US1764089A - Fabric-treating machine - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1930. w w. slBsoN ET AL 1,764,089

FABRIC TREATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet .l

WITNESSES & w N W H w 1ygoR- s= &

I (Y 61' Z 81 [1' 054404 12, By T/wmas J 7 717161;

June 17, 1930. w, w; SIBSQN ET AL 1,764,089

FABRIC TREATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla I WITNESSES E INVENTORS:

WIZZ'GI Wfizbson &

I I J 16, W A A TORNEYS.

June 17, 1930. I w SIBSON ET AL FABRIC TREAT ING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21, 1929 INVENTORS: Willie? Wflibson & W J 1 7L116 BY 7% E t I TTORNEYS.

June 17, 193 0.

W. W. SIBSON ET AL FABRIC TREATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 21, 1929 FIG; M

INVENTORS:

zmzz-emmmsma BY Tfwmm Jimllag WHOM/5Y5. ll

Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER w. sIBsoN AND THOMAS J. MILLER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoEs TO THE PHILADELPHIA DRYING MAcIIINEnY COMPANY, OF PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSY VANIA FABRIC-TREATING MACHINE Application filed February 21, 1929. .Serial No. 341,626.

This invention relates to fabric treating machines and, more particularly, to that type generally adapted to the cooling and conditioning of certain classes of materials necessitating a degree of moisture regain .in order to ensure the best and most desirable finish and feel.

A general object of our invention' is to provide a novel means for cooling and conditioning materials in which the temperature and humidity may be accurately regulated and controlled in a manner which ensures predetermined definite results, while 'finish, and also impart a predetermined moisture regain said equipment.

thereto while traversing \Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth, illustrated -by the accompanying sheets of drawings, and tersely pointed out in the claims appended hereto. It is to be understood, however, that various changes in the form, proportion, arrangement and minor-details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from or sacrificing any of the fundamental advantages of our ii'lvention.

In the drawin s:

Fig. I is a sit e elevation of a cloth cooling and conditioning machine embodying our present improvements.

Fig. II is a top plan view.

Fig. III is a, longitudinal section through the machine, taken approximately as indi-' cated by the arrows III-III on the preceding illustration; and, p

Fig. IV is an end elevation looking toward the left-hand of Fig. I.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, our novel cooling and conditioning equipment or machine comprises an inclosure,

comprehensively designated 5, of conventional construction"; the samebeing sub-divided by vertical partitions 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 to provide a comparatively narrow cooling chamber 11; and a succession of relativelywider intercommunicating conditioning compartments 12', 13, 14, 15 and-16, which define a sinuous course through the-inclosure for the material and treating. medium-such as humidified air-.as later on fully explained.

Transversely of the upper region of the inclosure .5, over and along the major extent of the series of conditioning compartments 1216, is a sub-proof 17 which sets.

apart a flow-passage 18; as well as affording support for a coil or tube bank 19, conventionally connected with any suitable source of heating medium. Attention is here directed to the fact that the partition 6, above referred to, extends from the roof 20 of the inclosure 5 to the bottom or floor 21 thereof, except where it is cut out for passage of the material M.

Conveniently journaled in suitable bearings horizontally of the inclosure 5 are series of uppenand. lower rollers 22,,23, respec-' tively, for the purpose of conveying the material M through the cooling chamber 11, and conditioning compartments 12-46. The upper rollers, 22'are driven by means of sprockets 24 with entrained chains 25,- 26 and idler sprockets 27 located above-and positionally betweeneach successive pair of said rollers; whilethe return flights of the drive chains 25,26 pass over, relativelysuperspaced, idler or take-up sprockets 28 in alignment with certain of the rollers 22, as clearly seen on an examination of Fig. I, more particularly. I A

The respective drive chains 25, 26, aforesaid, with the related sprockets 24 and rollers 22, in turn are operated through the medium of chain transmissions 29, 30,. and sprockets 31, 32 on the axes of the trailing rollers 22 and 22"-for example; said transmissions passing over sprockets '33, 34 formed on, or secured to, a sleeve 35 freely rotatable on a constant speed shaft 36. This, sleeve 35 is operated from a variable to a shaft 51 journaled in bearings 52,

mounted on the roof 20 of-the inclosure 5. The shaft 51 has secured thereon a vertically rotatable fan 53, functional to circulate thetreating mediumby way .of a fan housing and elbow 54 from the flow passage 18, hereinbefore referred to, through a trunk or conduit 55, in a downward direction to the inlet 56 of a vapor-box 57. containing moisture-producing spray heads 58.

In View of there being other somewhat similar vapor-boxes arranged at intervals of the conditioning compartments 1216, I will now particularly describe the above mentioned one 57, and thereafter simply designate the others in general terms, with specific explanation of any differing features only, in order to avoid unnecessary repetitive description. The vapor-box 57 it will be seen consists of a rectangular receptacle suitably sustained in spacial relation within a box-like extension 59 located at the delivery end of the machine; such extension being provided with doors 60 for convenience of access thereinto; while the front wall 61 of said vaporsbox serves as a baflie or dead wall to prevent contact of spray from the heads 58 with the material M. The vapor-box 57 is provided with a lateral baffle 57 functional to constrict flow therethrough of the treating medium to an outlet orifice 62, while doors or a removable panel 63 to afford convenience of access to examine or adjust the spray heads 58.

A water-box 64, having a service connection 65 and shutoff valve 66, is fitted in conjunction with the vapor-box 57 and said water-box connects to the spray heads 58 by way of a supply pipe 67. -Air under pressure is supplied across the emission from the heads 58 by wayof a pipe 68, in order to provide the moisture necessary to the cm surement of a properly saturated atmosphere for discharge through the outlet orifice 62, under constrictive action of the baflle 57 aforesaid; into the conditioning compartment 16.

At predetermined intervals of the conditioning section of the machine, for convenience intermediate the compartments 12, 13 and 14, 15; we locate supplemental vaporboxes 69, 70, respectively. These supplemental-boxes 69, in all major respects rewalls thereof; while the tops of saidsupple- I mental-boxes are inclined to constitute baffles 73 which prevent spray emitted by the heads 58 coming in direct contact with the material M, passingaboutthe lower or idler rollers 23. A pan 74 is provided in conjunction with each vapor-box 69, 70, to catchand permit evaporation ofany possible drip from the baflies 73; while water is supplied to the related spray heads 58. by way of flow connections 75, Fig. I, from the water-box '64.

Air circulated, by means of the fan 53, through the conduit .55 into the vapor-box 57, becomes moisture laden before passing the outlet orifice 62 for induced flow below said box, as conventionally indicated by the arrows on Fig. III, upwardlythrough the conditioning compartment 16, over the top of the partition 10, and thence downwardly of the compartment 15. thereby depositing a portion of the humidified moisture in the material M. At this juncture, it is noteworthy'that the partitions 8 and 10, extend from the inclosure floor 21 into close proximity with the underside of oneof a related upper roller 22; the partitions 7 and 9 from the sub-roof 17 into close relation with the upper face of a lower idler roller 23; and, the partition 6 from the inclosure roof 20 to the floor 21 thereof, with a cut-out at 76 to accommodate one of the upper rollers 22, and passage of the material M.

In its further flow from the conditioning compartment 15-as indicated by the arrows on Fig. III-the air receives more moisture by virtue of constrained passage through the vapor-box 70, whence it upwardly flows by way of the compartment 14, over the partition '8 and downwardly of the compartment 13. The above explained re-moistening of the air, as it passes from the compartment 13, for upward flow by way of the conditioning compartment 12 again takes place, by similar constrained passage through the vapor-box'69; while the air leaving said latter compartment is returned to the cir- A culating fan 53, through the flow-passage 18 containing the heater coils 19.

Material M--such as cloth--to be cooled and conditioned, if in the form of a roll 77, is placed by its axis or spindle upon the bracket bearings 78, at feedend of the inclosure 5. The free end of the roll 77 is then passed upwardly about tensioning bars 79, under control of suitable adjuster means 80, and enters the cooling chamber 11, at 81. While the material M passes through,

the cooling chamber 11, the heattherein-contained is removed by means of an exhaust fan 82 housed in an elbowed outlet-cowl '83, on the roof 20 over said chamber. This fan 82 is conveniently driven by a belt-transmission 84, and pulleys 85, 86 from the counter, shaft 41, herei'nbefore referred to; while the heated air drawn-ofi by said fan is exhausted to the outside atmosphere through a suitable connection to the cowl 83-not shown, and is constantly replaced by fresh air drawn in by way of an inlet 87 proximate the lower edge of the inclosure feed-end wall 88, as conventionally indicated by the arrows on Fig. III.

To properly control the humidity in the several conditioning compartments we make use of a regulator device 89, mounted conveniently on an instrument board 90, located on the box-like extension 59; said device having associated hygrometers 91 and. actuating suitable valves that govern the amount of spray from the heads 58, as well as the supply of steamfor exampleto the heater coils 19. As these various instrumentalities are well known, they are not specifically il lustrated or described in detail, as their coordinative location and relation will be obvious to those conversant with the art to which our invention appertains.

The material M upon leaving the cooling chamber 11 passes continuously through the successive conditioning compartments 12- 16, over the driven rollers 22 and under the idlers 23 along a closely compacted undulatory path until it emerges from the enclosure at 92. After leaving the outlet 92, the

cooled-and-conditioned material M, is conducted downwards under an idler roll 93, suitably journaled across the delivery end wall 941 of the inclosure 5, to an appropriate roll-up means 95. This roll-up means 95 includes a removable spindle 96 upon which the material M is wound, said spindle being frictionally rotated by a roller 97 with an appropriate transmission 98 from a sprocket 99 on the axis of the trailing roller 22 remote from the drive sprocket 32 thereon; while the ends of said spindle are guided by tracks in pivoted lever arms 100. When a roll or bolt of material M is wound up on the spindle 96, the operator releases the latches 101 thereby permitting the lever arms 100 to be downwardly'swung onthe'irpivots until they abut the supporting brackets 102 therefor. The sewing is then cut at the juncture of the following piece ofmatcrial M, whereupon the completed roll or bolt is removed and the spindle 96, withdrawn. The lever arms 100 are next returned to the position shown, the spindle 96 drawn into place thereagainst and the latches 101 restored; whereupon the free endof the next length of material M is l pped aroundsaid -o spindle, and the sequen e of events, just described, repeated for ach successive roll or bolt turned out by the machine. Y

From the foregoing it is throught the features, merits and advantages of our novel cooling-conditioning equipment will be apparent, but it is herein desired to emphasize the provision of the controllable vapor- boxes 57, 69 and 70, whereby a greater .or lesser amount of moisture regain is positively obtainable. This phase of our invention is of primary importance as fabrics vary considerably, not only in weight and thickness, but they maybe'of open or close weave; while the yarns and fibers from which they are made also vary very considerably. By our invention, however, all such differing texture conditions can be accurately accomodated, inasmuch as provisions are made to regulate the machine over a wide range of different conditionings.

Finally, as compared with known forms of apparatus for similar purposes, our improved equipment ena-blesthe obtention of a product of a very much more uniformly'distributed moisture content, which may be closely controlled and regulated; and that also has possibilities of imparting a greater amount of moisture regain to the material treated than has been possible, heretofore: such results being accurately ensured in a shorter period of time, with the product of better feel and weight,

Having thus described our invention what we claim is 1. In a machine of the type described, the combination of an inclosure subdivided to, define a cooling chamber, and a series of intercommunicating compartments that define sinuous fiow of conditioning medium; means progressing material through the cooling chamber and conditioning compartments in compacted flights over a sinuous course alternatingly with and counter to the flow of the conditioning medium, and means automatically controlling injection of predetermined degrees of vapor at intervals of the conditioning medium flow.

2. In a machine of the type described, the combination of an inclosure subdivided to define a comparatively confined cooling chamber, and a succession of relatively larger intercommunicating vertical conditioning compartments which definea sinuous flow of treating medium,with a return flow passage over said compartments; means priigressing material through the cooling chamber and conditioning compartm nts in paralleling flights over an undulatoihp. course alternatingly with and counter to t e flow of the conditioning medium, and means supplying difi'eringdegrees of vapor at intervals of the conditioning medium. flow under co-ordinate automatic control.

3. In a machine of the type described, the combination of an inclosure subdivided to define a comparatively confined cooling chamber, and a succession of relatively- Y combination of an inclosure subdivided to define a comparatively confined cooling chamber, and a succession of relatively larger intercommunicating conditioning compartments that define a sinuous flow of the treating medium; a sub-roof over' the major extent of said compartments setting apart a return-flow passage therefor; heater means supported by the sub-roof within the flow passage; means conveying material,

- continuously through the cooling chamber n I u and conditioning compartments over a com-' pacted counter-progressing undulate course; and, vapor producing means under co-ordinate control disposed at intervals of the conditioning compartments adapted to emit variable degrees of moisture below the progressing material.

51' In a machine of the type described, the

combination of an inclosure subdivided to define a comparatively confined cooling chamber, and a succession of relativelylarger intercommunicating conditioning compartments that define a sinuous flow of the treating medium; a sub-roof over the v major extent of said compartments setting apart areturn-flow passage therefor; heater means supported by the sub-roof within the flow passage; .means conveying material continuously through the cooling chamber and conditioning compartments over a compacted counter-progressing undulate course; vapor producing means under co-ordinate control disposed at intervals of the conditioning compartments adapted to emit variable degrees of moisture below the progressingmaterial; and a circulating fan in a conduit connection from the discharge end of the aforesaid flow passage to the terminal vapor producing means.

6. In a. machine :of the type described, the

combination of an inclosure sub-divided by with baffles to prevent direct contact of non vaporized medium therewith; a circulating fan in a conduit connection from-the exit end of the return-flow passage to the terminal vapor producing receptacle; and coordinatively operated means effective to continuously fiow fresh air through the cooling compartment aforesaid.

7. In a machine of the type described, the combination of an inclosure sub-divided by vertical partitions to define a comparatively narrow cooling chamber, and a succession of relatively-wider intercommunicating conditioning sections that definesinuous flow of the treating medium; a horizontally dis-v posed sub-roof over the major extent of said sections setting apart a return-flow passage therefor; a heater-coil co-extensive of the sub-roof within the return-flow passage; co-

ordinatively-driven and idler rolls conveying material through the machinejcounten directionally to the flow of treating medium over a closely-compacted undulate course; automatically controlled vapor producing receptacles located at'intervals of the conditioning sections emitting differing degrees of moisture below the progressing material, with bafiies to. prevent direct contact vertical partitions to define a comparatively narrow coolin chamber, and a'succession of a relatively wi er intercommunicating conditioning sections that define'sinuous flow of the treating medium; a horizontally disposed sub-roof over the major extent of said sections setting apart a return-flow passage therefor; a heater-coil co-extensive of the sub-roof within the return-flow passage; coordinatively-driven and idler rolls convey-

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