GB2151270A - Finishing high pile fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

Equipment for the finishing of high pile fabrics where the base of the fabric is knitted and fibres (natural, synthetic or artificial) are incorporated forming a pile on which hot steam is sprinkled on the fabric surface (21) where the fibres are coming up (21a). The sprinkler consists of a tube (29) with nozzles parallel and above a cylinder (24) on which the fabric is moved along. The sprinkler may be stationary or movable across the fabric to produce a zig-zag effect on the fabric. The fabric is stretched by being moved over cylinders (22, 23) before going over cylinder (24). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Finishing equipment for high pile fabrics The present invention concerns the so called high pile fabrics wherein sliver fibres and yarn are fed to the needles of a knitting machine to knit pile fabric to be used for example in the garment trade or as home textiles.

As known the traditional high pile fabrics have a limited application i.e. in the garment trade they are used as liners only or as fur imitation but not outer-wear fabric where traditional woven cloths are used.

Also in the home textile market the application is limited as they cannot be used where a hand-knitted look or woven textiles are required.

The subject of this invention is a machine where a new type of high pile fabric can be realized which can be called "Velour Bouclé" either with a handknitted look or very compact as a traditional woven fabric without being woven.

Practically it is possible with this equipment to get a fabric which has a very similar look as a traditional woven fabric without being produced on a loom.

This equipment which produces a new high pile fabric is a machine which realizes a new type of finishing of the fabric where a natural or artificial fibre incorporated on a support becomes a look similar to a traditional woven fabric.

The characteristics and advantages of this equipment are now demonstrated in an analytical description of a specific application, which be no mean is supposed to be limitative to other applications with reference to the included Figures: Figure lisa presentation of the machine seen from the side; Figure 2 is a presentation of the machine seen from above.

The high pile fabric is known and therefore not been included in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

It has to be pointed out that this equipment can be used to make the special finish either on the traditional high pile fabric or on the fabric as per patent application No. 24193 A/83 filed in Italy on December 1983 and as well on woven fabric even the result can be different depending on the fabric used and the chemical means used together with the steam in the finishing process.

Traditionally the high pile fabric is finished by shearing, polishing the pile and fixing the back with a resin.

This invented equipment realizes a new finishing process which will be described thereafter together with the equipment with reference to the attached Figures.

The fabric (21), after being moved over two cylinders (22, 23) in order to stretch the fabric goes over another cylinder (24) with the back (not the pile side) versus the surface of the cylinder and finally with several rollers (25, 26, 27 and 28) to a special device (not shown on the Figures) which collect the fabric.

In order to complete the description of the machine, the fabric (21) which in Figure 1 is shown with a dotted line except a small portion where it is shown as a continuous line within the cylinders 23 and 24 and in this portion are schematically shown with 21a the fibres of the pile on a knitted or woven ecc. base.

Therefore it should be clear on which side of the fabric the finishing process is applied.

The equipment foresees over the cylinder 24 a device to have the possibility to sprinkle a heated up liquid with a certain pressure onto the fabric i.e. on the pile as per 21 a.

This sprinkler-device includes the sprinkler (29) which is linked to source of heated steam (not shown on the Figure) and is made up by a tube which has several nozzles directed forward the fabric (21 ) in order that the steam can be sprinkled onto the fabric as shown in Figure 1 (30). The sprinkler (29) is on a shaft (31) which can be moved across the fabric or not moved at all.

The movement or not movement of the sprinkler (29) gives different optical results on the pile (21 a) of the fabric.

In the case that the sprinkler is not moved at all and the steam is sprinkled on the fabric which passes underneath one get a rib effect similar to a hand-knitted cloth.

If the sprinkler is slowly moved as indicated by the row M of Figure 2 the effect will be at "zig-zag". And in the case the sprinkle is moved fast no special effect will come out on the fabric, but the surface of the fabric will be uniform and similar to a traditional fabric.

It is understood that there are many combinations of these three possible described variations resulting in different optical looks of the fabric.

For example the steam can be sprinkled on the fabric for one minute per two meters at a temperature of 150 C. and a pressure of 1,6 at.

As already mentioned can these "finishing-looks" be achieved with this equipment using a traditional high pile fabric or fabric produced with other technologies.

Even if the equipment has been described with specific reference to one embodiment this does not mean that it is limited to it but all technical realizations and modifications conceivable to the technician are included.

1. Equipment for the finishing process of high pile fabrics where the base of the fabric is generally knitted and fibres (natural, synthetic or artificial) are incorporated forming a pile on which hot steam is sprinkled on the surface (21) where the fibres are coming up (21a).

2. Equipment as per claim 1 where the means through which the steam is sprinkled on the fabric (21) consists of at least of one tube (29) with nozzles parallel and above a cylinder (24) on which the fabric is moved along (21).

3. Equipment as per claim 2 where the sprinkler device (29) is built in a way that it can be moved across the fabric (21).

4. Equipment as per claim 2 where the sprinkler

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Finishing equipment for high pile fabrics The present invention concerns the so called high pile fabrics wherein sliver fibres and yarn are fed to the needles of a knitting machine to knit pile fabric to be used for example in the garment trade or as home textiles. As known the traditional high pile fabrics have a limited application i.e. in the garment trade they are used as liners only or as fur imitation but not outer-wear fabric where traditional woven cloths are used. Also in the home textile market the application is limited as they cannot be used where a hand-knitted look or woven textiles are required. The subject of this invention is a machine where a new type of high pile fabric can be realized which can be called "Velour Bouclé" either with a handknitted look or very compact as a traditional woven fabric without being woven. Practically it is possible with this equipment to get a fabric which has a very similar look as a traditional woven fabric without being produced on a loom. This equipment which produces a new high pile fabric is a machine which realizes a new type of finishing of the fabric where a natural or artificial fibre incorporated on a support becomes a look similar to a traditional woven fabric. The characteristics and advantages of this equipment are now demonstrated in an analytical description of a specific application, which be no mean is supposed to be limitative to other applications with reference to the included Figures: Figure lisa presentation of the machine seen from the side; Figure 2 is a presentation of the machine seen from above. The high pile fabric is known and therefore not been included in Figure 1 and Figure 2. It has to be pointed out that this equipment can be used to make the special finish either on the traditional high pile fabric or on the fabric as per patent application No. 24193 A/83 filed in Italy on December 1983 and as well on woven fabric even the result can be different depending on the fabric used and the chemical means used together with the steam in the finishing process. Traditionally the high pile fabric is finished by shearing, polishing the pile and fixing the back with a resin. This invented equipment realizes a new finishing process which will be described thereafter together with the equipment with reference to the attached Figures. The fabric (21), after being moved over two cylinders (22, 23) in order to stretch the fabric goes over another cylinder (24) with the back (not the pile side) versus the surface of the cylinder and finally with several rollers (25, 26, 27 and 28) to a special device (not shown on the Figures) which collect the fabric. In order to complete the description of the machine, the fabric (21) which in Figure 1 is shown with a dotted line except a small portion where it is shown as a continuous line within the cylinders 23 and 24 and in this portion are schematically shown with 21a the fibres of the pile on a knitted or woven ecc. base. Therefore it should be clear on which side of the fabric the finishing process is applied. The equipment foresees over the cylinder 24 a device to have the possibility to sprinkle a heated up liquid with a certain pressure onto the fabric i.e. on the pile as per 21 a. This sprinkler-device includes the sprinkler (29) which is linked to source of heated steam (not shown on the Figure) and is made up by a tube which has several nozzles directed forward the fabric (21 ) in order that the steam can be sprinkled onto the fabric as shown in Figure 1 (30). The sprinkler (29) is on a shaft (31) which can be moved across the fabric or not moved at all. The movement or not movement of the sprinkler (29) gives different optical results on the pile (21 a) of the fabric. In the case that the sprinkler is not moved at all and the steam is sprinkled on the fabric which passes underneath one get a rib effect similar to a hand-knitted cloth. If the sprinkler is slowly moved as indicated by the row M of Figure 2 the effect will be at "zig-zag". And in the case the sprinkle is moved fast no special effect will come out on the fabric, but the surface of the fabric will be uniform and similar to a traditional fabric. It is understood that there are many combinations of these three possible described variations resulting in different optical looks of the fabric. For example the steam can be sprinkled on the fabric for one minute per two meters at a temperature of 150 C. and a pressure of 1,6 at. As already mentioned can these "finishing-looks" be achieved with this equipment using a traditional high pile fabric or fabric produced with other technologies. Even if the equipment has been described with specific reference to one embodiment this does not mean that it is limited to it but all technical realizations and modifications conceivable to the technician are included. CLAIMS

1. Equipment for the finishing process of high pile fabrics where the base of the fabric is generally knitted and fibres (natural, synthetic or artificial) are incorporated forming a pile on which hot steam is sprinkled on the surface (21) where the fibres are coming up (21a).

2. Equipment as per claim 1 where the means through which the steam is sprinkled on the fabric (21) consists of at least of one tube (29) with nozzles parallel and above a cylinder (24) on which the fabric is moved along (21).

3. Equipment as per claim 2 where the sprinkler device (29) is built in a way that it can be moved across the fabric (21).

4. Equipment as per claim 2 where the sprinkler device (29) may not be moved.

5. Equipment treat high pile fabrics or other fabrics byfinishing the fabrics described above.

6. A finishing process for high pile fabric, comprising the step of spraying the nap surface of the fabric with steam.