IE46452B1 - Applicator for crease-setting compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

Pourable liquid mass is stored in a store (11). The store (11) has a mouthpiece (12) and a longitudinally displaceable piston (50). There is, furthermore, a rotatable member (46) which is aligned with the mouthpiece (12). The piston (50) is arranged on a threaded rod (38). The rotatable member (46) is connected to the threaded rod (38) by means of a worm drive. During use, the rotatable member (46) is laid on to the surface of the textile article, and the apparatus is displaced along the permanent pressed crease to be formed. The rotatable member (46) thus rotates and displaces the piston (50), so that the pourable mass is expressed. The store (11) is disposable. The apparatus allows a uniform dispensing of the quantity of pourable mass per unit length of the pressed crease and is simple and cheap to produce.

Description

This invention relates to the forming of durable creases and to an applicator for crease-setting compositions.

In British Patent Specifioation No. 1,472,852 we disclose a method of forming a durable crease in a textile article in which a temporary crease is formed in the article, a rotary applicator is supplied with a liquid adhesive composition that sets to a solid insoluble in water and dry-cleaning solvents, and the applicator is guided along the temporary creases to deposit a line of the liquid composition in the apex of the crease before final hot pressing.

According to the present invention there is provided an applicator for depositing a crease-setting composition on the line of an intended crease in a textile fabric or garment, the applicator comprising a reservoir for such cbmposition, or means for attachment of such a reservoir, a nozzle connected or connectable to the reservoir, a rotatable member mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the line between the nozzle and the member and having a pair of flanges disposed on opposite sides of the said line so as to be engageable with the fabric or garment surface on both sides of the crease line and rotatable by relative movement between the surface and the applicator, and means responsive to rotation of the member to urge - 3 the composition from the reservoir through the nozzle.

Preferably the setting composition is a natural or synthetic material casting compound which sets or cures to a flexible, rubbery substance insoluble in water or dry-cleaning solvents. Advantageously, the amount of compound used is sufficient to fill the apex of the crease to a depth of from 1/4 to 2 millimetres, preferably about 1 mm. Much more than this will produce creases the appearance of which resembles the sewn-in creases sometimes employed with jersey fabric trousers; much less and the 'casting' effect will be insufficient. The compound may be a curable latex or a curable thiol, polyurethane or silicone rubber, preferably the latter.

The silicone compositions which it is preferred to apply in the process of the invention are those which cure to a soft, flexible, insoluble rubber-like material. Such compounds are commercially available for a number of end-uses, e.g. as caulking compounds. Particularly useful compounds are available under the trades marks Silastic RTU (Dow Corning) or Silcoset 151,152 and 153 (ICI). The curing of such compounds is believed to be in the nature of a chemical crosslinking and is therefore irreversible.

The curing takes place at room temperature and it is preferred to keep the textile article folded flat along the crease line for the duration of the curing period.

It has been found that the amount of such casting compound required is greater than the amount of adhesive used in the process of British Patent Specification No. 1,472,852 but the properties of the compound are such that durable and aestnetically pleasing creases can be obtained without a final pressing step.

In the applicaLor of this invention, the rotatable member engages the textile article on either 46453 - 4 side of the crease line, having for example the form of a pulley, whereby the nozzle may be guided in the apex of the preformed crease. To this end the nozzle is preferably of non-circular cross-section particularly towards its dispensing extremity, and may advantageously be formed as a slit orientated in a direction transverse to that of the rotational axis of the member and thus in the direction of the said line. The speed of rotation of the member determines the rates of egress of fluid from the nozzle, and accordingly the amount of compound deposited in the crease (measured for example in g/m) is independent of the speed of passage of the apparatus along the crease.

The reservoir is preferably a replaceable throwaway' cartridge and may conveniently be a moulded plastics material hypodermic syringe body. Such bodies are available commercially in large numbers and are therefore very inexpensive.

In this case the nozzle may be adapted from, or fitted to, the nozzle already formed in the syringe body.

The means responsive to rotation of the member preferably comprises a worm gear arrangement designed to urge a piston into the reservoir as the member rotates. In order that the nozzle should not ooze fluid after use owing to excess pressure existing within the reservoir, means for retracting the piston a small way may be provided which can be operated at the end of each run. Complementary means for inducing an initial pressure in the reservoir at the beginning of each run may.also be provided.

While the dispensing apparatus of the invention will find its greatest use in performing the process described herein, it is not so limited, and may be used for any purpose where it is desired to apply a line of 6 4 5 2 - 5 fluid of controlled density.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used with advantage with the guiding system described in British Patent Specification No. 1580192 comprising a surface having a channel contoured to receive the crease of a pre-creased textile article whereby the article can be supported and contained in the area of the crease during application of adhesive.

The textile articles to be durably creased may be in the form of garments, e.g. pleated skirts, or trousers. The fabrics or garments may be made of any fibre or blend of fibres, natural or synthetic, but it is envisaged that the process will be principally applicable to the non-heat-settable natural fibres, e.g. cellulosics and keratinous fibres, and especially wool.

The fabrics or garments may be woven, knitted or nonwoven. The invention is particularly useful with fabric constructions, e.g. knitted structures, in which it has hitherto been difficult to form a durable crease.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an applicator or dispensing apparatus according to this invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the dispensing apparatus taken in the direction IX in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the dispensing apparatus taken in the direction III in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing further details; and Figure 5 is a cross section through the dispensing apparatus used in combination with the grooved garment support and guide apparatus of British Patent Specification No. 1580192. 45 2 - 6 As shown in the drawings, the dispensing apparatus 10 comprises a reservoir 11 in the form of a moulded plastics hypodermic syringe body having a nozzle 12. The nozzle 12 is threaded and screwed onto it is a fishtail nozzle-end 14 which, as can be seen from Figure 2, is flat and presents a slot-shaped exit for the contents of the reservoir 11. Where the reservoir has a different form, for example, with an axial terminal nozzle as more usual with hypodermic syringe bodies, the shape of the nozzle 12, and more especially its length and angularity, may be modified accordingly.

The reservoir 11 is push-fitted or screwed onto a shaped plastics block 16. The block may be adapted for fitting to any suitable form of reservoir. A second plastics block 18 is a sliding fit in a cylindrical recess in the block 16 and is biassed outwardly by a compression spring 20. A metal cover 22 pivotally attached to the block 16 by a pin 24 holds the second block 18 in place by trapping pegs 26 which extend from the second block 18, in recessed portions 28 of the cover 22. The shape of the recessed portions 28 is such that the pegs 26 will normally locate in their lowest corners unless the cover is pivoted downwardly, when the pegs will ride up the adjacent inclined surfaces 32 and urge the second block 18 further into the recess in the block 16.

The second block 18 is formed with a recess 34 which carries an internally threaded and externally toothed gear wheel 36. A threaded rod 38 is engaged with the internal thread of the gear Wheel 36, while the latter engages externally a worm drive 40 which forms part of a rotatable member 42 having two outer flanges 46 and two inner rubber surfaces 48. Thus when the member 42 is rotated the gear wheel 36 is rotated and the rod 38 moves axially, relative to the 6 4 {j 3 block 18.

At the extremity of the rod 38, within the reservoir 11, is a tightly slidably fitted seal 50 carried on a former 52, constituting a piston designed to sweep the contents of the reservoir 11 towards the nozzle 12.

In use the reservoir 11 is filled with fluids, for example a curable silicone rubber compound, and the block 16 fitted thereto with the threaded rod and seal assembly screwed up close to the block. On engaging the rotatable member 42 with the surface to which the fluid is to be applied, or a surface adjacent thereto, the cover 22 is depressed into contact with the second block 18, forcing the peg 26 up the inclined surfaces 32 to the position shown in Figure 1 and slightly pressurising the fluid in the reservoir, so bringing it to the orifice of the nozzle. The nozzle is positioned as desired and the apparatus moved by rolling on the rotatable member 42, which revolves and thus drives the threaded rod 38 and the seal 50 through the reservoir, expressing fluid from the nozzle-end 14 in an amount proportional to the speed of rotation of the member 42. When the desired line of fluid has been laid the apparatus is lifted from the surface and the pressure on the cover 22 released. The spring 20 acting through the second block 18 and pegs 26 forces the latter down the surfaces 32 to the lowest corners of the recesses 30, causing the rod 38 and seal 50 to withdraw slightly and depressurise the reservoir 11 and thereby preventing unwanted oozing of fluid from the nozzle end 14.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, a knurled knob may be provided on the end of the rod 38 to assist the operative in pre-loading the piston when a new adhesive cartridge (i.e. reservoir 11) is fitted to the operating mechanism. Θ4 5 2 - 8 The apparatus of the invention is particularly useful for performing the creasing process described herein, especially in conjunction with the grooved garment support and guide apparatus with which it is specifically designed to cooperate. Figure 5 shows the combination in use, with a grooved support arm 54 supporting a trouser leg 56, turned inside out, which bears a temporary crease 58 and is engaged by the apparatus 10. The flanges 46 of the rotatable member 42 fit on either side of the upper part of the support arm 54, and the rubber surfaces 48 rest on the trouser fabric on either side of the crease line 58. The worm drive 40 is thus held clear of the fabric. The nozzle end 14 can be directed right into the apex of the crease to give a very accurate application of silicon compound to the pre-creased trousers, which are then removed from the arm 54, turned right way out, and laid flat to allow the compound to cure.

Trousers so treated have creases of good appear20 ance, durable to wear, dry-cleaning and washing.

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS;1. An applicator for depositing a creasesetting composition on the line of an intended crease in a textile fabric or garment, the applicator comprising a reservoir for such composition, or means for attachment of such a reservoir, a nozzle connected or connectable to the reservoir, a rotatable member mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the line between the nozzle and the member and having a pair of flanges disposed on opposite sides of the said line so as to be engageable with the fabric or garment surface on both sides of the crease line and rotatable by relative movement between the surface and the applicator, and means responsive to rotation of the member to urge the composition from the reservoir through the nozzle.

2. Apparatus according'to claim 1 wherein the nozzle terminates in a slit orientated in the direction of the said line.

3. ' Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the reservoir is detachable from the nozzle and from the rotatable member and means responsive thereto.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the responsive means comprises a piston arranged to be advanced through the reservoir by rotation of the rotatable member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the piston and the rotatable member are mounted on a base detachably secured to an open end of the reservoir and the nozzle is detachably secured to an opening provided at the opposite end of the reservoir. 4

6. 4 5 2 - ίο 6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5 in combination with a guide or former for the fabric or garment, the said guide having a channel contoured to receive a temporary crease in the article, and the 5 flanges of the rotatable member engaging the surface of the fabric or garment on the guide on both sides of the channel.

7. An apparatus for crease-setting composition substantially as described herein with reference to the

8. 10 accompanying drawings.