US1951745A - Process and apparatus for bleaching fabrics in open width condition - Google Patents

Description

March 20, 1934. F. BARKER ET AL 1,951,745

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION Filed April 18, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 20, 1934. F. BARKER El AL 1,951,745

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION Mai-ch 20, 1934. F. BARKER El AL Filed April 18, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hill) l l n March 20, 1934. F. BARKER ET AL.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION Filed April 18, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 lu muuullunlm l Hmnmnunmln March 20, 1934. F. BARKER ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION Filed April 18, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 f 9r k 5 hr Y Ort& E l, w w4% t R 2 0 o 3 "3 Harm March 2.0, .1934. F. BARKER ET AL 1,951,745

I ROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION Filed April 18, I950 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 TTORNEYS March 20, 1934. BARKER AL 1,951,745

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION Filed Ap ril 18, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet a Ill ATTORNEYS Patented M... 20,1934

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION Frederick Barker and Ernest Barker, Heywood, and Percy Vincent Barker, Styal, England Application April 18, 1930, Serial No. 445,302

In Great Britain July 3, 1929 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for bleaching fabrics in open width condition.

According to the process, the fabric to be bleached is suspended in perfectly open form in festoons in or in connection with a portable wagon or vehicle by being hung in lengthy festoons over closely pitched bars or spacers spanning from side to side or forming part of a detachable frame. The wagon which has no top and preferably only sides, going end-on into a kier, and being preferably enclosed therein, such kier being adapted to stand pressure. In this kier, which has provision for heating and circulating the caustic or boiling solution, there is an over-head tray or vessel with perforated bottom and the liquor falls through the holes in the tray and over spaced bars, or any equivalent, disposed below the tray and arranged for splitting-up or distributing the liquor which is rained downover the festooned cloth in the wagon or on the rods or bars shut-up in the kier. The second stage in the process is, to open the boiling kier, withdraw without disturbing the festooned fabric and then to run the transportable wagon into what is really a washing apparatus and this is constructed to receive the wagon and has an over-head perforated tray with lower distributor, lower compartment for water, and pump for circulating the washing water and distributing same to fall in split-up condition onto the festooned fabric supported on the wagon or standing in position in the washing apparatus. Thethird step in the process is, to withdraw the wagon or the festooned fabric on the wagon and introduce the same into an apparatus adapted to receive same, this apparatus being provided with a lower trough and having an over-head tray and distributor to allow a chemicking solution to be rained down and re-circulated.

Thereafter the festooned fabric is withdrawn and introduced into a washing apparatus of type similar to the one already mentioned. Following this, the festooned fabric is introduced on or in connection with a wagon into an apparatus where the souring is effected-this being adapted to receive the wagon, and having meansfor collecting and circulating a souring solution,

- which is distributed from over-head through a 60 tray and lower liquor distributor. Thereafter the final washing is effected in a washing apparatus as before. Finally the festooned fabric is removed on the wagon and the fabric pulled off by a mangle or equivalent which, in pulling off the fabric, throws out the bars or spacers onto the floor or 'wagon receiving the festoons will be later deinto a collecting receptacle. The processes performed in the bleaching such as boiling or scouring, chemicking, and souring, might be obviously varied or extended, but it is the intention to maintain the fabric undisturbed in festoons on or transported by the wagon throughout the complete process and to introduce the fastooned fabric on or by the wagon in succession to the various apparatuses.

The invention includes means or apparatus for 5 carrying out the bleaching process according to the process or method already set forth. Suitable apparatus is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, to which we refer in the following detailed description, and in such drawings:--

Fig. 1 is a side view showing a simple apparatus with fabric being festooned into a wagon such as could be advantageously used under our process.

Fig. 2 shows an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows in front view a form of boiling or scouring kier with circulating and distributing means and movable door.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view of one of a series of apparatus of a kind in which the washing, chemicking, souring, etc., can be done.

Fig. 6 shows a side view of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are end and side views of the transportable and readily removable wagon loaded with the festooned fabric.

Figs. 9, 10 andll show one form of support rods, bars or spacers for the festooned cloth.

Figs. 12 to 19 are enlarged detail views of the liquid spreading devices over which the solutions or liquids are discharged.

Figs. 20 to 25 are detail views showing how the spreading or liquor distributing devices can be supported.

Figs. 26 and 27 are views showing the fabric being pulled off a wagon to be emptied, after completion of the bleaching.

The fabric to be bleached and marked a can be drawn from the supply and guided over bars a and guide roller :1 to feed rollers 11 Boys standing on platforms a insert the cross-rods or spacers, to be later described, and one boy operates the hand wheel a to feed the fabric down in festoons as Figs. 1 and 2 indicate. The

scribed, the same having wheels which run upon rails. A wheeled truck C with rails on its platform is shown, and this truck can be run on floor rails C to any apparatus of the combination.

We employ a scouring or boiling kier constructed to stand some pressure and this may be of any shape and designed to take two wagons one behind the other, or side by side, as found most convenient. The drawings show a scouring or boiling kier marked 1) and this has a readily fixable and removable end door b This door may be suspended and movable on runner wheels b on an over-head rail b The door is so supported as, on release, to move slightly forward to facilitate'its being quickly shifted, and said door can be clamped by swing bolts b. There is a trough b at the base of the kier and a suitable circulating pump b This pump lifts the liquor through a tubular or other heater b from the trough or base 12 and discharges the heated liquor into an over-head trough c which has a perforated bottom. The heated liquor falls on and between closely spaced bars marked d, which can well be of plain or perforated square or channel section, a form of which is well shown to a large scale by Figs. 12 and 13 and the lower edges may be serrated at frequent spacings d to ensure a well distributed drip and to prevent streams travelling longitudinally. There is preferably provided more than one set of spaced bars and we show a second set e with lower edges serrated at e This lower set is separately shown at Figs. 14 and 15, and the bars are shown as breaking joint with the set 11 whereby liquor falling between the bars d encounters the bars e arranged below.

There is preferably arranged below the set of bars e a further set of spreading devices. This set is marked f and consists of a series of spreaders fashioned from sheet material or built-up, and well shown by Figs. 16 to 19, there being a vertical web f which, looked at end-on, has a series of bent horizontal portions or sections, one bent to right and one to left, the directions of bend to right or left alternatingin each succeeding section through the length. Semi-circular cuts are made at the right-angle bends of the lower webs to interrupt the travel of liquid.

The manner of supporting the bars d, e, f is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and by the Figs. 20 to 25. Angle-iron supports g are provided and these carry slotted transverse brackets 9 In the slot in such brackets and for the distributing bars d and e is disposed a bearer g notched on the top edge and the notches position the bars d and e whilst the spaced bearers 9 support the bars (1 and e at intervals. The arrangement for the distributors f is similar (see Figs. 23 to 25), bearers g being used and cut-out along the'top edge. The bearers g in this case sit each one in its slot in the slotted transverse brackets g sustained by the angle-iron supports g. The upper edge of each spaced bearer g is cut away to support the distributors f, as shown by Fig, 23.

The fabric a is festooned into the wagon as already mentioned so as to fill the same, and a suitable wagon structure is shown by Figs. 7 and 8 and this wagon is marked it. It has more or less open sides and no ends, and the sides may be stayed by removable cross-bars h arranged across the ends and fixed by wing-nuts h or permanently fixed by bolts. The top of the wagon sides has suitable longitudinal sections 12 and the wagon is adapted to run on flanged wheels h on rails. We provide cross-bars or rods 1 with combined or separate spacing pieces i at each end, and these bars or rods may be made of any suitable material or metal as for example of an alloy known under the trade-mark or trade-name of Staybrite, and these bars or rods may be wrapped with twine or otherwise covered to clothe same and prevent direct contact with the alloy.

The fabric a is hung or arranged in festoons depending in the wagon h as'already explained, the festoons being closely pitched. With the fabrics so arranged in the wagon, said wagon is run on its flanged wheels h on the provided rails n and introduced into the boiling or scouring kier b, the door b is closed up, and the scouring or boiling takes place for the requisite period, with the heated liquid constantly circulated so that same is sprayed down over the suspended fabric from the trough c and over the bars d, e, f.

The wagons have the flanged wheels h} to suit provided rails 71 etc., for ease of insertion or withdrawal. If desired flanged Wheels suitably located to run on over-head run-ways could be provided.

After the scouring or boiling, the wagons h are withdrawn, say onto a truck C withirails, and which truck has flanged wheels to run on rails on the floor of the bleach croft. The truck or trucks with the supported wagons is then transported to a washing and subsequently to succeeding apparatus all of which may be of a kindred construction. A construction of apparatus suitable for washing, chemicking, washing, souring, washing, etc., is clearly illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6. This apparatus is lettered 7 and comprises a substantial frame-work boarded in at the back and the sides, and provided with a blind 7' at the front. It has a bottom reservoir i rails to run the wagon h upon, a pump 7' a pipe d leading to the pump, and up-cast pipe an over-flow outlet 7' The pump 7' delivers the liquor through perforated tray 0 and over bars or distributors d, e, j, which may well be similar to those already described with reference to the boiling or scouring kier. These bars or distributors d, e, i, might be of gutta- -percha, vulcanite, or structures coated with such, or of noncorrosive alloys, in the various apparatuses other than the boiling kier where they would preferably be of a non-corrosive alloy.

The wagon, after washing, is introduced for example into an apparatus similar to 7', where the chemicking part of the process is performed. The wagon then goes to a washing ap paratus similar to 7', then to a "souring apparatus similar to 9', and afterwards to a washing apparatus similar to 12 All these several apparatuses can be substantially similar to 7' and they allow of running-in of the wagon and of the collecting, circulating, and over-head split-up distribution of the various liquors. These several apparatuses may be designed to take one or more wagons.

The boiling or scouring kler or kiers and other specified apparatus of which latter there may be to be emptied, is shown as having been brought to a staging k, the fabric being pulled oil! over rollers k and bars k by a mangle h The top portions or rails h of the festoon carrying wagon may be in the form of a separate detachable frame resting on the sides of the wagon and this frame may be introduced on a wagon and left on supports in each treating apparatus and the wagon withdrawn leaving the festooned fabric on the bars or rods in the separable frame, and after treatment the wagon is again introduced to lift and support the frame and permit of withdrawal of the frame with festooned fabric for transport and introduction into the further apparatuses or for removal or otherwise. This variation means that a less number of wagons would serve for effecting our process.

It is clear that more than one layer of fabric may be festooned in the wagons and bleached by the various apparatus described, and the two fabrics can be pulled out of a wagon by separate rollers and so wound into two batches.

In the present systems of bleaching in rope form, the fabrics are necessarily creased and punished and so they do not takedye-stuffs evenly, whilst in the known open fabric bleaching processes the cloth is pulled through the various stages by mangles or squeezers to its detriment. Under our process, the fabric once festooned is submitted to all processes in that condition without any disturbance, and consequently tension, squeezing, or bad treatment and all handling is done away with, the workmen merely requiring to introduce and remove the wagons to the various apparatuses.

For both heavy and delicate fabrics as well as for fabrics woven with artificial silk designs, the improved process presents great advantages.

The actual construction of boiling kier, washing, chemicking, and souring apparatuses may vary somewhat so long as wagons with festooned cloth can be introduced and treated in required manner.

The process and apparatuses are equally effecing in the rope from some four or five days to. a

matter of one day.

We regard the distributing apparatus as of conv siderable importance the same serving to splitup and spread and rain down the liquor over the supported and festooned fabric in very effective fashion.

The durability of the plant is to be appreciated and all the festoon wagons are kept clean automatically, being washed along with the supported fabric.

We declare that what we claim is:

l. A process for bleaching fabrics in open width form which consists insupporting the fabric in open width and in festooned form upon spaced supports and in subjecting the fabric upon the spacedsupports to a plurality of treatments in zones, the festooned fabric being first boiled in a scouring zone, then washed in a washing zone, and then successively chemicked, washed, soured and washed in washing zones, the fabric being maintained throughout all the operations on the same spaced supports and in festooned open width formations, and the liquors in all the treatments being circulated, discharged and spread over the fabric from over-head and at different levels to rain the liquids down upon the fabrics, 10 upon the spaced supports, and in untouched festooned form. V

2. The herein described method or process for the progressive treatment of fabrics in open width form and comprising the festooning of the fabric upon spaced supports and the introduction of said fabrics in festooned form to treatment in a succession of zones wherein the festooned fabric on the same spaced supports is treated in one zone to a scouring process, then in a zone to washing treatment, then in a zone to chemicking treatment, then in 'a zone to washing treatment, then in a zone to souring treatment, and then in a zone to washing treatment, the treatment in the successive zones being by liquid discharged from '115 over-head by raining down the liquor from different levels, the spaced supports being finally discharged from the bleached fabric.

FREDERICK BARKER. ERNEST BARKER. PERCY VINCENT BARKER.

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