GB940783A - Process and apparatus for the continuous treatment of webs of loose fibres and materials of a fibrous nature - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for the continuous treatment of webs of loose fibres or materials of a fibrous nature comprises means for conveying the material through a bath of organic solvent, means for imparting high frequency vibration to the organic solvent, means for spraying the material with solvent over a container, means for applying suction or pressure to the material to partially remove the solvent, and means for impinging hot air on to the material to remove the remainder of the solvent. Subsequent to removing the solvent, the material may be further treated as for example by heating, sizing, drying or finishing the material and dressing the material with a synthetic resin or other impregnating medium and if desired, cutting, printing, backing or lining the web. Loose fibres such as animal or vegetable fibres or materials of a fibrous nature such as cellulose, leather or wood may be conveyed between two superposed permeable bands e.g. of wire gauze. The organic solvent may be trichlorethylene, or perchlorethylene used either as a hot or cold bath. High frequency vibrations in the bath may be caused by ultrasonic transducers, quartz (piezoelectric) transmitters, and magneto-strictive transmitters. The bath may contain treating materials dissolved in the organic solvent e.g. polymers of synthetic materials, synthetic resins, chlorinated rubber, finishing or dressing materials, silicone rubber, and media for combating bacteria, insects or rotting. When solvent is removed from the web or fibres by suction, there may be provided a suction opening formed by overlapping surfaces of adjustable width, the width of the opening in relation to the width of the web being controlled by use of a photoelectric cell.