lower portion (6) of the tank (2) to the upper part (7) of the machine (1);

a plurality of spraying nozzles (15) placed in the upper part (7) of the machine (1) and forming an acute angle (
) with a feed direction (18) of the rope fabric (4) along the path of travel (19);

a fabric-collecting vat (20) placed in the lower portion (6) of the tank (2), and actuating means (22) to reciprocate the vat (20) in a movement direction (23) transverse to the feed direction (18) of the fabric (4); characterized in that it further comprises mechanical stirring means (30) for the bath (5) placed in the lower portion (6) of the tank (2), at least partly immersed in the bath (5) and movable relative to said tank (2).
A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical stirring means (30) comprises at least one blade (32) integral with the vat (20) and extending transversely of the vat (20).
A machine as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said at least one blade (32) is perpendicular to the movement direction (23) of the vat (20).
A machine as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said at least one blade (32) is of a substantially trapezoidal shape.
A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tank (2) has a substantially cylindrical shape the longitudinal axis (29) of which is disposed in a horizontal direction.
A machine as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the vat (20) comprises a first cylinder (24) of a transverse section substantially in the form of an arc of a circle; a second cylinder (25) of a transverse section substantially in the form of an arc of a circle and placed within the first cylinder (24); said first (24) and second (25) cylinders being coaxial with the tank (2) and having lower heights (L1, L2) than the height (L3) of the tank (2); the first and second cylinders (24, 25) confining a chamber (28) of a transverse section substantially in the form of an arc of an annulus; the movement direction (23) of the vat (20) being coincident with the longitudinal axis (29) of the tank (2).
A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the mechanical stirring means (30) comprises a plurality of blades (32) projecting from the outer side surface (33) of the first cylinder (24).
A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the mechanical stirring means (30) comprises a plurality of blades (32) projecting from the inner side surface (35) of the second cylinder (25).
A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the mechanical stirring means (30) comprises a plurality of blades (32) projecting both from the outer side surface (33) of the first cylinder (24) and from the inner side surface (35) of the second cylinder (25).
A process for treatment of rope fabrics, comprising the following steps:

arranging a rope fabric (4) having two opposite ends (10a, 10b) along a closed path of travel (10); said closed path of travel (19) being placed at least partly within a bath (5) of a treatment liquid (3) contained in a tank (2);

joining the opposite ends (10a, 10b) of the fabric (4) together;

moving the fabric (4) on, along said closed path (19) in a feed direction (10);

characterized in that it further comprises the step of stirring the treatment bath (5) to form waves (31) extending until an upper portion (14) of said tank (2).
A process as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the waves (31) generate a motion in the liquid (3) which is orthogonal to the feed direction (18) of the fabric (4).
A process as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the step of stirring the treatment bath (5) consists in moving mechanical stirring means (30) at least partly immersed in the bath (5).