GB1587069A

GB1587069A - Wet processing machines

Info

Publication number: GB1587069A
Application number: GB53882/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Samuel Pegg and Son Ltd
Current assignee: Samuel Pegg and Son Ltd
Priority date: 1977-12-22
Filing date: 1977-12-22
Publication date: 1981-03-25

Description

(54) WET PROCESSING MACHINES (71) We, SAMUEL PEGG & SON LIMITED, a British Company of Barkby Road, Leicester, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to wet processing machines for fabrics for use especially in dyeing and finishing.

According to the invention there is provided a wet processing machine having a curved passage for conveying folded fabric from one end of the passage to another end of the passage and a fabric advancing means including a reel for raising fabric from the other end of the passage and an accelerator or jetting device connected to a supply of liquor under pressure for receiving fabric from the reel and ejecting it in a flow of liquor for supplying to the one end of the passage in which transversely spaced guide surfaces for guiding the outside of the folded fabric are provided along at least part of the passage. Preferably the guide surfaces are provided at least in an initial part of the passage adjacent a means for supplying fabric. The initial part may be the part in which the folded condition is imparted to the fabric.

Preferably the guide surfaces are formed by members spaced from a vessel wall so as to define a passage for liquor outside the folded fabric passage and in communication with the folded fabric passage through longitudinally extending gaps between adjacent members. Conveniently then the liquor passage communicates with an outlet for liquor from the machine connected to a pump so as to draw liquor into the outlet through the liquor passage and the pump supplied liquor to the accelerator or jetting device. Advantageously the members extend downwardly from an upper part at the one end of the folded fabric passage past the outlet arranged at a lower part, and if required, upwardly towards the other end of the folded fabric passage. The members may be rods or tubes and be coated with polytetrafluoroethylene.The members may be arranged in an assembly movable out of the machine for cleaning purposes.

The machine is suitable for treating batches of fabric. The machine may include a central guide for guiding the inside of the folded fabric. The fabric may be ejected from a nozzle which may have a flattened transversely extending opening or a rounded opening. The flattened opening permits the fabric to move sideways and so reduces the accumulation of folded fabric immediately underneath the nozzle. Other mechanisms and adaptations may be incorporated to traverse the ejected fabric. By connecting the accelerator to receive liquor from the aforementioned pump and by using the central guide, a liquor level difference can be established in use between the ends of the folded fabric passage.

The machine may be constructed for high temperature operation by housing it in an appropriately shaped pressure vessel.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification in which: Figure 1 shows a section along line I-I in Figure 2 through a wet processing machine according to this invention; and Figure 2 shows a top view of the machine of Figure 1 with part of the top cover removed.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a wet processing machine has a curved passage 1 defined between a lower, main vessel 2 and a fabric guide core 8 inserted into the vessel 2. The vessel 2 defines an enclosable wet processing space which extends annularly around the core 8 by means of a cover 4 on the vessel 2 and a removable observation window 6. The core 8 is sealed so that liquor in the vessel 2 cannot penetrate into it.

A driven reel 10 is mounted above one end (referred to for convenience as the front end) of the passage 1 and a horizontally extending accelerator 12 is mounted above the core 8. The accelerator 12 has a longitudinal axis extending tangentially with respect to the reel 10. The accelerator 12 is of a construction whereby the fabric is carried along in liquor expelled and ejected by the accelerator 12. It may alternatively be conveyed (as in jet-dyeing machines) by the impact of jets on the fabric. The accelerator 12 has a fabric inlet pipe forming an annular gap for directing liquor towards a nozzle 11 from a liquor inlet 13 into the machine. The nozzle 11 has a flattened opening.

A guide rod assembly 15 is removably fitted on the outside of the curved passage 1 so as to sub-divided it into a passage la for folded fabric and a passage Ib on the outside thereof for liquor only. The assembly 15 is removable bodily to facilitate cleaning by threading it out after removing the window 6 or by first removing the core 8. The assembly 15 includes a number of curved guide rods 16 and a baffle plate 14 for deflecting the liquor and fabric ejected by the accelerator 12 into the other end (referred to for convenience as the rear end) of the passage 1. The accelerator 12 supplies unfolded fabric which is then folded and introduced into the rear end.The curved guide rods 16 commence to separate the passage la and 1b adjacent the accelerator, and extend downwardly past a liquor outlet 18 for removing liquor from the vessel 2 and upwardly to the front end of the passage 1.

A guide 20 is arranged above the front end to center the fabric before it reaches the reel 10.

The liquor is conveyed from the outlet 18 to the inlet 13 by a pump (not shown) and on its way passes through a filter. a heating and cooling unit and a portion may be passed through a dye addition tank. A number of the machines shown may be arranged side by side with a single pipe supplying liquor to the inlets 13 and accelerators 12 in each machine and a single pipe removing liquor through the outlets 18.

A sensor mechanism includes a U-shaped lever 26 having a plate 28 at its end for abutting the nozzle 11. The lever 26 is mounted on a pivot shaft 30 connected externally to a counterbalance lever 32 carrying a weight 34 which may be shifted radially and connected to a switch operating lever 36 for operating a switch 38. The sensor mechanism detects drooping of the fabric from the nozzle Ii.

In use fabric can be introduced after removing the window 6 with the assistance of a reel 22 on arms 24 projecting to the front of the machine. After the desired length of fabric has been introduced and threaded through the accelerator 12, around the core 8, through the guide 20 and over the reel 10, the ends are sewn together to form an endless rope. The weight 34 is shifted into a suitable position to bias the end of the lever 26 against the nozzle and to ensure the switch 38 is operated having regard to the weight of the fabric being treated. During dyeing, the rope circulates through the annular space surrounding the core 8 as shown in Figure 1. The fabric is ejected from the nozzle 11 and because it is flattened the folded fabric can accumulated across the width of the passage la and not merely underneath the nozzle 11.The fabric is folded into the passage la at the rear end, passes through the passage la over the guide rods 16 to the front end where the fabric is unfolded by the reel 10. The arrow A indicates the overall direction of movement of the folded fabric. The resulting liquor levels at the front and rear end are indicated at L. The liquor level difference promotes the movement of the folded fabric in the direction of the arrow A. Liquor is moved downwardly in the passage Ib as shown by arrow B towards the outlet 18. This liquor movement may assist the downward movement of the folded fabric.

The downward movement of the folded fabric is largely over the guide rods 16 and is so facilitated compared with an uninterrupted vessel wall or a perforated wall.

Interruptions in the fabric circulation by undue friction or entanglement may be reduced. The fabric is advanced in a gentle manner. Loose fibrous material detached from the fabric during dyeing cannot block liquid communication between the passages la and 1b and can be cleaned out from the machine by removal of the guide rod assembly 15.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A wet processing machine having a curved passage for conveying folded fabric from one end of the passage to another end of the passage and a fabric advancing means including a reel for raising fabric from the other end of the passage and an accelerator or jetting device connected to a supply of liquor under pressure for receiving fabric from the reel and ejecting it in a flow of liquor for supplying to the one end of the passage in which transversely spaced guide surfaces for guiding the outside of the folded fabric are provided along at least part of the passage.

2. .A machine according to claim l in which the guide surfaces are provided at least in an initial part of the passage adjacent a means for supplying fabric.

3. A machine according to claim 2 in which the initial part is the part in which the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. window 6. The core 8 is sealed so that liquor in the vessel 2 cannot penetrate into it. A driven reel 10 is mounted above one end (referred to for convenience as the front end) of the passage 1 and a horizontally extending accelerator 12 is mounted above the core 8. The accelerator 12 has a longitudinal axis extending tangentially with respect to the reel 10. The accelerator 12 is of a construction whereby the fabric is carried along in liquor expelled and ejected by the accelerator 12. It may alternatively be conveyed (as in jet-dyeing machines) by the impact of jets on the fabric. The accelerator 12 has a fabric inlet pipe forming an annular gap for directing liquor towards a nozzle 11 from a liquor inlet 13 into the machine. The nozzle 11 has a flattened opening. A guide rod assembly 15 is removably fitted on the outside of the curved passage 1 so as to sub-divided it into a passage la for folded fabric and a passage Ib on the outside thereof for liquor only. The assembly 15 is removable bodily to facilitate cleaning by threading it out after removing the window 6 or by first removing the core 8. The assembly 15 includes a number of curved guide rods 16 and a baffle plate 14 for deflecting the liquor and fabric ejected by the accelerator 12 into the other end (referred to for convenience as the rear end) of the passage 1. The accelerator 12 supplies unfolded fabric which is then folded and introduced into the rear end.The curved guide rods 16 commence to separate the passage la and 1b adjacent the accelerator, and extend downwardly past a liquor outlet 18 for removing liquor from the vessel 2 and upwardly to the front end of the passage 1. A guide 20 is arranged above the front end to center the fabric before it reaches the reel 10. The liquor is conveyed from the outlet 18 to the inlet 13 by a pump (not shown) and on its way passes through a filter. a heating and cooling unit and a portion may be passed through a dye addition tank. A number of the machines shown may be arranged side by side with a single pipe supplying liquor to the inlets 13 and accelerators 12 in each machine and a single pipe removing liquor through the outlets 18. A sensor mechanism includes a U-shaped lever 26 having a plate 28 at its end for abutting the nozzle 11. The lever 26 is mounted on a pivot shaft 30 connected externally to a counterbalance lever 32 carrying a weight 34 which may be shifted radially and connected to a switch operating lever 36 for operating a switch 38. The sensor mechanism detects drooping of the fabric from the nozzle Ii. In use fabric can be introduced after removing the window 6 with the assistance of a reel 22 on arms 24 projecting to the front of the machine. After the desired length of fabric has been introduced and threaded through the accelerator 12, around the core 8, through the guide 20 and over the reel 10, the ends are sewn together to form an endless rope. The weight 34 is shifted into a suitable position to bias the end of the lever 26 against the nozzle and to ensure the switch 38 is operated having regard to the weight of the fabric being treated. During dyeing, the rope circulates through the annular space surrounding the core 8 as shown in Figure 1. The fabric is ejected from the nozzle 11 and because it is flattened the folded fabric can accumulated across the width of the passage la and not merely underneath the nozzle 11.The fabric is folded into the passage la at the rear end, passes through the passage la over the guide rods 16 to the front end where the fabric is unfolded by the reel 10. The arrow A indicates the overall direction of movement of the folded fabric. The resulting liquor levels at the front and rear end are indicated at L. The liquor level difference promotes the movement of the folded fabric in the direction of the arrow A. Liquor is moved downwardly in the passage Ib as shown by arrow B towards the outlet 18. This liquor movement may assist the downward movement of the folded fabric. The downward movement of the folded fabric is largely over the guide rods 16 and is so facilitated compared with an uninterrupted vessel wall or a perforated wall. Interruptions in the fabric circulation by undue friction or entanglement may be reduced. The fabric is advanced in a gentle manner. Loose fibrous material detached from the fabric during dyeing cannot block liquid communication between the passages la and 1b and can be cleaned out from the machine by removal of the guide rod assembly 15. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A wet processing machine having a curved passage for conveying folded fabric from one end of the passage to another end of the passage and a fabric advancing means including a reel for raising fabric from the other end of the passage and an accelerator or jetting device connected to a supply of liquor under pressure for receiving fabric from the reel and ejecting it in a flow of liquor for supplying to the one end of the passage in which transversely spaced guide surfaces for guiding the outside of the folded fabric are provided along at least part of the passage.

folded condition is imparted to the fabric.

4. A machine according to any of the preceding claims in which the guide surfaces are formed by members spaced from a vessel wall so as to define a passage for liquor outside the folded fabric passage and in communication with the folded fabric passage through longitudinally extending gaps between adjacent members.

5. A machine according to claim 4 in which the liquor passage communicates with an outlet for liquor from the machine connected to a pump so as to draw liquor into the outlet through the liquor passage and the pump supplies liquor to the accelerator or jetting device.

6. A machine according to claim 4 and 5 in which the members extend downwardly from an upper part at the one end of the folded fabric passage past the outlet arranged at a lower part.

7. A machine according to any of claims 4 to 6 in which the members are rods or tubes.

8. A machine according to any of claims 4 to 7 in which the members are arranged in an assembly movable out of the machine for cleaning purposes.

9. A machine according to any of the preceding claims which includes a central guide for guiding the inside of the folded fabric.