MXPA01011159A - Apparatus and method for softening a fabric web material - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for imparting soft hand to a non-woven, paper, paper with synthetic fibers and/or additives, printed knit fabrics and the like in web form, by mechanically introducing localized tensions on diverse preselected situses of the web. The web (15) is preferably advanced in continuous rubbing engagement with one or more contact members that can be pairs of nip rollers (20, 21) and/or breaker bars (23). Nip roller pairs (20, 21) include one irregularly surfaced roller deformably engaging into a soft roller (12) with the web passing therebetween. Breaker bars (23) can have straight, serrated or curvilinear edges and the web can be passed over or under the breaker bars. Various combinations of nip roller pairs and breaker bars are provided for and preferably a variable drive can be employed.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SOFTENING A CLOTH FABRIC MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for smoothing a web material by exerting local stresses at predetermined sites in the web. Certain types of fabric weave materials such as non-woven, paper, paper with synthetic fibers and / or additives, printed knitted fabrics and the like have a rough feel or feel. The manufacturers and designers of these fabrics have tried to soften the fabrics and improve their draping by applying chemical treatments, compacting and sometimes washing the weft following a relaxation drying. The chemical treatment is expensive and requires an application apparatus in addition to a drying equipment. Compaction increases the weight of a cloth weft material and also its cost. Also the washing and drying of fabrics is expensive. The printed woven fabrics have been, and continue to be, softened by the application of longitudinal tension while at the same time the material passes by contacting rollers having a surface of button head protrusions. This procedure causes REF 132238 the application of stresses located on the material when the protuberances project into the fabric and stretch it breaking its printed pigment surfaces to end up with a softened fabric. In the art it refers to a machine of this type as "button breaker." While a button breaker works reasonably well on woven fabrics, it distorts other materials such as non-woven, paper, paper with synthetic fibers and / or additives. and knits to a degree that substantially damage them Usually the imposition of longitudinal tension on a knit fabric stretches the fabric and twists or wraps its edges making the fabric undesirable to be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that functions to impart a feeling or feel to the touch to a fabric weft material whose sensitivity or feel to the touch is very desirable. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for achieving softness and tactile feel in an economical and efficient manner. Another object of the present invention is to soften webs of fabrics, especially nonwovens, paper, paper with synthetic fibers and / or additives, and printed knit fabrics, without applying excessive longitudinal tension in them. Another object of the present invention is to provide an economical mechanical apparatus for the smoothing of various fabric weft materials, especially non-woven, paper, paper with synthetic fibers and / or additives, and printed knit fabrics, without weight change, form or substantial size of the fabric weft while achieving a soft feeling or feel to the fabric weave. Another object of the present invention is to offer a versatile selection between equipment arrangements and techniques for the application to particular needs of several fabric webs that will be smoothed. In general, an apparatus according to the present invention comprises a means for allowing movement of the fabric weft material through the apparatus and while the fabric web is moving the apparatus imparts there a tension located at several predetermined locations distributed over the cloth web. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly appreciated hereafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other important objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which similar numbers refer to like parts through them and where: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention to act on a cloth material to smooth the same; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a simplified view and fraction of a protruding roller acting in conjunction with a soft roller covered with rubber; Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing another embodiment of the apparatus where it similarly allows someone to achieve the objectives of the present invention; Figure 5 is an isolated and elongated fractional isometric view of a breaker bar of Figure 1 with a straight edge; Figure 6 shows breaker bars with buttons 23A, curvilinear edge 23B and saw teeth 23C; Figures 7A and 7B are elevational side views showing another embodiment of the present invention with a roller box for the application of moisture, vapor and / or a cooling substance to the weft; and Figures 8A and 8B are detailed views of a serrated version of an irregularly shaped roller which may be used in place of, or in addition to, a protruding roller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the drawings, various modalities are shown to achieve the desired softness and feel to the touch. In Figure 2, there is shown an array comprising a plurality of rollers having a roller with relatively hard protuberances 10 which presses on a rubber roller or the like 12. The protuberances 10a of the button roller 10 press on a soft roller 12 and stretches the weft locally at several pre-selected sites without application of tension substantially longitudinal to the fabric weft 15 being processed and results in a soft feel to the fabric weft. Similarly in Figure 8, the ridges 10b press on the soft roller 12. Another form of the apparatus is shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6 where the fabric 15 passes through the upper and lower rollers 20, 21 and on a breaker bar 23 seen more clearly in Figure .5. That arrangement also imparts localized tension to the plot. The fabric can be arranged by adjusting the breaker bar 23 as shown in Figure 4 so that the web runs through a pair of rollers 40 then over the top of a bar 23 and subsequently under the bottom of another bar 23. that similar entity is shown in Figure 1. Also as shown in Figure 6, the edges of the breaker bar 23 can be straight 23, with buttons 23A, serrated 23C, curvilinear 23B or combinations thereof. A variable speed impeller 30 is provided to rotate a pre-selected roller, as shown, which moves the web through one or more pairs of rollers 20, 21 and above or below a desired number of breaker bars 23. They can be used. various arrangements of location of the frame between the breaker bars 23, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, in order to achieve the desired results of smoothing the frame. Such an arrangement is shown particularly in Figure 4, for example, wherein the weft material passes through a pair of rollers 40 then continuously on a breaker bar 35 subsequently under a successive breaker bar at 36, through another pair of rollers. 41 rolls and so on. As will be understood, it may not be necessary to run the web between press rolls and also on and / or under a breaker bar. Sometimes a non-woven web considerably softens only by passing the material continuously over and under one or more of the breaker bars 23, in which case the presser rollers could only control the tension of the whole web. In circumstances, illustrated in Figures 3 and 8, where the relatively hard protrusions 10a or flanges 10b are provided, the rubber roller 12 is locally subjected to the pressure by means of the protrusions 10a or ridges 10b. The rubber roller 12 normally has an approximate durometer hardness of about 15. As seen in Figure 8, the relatively hard roller with irregular surface will usually be made of metal. Striations are shown to form an irregular surface. Typically flutes have a half-inch (1/2") (12.7 mm) wavelength by which each flange is one-quarter inch (1/4") (6.35 mm) wide, in its neighboring flutes they are Each one of a quarter of an inch (1/4") (6.35 mm) Other sizes have also been used in the variation of pressing arrangements, where numerous press rolls are used, for example, a first press would typically be one fourth of an inch (1/4") (6.35 mm), a second press of three sixteenth of an inch (3/16") (4.76 mm) and a third pressing of one eighth of an inch (1/8") (3.17 mm) to treat the fabric more evenly across its width. Many forms of ridges and configurations may also be employed in the teachings of the present invention. In Figure 7 there is shown an injection box 42 with nozzles 43 for the application of moisture, heat and / or coolant to the weft in such a way as to aid in the smoothing of the weft 15. Having described the present invention in detail, it is obvious that someone skilled in the art will be able to make variations and modifications to it without departing from the described scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention can be seen in greater detail from the following claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (65)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property. An apparatus for imparting a soft touch sensation to a web of a cloth material, characterized in that the apparatus comprises: a pair of press rolls through which the web passes; the pair of press rolls including a roller with irregular surface having relatively smooth paired projections thereon and a roller arranged to be locally subjected under pressure of the protuberances.
2. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has means for introducing moisture into the web.
3. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has means for heating the frame.
4. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has means for cooling the frame.
5. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a plurality of pairs of press rolls.
6. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it has a variable speed impeller arranged to rotate a pre-selected roller of the press rolls.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the projections are arranged on the roller with irregular surface in a decorative pattern that is repeated in the weft.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the projections are protuberances provided with an arcuate surface.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the projections are irregular in shape.
10. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the projections are ridges.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the ridges are arranged longitudinally in relation to a general path of the advance of the frame.
12. 12. An apparatus for imparting a soft feeling to the touch of a web of a cloth material having a first side and a second opposite side, characterized in that the apparatus comprises: a first contact member and a second contact member; means for advancing the web with the first side in continuous contact with the first contact member and with the second side in continuous contact with the second contact member; whereby a tension located in the fabric develops.
13. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that each of the physical contact members comprises a breaker bar having an edge over which the web of the fabric passes in continuous rubbing contact.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the means for advancing the web passes the first side of the web in continuous contact with the first physical contact member before passing the second side of the web in contact of continuous friction with the second contact member.
15. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that at least one of the physical contact members is stationary.
16. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that both physical contact members are stationary.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that each of the contact members includes a straight edge to provide the continuous contact with its associated side of the frame.
18. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that: each of the contact members comprises a breaker bar spaced from the other breaker bar along a general path of advancement of the frame; the straight edge of one of the breaker bars is disposed in a first direction normal to said general path of advance of the frame and the straight edge of the other of the breaker bars is disposed in a second direction opposite said first direction and also normal to said second general path of advancement of the frame.
19. 19. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that it has: each of the contact members includes a serrated edge to provide the continuous contact with its associated side of the frame; each of the contact members comprising a breaker bar disposed along a general path of advance of the frame and each of the breaker bars is spaced apart from the other breaker bar along said general path of advance of the plot; the sted edge of one of the breaker bars disposed in a first direction normal to said general path of advance of the frame and the sted edge of the other of the breaker bars disposed in a second direction opposite said first direction and also normal to said general trajectory of the advance of the plot.
20. 20. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that it has each of the contact members that includes a curvilinear edge to provide the continuous contact with its associated side of the frame; each of the contact members comprising a breaker bar disposed along a general path of advance of the frame and each breaker bar spaced from the other of the breaker bars along the general path of advance of the frame, the curvilinear edge of one of the breaker bars disposed in a first direction normal to said general path of advance of the frame and the curvilinear edge of the other of the breaker bars disposed in a second direction opposite to the first direction and also normal to said second general trajectory of the advance of the plot.
21. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that: one of the means of physical contact comprises at least one pair of press rolls, a first breaker bar having a first straight edge and a second breaker bar having a second edge straight, means for passing the weft of the fabric through the pair of press rolls in continuous contact with these and pass in series the breakers on one and under the other of the breaker bars in continuous contact with the straight edge of each one of the breaker bars.
22. 22. An apparatus for imparting a soft touch feel to a web of fabric material, selected from a group consisting of printed, non-woven, knitted fabrics, paper and paper with synthetic fibers and / or additives, the apparatus characterized in that it comprises : a pair of press rolls through which passes the weft of the fabric, the pair of press rolls that includes a roller with irregular surface having projections therein and a pair of relatively soft rolls arranged to be locally under the pressure of the projections.
23. 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that it has a plurality of pairs of press rolls.
24. 24. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that it has means for introducing moisture into the web.
25. 25. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that it has means for heating the frame.
26. 26. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that it has means for cooling the frame.
27. 27. The apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that it has a variable speed impeller arranged to rotate a pre-selected roller of the press rolls.
28. 28. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the projections are arranged on the irregular surface roller in a decorative pattern that is repeated in the weft.
29. 29. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the projections are protuberances provided with an arcuate surface.
30. 30. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the protuberances are irregular in shape.
31. 31. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the projections are ridges.
32. 32. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the rims are arranged longitudinally in relation to a general path of advance of the weft.
33. 33. An apparatus for imparting a soft feel to the weft of a fabric material, selected from a group consisting of nonwovens, paper and paper with synthetic fibers and printed knits, the material fabric having a first side and a second opposite side, the apparatus characterized in that it comprises: a first physical contact member and a second physical contact member, means for advancing the frame with the first side in continuous contact with the first physical contact member and with the second side in continuous rubbing contact with the second means of physical contact, whereby a tension located in the fabric develops.
34. 34. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that it also has means for introducing moisture into the web.
35. 35. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that it also has means for introducing heat to the web.
36. 36. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that it also has means for cooling the frame.
37. 37. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the first physical contact member comprises a breaker bar having an edge over which the web of the fabric passes in contact with friction.
38. 38. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the means for advancing the web additionally passes the first side of the web in continuous contact with the first physical contact member before passing the second side of the web in continuous contact with the second contact member.
39. 39. The apparatus according to claim 38, characterized in that at least one of the physical contact members is stationary.
40. 40. The apparatus according to claim 39, characterized in that the physical contact members are stationary.
41. 41. The apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that each of the contact members includes a straight edge in the continuous contact with its associated side of the frame.
42. 42. The apparatus according to claim 41, characterized in that: each of the contact members comprises a breaker bar spaced from the other breaker bar along a general path of advancement of the frame; the straight edge of one of the breaker bars is disposed in a first direction normal to said general advancing path of the frame and the straight edge of the other of the bars is disposed in a second direction opposite said first direction and also normal to said general path of advance of the plot.
43. 43. The apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that: each of the physical contact members includes a serrated edge in continuous contact with its associated side of the frame; the serrated edge of one of the breaker bars is disposed in a first direction normal to said general advancing path of the frame and the serrated edge of the other of the breaker bars is disposed in a second direction opposite said first direction and also normal to said general path of advance of the frame.
44. 44. The apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that: each of the physical contact members includes a curvilinear edge in the continuous contact with its associated side of the frame; the curvilinear edge of one of the breaker bars is disposed in a first direction normal to said general path of advance of the frame and the curvilinear edge of the other of the breaker bars is disposed in a second direction opposite said first direction and also normal to said general path of advance of the frame.
45. 45. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that: one of the contact members comprises at least one pair of press rolls, the other contact members comprise a first breaker bar having a first straight edge and a second one. breaker bar having a second straight edge, means for passing the fabric web through the pair of press rolls in continuous contact with these and passing in series the breaker bars on the first straight edge and under the second straight edge of the breaker bars in continuous contact with both edges straight.
46. 46. A method for imparting a soft touch sensation to a web of material, the method characterized in that it comprises the steps of: passing the web through a pair of press rollers which include a roller with an irregular surface having ridges on it and a pair of relatively soft rollers to be locally subjected under pressure of the projections therein; with which a localized tension develops in the plot.
47. 47. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it introduces moisture to the web.
48. 48. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it introduces heat to the web.
49. 49. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it also comprises the cooling of the frame.
50. 50. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it also passes the web through a plurality of pairs of press rolls.
51. 51. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it also provides a variable speed impeller arranged to rotate a preselected roller of the rollers.
52. 52. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it also arranges the projections on an irregular surface in a pattern to impart to the weft a decorative design that is repeated therein.
53. 53. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it also provides projecting protuberances with arcuate surfaces.
54. 54. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it provides irregular shapes to the projections.
55. 55. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that it provides ridges as the projections.
56. 56. The method according to claim 55, characterized in that it also disposes the ridges longitudinally in relation to the general trajectory of the frame.
57. 57. A method for imparting a soft touch feel to a web of fabric material having a first side and a second opposite side, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: providing a first contact member and a second member of physical contact; advancing the web with the first side in continuous contact with the first contact member and with the second side in continuous contact with the second contact member; with which a localized tension develops in the plot.
58. 58. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it also introduces moisture to the web.
59. 59. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it also introduces heat to the web.
60. 60. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it also comprises the cooling of the frame.
61. 61. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it also disposes the first side of the frame so that it passes in continuous friction contact with the first physical contact member before the second side of the frame passes in continuous friction contact with the second member of physical contact.
62. 62. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it also provides that at least one of the physical contact members be stationary.
63. 63. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it also provides that both physical contact members are stationary.
64. 64. The method according to claim 63, characterized in that it also provides each of the contact members with a straight edge in the continuous contact with its associated side of the frame.
65. 65. The method according to claim 64, further characterized in that: it provides a breaker bar in each of the physical contact members by spacing the breaker bars one from the other along a general path of advancement of the frame; arranges the edge of one of the breaker bars in a first direction normal to said general path of advance of the frame and the edge of the other breaker bar in a second direction opposite said first direction and also normal to said general path of advancing the plot.