US1306650A - Emil weinheim - Google Patents

Description

E. WEINHEIM.

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING FRAGILE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. I918.

1,306,650. Patented June 10, 1919.

EMIL WEINHEIM, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

' APPARATUS FOR IMPBEGNATING FRAGILE FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1919.

Application filed July 10, 1918. Sena 1N0. 244,137.

11 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL WEINEEIM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Impre ating Fragile Fabric, set forth in the fo lowin specification.

1s invention relates to a process and apparatus for impregnating a strip of fragile body fabric with a character converting dope, as a continuous process. By fragile is meant that the body fabric is of such a character as to be difficult of manipulation without material distortion, such as is the case with cotton battin or a batt made up part cotton and part ot or vegetable fibers.

In my co-pending application, Serial Number 235,445, filed May 20, 1918, for the manufacture of hide leather, I have described one process and apparatus employing endless apron protectors for employment in impregnating a gile fabric. In accordance with the present invention it is an object to effect the impregnation and completion of such a body fabric without the employment of endless aprons. One feature in common between this application and my above cited application is, however, broadly a downward feeding of the strip of fragile body fabric.

In furthering the broad objective of this invention I propose in combination three principal steps,first, a downward feed of the strip of fragile body fabric so that gravitation will have no tendency to disrupt the same; second, the local heating of a bath of dope with a strip of the fabricpassing downward through 1t; and third, subjecting the saturated fabric to a laterally applied continuous rolling pressure combined wlth a surface chilling and congealing action.

The local heating renders the dope more fluid, while the chilling in combinatlon with rolling pressure forms a congealed section on the opposite sides of the treated fabric which adds greatly to the strength of the body fabric and prevents undue adherence of the treated fabric to the compression rollers.

The above and further features and details of my invention will better be understood by reference to the illustrative embodiment shown and described merely for purposes of illustration in this application, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, like characters in the two figures designating corresponding parts. In the drawings- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of preferred apparatus, shown partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, for the embodiment and practice of my inventlon; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, partly in plan, taken along line IIII of Flg. 1.

A ower driven endless carrier 1, which may e a canvas apron, and which preferably passes over a steam-heater 2, serves to deliver a strip 3 of the desired body fabric to be employed, preferably directly from a batting machine. The purpose of the heater 2 is to expel all moisture immediately before the strip 3 enters the impregnatin dope tank. This dope tank ispreferably oublewalled, containing the steam heating coils 5 within an outer covering 6, which may be wholly or in part non-heat conductin material. Arranged centrally and suitably journaled in the upper part of the tank 4 is a carrier drunr 7 having fabric-gripping cross slats 8 in elemental positions on its periphery. This drum 7 is preferably rotatably driven at a peripheral speed e ualing the delivery speed of the strip 3 y the apron 1.

A charge of dope 9 is preferably maintained at constant level approximately as indicated in thedrawing b a suitable replenishing feed. It is pre erred that this dope be such as has been described in my Patent No. 1,263,171, granted April 16, 1918, process of forming leather substitutes, all though this dope is preferably for manufacture of aleather substitute. I appreciate, however, that my process and apparatus are well adapted for the impregnating of any fragile body fabric with any kind of character converting dope known to the art, including rubber compounds, theprincipal purpose of the invention being to make postained as fluidfas possible by the steamover' the heated tank 4. The drum 7 serves practicall to permit the strip of fabric to fall wit out applyin any strain upon it. Almost immediate y u on engagmg the 1mpre ating dope 9 it as a sup ort by a secon drum 10, driven at a perip eral speed to correspond to the progress of the strip 3 and preferably completely bathed in the dope 9 and steam-heated. his strip of fabric 3 merely la s about this drum and progresses downwar y through the tank 4, principally by gravity, although the drum 10 mayhave' a tendency to aid this downward progresswith a continuous flow of chilling fluid such as cold water or brine. These rollers, as has been stated, are compression rollers, in contra-distinction to the drum 10, the operating cylindrical surface of which may be sheet metal such as copper or zinc.

Within the bottom exit openin 11 'of the tank 4 and cooperating as a sli able ex-- tension closure with the side walls 16 and 17 of the tank 4 are a pair of saddles 18 and 19, preferably formed of bronze when the rollers 13 and 14 are made of steel, and

having a configuration exactly fitting the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers 13 and 14 forming, as it were, end partitions serving to confine the dope 9. The direction of rotation of the compression rollers 13 and 14 is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, and the complete sealingi except to permit the exit'of the impregnate and compressd part 20 of the strip of fabric 3 is provided by a pair of hinged scrapers 21 for the roller 13 and 22 for the roller 14. These scrapers preferably extend elementally of the rollers the complete distance between the saddles 18 and .19, and may conveniently be hinged as indicated by the hinges 23 and 24 from the bottom of the dope tank 4. The small arrows 0; in Fig. 1 indicate how the pinching action between the com ression rollers 13 f and 14 cause an upward ow of dope against either the scrapers 21 or 22, so that'the strip 20 of fabric which passes down between the rollers 13 and 14 contains not an over-, but merely a complete impregnation with both surfaces con aled by the chilling action of the cold ro ers 13 and 14. To

: 11181118, however, that there should be no ticles or residue of do e adhering continued multiplication of any small pag to t e rollers 13 and 14 after eeing the strip 20,

a pair of -suitably hinged spring-pressed v 1 ,eoaeec scrapers 31 and 32 are arranged to scrape may be or may not e completely finished.

As a rule, however, nothing further is required except curin which may be accomplished in any wellown manner.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is 1. The continuous process of impregnating a strip of frag1 e non-self-sustaming body-fabric with a character converting dope comprising imparting a continuous substantially downward movement through a directlfl having t e quality of being relatively more fluid when hea subjecting said bath of dope and said strip when passing down through said bath to the influence of heat; and subjecting said strip immediately:l upon its exit from said bath to horizonta y appli2edressure and surface chilling.

pparatus for impregnatin by continuous process a strip of fragi e. non-self sustaining body-fabric, compris' a dopetank having an exit opening at t e bottom for said strlp; a pair of laterally positioned cooling compression rollers forming art of a bottom closure to confine a suitab e dope and adapted to pass downwardly there contacting bath of suitable dope tween said strip of body-fabric and means for imparting a downward continuous feeding to. said strip through said dope-tank into direct contact with said'cooling com pression rollers.

3. Apparatus for impregnating by continuous process a stri fragile bodyfabric, comprising a ope-tank ha an exit opening at the bottom, for said strip; a pair of laterally positioned cooling com pression rollers forming part of a bottom closure to confine a sultable do and adapted to pass downwardly there ween said strip' of body-fabric; and means for 1mparting a downward continuous to said strip through said dope-tank, means having provisions for heatin said strip locally in its passage through sai tank.

4. Apparatus for impregnating by a continuous process a strip of fragile bodyabric comprisin a dope tank; a heated rotatably drlven rum in said tank h vin oneesided contact with a downwardly feed ing lap'of said strip; and a pair of laterally positioned .rot'atably driven cooling compression rollers for directly manipulatillrg said strip during its continu downwa progress. 5. Apparatus for impre at' by a continuous process a strip 0 fr anon-selfsustaining fabric (such as a fibrous batting), comprising a dope tank having a bottom opening for said strip; means for guiding said strip downwardly through the dope space of said tank so that where necessary the direction of movement overcomes gravity otherwise tending to strain said strip; and means for imparting body strength to said strip upon leaving said opening comprising means for surface chilling, for exertin lateral compression upon said strip and or drawing sald strip away from said tank.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, this 29th day of May, 1918.

EM WEINHEIM.

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