GB2204335A - Aerodynamic compensation and relaxation of textile sheets - Google Patents

Description

C,' c, - 1 ' ' APPARATUS FOR THE AERODYNAMIC PROCESSING OF TEXTILE SHEETS

This invention relates to an apparatus for the aerodynamic processing of textile sheets to allow the material to relax sufficiently for its fibres to recover.

It is known that in the course of treating textile sheets a number of processing stages are effected such as wet cuttling and tentering processes, drying and fixing operations as well as final makeup operations, etc., whereby with continuous and discontinuous operation the processing stages are linked with one another by means of buffer zones and compensation devices usually in the form of troughs. These troughs are characterised and made in different geometric shapes and designs in order to achieve optimum results.

It is also known that in certain cases these troughs are provided with non-slip coatings on their operative surfaces.

2 These devices, however, have several disadvantages.

Generally, 1riction occurs between the device and the textile sheeting being processed, as a result of which the textile sheeting can be subjected to distortions, mesh deformations and wear, and it is not possible to influence the motion of the material in a controlled manner. The negative effects on the the textile sheets are, inter alia, that thev suffer from form instability, inconstant mass per unit of area and visible deformations.

It is the object of the invention to design an aerodynamic apparatus for the processing of textile sheets which brings about a considerable improvement in the quality of the products.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for the aerodynamic processing of textile sheets comprising a processor duct having a gas distributor chamber ther ealong provided with at least one gas inlet and a gas outlet thereto, at least a part of said chamber having a plurality of gas outlet nozzles along its length to admit gas from the distributor chamber into the processor duct to subject, in use, the textile sheets to said aerodynamic processing.

The preferred apparatus of the invention brings about the aerodynamic compensation and relaxation of the textile sheets by enabling the continuous and discontinuous processing stages as well as processing stages which proceed at different operatinq speeds to be linked with one another in an optimum manner while at the same time offerinq the possibility of subjecting the textile sheets to treatments modifying their shape and/or quality, respectively.

Preferably, the distributor chamber has an input zone, a slide- and treatment zone, a treatment and dwell zone, a treatment and buffer zone and a discharge zone, said zones being formed with the aid of the metal slide sheet and partitions. The spherical nozzles can be adjusted in angle and also by inverting the angle of the nozzle. By means of the gas inlets, it is possible to introduce the gaseous medium controllably with variable pressure and volume flow, whereas the gas outlet enables the gaseous medium to be discharged in a variable manner.

The invention will now b, explained, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanving drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross section through a preferred apparatus of the invention; Fig. 2 shows part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 but with the nozzle angles changed; and Fig. 3 is a section along x-x in Fig. 1.

Fig 1 shows the passage of textile material 11 through a processor 1 which comprises gas inlets 2, a gas outlet 3, a distributor chamber 4, partitions 5, an upper annihilation face 6, spherical nozzles 7 and spherical nozzle seals 8 (see Fig. 2), input 9, discharge 10 and a metal slide sheet 13 with recesses 12 in it, the sheet being provided with a non-slip layer 14. In addition it will be seen that, in accordance with the arrangement and mode of operation, the processor 1 comprises an input zone 1, a slide- and treatment zone II, a treatment and dwell zone III, a treatment and buffer zone IV and a discharge zone V.

Furthermore, the positive and negative nozzl.p angles pl 1 respectively, and the gas jet exit angles in relation to the direction of motion oi and the dynamic - the effect of the gaseous medium F can be seen all spherical nozzles 7.

Fig. 2 shows in more detail the passage of the textile material 11 through the processor 1 in accordance with the possible different settings of the spherical nozzles 7 with their spherical nozzle seals 8, subject to different dynamic effects of the gaseous medium F as a result of the positive and negative nozzle angles Fig. 3 shows in cross section the arrangement of spherical nozzles 7 in the processor 1 as well as their adjustability by means of the gas jet exit angle at right angles to the direction of movement The operation of the illustrated apparatus is as follows The textile material 11 is supplied to the intake or input zone I of the processor in an optionally continuous or discontinuous manner. The textile material 11 is then guided and displaced along the processor 1 inter alia by a gaseous medium supplied through the spherical nozzles 7 at a variable pressure, volume flow and angle. This movement is hellped by the nonslip layers 14 which, in conjunction with a geometrical form, ensure treatment of the textile material in a manner virtually devoid of any friction forces. In addition, a definable packing density of the textile material 11 within the processor 1 can be brought about by varying the direction, pressure and influx angle, thus enabling the characteristics of the textile material such as its form stability, constancy of mass per unit of area, handle and appearance to be affected in a controlled manner. At the same time, the principle of operation of the processor 1 makes it possible, owing to the definable packing density, to achieve simultaneously a variable store content, which enables the linking of units with different operating widths and speeds.

1

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for the aerodynamic processing of textile sheets comprising a processor duct having a gas distributor chamber therealong provided with at least one gas inlet and a gas outlet thereto, at least a part of said chamber having a plurality of gas outlet nozzles along its length to admit gas from the distributor chamber into the processor duct to subject, in use, the textile sheets to said aerodynamic processing.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the part of the distributor chamber housing the nozzles is a metal slide sheet, the nozzles being arranged in recesses therein.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each nozzle is provided in a spherical housing which is mounted so that its orientation is infinitely variable.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein each nozzle is adjustable in respect of its angle and by invertion of the nozzle angle

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2-4 wherein an input zone (I), slide and treatment zone (II), treatment and dwell zone (III), treatment and buffer zone (IV) and a discharge zone (V) can be brought about in the distributor chamber by means of the metal slide sheet and partitions.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each gas inlet enables the gaseous medium to be supplied controllably with variable pressure and volume flow.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the gaseous medium can be discharged in a variable manner through the gas outlet.

8. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at l7he Patent Office, State House, 65171 Ijigh Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office.

ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Cori. 1187.

Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques