GB369910A - Improved method of and apparatus for coating fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

369,910. Coating fabrics ; pile fabrics. COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION, 51st Avenue, Philadelphia, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Drobile, A. W. ; Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) Sept. 23, 1930, No. 28476. Convention date, March 7. [Class 140.] In a method of and apparatus for coating and permeating fabric with fluid coating material, applicable for instance to coating the reverse side of pile fabric to secure loosely attached pile threads, the fabric is passed beneath and in contact with a blade having a groove wherein the coating material is partially confined and given a swirling motion by the movement of the fabric, the forward edge of the groove not being in contact with the fabric. The fabric is supported during coating by means passing between the cut pile, for example, by rollers covered with card clothing. Loose pile is removed by a brush or other means, and the backing fabric may be humidified before coating. The loosely woven pile fabric is first passed through a humidifier 7, Fig. 3, where it is moistened by steam from a cylinder 9. Thence it passes over a roller 6 to a rotating brush 13 which acts on the back of the fabric and removes any loose pile projecting from the backing. The fabric then passes under the roller 12 and over a roller 15 having wires or teeth projecting therefrom. The wires pass between the pile threads and hold the backing fabric away from the surface of the roller. The wirs project at an angle to the surface of the roller so as to point in the opposite direction to the movement of the fabric, and the roller is provided with an adjustable brake so that the fabric may be put under tension by being drawn through the apparatus by a driven roller 22 similar to the roller 15, but with the wires projecting in the opposite direction. The fabric is held against the rollers 15, 22 by rollers 30, 31, 32, which also press into close contact with the backing any pile loops disturbed in the apparatus. The coating blade 38 bears on the fabric between the rollers 15, 22. The blade 38, Fig. 3a, is formed at its lower edge with an arcuate groove 38a with lips 38b and 38c. The lip 38b on the forward side of the blade does not come into contact with the fabric, but the lip or edge 38c, which is formed with a bevelled rear edge 38d scrapes excess coating material from the fabric. The coating material is supplied from a reservoir 35, Fig. 3, through cocks 36 and flows down a plate 37 to the blade 38. The movement of the fabric causes the liquid partially confined in the groove to swirl therein so that the liquid is forced into the pores of the fabric. The reservoir and blade unit is angularly and vertically adjustable. Excess coating liquid scraped off by the blade 38 is caught in a drip pan 50 from which it is discharged into a pail 52. Alternatively, the drip pan 50 may discharge into a tank from which the liquid is returned to the supply tank by air pressure applied automatically by electrically operated valves as soon as the level in the discharge tank rises to a predetermined extent. The coated fabric passes from the coating apparatus over a card clothing roller 76, Fig. 1, to pin chains which engage the selvedge of the fabric and carry it over the rollers 77 of an enclosed drier 78. The driving shaft of the drier is connected by gearing and shafting 83 to the driving shaft of the coating apparatus. The method and apparatus are particularly adapted for coating pile fabric with an aqueous dispersion of rubber, either natural latex or an artificial dispersion. Suitable vulcanizing agents, accelerators and fillers may be mixed therewith.