JPS6014144B2 - Equipment for fabric finishing treatment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the processing of many fabrics, particularly tubular or flat knitted fabrics, many current finishing techniques do not mechanically reduce the length of the fabric by processes that are considered asymmetric. compression contraction
This asymmetrical meaning, which includes the imparting of a fabric bag), is that one side of the fabric is acted upon at least somewhat differently than the other side.

As an example, one of the important current processes for compression shrinkage of tubular knitted fabrics, the Compa process, consists in part of a feed roller and a delay roller rotating at slightly different speeds. compacting zone
) is sent into the frame. The fabric is introduced into this region at the speed of the feed rollers, but is decelerated in the processing region to match the speed of the delay rollers.The fabric passes between these rollers, but at the same time It is acted upon by rollers rotating at different surface speeds, ie consisting of at least one roller moving relative to the fabric.
In this way, one surface of the fabric is slightly "bumished" and appears slightly shiny compared to the other surface.

This state is called "both sides".
Asymmetric compression shrinkage treatment (here, polishing and compacting in some cases)
The bilaterality caused by (called .
The case is more difficult with fabrics that are treated in a tubular form (for example, fabrics that can be used as the outer surface of the garment, either on the front side or on the back side of the fabric).

In some cases, asymmetric processing of the fabric is compensated, at least to some extent, by subjecting the fabric to two-stage processing.

That is, in the first stage, a polishing effect is applied to only one surface, and in the second stage, a polishing effect is applied to the other surface. By properly distributing the amount of compressive contraction experienced at each station, the surface appearance of the fabric can be substantially balanced. Nevertheless, even with machines with two stations, some bilaterality may occur. This is partly because perfect equilibrium is impractical;
It may also be because the desired balance of operations to achieve a balance of appearance is incompatible with the optimum balance of operations to produce the desired overall compression shrinkage. Additionally, in some cases, the fabric itself (e.g. ribbed fabric)
However, the fabric may be of such a nature that its appearance changes undesirably during the compression shrinkage process due to the through-thickness compression and polishing action of the fabric. In accordance with the present invention, bilaterality and other undesirable effects in mechanically compressed fabrics are significantly improved by a new humidification process.

This new humidification process involves compressing and shrinking the fabric, followed by a fairly uniform distribution of a substantial amount of moisture on both sides of the fabric, immediately after which the fabric is placed in a Parma type dryer. In the dryer, the fabric is pressed in a geometrically stable manner by a porous conveyor plunger against the heated surface of the dryer drum. Upon exiting the exit end of the Parma-type dryer, the fabric is in a finished state with a surface appearance that is significantly improved from the bilateral and/or through-thickness compression (in the case of ribbed fabrics) stud point.
The moisture is supplied to both sides or surfaces of the fabric in the form of a very finely divided mist under conditions that ensure the avoidance of the formation of water droplets that would cause spots on the fabric.

The amount of moisture delivered to the surface of the fabric is somewhat empirical for each type of fabric, but in any case is greater than the moisture that the fabric would obtain by steaming or natural absorption of the fabric. The fabric gains about 2% moisture by weight by steaming the fabric, and about 6% moisture by natural absorption over time. In comparison, in some cases, for light fabrics that have been subjected to sufficient compression shrinkage, it may be appropriate for the process of the present invention to provide as much as 50% moisture to the surface of the fabric weight. For a given running speed of the fabric, the rate of moisture supplied to the fabric is set such that the fabric is sufficiently dry by the time it leaves the Parma dryer.

The supply of haircuts is set to be supplied at a constant rate,
The amount delivered to the fabric therefore varies as a function of the speed of travel of the fabric through the spray region. The process operator observes the fabric exiting the Parma type dryer and gradually increases the process speed until the exiting fabric begins to exhibit undesirable bilaterality, and after this the process speed is reduced slightly. lower to allow a little more moisture to be delivered to the fabric running in the spray area. Experience with the process has shown that restoration of the desired surface appearance of the fabric is highly dependent on the amount of moisture delivered to the surface of the fabric, so once the application rate is determined, the Excellent control over the process is achieved by simply controlling the running speed of the fabric. Spraying and drying are always in equilibrium. This is because if the fabric speed is reduced to increase the water supply, the speed at which the fabric passes through the dryer will be correspondingly reduced, and this will occur. This is because the reverse also occurs, so the drying operation always corresponds to the amount of water supplied. The improved equipment delivers a uniform mist to both surfaces of the moving fabric web, delivering highly controlled amounts of moisture without the risk of condensation. , always reliably supplied to both sides of the fabric.

It will of course be understood that both "sides" of the tubular fabric will have the same surface. Reference herein to both sides or resurfacing of the fabric is therefore understood to mean the outer surface of a tubular fabric or the two surfaces of an open wide fabric. The fabric is transported tension-free between opposing rows of spray nozzles, each facing either side of the fabric.

Each nozzle row consists of a series of relatively closely spaced fine spray distribution nozzles extending across the width of the fabric. These nozzles are adapted to emit a fine mist of water mixed with air onto the surface of the fabric. In order to accommodate the special and necessary starting and stopping of normally continuous production processes, means are provided to block the emission of atomized nozzles during stoppages of the processing line. There is. For this purpose, it is not necessary to stop the cheat itself. Stopping and starting the air-dawn mist nozzle causes mottling on the fabric. There is a possibility that water droplets larger than desired may be temporarily blown away. For a better understanding of these and other features and advantages of the invention, reference is made to the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the schematic flow diagram of FIG. 1 illustrates the basic steps involved in the process of the present invention.

First, there is an asymmetric mechanical compression contraction process. This process is referred to in this application as "glazed compacting". The term ``glazed compacting'' refers to various forms of compaction in which one side of the fabric is treated differently than the other at some stage. A typical treatment involves rubbing one side of the fabric to create a slight gloss or polish effect.Commercially important examples of polish compacting processes are
British Patent No. 855,079 and No. 8 Total 20 to Ohn et al.
It is shown in No. 7. Other processes, e.g. Wait
U.S. Pat. No. 3,260,778 and Waiton on
The process shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,768 to et al. accomplishes burnish compacting as used in this application by separately treating each side of the fabric. In general, the term "glazed compacting" refers to the different effects of the compacting device itself or the fabric during the compacting of the fabric, whether the fabric is tubular, flat, knitted, or of other constructions. It also involves a fairly wide range of compression shrinkage processes in which one side of the fabric is affected differently than the other side due to differences in the structure of the fabric. As used in the flowchart of FIG. 1, the term "cemoistming" refers to the uniform distribution of a very fine mist over the surface of the fabric.

“The term stable drying refers to the drying of a humidified fabric by heat, while maintaining the geometrical stability of the fabric, in a separate air-jet dryer, e.g. in a Palmer type dryer. Referring to FIG. 2, the process of the present invention includes a compaction stage 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, this stage is in accordance with British Patent No. 868,207 to EneCohn et al. That is, the compactor has a spreader stage 11 for receiving a tubular knitted fabric and laterally inflating it to a predetermined uniform width. The fabric thus expanded passes through a steaming stage 12 and is discharged directly to a compacting station 13. Compacting station 13 consists of feed and retard rollers 14 and 15 and a confining shoe 16. The speed at which the fabric enters the compacting station is approximately equal to the surface speed of the feed rollers 4. However, when the fabric encounters the retardation roller 5 at the pressure nip formed by the opposing rollers 14, 15, the speed of the fabric is substantially the same as that of the retardation roller, since the retardation roller grips the fabric with a stronger force. fall to speed. In the area where the feed roller and the delay roller directly face each other, this compacting station 1
In case 3, the lower surface is slightly polished by the sliding action of the feed roller 14. Fabric F, which has been slightly compacted by the compacting station 13, is moved to the second compacting station 1.
Enter 7.

This compacting station 17 also includes a feed roller 18, a delay roller 19, and a confining shoe 2.
0, but in this case, compared to the case of station 13, the top and bottom are reversed. Upstream station 13
In the second station 17, the feed roller 18 applies a polishing effect to the upper surface of the fabric F, whereas in the second station 17 the lower surface of the fabric was subjected to a polishing action. Ideal results are rarely achieved in practice, but if they are not, the mechanically pre-compacted fabric exiting the second stage compacting station 17 may have some degree of lateralization. It will have .
That is, one surface will look different than the other surface. Of course, this bilateral effect would be more pronounced if polish compacting was carried out in a machine with only one compacting station. Furthermore, this effect is more noticeable and brighter on colored fabrics than on white fabrics, and more noticeable and brighter on dark-colored fabrics than on solid ones, although there is probably no physical difference. It will be more noticeable. In general, it appears that the polishing effect produced by fabric polishing compacting is not caused by a fundamental change in the structure of the fabric, but rather by a temporary change in its surface properties.

Over time, through normal use, washing, drying, processing, etc., this ambivalence will likely disappear. However, for the time being, if there is a significant ambivalence in appearance, this should not be considered for the sale and use of the fabric. According to the present invention, the fabric emerging from the polishing and compacting stage is sent to a speed control roller 21 which contains a suitable photoelectric detector and controls the humidification and The speed of the polishing compacting operation relative to the speed of the drying operation is automatically controlled to maintain the fiber rick at the outlet side of the compactor in a relaxed state, by detecting both limits of the loop L of the fiber rick, and as the loop becomes smaller. Increase the speed of the compacting operation,
This is done by reducing the operating speed as the loop becomes larger. Roller 21 (referred to as the speed control roller) operates at the basic operating speed of the line, including the humidification operation and the drying stage, which speed is set by the process operator using a suitable variable speed controller.

The fabric leaving the outlet side of the roller 21 passes under the guide roll 22 into the lower part of the humidifying chamber 23 through a suitable opening 24 (FIG. 4) provided for this purpose. enter. Next, Fabric moved inside chamber 23 at about 30o.
Or, it travels generally upward at an angle of 40o.
The fabric F is maintained in a relaxed and tension-free state throughout its passage through the humidification chamber 23, with relatively little movement other than forward movement, and a fine mist of water is formed on both sides of the fabric F. will be scattered. As soon as the humidified fabric leaves the distribution chamber 23, it is transferred to a Parma dryer 28.
It is supported and carried by a belt 26 (FIG. 2B).
Belt 26 passes over guide rollers 25, 27 and brings the fabric into contact with the outer surface of drying drum 29, which has a large diameter. The drum is heated from the inside with steam, usually about 1,500
heated to a temperature of 0. In the illustrated embodiment, the dryer belt 26 is made of a relatively heavy, stable, but porous material and is placed under suitable tension. To this end, while the belt and fabric travel together with the rotating drum, the fabric, which is wet at the surface, is pressed firmly by the belt against the outer surface of the heated drum 29. After passing around the drum, the belt 26 and the fabric F pass around a guide roll 30, and then the fabric is conveyed by the belt to the rear of the drying stage, where it is wound into a finished product roll 31. , or collected by a suitable folding machine (not shown). After leaving the treated fabric, the dryer belt 26 passes around a second drum 32. Drum 32 removes any moisture remaining on belt 26. The belt then returns to the entrance guide roll 25 to receive the newly incoming fabric. As shown in FIGS. 3-7, the humidification chamber 23 preferably consists of an open top tank 33. i.e. side walls and end walls 34-37
and a bottom wall 38, but preferably has no lid.
A drain 39 is provided at the bottom to remove excess moisture collected. An upper nozzle row 40 and a lower nozzle row 41 are provided in the tank and are located above and below the passage of the fabric F through the chamber 23, respectively. Each nozzle row has a main pipe 43 placed laterally.
, 44 are physically attached to a series of spray nozzles 45, 46. The flow path of the nozzle is the main pipe 43, 44
It is designed to be suitable for internal use. Spraying nozzle 45,
46 is preferably a "Sonicore" fog nozzle available from Sonic Development, Inc. (Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA), but is not intended to limit the invention thereto.

The nozzle, as described by the company, is an air-to-air mist distribution nozzle designed to enhance water atomization with a sonic energy field. Normally, the atomizing air is in the manifold pipe 4.
3, 44 to the nozzles, and each nozzle is supplied with water moment by moment via individual supply piping (not shown). Each supply line is regulated by a respective regulating valve so that uniform discharge and interstitial atomization of water is achieved over the entire row of nozzles. In the illustrated embodiment,
The nozzles are arranged laterally at intervals of about 7 to 8 skins over the entire working width of the distribution chamber 23. This working width is slightly larger than the maximum fabric that can be processed on this processing line. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper spray nozzle row 40
is about 4 horizontally? The nozzle row 41 is arranged so as to spray downward and rearward at an angle of , and the lower nozzle row 41 is arranged so as to spray upward and forward at approximately the same angle.

The nozzle adjustment has a flow rate of about 2.5 ounces per square yard of fabric when the fabric is moving through the humidification chamber at a rate of about 14 mm per minute. It is common to arrange for all of the moisture to be distributed to the surface of the fabric, such as by dispersing the moisture. Depending on the nature of the fabric and/or the extent of the compression shrinkage process, a satisfactory long-lasting fabric appearance may be obtained with less moisture; The speed of the fabric may be increased to reduce the time required for the fabric to pass through the mist nozzle area. By doing this, less water is supplied. Concomitant with increasing the running speed of the fabric, of course the time the fabric spends on the dryer drum 28 is also reduced, but there is also less water on the fabric that has to be removed - this is actually This is desirable.

Therefore, once the desired equilibrium is achieved between the time to supply moisture to the fabric and the ability of the dryer 28 to remove this moisture, increasing or decreasing the fabric running speed forms an ideal technique for the control of this process. The process operator only needs to be standing at the dryer outlet to monitor whether the fabric is bilateral or has any other condition to correct. As long as the speed is within specifications, the fabric running speed can be continued to be increased. It is also possible to process lightweight fabrics that have been compacted to
The capacity of 0 is in any case sufficiently greater than the capacity of the dryer, so that no problem arises in controlling the compactor stage to respond appropriately to speed changes in the humidification-drying stage. The typical amount of moisture delivered to the surface of the fabric in the humidification stage is considerably greater than the amount of moisture customarily delivered to the fabric in secondary finishing treatments.

In any case, the moisture delivered is greater than the maximum amount of moisture that the fabric can obtain by steaming (approximately 2% by weight) and/or by natural moisture absorption over time (approximately 6% by weight), and There are quite a lot of them. Since a considerable amount of water is supplied, a fine mist accumulates in the area between the nozzle rows 40 and 41. Therefore, special care must be taken to avoid moisture condensing into droplets that fall onto the fabric and create stains.
. For this purpose, the lower nozzle row 41 and its support are arranged in such a way that they are located directly below the channel of the fabric F, so that the condensation products fall only to the bottom of the tank. A condensate shield 48 is provided below the upper nozzle row 40. The shield 48 extends from one side wall of the tank to the other side wall.
It has a V-shaped collecting groove 49. The groove 49 mirrors downwardly from its center toward the opposite side walls 34, 35 of the tank. The condensate falling from the nozzle array 40 is captured by the shield 48 and flows along the slope 49 towards the side wall of the tank. A small gap 50 is provided in the immediate vicinity of the side arm to allow the collected water to flow along the side wall of the tank. In such a configuration, the maximum width capacity of the fabric is somewhat less than the width of the tank, and typically corresponds to the width of the nozzle arrays 40, 41, as shown in FIG. Therefore, condensate flowing along the side walls of the tank does not affect the fabric. Similarly, the front wall 36 of the tank is provided with a condensate trough 54 (FIG. 4) above the inlet opening 24 to collect condensate that forms on the inner surface of the front wall of the tank and to It is designed to lead you towards. Although the process and apparatus of the present invention are designed to be substantially continuous, there will inevitably be occasions when the process line will need to be temporarily shut down for short periods of time during normal operation.

When such a stop occurs, it is of course necessary to immediately stop supplying moisture to the fabric surface to avoid over-humidification. One way to accomplish this is to shut off the water supply to the nozzle. However, experience has shown that when the nozzle is shut off and then restarted, some water sprays out of the nozzle.
This causes water spots on the fabric, which of course is absolutely undesirable. Therefore, instead of blocking the nozzles when temporarily stopping the process, you can apply a blanket to the nozzle row and the nozzles continue to emit spray, but
Sprayed moisture is quickly captured and discharged without hitting the fabric. In this way, the interior of the humidifying chamber 23 will not become a misty atmosphere, which will cause condensation on the fabric or the surface of the humidifying chamber, resulting in water spot problems on the fabric. The upper and lower mist nozzle rows 40, 41 are mounted for oscillating movement, such as by creating limited rotational movement in the manifold pipes 43, 44, as shown in FIGS. ing.

During a temporary stop of the process line, the manifold pipes 43, 44 are moved in such a direction that the nozzles 45, 46 of the respective rows are inclined downwardly toward the rear side of the shielding plates 48, 51.
Rotate. Mounted on each shield plate is a muffler strip 52, 53 made of porous sponge. This muffler strip may be in the form of a continuous strip, extending over the entire working width of the shielding plate, or in the form of individual strips, placed at a position corresponding to each nozzle 45, 46. But that's fine. The positions of the sponge elements 52 and 53 are such that when the nozzle rows are retracted by the rotation of the manifold pipes 43 and 44 to the positions shown by chain lines in FIGS. is deformed to wrap around the orifice area of the nozzle. Therefore, even if the false fog nozzle continues to emit water in the form of a fog, the fog will not flow to the sponge muffler strips 52, 5.
It is sprayed directly into 3. Therefore, the mist water condenses inside the sponge as soon as it exits the nozzle. Water will of course accumulate inside the sponge muffler elements 52, 53, but as soon as the sponge becomes saturated, the water will flow from the bottom of the sponge along the lower flanges of the shielding plates 48, 51 to the bottom of the collection tank 33. When the process starts up again after a pause, the nozzle support manifold pipe 4
3, 44 need only be tilted back to its normal position. This directs the mist emitted from the nozzle towards the fabric surface. The muffler elements described above are also useful during line startup. That is, by leaving the nozzles in the retracted position, activating the nozzle array, and simply cleaning the lines and nozzles, there is no risk of spraying onto the fabric itself. The system of the present invention is advantageously combined with a finishing process for fabrics that have undergone mechanical compaction, a process that aims to restore the surface properties of the fabric after compression shrinkage treatment. This process can also be applied to finishing treatments, where the surface of the fabric is temporarily affected (e.g. by crushing), but in this case it is intended to be combined with the asymmetrical polish compacting technique described above. Demonstrate maximum effectiveness. The present invention provides a fabric with a substantial amount of water supplied to its surface, and this water is very finely divided and evenly distributed, and does not contain large individual water droplets that cause water spots. It also includes application to fabrics that have been treated in such a way that the amount of moisture is significantly greater than that obtained through steaming operations or naturally occurring moisture absorption.

Such fabrics are passed through a stable drying process while still containing this large amount of moisture on their surface. Although this process removes moisture from the surface of the fabric, the geometry of the fabric remains stable, for example by being sandwiched between a heated dryer drum and a tensioned conveyor belt. be done. During the drying process, the water on the surface of the fabric evaporates and gradually escapes from the sandwiched fabric and into the air. The time the fabric runs in contact with the heated dryer drum is relatively long (typical processing times, for example, 15-29 mm), during which time the natural fibers of the fabric are sufficiently penetrated by moisture. As a result, the surface appearance of the fabric after being subjected to the polishing and/or crushing treatment is fully restored without significantly affecting the mechanical pre-shrinkage experienced by the fabric upstream of this process. An important practical feature of this new process is that it is easy to monitor and control during normal plant operation.

A common limiting factor is the capacity of the Palma dryer to remove the moisture supplied in the humidification stage. Therefore, the nominal linear motion speed of the fabric (e.g. 14 m/min)
), the amount of water supplied from the nozzle arrays 40, 41 is first adjusted so that the nozzles provide enough water to be removed by the dryer. Water supply is essentially in the form of water weight per unit area, so
This initial setting of the line is relatively independent of the characteristics of the fabric being processed. In one embodiment of the process line of the present invention, a Parma-type dryer with a drum of about 1.5 kites in diameter is utilized, and a suitable balance of water supply to drying capacity is about 2.5 per square yard. This was accomplished by providing 304 oz. (304 ml/re) of water. Once the proper equilibrium between moisture supply and drying capacity has been achieved,
The process is controlled solely by increasing or decreasing the linear speed of the fabric passing through the processing line.

When the linear speed of the fabric is increased, the amount of water supplied per unit area and the time taken in the drying stage are proportionally reduced. Generally, to the extent that the fabric discharged from the exit side of the drying stage has an undesirable double-sided appearance or other surface characteristics, the operator will gradually reduce the linear speed of the fabric until the appearance is within specification. You can adjust the process by By reducing the speed of the fabric in this way, the nozzle row 40
, 41 increases, and the time required in the drying stage increases accordingly. It will be appreciated that different types of fabric construction require different treatment methods in terms of water supply requirements.

Similarly, some fabrics experience only relatively small (e.g. 8-10%) pre-compression shrinkage, while others experience considerably more compression shrinkage, all depending on highly variable conditions within the equipment. Depends on the requirements. However, the process of the present invention readily accommodates a range of such variations by simple control of increasing or decreasing the linear velocity of the fabric as it passes through the humidification and drying stages. The operating speed of the compacting device is in any case dependent on the operating speed of the humidifying and drying stages. This is done by sensing the size of the fabric loop L between the compactor stage and the humidifier stage and increasing or decreasing the speed of the compactor stage accordingly. Given the amount of moisture delivered to the fabric while in the humidification stage, it is important to maintain the fabric in a relaxed, static state during humidification and to maintain the fabric's shape during drying.

This is achieved by using a curly spray nozzle for moisture spotting and a Parma type dryer after drying. Because the fabric is longitudinally pre-compacted prior to humidification, the moisture supply is shaped to penetrate into the interior of the fabric so that the fabric does not lose its geometrical state while unsupported. It is important for the process that the shape is applied to the surface rather than the surface. After the fabric contacts the Parma dryer and becomes geometrically stable, sufficient moisture penetration into the interior of the fabric does not adversely affect the effectiveness of mechanical compaction. The configuration of the sparge chamber described above serves the purpose of the sparge chamber, namely to provide a sufficiently large amount of moisture to the surface of the fabric, without condensation and water spotting problems, and to keep the fabric suitably relaxed and free of movement. It has been found to be advantageous for the purpose of maintaining low levels.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fabric enters the chamferless chamber through the bottom of the front wall, is guided upwardly through the chamber, and exits the chamber through the top of the rear wall of the chamber. Because the fabric runs upwards in the distribution chamber along a mirror-oblique path, the nozzle array is advantageous and efficient, both in terms of the distribution coupling effect and in terms of condensation and droplet problems. It can be installed in any position. At the same time, the upwardly sloping running path of this fabric means that upon exiting the humidification area, the surface becomes moist and under the weight of moisture, making it particularly susceptible to longitudinal strain. This is also advantageous from the standpoint of reducing the stress applied to the fabric to a minimum of 4. For this purpose, the humidification chamber is also connected to a Parma dryer. In fact, the exit guide roller for the humidification chamber also doubles as the inlet belt guide roller for the Parma dryer, so that the fabric is physically supported as soon as it leaves the humidification area. The process of the present invention is effective as long as the fibers contain sufficient natural or other hydrophilic fiber components that are responsive to the supply of moisture.
It is applicable to a wide range of fabrics, whether knitted or non-knitted, and tubular or non-tubular in shape.

Of course, the process of the present invention is highly advantageous when used in the finishing of tubular knit fabrics. In this finishing process, a relatively high percentage of burnish compaction is first applied to the fabric, and since the upper and lower sides of the web of the tubular knit fabric constitute the same surface, both sides of the web are Uniformity of surface appearance is particularly important. Generally, the production capacity of currently available polishing compacting equipment is
The processing capacity is considerably greater than that of a Palma-type dryer with a practical size and shape.

Therefore, to improve overall production efficiency, it is often advantageous to separate the polishing compacting operation from the drying operation rather than putting it on the same line. In this case, the compacted fabric is folded or otherwise collected in an untensioned state at the exit of the compacting device. In this separation operation, at least two webs of compacted fabrics are conveyed simultaneously to a common device and subjected to the humidification and drying sequence described above. Such a method is
It is particularly advantageous when the width of the compacted fabric is relatively narrow and/or when the humidification-drying process of the fabric is performed at a rate of progress in the dryer of relatively 4 mm, sometimes optimal. It is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block flow diagram illustrating the basic steps involved in the process of the present invention. Figures 2A and 2B briefly illustrate the process steps for carrying out the process of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an apparatus suitable for applying a spray to a fabric surface in large quantities and with a uniformity consistent with process requirements. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the areas A and B surrounded by circles in FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 10...compactor stage,
13 and 17...compacting station, 1
4 and 18...Feed roller, 15 and 19...
... Delay loaf, 21 ... Speed control roller, 23 ... Humidification chamber, 26. ．．・．． ．． ·belt,
28... Palma type dryer, 29... Drying drum, 40 and 41... Nozzle row, 45
and 46... mist nozzle, 48 and 51.
... Condensate shielding, 52 and 53 ... Muffler strips. Figure 1 Figure 2 A Figure 2 B Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 (a) A roller pair consisting of at least one feed roller and a delay roller rotating at a slightly slower speed than the feed roller to apply longitudinal mechanical compressive contraction to the fabric. and (b) applied to the surface of the fabric in a highly uniform distribution of moisture to the fabric; in the form of water and in a proportion so as to add substantially more moisture to the fabric than is absorbed into the fabric by natural moisture absorption, and from 6% to 5% by weight.
a humidifier for adding moisture in a range of up to 0% by weight;
(c) the humidifier is connected downstream of the polishing compactor; and (d) the humidifier has a heated drum and a continuous conveyor belt connected in close proximity to the downstream side of the humidifier. a mold dryer; (e) the dryer engages and supports the humidified fabric once the fabric exits the humidifier and keeps the fabric geometrically stable; The moisture added during maintenance completely penetrates the fabric,
An apparatus for finishing fabric, characterized in that the apparatus is arranged to carry out drying. 2. The humidifier and the dryer have their operating speeds effectively and simultaneously variably controlled by a control means, and the humidifier has means for supplying moisture to the fabric at a substantially constant rate per unit time. An apparatus according to claim 1 having the following. 3. (a) the humidifier has an array of fine spray generating nozzles; (b) the humidifier also includes means for controllably deactivating the nozzles, and includes a muffler-type shield; (c) means for positioning the muffler-type shield and the nozzle in a position such that the nozzle sprays directly into the muffler-type shield; 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conveyor belt arranged to contact and support the humidified fabric upon exit from the humidified fabric. 4 means for the humidifier to guide the fabric along a generally upwardly sloping path within the humidification region, and means for guiding the fabric along a generally upwardly sloping path within the humidification region, the means being located above and below the sloping path, respectively, to guide the fabric along a generally upwardly sloping path; and upper and lower spray nozzle rows that operate to spray a fine spray directly toward the lower surface. 5. A patent in which the humidification area consists of a container without a top and the guide means operate to introduce the fabric from the lower part of the front wall of the container and to bring it out near the upper edge of the rear wall. The apparatus according to claim 4. 6. (a) The muffler-type shield is comprised of a soft spongy material, and (b) is tiltably mounted so that the nozzle moves into contact with the spongy material. The device according to paragraph 3.