GB2212825A

GB2212825A - Fabric mercerising apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2212825A
Application number: GB8827445A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Edward Pepler Norton
Original assignee: SIR JAMES FARMER NORTON
Current assignee: SIR JAMES FARMER NORTON
Priority date: 1987-11-26
Filing date: 1988-11-24
Publication date: 1989-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-24
Also published as: GB8727718D0; GB8827445D0; GB2212825B

Abstract

Apparatus for batch mercerising fabric comprises an impregnation trough (10) arranged between fabric take-off and take-up reels (18, 19) and having an associated squeezing nip (20) intermediate its ends. Between each trough end and the squeezing nip, there is provided an assembly of guide rollers (21) adapted to an operational position, to constrain fabric to pass through caustic soda solution in the immersion trough, and means e.g. jack or ram (27) for causing the assembly of guide rollers to take up a non-operational position downstream of the squeezing nip in terms of the direction of fabric passage through the immersion trough. In the operational position the upper rollers (25) form nips with, or are disposed close, to the lower rollers (24). In the non-operational position the upper rollers are raised above and clear of the immersion trough. In use fabric passes firstly (as shown) from reel (18) to reel (19) with the left-hand upper rollers (25) lowered and the right-hand upper rollers raised. The fabric running direction is then reversed with the positions of the upper rollers being moved to their other operational position. <IMAGE>

Description

MERCERISING APPARATUS This invention relates to mercerising apparatus.

The invention is particularly concerned with a batch mercerising apparatus.

Batch mercerising apparatus is known in which the textile fabric to be mercerised is firstly wound up around one squeeze roll, passes therefrom through a mercerising (caustic soda) bath, and is then wound up around a second squeeze roll. Such a mercerising apparatus is thus uni-directional in use, and requires stoppage of the apparatus for re-threading every time the batch of textile fabric is reversed for re-running through the caustic soda bath and this clearly increases the duration of a mercerising operation.

The term 1caustic soda solution" used herein and in the claims embraces any and all mercerising media.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid drawback and to provide a batch mercerising apparatus of a small compact nature suitable for use by textile processors whose output is not sufficient to justify the cost of a comparatively expensive large continuous mercerising apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in batch mercerising fabric, the apparatus comprising an impregnation trough adapted to be arranged between fabric take-off and take-up reels and having an associated squeezing nip intermediate its ends and, between each of the latter and the squeezing nip, an assembly of guide rollers adapted, in an operational position, to constrain fabric to pass through caustic soda solution in the immersion trough, and means for causing the assembly of guide rollers to take up a non-operational position downstream of the squeezing nip in terms of the direction of fabric passage through the immersion trough.

Preferably each assembly of guide rollers comprises upper and lower rollers defining a sinuous path for the fabric, the lower rollers being fixed in position within the immersion trough below the level of caustic soda solution and the upper rollers being movable upwardly relative to the lower rollers from the operational position to the non-operational position.

Preferably, the upper rollers form nips with the lower rollers in the operational position.

Alternatively the upper rollers, in the operational position, are spaced above the lower rollers a distance predetermined to ensure passage of the fabric through the caustic soda solution.

The upper rollers of each guide roller assembly are preferably rotatably supported in a carrier which is movable vertically by a screw arrangement, a fluid ram or any other convenient adjusting means. The carrier may alternatively simply be manually adjustable up-and-down suitable vertical guides and locked by any convenient means in adjusted position.

The batch mercerising apparatus according to this invention, therefore, simply allows the batched fabric to be run through the immersion trough for application of caustic soda solution in one direction and then the apparatus, without any need for re-threading, is simply reversed in terms of the direction of fabric movement for a second application of caustic soda solution.

An example of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the batch mercerising apparatus.

The batch mercerising apparatus comprises an immersion trough 10 supported in a framework 11 and which has associated therewith for supply and replenishment of caustic soda solution 12 a hot water tank 13, a circulating pump 14, a refri,gerated caustic soda storage tank 15 and a refrigeration unit 16. Such equipment is well-known to those versed in the mercerising art and will not be described further. At each end of the framework 11 is disposed a trolley 17 or similar mounting a take-off reel 18 and a take-up reel 19 respectively. The function of these two reels is reversible as will be become clear later.

In the example shown the fabric designated F is being reeled off reel 18 for passage through the immersion trough 10 for reeling up on the reel 19.

Centrally of the immersion trough 10 is a squeezing nip defined by rollers 20 with which a pressure applying means of any convenient form, say for example a fluid ram 20A is associated to apply the squeezing pressure at the nip.

To each side of the squeezing nip 20 is an assembly of rollers 21.

Between the immersion trough 10 and the reels 18 and 19 there is provided an expander 22 as is usual in mercerising apparatus.

A water spray 23 is provided at each side of the squeezing nip 20 for directing washing water onto the fabric F prior to its entry into the nip 20.

Each assembly of rollers comprises lower rollers 24 and upper rollers 25.

These rollers 24 and 25 are freely rotatable and the rollers 25 are supported and carried in the carrier 26 which is movable vertically by, for example, a screw jack or fluid ram 27.

The batch mercerising apparatus illustrated in the drawing is, as aforesaid, operating from the left-hand side, i.e. the reel 18 to the right-hand side, i.e. the reel 19. The fabric F is thus passing from the reel 18 through the left-hand expander 22, and between the operational left-hand roller assembly 21 which defines a sinuous path for the fabric within the caustic soda solution 12 before passing into the squeezing nip 20 and it then runs clear of the caustic soda solution 12 between the non-operational spaced right-hand rollers 24 and 25 and over the right-hand expander 22 for reeling up on the reel 19.

When the batch of fabric F on the reel 18 has completely run through the immersion trough 10 and been subjected to the mercerising action of the caustic soda solution 12 and the squeezing nip 20, the left-hand roller assembly 21 is caused to take up the non-operational configuration where the upper rollers 25 are spaced above and clear of the lower rollers 24 while the right-hand roller assembly 21 is caused to take up the operational configuration where the upper rollers 25 are lowered into nip forming contact with the lower rollers 24 to provide a sinuous path for the fabric F through the caustic soda solution and the fabric is now reeled off the reel 19 through the caustic soda solution 12 and reeled up on the reel 18.

It is considered that a batch of fabric in one mercerising operation will be run through the caustic soda solution once from the left to the right and once from the right to the left to ensure uniform mercerising results.

It is also considered that the speed of the fabric through the batch mercerising apparatus will be in the order of 30 to 35 metres per minute or more.

It will be manifest that this apparatus can be used for washing of the fabric F on subsequent passes thereof through the immersion trough 10, the caustic soda solution 12 being replaced by washing water. To effect this washing operation, the caustic soda solution 12 will simply be lowered into the caustic storage tank 15 and the immersion trough 10 filled with washing water which will also be supplied to the appropriate spray 23.

In a modification, the upper rollers 25 never make nip contact with the lower rollers 24 but in the operational position or configuration are spaced above the lower rollers 24 at a height which ensures that the fabric F is caused to pass through the caustic soda solution 12.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in batch mercerising fabric, the apparatus comprising an impregnation trough adapted to be arranged between fabric take-off and take-up reels and having an associated squeezing nip intermediate its ends and, between each of the latter and the squeezing nip, an assembly of guide rollers adapted, in an operational position, to constrain fabric to pass through caustic soda solution in the immersion trough, and means for causing the assembly of guide rollers to take up a non-operational position downstream of the squeezing nip in terms of the direction of fabric passage through the immersion trough.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each assembly of guide rollers comprises upper and lower rollers defining a sinuous path for the fabric, the lower rollers being fixed in position within the immersion trough below the level of caustic soda solution and the upper rollers being movable upwardly relative to the lower rollers from the operational position to the non-operational position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the upper rollers form nips with the lower rollers in the operational position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the upper rollers, in the operational position, are spaced above the lower rollers a distance predetermined to ensure passage of the fabric through the caustic soda solution.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one claims 2 to 4, in which the upper rollers of each guide roller assembly are rotatably supported in a carrier which is movable vertically by a screw arrangement, a fluid ram or any other convenient adjusting means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the upper rollers of each guide roller assembly are rotatably supported in a carrier manually adjustable vertically in guides, means being provided to lock the carrier in adjusted position

7. Apparatus for use in batch mercerising fabric, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 used as a fabric washing machine in which the immersion trough is adapted to contain washing water instead of caustic soda solution.