IL33472A - Tensionless fluid treating apparatus and method for textile webs - Google Patents

Description

.πη»ηη na'aa o' »eo3Ba ne*m jpnn Tensionless fluid treating apparatus and aethod for textile vebe.

Jonathan Logan, Inc. 3347^2 In the finishing of web Materials and particularly certain types of fabrics* It is nomal practice to subject such fabrioa to a fluid treatment, such as scouring and water washing processes and/or dry cleaning processes wherein an organic solvent is applied to restore grease or the like from the fabric, and a drying process wherein liquids regaining in the fabrio are removed therefrom. It is well known that during such finishing processes, aoet textile fabrics shrink as a rceult of many factors Including the relaxation of tension iaposed on the fabric during the manufacturing operation.

Conventional fluid treatment processes and particularly those whioh fluid treat the textile fabrio in an open-width condition almost universally apply undesirable tensional forces to the textile fabrio during the fluid treatment.

These toneional forces are undesirable beoause they frequently stretch the fabrio or at le s substantially reduoe the ability of the fabrio to shrink during fluid treatment and thereby increase the likelihood that the fabrio will shrink at some later time, as when a garment or other article made from the fabric is laundered or dry cleaned. Such residual shrinkage has been a particularly acute problem with fabrics having high sretohability when wet, such as knit fabrios.

It has previously been proposed, in British Patent Ho. 632,975» that oloth be dyed by feeding it continuously in open width between two endless bands while dye liquor is projected downwardly against the cloth from above, collected below the cloth and recirculated by a pump. SMB. prior apparatus and method has disadvantages, as compared with the 33472/2 method and apparatus of this invention, in that the fabric is restrained between the opposing belts and is not entirely free to move, thereby Introducing the possibility of the imposition of tension on the fabrlo* This possibility is made more certain by the impingement of sprayed dye liquor upon the upper face only of the fabric, thereby tending to force the fabric downwardly against the underlying band and mat or distort the fabrlo* With the foregoing in mind* It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of and apparatus for fluid treating textile fabrlo wherein a substantially continuous or very long running length of textile fabrlo Is subjected to in fluid treatment while/a substantially tension-free condition and wherein the textile fabrlo is aaintalnsd In a substantially tensionless state throughout the fluid treatment so that no appreciable tensional forces are applied thereto during fluid treatment so the textile fabrlo is not stretched and may freely shrink.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for fluid treating a textile fabric where in the fabric is passed through a fluid treating zone by a foraminous supporting surface in a substantially undulating path of travel while both faces of the fabric are being sprayed with fluid and wherein the fabric is maintained in a substantially tensionless state and with any given portion thereof only intermittently engaging the supporting surface whereby shrinkage of the fabric is not retarded and no appreciable tensional forces are applied thereto during the fluid treatment.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which - - Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a first form of apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, of a second form of apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view through the apparatus of Figure 1, taken similarly to Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a view of the apparatus of F igure 2, taken similarly to Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view, partly broken away and in section, of the first form of apparatus in accordance with the present invention, taken generally as indicated by the line 5-5 in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a schematic elevation view, in section, through the apparatus of Figure 5, taken generally as indicated by the line 6-6 in that Figure; and Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of a spray nozzle as incorporated in Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be noted that a first form of apparatus in accordance with the present invention has been shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5 thio ugh 7, while a second form of apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figures 2 and 4. The following discuss ion will proceed first with reference to the apparatus of Figures 1, 3 and 5 through 7, with the distinctions of the apparatus 20 of Figures 2 and 4 be ing pointed out thereafter.

The first form of apparatus, generally indicated at 10, for fluid treating a running length of flexible web material in a substantially tension-free condition comprises a housing 11, including a pivotally mounted door member 12 closing the upper side of the housing 11 and providing for access into the interior of the housing when desired. The housing 11 encloses a fluid treatment zone, as po inted out more fully hereinafter, through which flexible web material such as textile fabric F (Figures 1 and 3) is advanced and in which the textile fabric is subjected to fluid treatment. In order to permit the introduction and removal of the textile web material F into and from the interior of the casing or housing 11, slot openings 14 and 15 are provided there in to serve respectively as an entrace and an exit for the material F.

Web material handling means are provided to advance web material such as the material F to and into the apparatus 10, and include a pair of overfeeding rollers 17 and 18 supported by standards 19 and 20 ris ing at the entrance side of the casing 11. The overfeeding rollers 17 and 18 are driven in rotation at a speed and in a manner discussed more fully hereinafte to pass web material therebetween and downwardly through the entrance slot 14 into the interior of the casing 11.

Textile mater ial F passing into the interior of the casing 11 is horizontally movable, foraminous supporting surface preferably defined by at least one endless belt member 21 (Figures 3 and 5). The endless belt member 21 is supported for movement along a predetermined closed path of travel by a pair of rollers 22 and 23 mounted within the casing 11 for rotation about parallel, spaced apart, horizontally extending axes. Inasmuch as the endless belt member 21 passes about both of the rollers 22 and 23, the belt member 21 is guided thereby for movement in a horizontal direction through a flu id treatment zone as pointed out more fully hereinafter.

Preferably, the material from which the belt 21 is formed is both flexible and foraminous or perforate, as by being a woven wire screening or the like. Being flexible in nature, the belt member 21 is supported in its travel by a plurality of secondary supporting rollers 25, 26 and 27 spaced within the closed path of travel defined by the belt 21 as the same encircles the principal supporting rollers 22 and 23. Preferably, two of the secondary support rollers 25 and 27 serve to insure that the upper reach of the closed path of travel of the belt member 21 defines a hor izontally moving foraminous supporting surface. By appropriate drive means, described more fully hereinafter, the belt 21 is driven at a predetermined rate less than and correlated to the linear surface speed of the overfeeding rollers 17 and 18, so as to receive the material F in a loose, substantially tension-free state.

In order to subject the m aterial F to a fluid treatment upon passage thereof through the volume enclosed by the casing 11, while maintaining the fabric in a substantially tension-free state, treating means are provided including a plurality of fluid spray nozzles 30, mounted upon spray header pipes 31 and supplied therethrough with fluid under pressure. The spray patterns of the nozzles 30 are directed by slot formed orifices 32 therein F i ure 7 releasin fluid in a fan-sha ed s ra . Each of the nozzles 30 is mounted Ln an associated header pipe 31 for rotational adjustment relative thereto (as indicated by the double-headed arrows on the nozzle 30 in Figure 7) thus permitting adjustment of the fan angle of fluid directed by the orifice 32 relative to the header pipe 31, or aiming of each nozzle relative to others in each group. Additionally, each of the header pipes 31 is supported in the casing 11 of the apparatus 10 for at least limited rotation (as indicated by the double-headed arrow on the pipe 31 in Figure 7) thereby permitting collective aiming of the spray patterns of each group of nozzles 30 relative to the sprays of the other groups.

The header pipes and nozzles are divided into first and second banks, positioned on opposite sides of the foraminous supporting surface defined by the upper horizontal reach of the path of travel of the belt 21. As so arranged the first bank of spray nozzles 30 are positioned above the foraminous supporting surface defined by the belt 21, and are positioned to direct flowing streams of treatment fluid downwardly onto the upper face of the fabric F passing thereover. The second bank of spray nozzles 30 are mounted below the supporting surface defined by the belt 21 and positioned to direct flowing streams of fluid upwardly through the foraminous surface for impingement on the lower face of the fabric F moving thereover.

In order to subject the web ma terial to fluid treatment while in a substantially tensionless condition, and in accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the flowing streams of fluid impinged on the upper and lower faces of the web material F are so balanced that the material F is buoyed thereby and floats above the supporting surface 21 without the imposition of any appreciable tensional force thereon. The force of impingement of fluid against the lower face of the material is at least sufficient to balance the downward forces of gravity and of fluid impinging on the upper With the material F floating in this manner, the engagement between the moving supporting surface provided by the belt 21 and the web material is only that sufficient to transport the material F through the fluid treatment zone wherein the flowing streams of fluid impinge thereon. A s to any given incremental length portion of the running length of material F, the engagement with the supporting surface is intermittent rather than continuous and, upon such intermittent engagement, the engagement is only transient in nature. P referably, treatment fluid is sprayed against the lower face of the material with sufficient force to move localized areas thereof out of engagement with the supporting surface and to cause the material to follow an undulating path of travel through the treatment zone.

In order to provide flowing streams of fluid under pressure to the first and second banks of nozzles 30, the header pipes 31 are operatively connected to a pumping system for circulating a treatment fluid, such as a liquid. In the instance of a liquid, liquid sprayed against the material F through the nozzles 30 drains to the lower portion of the housing 11, and is pumped from the hous ing 11 through a drain conduit 38 by a drain pump 39. The drain pump 39 delivers liquid to a surge tank 40, provided in order to insure an adquate supply of treatment to a spray pump 41. It is to be understood that the drain pump 39 and the spray pump 41 are powered in any appropriate manner, such as by independent electrical motors, and that additional appropriate accessory items may be interposed in the flow conduit 42 between the drain pump 39 and the surge tank 40 if desired. In particular, a filter ma be interposed in the conduit 42 should it be considered appropriate to filter the treatment fluid before the same is imp inged upon the material F. The spray pump 41 delivers treatment fluid under pressure to a main header pipe 44 (Figure 6) from which liquid is distributed to the header pipes 31 for 44 and the header pipes 31 to provide control over the force with which fluid impinges upon the upper and lower faces of the material F.

In order to heat treatment liquid employed in treatment of the material F, it is contemplated that heating coils 48 will be mounted within the casing 11 below the level of treatment liquid retained therein as a reservoir. The heating coils may be formed in any appropriate manner, such as by being fabricated from suitable pipe, and are supplied with a heating media from an appropriate source. In the schematically illustrated embodiment, the heating media provided is steam from a suitable steam source such as a boiler.

A fter passage of the web material through the fluid treatment zone defined by the opposed first and second banks of spray nozzles 30, the material is removed from the supporting surface defined by the belt 21 through the exit slot 15, by the provision of a set of lift-off rollers 34, 35, and 36. In similarity to the overfeeding rollers 17 and 18, the lift-off rollers 34, 35 and 36 are supported by appropriate standard means rising adjacent the casing 11. Upon leaving the apparatus 10, the fabr i c may be advanced to any subsequent processing step.

As discussed above, the engagement of any incremental length portion of the running length of material F with the supporting surface is intermittent rather than c ontinuous and, upon such intermittent engagement, the engagement is only transient in nature. This important feature of the present invention is accomplished in part by overfeeding the web material onto the supporting surface provided by the foraminous belt 21 with a linear speed relation which is at least sufficient to accommodate any shrinkage occurring upon subjection of the web material to the fluid treatment.

That is, the linear rate of speed at which material F is advanced by the belt 21. In order to provide such properly coordinated drive for the overfeeding rollers 17 and 18, the web material transport means including the belt 21, and the lift-off rollers 34, 35 and 36, it is contemplated that drive for the rotating elements of the apparatus 10 may be derived from a common motive power source, such as an electrical motor 50 (Figure 1). Rotational motive force originating with the motor 50 is transmitted to and applied to the various rotating elements through a drive train arrangement operatively connecting the rotating elements together.

In the illustrated embodiment, the drive train arrangement includes a plurality of endless flexible members 51, 52, 53 and 54 each supported for movement along a predetermined closed path of travel and each providing an operative interconnection between or among two or more sprocket members. Interposed in the drive train thus provided by the endless flexible members or chains are a plurality of adjustable transmission means 56, 57 and 58. By means of the variable transmissions, the linear speed ratios of the various rotating elements of the apparatus 10 may be adjusted in any desired manner. Preferably, the rate of overfeed of material F from the overfeeding rollers 17 and 18 onto the moving supporting surface provided by the foraminous belt 21 is at least sufficient to accommodate the highest shrinkage anticipated for the fabric being processed, and is obtained by driving the overfeeding rollers 17 and 18 at a higher linear surface speed than that at w hich the surface of the belt 21 is moving.

In instances where the time required to complete fluid treatment of a given material F may not be readily accommodated in an apparatus 10 as shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7, it is contemplated by the present invention that an extended dwell time may be obtained through the use of a second form of the apparatus of the present invention, generally indicated by the addition of prime notation to reference characters heretofore used with reference to the apparatus 10. The principal distinction between the first form of apparatus 10 and the second form of apparatus 20 lies in the enclosure, within the housing 11' of the apparatus 20, of a pair of endless flexible foraminous belt members 21' A and 21'B. With the provis ion of two belt members 21'A and 21'_B within a common housing 11, it is contemplated by the present invention that potential shrinkage of the material F passing therethrough may be accommodated by driving the pair of belt members in a predetermined ratio of linear speeds. That is, the material F is not only overfed onto the surface of the first belt 21' A but is overfed by that belt onto the surface of the next following belt 21'B. On movement with the second belt 21'B, the material F is subjected to fluid treatment in the manner discussed above. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the treatment fluid applied in the second zone is the same as that applied in the first zone through which the material is passed. By varying the overfeeding speeds, any possible degree of shrinkage occurring during the fluid treatment process may be fully accommodated.

In employing the first and second forms of the apparatus of the prese invention, it is anticipated that material being advanced from an apparatus of the first form, namely the apparatus 10, may then be supplied to an apparatus of the second form, namely an apparatus 20. Thus, a sequence of different fluid treatment processes may be successively applied to the same running length of material. A s a result, it is contemplated by the present invention that the full sequence of fluid treatment processes involved in a finishing operation for textile fabrics may be accommodated by passage of a running length of fabric through a succession or range of the apparatus in accordance w ith the present invention.

Claims (13)

1. A method of fluid treating a running length of textile web material in a substantially tension-free condition characterized in that the textile web material is overfed in a substantially tensionless condition onto a horizontally moving, foraminous supporting surface and is advanced through a fluid treatment zone while being maintained in its substantially tensionless condition and while treatment fluid is impinged against both the upper and lower faces of the web material and the treated textile web material is then removed from the moving supporting surface so that the web material is subjected to fluid treatment without imposition of any appreciable tensional forces thereon and while in a substantially tension-free state.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that treatment fluid impinges against the lower face of the web material with sufficient force to at least substantially balance the forces applied to the web material by the treatment fluid impinging agai nst the upper face thereof to prevent the web material from being matted against the supporting surface and to minimize tensional forces applied to the web material.

3. A method as claimed in either Claim 1 or 2 characterized in th treatment fluid impinges against the lower face of the textile web material with sufficient force to move localized areas of the web material out of engagement with the supporting surface so that any given portion of the web material only intermittently engages the supporting surface.

4. A method as claimed in either of Claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the web material is caused to follow an undulating path of travel throu the treatment zone with any given portion of the web material only intermittently engaging the supporting surface. - 10 -

5. 3 A aethod at claimed in any of Claiaa 1 to 4 characterised in that the fluid treataent to vhieh the veb aaterial ia subjected ia a liquid treataent and any excess liquid iapiaging against the fabric la collected and eontinoualy recirculated for spraying onto the fabric.

6. A aethod aa claiaed la any of Claiaa 1 to 5 characterised in that the veb material la overfed onto the Moving eupporting aur ace at a linear rata of speed aore than sufficient to conpeneate far any shrinkage of the veb aatarial occurlag during the fluid treataent.

7. · A aethod aa claiaed in any of Claiaa 1 to 6 characterised in that the veb aatarial ia overfed froa a first hori- sontally aoving eupporting surface onto a second horizontally aoving foraaiaoua aurface and la advanced through a second fluid treataent aona while treataent fluid ia lapingad againat bath the upper and lover faeaa of the veb aatarial and vhile tha veb aatarial ia eauaed to follow aa undulating path of travel through the second treatnent soaa with any given portion of the vab aaterial only Intermittently engaging the second supporting surface.

8. A aethod as claiaed ia Claia 7 characterised in that the fluid ia iaged onto the vab aaterial in tha second fluid treataent soaa ia of tha saae type aa the fluid lapingad onto the vab aatarial ia the first luid treataent sone.

9. . A aratus for carrying out the aethod as c1*iaed ia any of Clalaa 1 to 8 characterised by a driven, horizon- tally aovable, foraaiaous supporting surface extending through a fluid treatment sone, a roller for advanoing veb Material to aaid transporting aeans and for OTerfeeding the veb aa e ial ia a substantially teaslonless coaditioa onto the supporting surface for transport through the treatment zone, and nossles for iapinging treataent fluid against both the upper and lover faoes of the overfed veb aaterial passing through the treataent soae, so that the veb aaterial is subjected to fluid treataent vithout iaposit^ion of any appreciable tensional force and vhile ia a substantially tension-free state.

10. Apparatus as clalaed ia Claia 9 characterised by a housing enclosing the flmid treataent sone la vhlch any excess treataent fluid is collected folloving applieation thereof to veb aaterial and a puap operatively conemnieating vith the housing and the nossles for reiapinging collected treataent fluid against the veb aaterial.

11. · Apparatus as claiaed ia either Claia 9 or 10 characterised by a drive trala including a aotor operatively connected to the supporting surface and to the roller for driving the saae at coordinated speeds and thereby governing the linear' rate of overfeed of veb material onto the supporting surface, the drive train also including at least one variable transaission device for per- nitting controlled variation ia the ratio of the linear

12. Apparatus as claiaed la any of CI las 9 to 11 characterised by first and second eadloss flexible aeabere eacb supported for aoveaeat along a respective predeterained closed path of travel and defining a respectire portion of said driven* horizontally movable, foraainons supporting surface* the first and second aeabers respectively extending through first and second fluid treataent sones and the first aeabef advancing veb aaterlal to the seeond aeaber and overfeeding advanced aaterial thereonto.

13. Apparatus as clalaod in any of Claias 9, 11 and 12 characterised by first and second banks of fluid spray nossles respectively mounted above the supporting surface for directing flowing streams of treataent fluid downwardly onto the upper face of web aaterial passing through the fluid treataent sone and nounted below the supporting surface for directing flowing stroaas of treataent fluid upwardly therethrough onto the lowerface of web aaterial passing through the fluid treataent sone. 14· Apparatus as claiaed in Claia 13 characterised by a header pipe operatively connecting the banks of spsay nossles for supplying treataent fluid thereto and a pump operatively connected to said header pipe for delivering thereto and to said banks of nossles a flow of treataent fluid under pressure* · Apparatus as clained la either of CIalas 13 or 14 characterised by each nozzle of said banks of nossles directlag a corresponding stroasi of treataent fluid ia a shaped spray and ths aosslos being srounted in groups for iadiridual aiaiag of ths shaped sprays of each nosslo rolatiro to the sprays of othor aosslos vithia a eeaaon group sad for collective aiaiag of ths shaped sprays of each group of aosslos relative to the sprays of ths othor groups of aosslos. · A aethod of fluid troatlag a running length of textilo web Material in a substantially tension-free condition substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accoapanying drawings. · Apparatus for carrying out the aethod as claiaed in any of Claias 1 to 8 or 16 substantially as hereinbefore described vlth reference to the accompanying drawings. For the Applicants Or. Titshak Ross