EP3571341A1

EP3571341A1 - Machine for treating folded printed fabrics

Info

Publication number: EP3571341A1
Application number: EP18704599.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carmelo ZOCCO; Pasquale CANNONE
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Arioli In Liquidazione Srl
Priority date: 2017-01-20
Filing date: 2018-01-19
Publication date: 2019-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-19
Also published as: EP3571341C0; IT201700006181A1; WO2018134774A1; TW201833405A; EP3571341B1

Abstract

Machine for treating folded printed fabrics, adapted to feed a folded printed fabric (TXL) in a longitudinal direction (Y), said machine comprising: a vaporization chamber (100) having a first vertical side (110) and a second vertical side (120) parallel to the direction of motion of the fabric (TXL); a system (200) for creating and feeding folds of said fabric (TXL); a plurality of operating sections (300), wherein each operating section (300) is adapted to deliver steam on one side of said first and second vertical sides (110, 120), called delivery side, and to take in steam on the other side of said first and second vertical sides (110, 120), called intake side, so that said steam will flow in a substantially horizontal direction from said delivery side to said intake side, wherein the direction of the steam flow in each operating section (300) is opposite to the direction of the steam flow in an adjacent operating section.

Description

MACHINE FOR TREATING FOLDED PRINTED FABRICS

DESCRIPTION

[TECHNICAL FIELD ]

The present invention relates to a machine for treating folded printed fabrics.

In particular, though not exclusively, the invention is advantageously applicable to steaming machines or apparatuses for printed fabrics.

[PRIOR ART]

As is known, the steaming operation is used for stably fixing dyes to the fibre of a fabric by exploiting the action of condensed humidity, combined with the action of environmental heat, in order to cause the dye and all recipe products on the material surface to spread from the surface layer towards the inside of the fibre, thus being fixed thereto.

A machine of this kind for treating (e.g. preparing, steaming, dyeing, finishing, ennobling and the like) folded fabrics generally comprises a treatment chamber, in which an endless (continuous) conveyor is supported for transferring the fabric to be treated from an inlet side of said chamber, where a roller supports and feeds the fabric, to an outlet side of the treatment chamber.

Said conveyor comprises a pair of endless chains, which are supported and moved in proximity to the longitudinal walls of the chamber, and the advance and return branches of which extend, respectively, in proximity to the ceiling and bottom of the chamber .

The fabric is supported in folds inside the treatment chamber by a plurality of rollers, referred to as rods in the art and in this description, the ends of which are connected to opposite links of the above-mentioned chains. Generally, a conveyor of this type is made to advance continuously in order to promote, near the inlet side, the formation of successive folds of fabric on successive rods, and for the time necessary for forming the folded fabric in the treatment chamber.

International patent application WO 2004/074567 by the present Applicant describes a system for moving rods and forming respective folds, wherein each rod is connected to respective chain links through a pair of arms, each one having a first end constrained to a link of one chain and a second end constrained to a corresponding end of the rod.

This system uses shaped plates on which the arms that carry the rods can slide. As the fabric advances, the arms are overturned, thus raising the rods and moving them from a condition in which they are hung to the transportation chains in the ascending tract to a condition in which they rest on rails arranged above the active advance branches of the chains.

For the purpose of fixing the dyes onto the fabrics, water vapour is delivered into the machine. In particular, one or two ducts, coming from an external steam generating system, are afferent to the machine. On the sidewalls of the same, fans and scrolls are usually arranged for promoting the steam flow inside the vaporization chamber. Figure 1 schematically shows the path that said flow will tend to follow.

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a machine M of a known type. The direction of motion of the fabric is orthogonal to the sheet. On the right-hand wall and left-hand wall of the machine there are steam delivery sections SX, DX facing towards each other. From both sections, the steam is delivered in a substantially vertical direction. Due to the conformation of the vaporization chamber and the interaction between the two steam flows, the path that is substantially followed by the steam is the one indicated by arrows Fa, Fb in Figure 1.

The Applicant has verified that such a solution does not allow achieving satisfactory results when the machine works on digitally printed fabrics.

More precisely, the Applicant has verified that digitally printed fabrics not yet subjected to treatments such as, for example, steaming, may transfer the applied dye to other fabrics or to other portions of the same fabric, even upon very slight contact .

The Applicant has then observed that the steam flow, in addition to not fixing the dye in an optimal manner, also generates turbulences in the vaporization chamber, which may sometimes cause excessive waving of the folds, resulting in undesired duplicates on some portions of the fabric.

[OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]

It is one object of the present invention to provide a machine for treating folded printed fabrics which significantly reduces the risk of undesired duplicates on portions of the fabric .

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine for treating folded printed fabrics which can fix the dye and other similar substances in an effective manner.

These and other objects are substantially achieved through a machine for treating folded printed fabrics as set out in the appended claims.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred but non-limiting embodiments of the invention.

This description will refer to the annexed drawings, which are also provided merely as explanatory and non-limiting examples, wherein: - Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a machine according to the prior art;

- Figure 2 shows a machine according to the present invention, wherein some parts have been removed in order to highlight other parts;

- Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 shows another detail of Figure 2;

- Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the machine of Figure 2;

- Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of an element of the machine of Figure 2;

- Figures 7-8 show operating diagrams of the machine of Figure 2;

- Figure 9 shows a detail of the element of Figure 6; - Figure 10 is a schematic plan view of the machine of

Figure 2;

- Figure 11 is a schematic front view of a detail of the machine of Figure 2.

[DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION]

With reference to the annexed drawings, 1 designates as a whole a machine for treating folded fabrics, in particular for subjecting printed fabrics to a steaming treatment, in accordance with the present invention.

The machine 1 (Figure 2) comprises a vaporization chamber 100, preferably parallelepiped in shape, with side or longitudinal walls 2, 3, a ceiling 4 and a bottom 5.

The side walls 2, 3 form respective vertical sides 110, 120 of the vaporization chamber 100.

At the front, the chamber 100 has an opening 6 for letting in the fabric TXL to be treated; at the rear, it has an opening 7 for letting out the treated fabric.

Preferably, both openings are located in the upper part of the chamber 100.

The chamber 100 is delimited by a frame la, which may comprise the above-mentioned side walls 2, 3, ceiling 4 and bottom 5.

A supporting and feeding roller 8 for the fabric TXL is supported in the chamber 100 at the opening 6, while an idle roller 9 for supporting the fabric TXL is located in proximity to the outlet opening 7.

Both rollers 8, 9 preferably have their horizontal axes perpendicular to the walls 2, 3.

A conveyor T is also supported in the chamber 100, which comprises a pair of endless chains 10, 11.

The chains 10, 11 may be of the conventional type normally employed in the industry.

The chain 10 is supported and dragged, near the longitudinal wall 2, by respective chain-type toothed wheels 12, 13, 14, 15, all of which have a horizontal axis perpendicular to the wall 2. The wheel 12, which is supported in proximity to the outlet opening 7, is preferably a drive wheel directly controlled by a drive M3.

The active or advance upper branch 16 of the chain 10 extends horizontally between the openings 6, 7, respectively for letting the fabric TXL in and out, whereas the return lower branch 17 of the chain 10 is located underneath and extends horizontally near the bottom 5 of the chamber 100.

Reference numeral 18 designates the ascending front branch of the chain 10; the ascending branch 18 extends vertically near the roller 8 that feeds the fabric TXL.

Reference numeral 19 designates the vertically descending rear branch of the same chain 10.

The chain 11 is substantially identical to the chain 10, and is supported in the same manner near the longitudinal wall 3 of the chamber 100. In particular, the chain 11 is supported by a set of toothed wheels, e.g. four toothed wheels, including a drive wheel. Preferably, the above-mentioned first motion structure comprises also all those elements which are useful for promoting the advance of the chain 11. For simplicity, all parts related to the chain 11 have the same reference numerals as those related to the chain 10.

In the following description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" should be understood with reference to the direction of motion of the chains 10, 11.

Within the chamber 100, in proximity to the ceiling 4 thereof, a plurality of horizontal rods 20 are arranged for supporting the folded fabric TXL . The ends of each rod 20 are connected to opposite links of the chains 10, 11. In particular (see Figures 3 and 4) , each rod 20 is supported at its ends by pins 21.

Each pin 21 is freely mounted to a corresponding end 23 of an arm 24. The opposite end of said arm 24 is freely pivoted, through a pin 25, into a respective link of the chain 10 or 11.

In normal conditions, each rod 20 is therefore rotatably constrained to the chains 10, 11, with the possibility of rotating in both directions about the axis defined by the pins 25.

Each rod is kept substantially horizontal, perpendicular to the walls 2, 3.

The arms 24 are pivoted to the opposite links of the chains 10, 11 via the pins 25; on the opposite side of said links, they carry a control lever 34 with a crank 35.

In other words, the chain link is interposed between the arm 24 and the control lever 34.

The crank 35 may be, for example, of the cylindrical type. This structure is such that, as the control lever 34 is rotated about the pin 25, a corresponding rotation of the arm 24 will be generated about the same pin 25. The arm 20, which is pivoted to the opposite end of the arm 24, will thus undergo a rotational movement.

By exploiting this mechanism, where the ascending branches

18 end and the active upper branches 16 begin, the rods are moved from a condition in which they are hung to the chains 10, 11 (first position) to a condition in which they are suspended above the advance branches 16 (second position) .

In this way, the rods 20 can, as they reach the advance branches 16, complete the fold and be positioned onto upper rails 28.

The folded fabric TXL is then made to advance along a longitudinal direction Y.

Preferably, the longitudinal direction Y is parallel to the first and second vertical sides 110, 120 of the vaporization chamber 100.

In order to cause the rods to move from the hung condition to the suspended condition and move the folded fabric, the machine 1 is equipped with a system 200 for creating and feeding folds of the fabric TXL. This system preferably comprises the above-described structure adapted to create the folds of the fabric TXL and to feed the fabric TXL.

Note that the system 200 may also be designed to implement different techniques, provided that they are suitable for the execution of the fold creation and fabric feed functions.

During the steaming treatment, the printed fabric TXL being fed into the chamber 100 by the support roller 8 is supported in folds by the rods 20 running along the upper branch 16 of the continuously advancing chains 10, 11.

At the end of the upper branch 16, the fabric TXL is picked up in a conventional manner and unloaded from the vaporization chamber 100 through the opening 7. Along the next branches 19 and 17 of the chains 10, 11, the rods 20 travel in a suspended condition. In this condition, they are lifted along the ascending front branches 18 of the same chains 10, 11.

In accordance with the invention, the machine 1 comprises a plurality of operating sections 300 (Figure 5) .

Each operating section 300 is adapted to deliver steam on either the first or the second side 110, 120 of the chamber 100 and to take in steam on the opposite side of the same chamber 100.

The side whereon the steam is delivered is called "delivery side", and the side whereon the steam is taken in is called "intake side" .

In other words, if an operating section delivers steam on the first side 110 (the delivery side, in this case), it will take in steam on the second side 120 (the intake side, in this case) ; on the contrary, if an operating section delivers steam on the second side 120 (the delivery side, in this case), it will take in steam on the first side 110 (the intake side, in this case) .

The steam then flows in a substantially horizontal direction from the delivery side to the intake side. Preferably, said flow is also substantially orthogonal to the direction of motion Y of the fabric TXL .

Preferably, the delivery side delivers steam into the chamber 100 and does not take in any steam from the chamber 100.

Preferably, the intake side takes in steam from the chamber 100 and does not deliver any steam into the chamber 100.

Advantageously, the direction of the steam flow in each operating section 300 is opposite to the direction of the steam flow in an adjacent operating section.

In other words, if in a given operating section 300 the steam flows from the left to the right, in the previous operating section (with reference to the direction of motion Y of the fabric TXL) and/or in the next operating section (with reference to the direction of motion Y of the fabric TXL) the steam flow will propagate from the right to the left.

Figure 8 schematically shows, in a simplified plan view, four operating section 300, wherein, following the direction of motion Y of the fabric TXL, the steam flows from the left to the right in the first and third operating sections, whereas in the second and fourth operating sections the steam flows from the right to the left.

Preferably, on the delivery side of each operating section 300 there is a delivery plate 330 (Figures 6-7, 9, 11) . Said delivery plate 330 is fitted with a plurality of nozzles 331.

Preferably, on the intake side of each operating section 300 there is an intake plate 340 fitted with a plurality of nozzles 341 (Figures 6-7, 9, 11) .

Preferably, the nozzles 331 of the delivery plate 330 have a substantially volcano-like or truncated-cone shape, with a decreasing cross-section in the direction of propagation of the steam flow.

Preferably, the nozzles 331 of the delivery plate 330 have a substantially horizontal central axis HI.

Preferably, the nozzles 331 of the delivery plate 330 are substantially identical to the nozzles 341 of the intake plate 340.

Preferably, the nozzles 341 of the intake plate 340 have a substantially volcano-like or truncated-cone shape, with a decreasing cross-section in the direction of propagation of the steam flow.

Preferably, the nozzles 341 of the intake plate 340 have a substantially horizontal central axis H2. Preferably, the nozzles 331 of the delivery plate 330 have the minor base facing towards the inside of the vaporization chamber 100.

Preferably, the nozzles 341 of the intake plate 340 have the major base facing towards the inside of the vaporization chamber 100.

Preferably, the intake plate 340 is substantially geometrically defined by a translation of the delivery plate 330 in the direction of propagation of the steam flow.

In other words, the intake plate 340 can be conceptually obtained by imagining to translate the delivery plate 330 in the direction of the steam flow.

This also provides significant advantages in terms of production simplicity, since just one mould (or, more generally, just one production process) is required for obtaining both the delivery plates and the intake plates.

Figure 9 shows a plate with nozzles that, in light of the above, can act as either a delivery plate 330 or an intake plate 340, depending on how it is mounted in the respective operating section.

Preferably, each operating section 300 is equipped with a respective ventilation device 310 for promoting the steam flow.

By way of example, the ventilation device 310 may be mounted on top of the operating section 300, as schematically shown in Figures 5-7.

Preferably, the ventilation device 310 may comprise a fan, driven by a respective motor. By way of example, the fan may be mounted in such a way as to be in fluidic communication with the inside of the chamber 100, while the motor may be mounted outside. The output shaft of the motor may go through a through hole formed in the structure of the operating section 300, so as to be able to drive the fan located inside. Preferably, each operating section 300 recirculates the steam (Figure 7) : in fact, the steam is delivered into the vaporization chamber 100 (arrows Fl), crosses the vaporization chamber 100 transversally, and is then taken in (arrows F2) and delivered again into the vaporization chamber 100 under the action of the ventilation device 310 (arrows F3-F4) .

Preferably, each ventilation device 310 also performs the task of taking in steam from a common duct 320. In one embodiment, therefore, the steam is both taken in from the common duct 320 and recirculated into the vaporization chamber 100 by the ventilation devices 310.

Preferably, the common duct 320 delivers steam to two or more operating sections 300. In particular, the common duct 320 comes from a steam generating system (schematically designated by reference numeral 500 in Figure 10) external to the machine 1, and delivers steam to all those operating sections 300 that require it .

Advantageously, each operating section 300 defines a respective module removably mounted to adjacent modules, each one defined by a respective operating section 300.

In other words, the machine 1 may have a modular structure comprising a plurality of substantially equal modules. Each module consists of a respective operating section 300 having the above-described structural and functional characteristics. Each module is constrained to the adjacent modules. Also, each module can be separated from the adjacent modules. This allows the machine, for example, to be easily modified should it be necessary to add, remove and/or replace a module.

The invention achieves important advantages.

First and foremost, the machine according to the invention can significantly reduce the risk of undesired duplications on portions of the fabric being treated by the machine itself. Furthermore, the machine according to the present invention allows the dye and other similar substances to be effectively fixed onto the fabric.

Claims

1. Machine for treating folded printed fabrics, adapted to feed a folded printed fabric (TXL) in a longitudinal direction (Y) , said machine comprising:

a) a vaporization chamber (100) having a first vertical side (110) and a second vertical side (120) parallel to the direction of motion of the fabric (TXL) ;

b) a system (200) for creating and feeding folds of said fabric (TXL) ;

c) a plurality of operating sections (300), wherein each operating section (300) is adapted to deliver steam on one side of said first and second vertical sides (110, 120), called delivery side, and to take in steam on the other side of said first and second vertical sides (110, 120), called intake side, so that said steam will flow in a substantially horizontal direction from said delivery side to said intake side,

wherein the direction of the steam flow in each operating section (300) is opposite to the direction of the steam flow in an adjacent operating section.

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein, in each operating section (300), said delivery side delivers steam into the vaporization chamber (100) in a substantially horizontal direction, and said delivery side does not take in any steam from the vaporization chamber (100) .

3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in each operating section (300), said intake side takes in steam from the vaporization chamber (100) in a substantially horizontal direction, and said intake side does not deliver any steam into the vaporization chamber (100) .

4. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each operating section (300) is equipped with a respective ventilation device (310) for promoting the steam flow .

5. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each operating section (300) recirculates the steam, which is delivered into the vaporization chamber (100), crosses said vaporization chamber (100) transversally, and is then taken in and delivered again into the vaporization chamber (100) .

6. Machine according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the ventilation devices (310) of said operating sections take in steam from a common duct (320) conveying the steam towards two or more operating sections (300) .

7. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein on the delivery side there is a delivery plate (330) fitted with a plurality of nozzles (331), and on the intake side there is an intake plate (340) fitted with a plurality of nozzles (341) .

8. Machine according to claim 7, wherein the nozzles (331) of the delivery plate (330) are substantially identical to the nozzles (341) of the intake plate (340) .

9. Machine according to claim 8, wherein the intake plate (340) is substantially geometrically defined by a translation of the delivery plate (330) in the direction of propagation of the steam flow.

10. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each operating section (300) defines a respective module removably mounted to adjacent modules, each one defined by a respective operating section (300) .