GB2373255A

GB2373255A - Jet dyeing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2373255A
Application number: GB0106267A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tak Ming William Tsui; Sou Lam Fong
Original assignee: Falmer Investments Ltd
Current assignee: Falmer Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-14
Filing date: 2001-03-14
Publication date: 2002-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-14
Also published as: GB0106267D0; CN1374418A; GB2373255B; CN1221700C

Abstract

A jet dyeing machine for and method of dyeing a fabric rope, the jet dyeing machine comprising: a fabric chamber 6 through which a fabric rope 12 is in use drawn; a first driven roller 14 for drawing the fabric rope from the fabric chamber 6; a fluid nozzle assembly 18 downstream of the first driven roller 14 for applying dye liquor 4 to the fabric rope 12; and a second driven roller 28 downstream of the fluid nozzle assembly 18 for drawing the fabric rope 12 from the same.

Description

JET DYEING MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF DYEING A FABRIC ROPE The present invention relates to a jet dyeing machine for and a method of dyeing a fabric rope.

Fabric rope is a width of fabric that is compressed and twisted into a rope-like section. Dye liquor or dye stuff is a mixture of water and dye chemicals which together form a water-based solution.

A jet dyeing machine is used for dyeing batches of fabric rope. The term jet refers to the device that provides some of the motive force for propelling a fabric rope. The same jet may also be used to inject dye liquor onto and into a fabric rope. The term dyeing refers to the process by which dye is introduced onto and into the fibres of a fabric rope. A fluid nozzle is a device that injects fluid, particularly dye liquor, at a high velocity uniformly around the circumference and into the body of a moving fabric rope. A driven roller is a rotating cylindrical open cage with an outside contacting surface composed of evenly spaced rectangular sections disposed around the perimeter thereof. A fabric rope is wrapped around this roller while an external device provides continuous rotation. A free roller is a component where rotation is provided by the friction of a fabric rope on passing thereover. An air jet is a nozzle where air is injected at a high velocity uniformly around the circumference and into the body of a moving fabric rope. A disengaging device is a device that promotes the removal of excess dye liquor from a fabric rope. A collector is a device and/or assembly that collects unused dye liquor after being sprayed onto a moving fabric rope. The collector also channels dye liquor from a disengaging device and directs this dye liquor to a central channel. The collected dye liquor is directed to a pump and recycled. A fabric chamber is a metal container with perforated holes that contains plaited fabric rope, often submerged in dye liquor. The fabric chamber is a separate container that is supported off the bottom of a main pressure vessel body.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved jet dyeing machine for and method of dyeing a fabric rope.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a jet dyeing machine for dyeing a fabric rope, comprising : a fabric chamber through which a fabric rope is in use drawn ; a first driven roller for drawing the fabric rope from the fabric chamber; a fluid nozzle assembly downstream of the first driven roller for applying dye liquor to the fabric rope; and a second driven roller downstream of the fluid nozzle assembly for drawing the fabric rope from the same.

Preferably, the fluid nozzle assembly includes at least one fluid nozzle for applying dye liquor to the fabric rope.

More preferably, the at least one fluid nozzle is configured to apply dye liquor to the fabric rope in the direction of travel of the same.

Preferably, the fluid nozzle assembly includes first and second fluid nozzles.

More preferably, the fluid nozzle assembly includes a roller located between the first and second fluid nozzles.

Yet more preferably, the first and second fluid nozzles are substantially vertically directed.

Preferably, the fluid nozzle assembly includes a fabric trough for containing dye liquor, through which fabric trough the fabric rope is in use drawn.

Preferably, the second driven roller is located at a vertical height above the first driven roller.

More preferably, the first driven roller is located at a vertical height intermediate the fabric chamber and the second driven roller.

Preferably, the dyeing machine further comprises an air jet downstream of the second t : l i driven roller for applying an air flow to the fabric rope in the direction of travel of the same.

Preferably, the dyeing machine further comprises a disengaging section downstream of the second driven roller for separating excess dye liquor from and plaiting the fabric rope.

The present invention also provides a method of dyeing a fabric rope, comprising the steps of : drawing a fabric rope from a fabric chamber using a first driven roller; and drawing the fabric rope from a fluid nozzle assembly downstream of the first driven roller using a second driven roller, the fluid nozzle assembly applying dye liquor to the fabric rope.

Preferably, the fluid nozzle assembly includes at least one fluid nozzle which applies dye liquor to the fabric rope.

More preferably, the at least one fluid nozzle applies dye liquor to the fabric rope in the direction of travel of the same.

Preferably, the fluid nozzle assembly includes first and second fluid nozzles.

Preferably, the fluid nozzle assembly includes a fabric trough which contains dye liquor and through which the fabric rope is drawn.

Preferably, the second driven roller is located at a vertical height above the first driven roller. More preferably, the first driven roller is located at a vertical height intermediate the fabric chamber and the second driven roller.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of : applying an air flow to the fabric rope in the direction of travel of the same and downstream of the second driven roller.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of : separating excess dye liquor from the fabric rope downstream of the fluid nozzle assembly; and plaiting the fabric rope at the inlet to the fabric chamber.

In such a jet dyeing machine and dyeing method, the process of dyeing is facilitated by the transfer of dye liquor to the interior of the fabric rope. Some important considerations are: (i) to maximise the speed of the fabric rope which translates to increased capacity; (ii) the ability to handle a wide range of fabrics without causing adverse friction or tension effects which may effect the fabric finish and appearance; and (iii) to reduce the working volume of the dye liquor. As chemicals must be added to the dye liquor, and the dye liquor has to be heated and cooled during the dyeing process, the less dye liquor employed, the less chemicals are required, and the less heat that has to be introduced.

Capacity can be increased by increasing the linear speed of the fabric rope. This is possible by the combined effect of an air jet and the fluid nozzle assembly. The air jet is able to drive the fabric rope at a much higher speed than a conventional liquid jet.

It is also possible to reduce the tension and other surface effects on the fabric rope.

The fabric rope is drawn up to the air jet in two stages, thus avoiding over tensioning the fabric rope as would occur when employing a single, large vertical elevation.

Furthermore, by the provision of a fabric trough which separately contains dye liquor and through which the fabric rope is drawn, the volume of dye liquor required in the reservoir of the dyeing vessel is reduced.

The present invention has two particularly advantageous features, namely a continuously moving fabric rope and a continuously circulating dye liquor.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described hereinbelow by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing (Figure 1) which schematically illustrates a jet dyeing machine in accordance a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The jet dyeing machine includes a dyeing vessel 2 which provides a reservoir in which dye liquor 4 collects, a fabric chamber 6, in this embodiment a U-shaped channel, which includes an inlet 8 and an outlet 10 and through which a plaited fabric rope 12 is guided, and a first driven roller 14 which is located at the outlet 10 of the fabric chamber 6 and acts to draw the fabric rope 12 therethrough.

The dyeing vessel 2 includes a circulation pump 16 for pumping dye liquor 4 which collects therein to a fluid nozzle assembly 18 as will be described in more detail hereinbelow. In this embodiment the dyeing vessel 2 also includes a heat exchanger, through which the dye liquor 4 is pumped, in being pumped to the fluid nozzle assembly 18.

The fabric chamber 6 holds a majority of the fabric load, and acts as a buffer, through which the fabric rope 12 is slowly transported.

The jet dyeing machine further includes a fluid nozzle assembly 18 which is located downstream of the driven roller 14 and through which the fabric rope 12 is drawn.

The fluid nozzle assembly 18 includes a fabric trough 20 which collects and contains dye liquor 4, and a free roller 22 which is at least partially immersed in the dye liquor

4 and over which the fabric rope 12 is drawn such that the fabric rope 12 passes through the dye liquor 4. The fabric trough 20 is configured to maintain a predetermined level of dye liquor 4 therein, in this embodiment a level which semi immerses the free roller 22, with the excess dye liquor 4 collected therein over flowing into the reservoir of the dyeing vessel 2.

The fluid nozzle assembly 18 further includes a first fluid nozzle 24 which is located at the infeed side of the free roller 22 and acts to apply dye liquor 4, in this embodiment as liquid jets, onto and into the fabric rope 12. The first fluid nozzle 24 is supplied with dye liquor 4 from the reservoir of the dyeing vessel 2 by the circulation pump 16.

In this embodiment the first fluid nozzle 24 applies dye liquor 4 downwardly, that is, in the direction of travel of the fabric rope 12, and thereby also acts in part to draw the fabric rope 12 from the fabric chamber 6.

The fluid nozzle assembly 18 further includes a second fluid nozzle 26 which is located at the outfeed side of the free roller 22 and acts to apply dye liquor 4, in this embodiment as liquid jets, onto and into the fabric rope 12. The second fluid nozzle 26 is supplied with dye liquor 4 from the reservoir of the dyeing vessel 2 by the circulation pump 16. In this embodiment the second fluid nozzle 26 applies dye liquor 4 upwardly, that is, in the direction of travel of the fabric rope 12, and thereby acts in part to draw the fabric rope 12 over the free roller 22. This configuration, in applying dye liquor 4 separately to the fabric rope 12 through first and second fluid nozzles 24, 26 and also allowing for the residence of the fabric rope 12 in the dye liquor 4 contained in the fabric trough 20, provides for a more even dyeing of the fabric rope 12.

The jet dyeing machine further includes a second driven roller 28 which is located downstream of the fluid nozzle assembly 18 and in part acts to draw to the fabric rope 12 through the fluid nozzle assembly 18, and an air jet 30 which is located downstream of the second driven roller 28 and acts to propel the fabric rope 12.

The second driven roller 28 is located at a vertical height which is above the first driven roller 14. In this embodiment the first driven roller 14 is located at a vertical height intermediate the fabric chamber 6 and the second driven roller 28. This configuration advantageously provides that the fabric rope 12 is drawn from the

bottom of the fabric chamber 6 in two stages, which two-stage configuration reduces : zl ZD the tension effect on the fabric rope 12 as compared to that which would be experienced if the fabric rope 12 were to be drawn directly in a single stage from the fabric chamber 6 to a vertical height sufficient to return the fabric rope 12 to the inlet 8 of the fabric chamber 6.

The air jet 30 acts to apply a motive force to the fabric rope 12 in the direction of travel. This motive force acts to increase the frictional force between the fabric rope 12 and the second driven roller 28, and enables the fabric rope 12 to be driven at substantially the same speed as the second driven roller 28, with minimal slippage.

The jet dyeing machine further includes a disengaging device 32 which acts to separate excess dye liquor 4 from the fabric rope 12 and plait the fabric rope 12 at the inlet 8 to the fabric chamber 6. In this embodiment the disengaging device 32 separates excess dye liquor 4 from the fabric rope 12 by shaking the same, and plaits the fabric rope 12 by moving the same from side-to-side relative to the direction of travel.

In use, the jet dyeing machine is first loaded with many hundreds of metres of fabric rope 12. The two ends of the fabric rope 12 are joined to form an endless loop which is continuously circulated inside the jet dyeing machine. The fabric rope 12 is drawn from the fabric chamber 6 by the first driven roller 14, and passes through the first, downward fluid nozzle 24 of the fluid nozzle assembly 18 into the dye liquor 4 contained in the fabric trough 20. The fabric rope 12 is then drawn around the free roller 22 and through the second, upward fluid nozzle 26 of the fluid nozzle assembly 18 by the second driven roller 28, with the air jet 30 applying a motive force to the fabric rope 12 and increasing the frictional contact with the second driven roller 28. The fabric rope 12 then passes through the disengaging device 32 which acts to

separate excess dye liquor 4 from the fabric rope 12 and plait the same on entry into the fabric chamber 6. As mentioned hereinabove, the present invention provides for a more even dyeing of the fabric rope 12. If the fabric rope 12 were to contact the dye liquor 4 only once while in the fabric chamber 6, then the dyeing would be more uneven and much slower. Fibres on the external surface of the fabric rope 12 that are contacted first are exposed to the most concentrated dye liquor 4. If the dye liquor 4 is permitted to strike the outside of the fabric rope 12 only, it may take a long time for the concentration level to equilibrate in the mass of the fibres. This equilibration will eventually be achieved by a process referred to as migration, whereby dye in the more concentrated regions tends to transfer back into the dye liquor 4 as the concentration of the dye liquor 4 decreases, and thus be transferred to the fibres which have absorbed lower amounts of dye.

Temperature is a driving force by which many dye stuffs are absorbed into fibre molecules. Raising the temperature, while accelerating the dyeing process, may also increase initial unevenness, which will increase the amount of migration needed to bring the fibres back to a level basis. The time required for migration is many times greater than the time required for a mere application phase, and it is clearly advantageous to take steps to reduce the need for migration by providing conditions to encourage the dye liquor to strike as evenly as possible.

Finally, it will be understood that the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiment and can be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A jet dyeing machine for dyeing a fabric rope, comprising : a fabric chamber through which a fabric rope is in use drawn; a first driven roller for drawing the fabric rope from the fabric chamber; a fluid nozzle assembly downstream of the first driven roller for applying dye liquor to the fabric rope; and a second driven roller downstream of the fluid nozzle assembly for drawing the fabric rope from the same.
2. The dyeing machine of claim 1, wherein the fluid nozzle assembly includes at least one fluid nozzle for applying dye liquor to the fabric rope.
3. The dyeing machine of claim 2, wherein the at least one fluid nozzle is configured to apply dye liquor to the fabric rope in the direction of travel of the same.
4. The dyeing machine of claim 2 or 3, wherein the fluid nozzle assembly includes first and second fluid nozzles.
5. The dyeing machine of claim 4, wherein the fluid nozzle assembly includes a roller located between the first and second fluid nozzles.
6. The dyeing machine of claim 5, wherein the first and second fluid nozzles are substantially vertically directed.
7. The dyeing machine of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fluid nozzle assembly includes a fabric trough for containing dye liquor, through which fabric trough the fabric rope is in use drawn.
8. The dyeing machine of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second driven roller is located at a vertical height above the first driven roller.
9. The dyeing machine of claim 8, wherein the first driven roller is located at a vertical height intermediate the fabric chamber and the second driven roller.
10. The dyeing machine of any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising an air jet downstream of the second driven roller for applying an air flow to the fabric rope in the direction of travel of the same.
11. The dyeing machine of any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a disengaging section downstream of the second driven roller for separating excess dye liquor from and plaiting the fabric rope.
12. A method of dyeing a fabric rope, comprising the steps of : drawing a fabric rope from a fabric chamber using a first driven roller; and drawing the fabric rope from a fluid nozzle assembly downstream of the first driven roller using a second driven roller, the fluid nozzle assembly applying dye liquor to the fabric rope.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid nozzle assembly includes at least one fluid nozzle which applies dye liquor to the fabric rope.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one fluid nozzle applies dye liquor to the fabric rope in the direction of travel of the same.
15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the fluid nozzle assembly includes first and second fluid nozzles.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid nozzle assembly includes a roller located between the first and second fluid nozzles.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second fluid nozzles are substantially vertically directed.
18. The method of any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the fluid nozzle assembly includes a fabric trough which contains dye liquor and through which the fabric rope is drawn.
19. The method of any of claims 12 to 18, wherein the second driven roller is located at a vertical height above the first driven roller.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first driven roller is located at a vertical height intermediate the fabric chamber and the second driven roller.
21. The method of any of claims 12 to 20, further comprising the step of : applying an air flow to the fabric rope in the direction of travel of the same and downstream of the second driven roller.
22. The method of any of claims 12 to 21, further comprising the steps of : separating excess dye liquor from the fabric rope downstream of the fluid nozzle assembly; and plaiting the fabric rope at the inlet to the fabric chamber.
23. A jet dyeing machine for dyeing a fabric rope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
24. A method of dyeing a fabric rope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.