US1854526A - Method and means for treating textile fabrics - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet W. S. ROWLEY Filed April 22, 1929 METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS Apri! 19, 1932.

flor/rey.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A W. s. ROWLEY METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed April 22, 1929 April 19, l1932.

April 19 1932 w. s. RowLEYy 1,854,526

METHQD ANDMEANS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed'April V22, 192s s sheets-sheet 3 VPatented Apr. 19, 1932 WILLIAM S.' ROWLEY,

` BUTTERWORTH & SONSCOMPANY,

F PHILADELPHIA., PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO H. W.

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA A METHOD AND MEANS, FOR TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS Application led April 22,

The object of my invention is generallyto provide a method and means for continuously and rapidly subjecting textile material, Whether in flat web or other suitablecondition, to a preliminary treatment comprising boilm in an alkaline liquor, spraying and squeezing, which shall cleanse the fabric and put it in such condition that after thorough washing, it is suitable for the bleaching, dye- 1o ing or other operation to which it is to be subjected.

ln the method heretofore generally practiced for boiling cloth, it has been customary to Wet the cloth through the use of a. wetting machine; and then to gather it into rope form through a pot-eye and plate, delivering it into a large tank or kier, and laying or plaiting the rope form fabric in all directions upon itself with the object of packing it -as uniformly as possible. rlhe alkaline liquor is then let into the kier, submerging the textile material therein and the boil started. As it is difficult to lay the rope-like textile material inthe kier to insure a uniform resistance vertically to the flow of the liquor, it very oftenffinds channels or avenues of least-resistance and pereolates through these channels during the boil instead of properly treating the textile material itself. The result is that the treatment will not be uniform over the entire fabric but will fre uently be so defective in parts that a repetition of this operation will be necessary in a second kier.

The length of time necessary to boil a kier under the conditions given above is usually from eight to twelve hours, this length of time being necessary because the volume of goods is so great that the liquor, even though brought under pressure, does not percolate through the fabric uniformly, and consequently the cloth must be allowed to remain in the kier for a length of time which will safely uniformly boiled or at least to such an extent that the required conditions are obtained.

Because of the fact that it has been found that a single boil in many cases Was not sutilcient to completely penetrate all ofthe goods uniformly, a second. boil is frequently resorted to, and this requires that the goods shall assure that all parts of the goods arel 1929. Serial No. 357,081.

be withdrawn from the first kier, washed throu h a bleaching house washing machine, andt ereafter deposited in the second kier in the same manner in which they were placed 1n the first kier, though in this case the goods 55 which were at the upper portion of the first kier will then be deposited at the bottom in the second kier, and vice versa.

It Willbe readily seen that by this process, portions of the goods which were independently exposed to the action of the kier in the first boil will be more fully exposed to p the boiling action of the liquor in the second boil. The length of time consumed in the rst and second boils, together with the necessary time for the goods to pass through the Washer and from onekier over to the other, has been approximately twenty-four hours. Furthermore', the extent of action of the liqf uor upon the goods is so ununiform and greatest at the beginning and ending of the length of goods to be treated as compared to the treatment at the middle, that there is always a doubt whether the goods, after being processed, are of a uniform character or technically bottom condition throughout its length.

Aside from the diificulties thus enumerated in connection with the use of theold form of kierV and process, there are many lother difliculties which enter into the treatment, such as require handling of the goods by boys in large numbers and who are recognized as dirty workers, often doing considerable injury to the goods in the handling. Further, damage is frequently done by entangling of the goods which has been improperly placed in the kiers by the boys and frequently requiring the same to be cut to enable removal thereby, shortening the piece lengths, and in that way injuring its saleability.

My improvement primarily has for an object the overcoming of all the diiculties which have heretofore been inherent to theA boiling in a kier as above outlined, and in addition to the special features of advantage iirst above mentioned, my improvements embody a capacity for-manipulating the goods throughout the treatment without any personal handling by the attendants and the 100v the treatment of the go s,

avoidance of all tanglin or irregularity in A so that upon once passing through the machine in a continuous manner, it may be taken as an unfailin fact that the treatment will beI complete an un1- form and the goods may be said to be definitely bottomed from one end to the other.

The special feature of my improvements resides in the fact that the goods may be treated in a continuous manner with as many re etitions of the treatment as desired and at W atever speeds the conditions may require, the fabric between each spraying and squeezing action being subjected to a boiling treatment in a weak caustic alkali solution for any pre` determined period which may be necessary.

Heretofore, J box guiding means for the fabric arranged for use with tank structures have been described and employed for treating fabrics to a caustic alkali solution to bottom the goods preliminary to the bleaching, dyeing or other operation, but in the use of apparatus of that character, the fabric has failed to travel freely through the J boxes wherein it is received and through which 1t is required to pass during the treatment with the caustic alkali solution. The result of thls failure of the apparatus to roperly functlon caused it to clog and the abrio became unduly packed or jammed in such manner that it failed to mechanically feed or travel through the apparatus, and consequently was not uniformly treated with the boiling caustic alkali solution, and failed to be properly bottomed throughout its length, and, therefore, was unsuitable for the subsequent dyeing treatment.

My improvements overcome the objectlons heretofore inherent in J box structures and insure reliable and satisfactory results, with a minimum requirement of la or and an 1ncrease in speed and eiliciency.

With the above and other objects in View, the nature of which will be more fully understood from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel continuous k1er and the method of operating the same in the treatment of textile fabrics as hereinafter more fully described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a continuous kier; Fig. 2 is .a vertical section of the same, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross section through a portion of one of the J boxes, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the feeding and guiding means for delivering the fabric to the upper right hand portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 1,

and showing the construction of the spreader; Fig. 6 is a front elevation at the feeding end of the apparatus, when adapted to feed the fabric in rope form; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same, taken on line 7-7 of Fig.

6; Fig. 8 is a side view of the guide at the bottom end of the J box, when treating fabric in the rope condition; Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 10 is a perspective view, with part broken away, of one of the cover plates which are employed 'to partially close the upper end of the treating tank; and Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a kier showing a plurality of J-box features associated in the same tank and embodying my improvements.

B is the chamber or tank in which the J box elements C are arranged. D represents closure plates of sheet metal which are suspended over the upper and open end of the chamber or tank by suspension brackets d which fit over the upper side edges of the tank. One of these cover plates is shown in Fig. 10. While these cover plates do not hermeticallyseal the tank, they, in a large measure, retain the steam vapors arising from the caustic alkali solution and insure a more satisfactory treatment of the fabric by maintaining a relatively high temperature within thetank. The caustic alkali solution within the tank B is heated by steam coils I which are arranged close to the bottom and within the tank, and steam is supplied to them under thermostatic control by means of a sylphon thermostat I of any suitable con .struction, whereby the caustic alkali solution may be maintained at a temperature above boiling point and preferably from 216 to 218"k Fahrenheit. I do not restrict myself to the particular means employed for maintaining the proper temperature of the caustic alkali solution.

The caustic alkali solution is preferably composed of water in which is dissolved three per centof caustic soda and one per cent of soda ash, based upon the weight of the water employed. ln a kier of the character de-y scribed, I employ approximately ten thousand pounds of caustic alkali solution.

My improved J boxes comprise a long tubular structure terminating at its lower end in an upward curve and consisting of a lower plate 2 and an upper plate 3 arranged at a slight angle to each other, so that the space between the two plates gradually increases from top to bottom', and the increase continues around the bend at the lowerl portion; and moreover, this increase in the space between the two plates is materially increased adjacent to the bend 7. These plates are secured together by cross bars 4 arranged at intervals.

the J box structure and are adjustable to and from each other to vary the width of the passage when desired. By reference to Fig. 3,' it will be seen that the association of the bottom and top plates 2 and 3 with the side plates 12 give a box-like passage C', and this box-like space increases between the plates Interposed between the plates 2 and 3 are plates 12 ,which constitute sides of,

2 and 3 radually from the to to the bottom The J box elements C are inclined as shown more particularly in Figs. 1.and 11, and are supported at their lowerA ends 1n a framework orcradle shown as composed of vertical thrust bars2a and horizontal sill or spacing bars 2b, and are also supported along their lengths and positioned at a distance from each side of the tank by means of transverse rods 10 which are secured both to said structures and to the sides of the tank. v

lThe sides of the J box structures shown at 12,12@ and 12b are shaped to adjustably and loosely fit the space vbetween the plates 2 and 3 and parts 5, 6, 7, 8, of the J box structure body, and are adjustable to and from each other by means of screws 17 which extend through the side walls of the chamber B and guided in brackets 19 on the outside of the chamber. These screws 17 are operated by hubs of sprocket wheels 18, the said hubs being held against longitudinal movement at one end by the brackets 19 and' at the other end by the bearing members 19a attached to the sides of the chamber B. The various sprocket wheels 18 are driven by sprocket chains 21 'which ultimately receive their power from sprocket wheels 22 upon a transverse shaft 24 which is provided with a hand wheel 20 by which rotation is imparted, the sprocket wheels 22 being connected with the sprocket wheels 18 on the uppermost screw threaded shafts 17 by sprocket chains 23. By

adjusting the hand wheel 2O in'one direction, the side plates l2, 12a and 12b may be adjusted toward each other to reduce the width of `the passage C through the J box structure, and arotation of the hand wheel in the opposite direction will insure said side plates being moved away from each other to widen the passage C through the J box structure. While the J box structures provide more or Y less closed passages C to insure the proper guiding ofthe textile material, it is to be understood that said material is being treated with the caustic alkali solution at all times within the said passages, first, by the' caustic solution sprayed upon it from the spray pipe 68 at the time the fabric is plaited into the upper end of the passage and during the passage of the fabric downwardly through the inclined structures, and secondly, by the passage of the fabric through the body of caustic alkali solution in the bottom` of the tanklike structure, as will be understood by reference to F ig. 1. The temperature of the caustic alkali solution'maybe readily indicated on a thermostatic indicator K whose .thermostatic member extends through the wall of the tank and into the caustic alkaliv solution,thereby enabling the operatorto know `the desired' temperature o whether the solution is bein maintained at from 216 to 218 F. It will be understood, therefore, that the adjustable side plates' at 12a forma more or less loose fit with the top and bottom plates 5 and 6 ofthe J box structure where it vis submerged in the caustic alkali solution, so

as to permit free access of the solution to the textile material within the passage C. I do not restrict myself to the manner in which the fluid may enter the passage adjacent to the lower bend of the J box structure as, aside from the looseness between the fitting of the sidev plates above mentioned, the said plates may be provided with apertures such as indicated at 120, and similar holes may be provided in the top and bottom plates 5 and 6' also, if so desired.

On account of the great weight of the side plates each composed of parts 12, 12a and 12b of the J box structures, and to avoid binding upon'the adjusting screws 17, it is desirable that the said side plates shall be suspended at their upper ends upon truck structures guided upon transverse rails, so that they may be freely adjusted to suit the width of the materials being treated. At the upper end of the said side 'plates of the J box structures there are provided truck wheels 14 .running upon transverse rails 13, said rails extending fromVV side to side of the chamber B. At th'e other or lower end 12b of the side plates, there are vlikewise provided truck wheels 16 which similarly run upon transends of the extensions 8 of the back and front plates 2 and 3 of the J box structures. In this manner, the side plates of'said structures taken as separate units are hung upon the truck wheels 14 and 16, and hence easily adjusted.

The means for delivering fabric to the J box structures comprise the following instrumentalities The fabric is fed between a metal roll E and a rubber covered roll E, the latter 'being journaled in a weighted lever 30 so as to provide the requisite pressure between the rolls E and E. The roll E is journaled in a fixed bearing secured to the upright housing 36, whereas the roller E is j ournaled upon the weighted levers 30, and they, in turn, are pivotedto the housing 36. To enable the rolls to be moved apart, such as when threading the machine with the fabric in the first instance, the roll E may be lifted by U- shaped yokes-35 having at their tops head pieces 34 adapted to beraised and lowered by means of cams 33 upon a transverse shaft 31 journaled upon the said housing 36 and rotated by a hand wheel 32. Normally, the weighted lever'30 applies the desired pressure of the roll E upon the roll` E', but when the machine vis to be put into action with a fresh textile fabric, it becomes necessary to los raise the roll E to permit the insertion of v the fabric between the rolls. However, or-

dinarily, the new batch of fabric is connected to the fabric previously passing through the kier so that by the time it has passed out of the kier, the new fabric will have been installed in the J box structures under the normal treat-ment therein. After the fabric has passed between the rolls E and E', it is passed over the plaiter F4 comprising a rotating frame having transverse bars so spaced that the fabric will be laid within the J box passageway C in a plaited or zigzagged condition indicated in the upper portion of Fig. 1. The plaiter F is desirably rotated .by a sprocket chain 43 passing about a'sprocket wheel 42 on the plaiter and being driven by a sprocket wheel 44 on"` the shaft of the press roll E. From the discharge or lower end of the J box structure, the fabric extends upward and thence over and under the drag bars 26 whereby the desired tension may be put upon the fabric T2 as it ascends to be subjected to the squeeze rolls E, E', for the next J box structure. The amount of drag that is exerted by the drag bars 26' may be increased or decreased by adjusting the frame 25 about its axis 28 and which adjustment may be retained by a pawl and ratchet wheel structure 27. Under this adjustment of the drag bars, the tension on the fabric may. be adjusted while the feeding action of the pressure rolls E, E', may be constant.

As the fabric T2 is approaching the squeeze rolls E, E', it is drawn tightly against the spreader H which is shown moreI in detail in Fig. 5, the function of which is to spread the fabric and even its selvage so that it passes in a proper manner to the squeeze or nip rolls E, E. The spreader H may' be of any suitable construction, but by way of example, I have illustrated, in Figs. l and 5, a suitable form, the same consisting of a transverse bar 53 sustained within the chamber B and to the middle of which is secured a frame 53a to whicha frame 50 is pivoted at 51, said frame being somewhat of an inverted V shape, as shown in Fig. 5. This frame 50 supports rolls '52 which are screw threaded and arranged in pairs in V shaped relation above and below the said frame 50. When the cloth is drawn over these screw threaded rolls 52, the action of the screw threads is to spread the fabric from the center outward toward the selvages, with the result that the fabric is freed from wrinkles and is more or less evened at the selvages. The oscillations of the frame 50 and the screw or spiral threaded rolls 52 adapt themselves to the condition of the fabric according as to whether it extends more to one side of the pivot than to the other, and is automatic, as is well known with this type of spreader.

The means for circulating the caustic alkali solution and for spraying it upon the fabric may consist of the following devices:

A. pump N (Figi 2) may draw the caustic alkali solution by pipe 47 from the lower part of the tank structure and delivers it bypipe 49 to the suction inlet of the pump, the pump thereafter forcing it through pipe 49a and delivering it into a pipe 61 extending to the interior of the chamber B and by which it is distributed over a plurality of distributing pipes 62 to a plurality of spray nozzles arranged transversely across the chamber and located as follows. Spray pipes 63 and 64 are arranged to spray the upwardly passing fabric or multi-ply fabric on the underside immediately-after it leaves the dragI bars 26 and spray pipes 65 and 66 are arranged to spray the upper side of the fabric or` upper ply thereof immediately after it leaves the drag bars, the said spray pipes on the opposite sides of the fabric being preferably arranged in staggeredrelation. The spray from these pipes removes a large portion of the caustic alkali solution from the fabric before the same passes to the nip or squeeze rolls E, E. A spray pipe 67 is arranged immediately before the nip of the said rolls E, E takes place, so that it sprays the fabric to clear it ofsurplus caustic soda solution immediately before it is squeezed between the said nip or press rolls. A further spray pipe 68 is arranged transversely of the upper end of the J box structure and is adapted to spray the fabric T2 as it descends under the action of the plater F of the next adjacent J box struc- 'portion of the pivoted pipe 48. lf the pipe 48 is swungdown, as indicated by the dotted lines, the overiow level would be reduced almost to the bottom of the J box passage. By means of this pipe, the level of the caustic alkali solution within the tank may be varied to any desired level, the normal level being that provided when the pipe 48 is substantially vertical, as shown. f

In feeding the fabric into the kier, it is wetted out with water and then with a caustic /alkali solution lslightly stronger than that used in the kier itself, and then passed through stretching devices known as Foxwell guiders which operate upon the selvages to stretch them apart and to the proper width just before the fabric enters the kier proper` the position of such guiders being indicated at X and Y in Fig.' 4, the frame B .j of said figure being an extension of the upper horizontal frame of the chamber B of Fig. 1. As shown there f are Foxwellv guiders X for a web'of woven fabric T, and a similar F oxwell guider Y for a web of woven fabric T', said fabrics being respectively guided over guide rolls 46 and 45 so that they continue through the kier as a two ply fabric T2. After the two-ply fabric enters the kier, it continues as a two-ply fabric throughout the entire treatment, thus giving twice the output to the machine as would result if a single ply fabric alone were employed.

It will be further understood that because I the fabric is a two-ply web, the spray pipes y 63 and 64 spray one of the fabric webs, while spray pipes 65 and 66 spray the opposite web. Furthermore, the spray pipes 67 and 68 likewise spray the opposite webs, so that the fabric may be treated as a two-ply fabric with entire satisfaction and with the corresponding increase in output capacity of the machine.

It will also be understood that if the treatment of the fabric to a caustic alkali solution -somewhat stronger than that of the kier were gearing and shafting illustrated-in Figs. 1

and 2. In these figures, the press roll E may be driven by a pinion gear on a'shaft 38, the said pinion driving a bevel gear 37' secured to the shaft of the press or nip roll E.

Furthermore, the bevel pinion 40 is looselyj" sleeved upon the shaft 38 and is connected orf disconnected, as required, by a hand operated clutch 39 manipulated by a hand lever41. In this manner, the press rolls and the v'corresponding plaiter F, of any one of the-J box structures C, may be put into or out of'action for purposes of repairs, adJustment, or for any other reason as may arise. The driving shaft 38 may be driven by any suitable motive power such, for example, as by an electric motor L and chain power transmitting connection M.

In the diagrammatic drawings Fig. 11, I have shown the combination of four J box structures within the same chamber or-compartment B, each provided with their individual drag bars G and press or nip rolls E, E with its individual plaiter F. It will be observed, however, that the nip or press rolls E, E', for stretching the fabric extendin from the drag bars G are in all cases arrange close to the plaiter of the next adj acentJ box structure, with the exception of the last J box structure7 in which case the' nip or press rolls are arranged immediately above the drag bars for more convenient delivery of Each J box structure is also provided,

observed that the first set of press or nip rolls E, E', act as feed rolls for receiving the fabric T2 after it leaves the Foxwell guiders (Fig. 4), but the fabric passing through this irst set of nip rolls may be treated with a spray similar to the spray 67 of the 4other rolls. These nip or press rolls not only provide the tension upon the fabric, as it leaves the lower end of the J box structures and over drag bars, but also constitute feeding devices for the delivery of the fabric to the plaiters. of the next adjacent Jv box structure, so that the fabric which is delivered to and recelved from the successive J box structures is the same as to quantity.

- The inclined arrangement of the long tubular J box structures is a very important feature of my improvement and is the result of considerable experiment, and its advantages may be enumerated as follows: By having a large capacity for treatment to the caustic in each J box structure, less repeats of treatment will suffice for the desired bottoming condition, but where the long upwardly extending passage is arranged vertically, as

heretofore has been the practice, the plaited fabric fed into the tubular passage packs tightly upon itself and upon the opposite side walls in such a manner as to cause its passage through the structure to be obstructfed, and in that manner cause defective'treatment. This result was further inducedby reason of the fact that the opposite side walls of the tubular passage were parallel and, therefore, there was no self-release of the piled fabric. By reason of these defects, it has heretofore been necessary to employ passages of relatively small length and more of them. In the present case, the tapered arrangement of the passage extending downward through the long arm of the J box structure, the fabric tends to release itself as it proceeds downward by always passing into a cross sectional area which is greater than the one previously occupied, and moreover, the inclining of the long tubular passage permits a greater pressure of the fabric to come l,upon the lower .wall of such inclined passage and th'ereby, in effect, ref lease the pressure, of the fabric upon the upper wall. The inclination of the lower wall, shown in Fig. 1, is 60 to the horizontal, and this has been found to be excellently adapted to the purpose by reason of increasing the friction upon the said lower wall and w1th a corresponding decrease of friction upon the upper wall while, at the same time, maintaining a suiiciently steep.

inclination to insure a free and ready pas'- sa e of the fabric downward under gravity. g[he resence of the enlargedl space between the extension of the opposite . walls 2 and 3 around the bend to the point 7 permits the fabric to freely pass around the bend in a sutiiciently loose conditionthat it may be readily lifted without putting excessive resistance upon the drag bars, thereby permitting accurate adjustment of the latter. In the erection of m improved kier, the great vpossible height o the J box structures which are available under my improvements makes it desirable to erect the greater portion of the chamber B and its contents below the Hoor level, and this is accomplished by constructing a deep concrete well A (Fig. 1), within which the machine is placed, leaving room suiiicient between its side walls and the walls of the well for permitting assemblage and repair work.

Owing to the high temperature at which I prefer to o crate the kier, the same being preferably fiom 216 to 218 F. the water element of the caustic alkali solution becomes evaporated and causing the solution to become more concentrated with an excess of alkalinity. To compensate for this loss of water, I supply the caustic alkali solution with additional water from time to time to maintain the alkalinity initially provided. This additional water supply may be from any source desired, but I have found that it ma be provided at boiling temperature by utilizing the condensatefrom the heating coils II, and I, therefore, deliver the condensate derived fromfthat source into the caustic alkali solution being employed in the treatment of the textile material. This hot water supply may be provided by piping O having a control valve O operated by a stem and hand wheel P. In this manner, the additional water is supplied ina heated state and, therefore, under economical conditions since its supply to the caustic alkali solution in no wise chills the same and a thorough commingling of the water with the caustic solution will quickly take place.

Heretofore, I have described my improved apparatus and method of operation in respect to textile fabric in the web and in its treatment while spread to its My improved apparatus an method may also be employed in treating fabrics in a rope form, whether in continuous len hs or shorter lengths coupled together, and 1n fact' may be employed for bottoming yarns in skein form interlooped to constitute a ropelike structure. When it is necessary to employ my improved kier for treating textile material in rope form, I substitute traversing guide means for the rope-like textile material, which traverse back and forth transversely of the general forward direction of the fabric through the J box structures,

eatest width.v

whereby the textile material may be plaited i' transversely within the J box passa e. `The changes to facilitate the proper han ing and feeding of the rope-like textile material is illustrated in Fi s. 6 to 49, inclusive.

Referring togF rolls E, E, and the parts 30 to 36, inclusive, operate the same as 1n the case of the treatment of the fabric in web form. In addition to the said parts operating as before, the plaiter F will also be employed, but the spreader H will be unnecessary and may be removed, and traversing means such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, attached in place. i The said traversing means comprises a pair of transverse guide rods 58 upon which a carriage 56 is guided, said carriage provided with a long gulde 57 through which the rope- .like textile material is fed and guided to the nip or press rolls E, E. The carriage 56, for moving the guide 57, is reciprocated back and forth upon the guide rods 58 by' a traversing shaft 60 having right and left handed helical grooves cooperating with a pivoted tooth on the carriage, so that with a continuous rotation of the shaft 60 the carriage will be reciprocated laterally first in one direction then in the other, and so, such traversing devices being well known 1n printing machinery and in textile machines, and no further detail description will be necessary..

The shaft 6() is rotated by a sprocket and chain drive 59 froml the shaft of the press roll E. It will now be understood that as the ring guide 57 moves back and forth transversely of the machine, the rope-like textile material is delivered tothe nip or press rolls E E', and by them delivered to the plaiter F which delivers the rope-like textile material in a short plaited condition in the direction of the length of the apparatus and, at the same time, the traversing guide 57 cooperating with the press rolls and the plaiter F plaits or lays the textile material back and forth transversely within the J box passage. l

After passing through the J box assage and emerging from the discharge en thereof, the rope-like textile material passes through a guide aperture 55 in the upper part of a dome 54 which is fitted to the discharge end of the J box structure, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9. When this guide 55 is provided for the emerging rope-like textile material, the drag bar devices G may be omitted, though in some cases their employment may be retained, more especially where the fabric is of very-light wei ht. r It will be understood that t e functioning of the J box structure is the same irrespective of the manner of feeding the textilefabric J to and from it or whether the fabric is in web or rope-like form. y

I have described my improved method and means in that particularity which I deem' to igs. 6 and 7, the press or nip be the best exposition of myinvention, and that which I prefer in commercial practlce, but I do not restrict or confine myself to the minor or secondary details, as such aresusceptible of modification, which may be resorted to as a matter of mechanical skill and without a departure from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the character stated', a chamber shaped to provide a liquid holding tank at its lower part, combined with a substantially J shaped guiding passage arranged within the tank having a short leg portion opening upward relatively to the level of the fluid in the tank and a long leg portion extending considerably above the fluid and into the upper part of the chamber and also arranged on an incline whereby a textile mate rial lling the passage tends to press by gravit more heavily upon the lower inclined wall o the passage and with relatively lesser pressure upon the upper inclined wall thereof to facilitate the movement of the textile material downward through the passage, means for feeding a textile materialinto the upper end of the long leg portion of the J -shaped passage whereby it is built up to provide a greater Weight than that part of the textile material in the short leg portion for causing the textile material to be moved through the fluid contents ofthe tank and up into the 'short leg portion, squeezerolls arranged above the J shaped passage for withdrawing the textile material from the short leg ortion thereof, and means for heating the uid in the tanks.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the means for feeding the textile material into the upper end of the long leg portion includes a plaiting device for laying the fabric in a zigzag manner, said J shaped passage having relativel adjustable side portions, and means for adjusting vsaid side portions relative to or from each other for varying the width of the passage.

' The invention according to claim- 1, wherein further, the J shaped passage has a cross sectional area which gradually increases from its inta-ke end to its discharge end and in which the vertical distance between the upper and lowei` walls of the long leg portion of the J shaped passage gradually increases along the length from top to bottom of said long leg portion.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the J shaped passage is provided with upper and lower inclinedwalls the former having a lesser incline than the latter, where,-

' by the space between said walls gradually increases from top to bottom of said passage, and in which further, said passage is curved at its lower end to provide a material increase in the width between the said walls ata oint below the small leg portion from whic the textile material is withdrawn.

5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the J shaped passage is provided with upper and lower stationary walls and is also provided with side plates adjustable to and from each other and of a shape to be adjustable between the upper and lower walls, transverse rails arranged adjacent to the upper ends of the longand short leg portions of the J shaped passage, and wheels secured to the ends of the side plates and arranged to run upon the rails, and means to adjust the side plates relatively to each other.

6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, a rotatable plaiter means is provided between the means for feeding the textile material and the upper end of the J shaped passage.

7 In apparatus of the character stated, a

provided with a cradle for supporting it from the bottom of the tank and having its long leg inclined portion spaced from the sides vof the chamber and rigidly positioned therein by transverse portions connected to the walls of the chamber and also to. the.

sheet metal structure of the inclined passage. -8. 'Ifhe invention according to claim 7, whereln further, the J shaped passage is tapered so as to gradually increase in cross sectional area along its length from top to bottom.

9. The invention according to claim 7, wherein further, the J shaped passage is tapered so as to gradually increase in cross sectional area along its length from top to bottom, and in which also the side walls of the passage are adjustable relatively to and from each other for adjusting the width of the passage.

. 10. Thel invention according to claim 7, wherein further, the sheet metal side walls of the4 J shaped passage are relatively adjustable 'toward or from each other and are supported at their upper and lower ends upon truck structures, whereby they may be easily adjusted, and adjustable screw devices for l adjusting the side walls and holding them in adjusted positions.

11. The invention according to claim 1,

wherein further, there is provided above the upon the textile material between said drag device and the press rolls, and spray pipes forspraying the opposite sides of the textile material during its passage from the drag devices to the press rolls. 4

l2. The invention according to claiml, wherein further, means forspreadingthetex tile material when passing from the short leg of the J shaped passage to the press rolls is 10 provided, and spraying means for spraying a fluid upon the textile material arranged intermediate of the short leg of the J shaped passage and the means for spreading the textile material.

i 13. In an apparatus of the character stated, an oblique tubular structure through which textile material is caused to pass while in a packed plaited condition, comprising upper and lower guiding walls lying in different oblique planes and providing a space between them of gradually increasing cross sectional area from top to bottom, the Obliquity of the structure being such that the fabric will press upon the lower wall with suiicient gravity action to cause it to slide downward over said surface and tend to be drawn away from the undersurface of the opposite oblique wall, and means for subjecting the textile material passing through the said oblique tubular 3 structure to a chemical fluid.

14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein further, means are provided for subjecting the fabric to a chemical solution .prionto entering the oblique tubular passage and means are also provided adjacent to the top of the tubular passage for causing the textile material to be plaited'as it passes into the upper end of the said passage.

' 115. The invention according to claim 13,

4,0 wherein further, a tank adapted to contain a chemical solution is provided for the lowerA portion of the oblique tubular passage, and wherein also means are provided for withdrawing the fabric from the tank and lower end of the tubular passage and squeeze from the' fabric surplus tl'uid.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAMS. RowLEY.

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