US2035641A

US2035641A - Textile material

Info

Publication number: US2035641A
Application number: US637435A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dickie William Alexander; Gentle Alexander Henderson
Original assignee: Celanese Corp
Current assignee: Celanese Corp
Priority date: 1931-10-21
Filing date: 1932-10-12
Publication date: 1936-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1953-03-31
Also published as: GB391192A; FR744225A

Description

March 31, 1936. w DlCKlE T AL 2,035,641

TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Oct. 12, 1932 W\LLW1 A. D\CK\E 35 ALEAADER H sewn:

Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEXTILE MATERIAL Application October 12, 1932, Serial No. 637,435 In Great Britain October 21, 1931 17 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of textile materials, and is particularly concerned with the finishing operations carried out on pile 5 fabrics. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for raising or brushing the pile of pile fabrics.

According to the invention, in the raising or brushing of pile fabrics, vapour, e. g. a softening 10 vapour, is applied to a part of the fabric which is being subjected to raising or brushing. In general, steaming affords a satisfactory vapour treatment, and in the subsequent description reference will be made only to theme of steam. In

15 carrying out the process, the pile may be raised by means of rotatingbrushes, card cylinders or other means for the purpose, and may be carried out uniformly over the whole of the fabric or in such a manner as to produce differential surface 20 effects on the fabric.

The invention is applicable to pile fabrics generally, such as plush, warp pile velvet, ring velvet of weft pile velvet, whether the pile consists of cotton, wool, mohair, alpaca, silk, artificial silk 25 or of any other material and whatever the nature of the ground by which such pile is backed. The invention is, however, particularly applicable to fabrics having a pile of artificial silk. The invention is especially productive of very good -30 results when applied to fabrics having a pile consisting of organic derivatives of cellulose, such as cellulose esters, e. g. cellulose acetate, formate, propionate, or butyrate, or cellulose ethers, e. g. ethyl, methyl or benzyl cellulose, which fabrics 35 cannot be effectively raised or brushed by the usual methods.

In order to carry out the invention, an apparatus is used comprising means for raising the pile of the fabric, in association with means for 40 treating the fabric with steam simultaneously with pile raising and on the same part of the fabric. Thus, in order to treat the fabric with steam simultaneously with pile raising, a steam box may be provided,'between which box and the 45 pile raising means the fabric is passed. The edges of the steam box over which the fabric passes should be of such a nature as to ensure that the steam leaving the box can do so only by passing through the back of the fabric to the face. 50 The invention will nowbe described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing but it is to be understood that this description is given by way of example only and is in no respect limitative. 55 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows, in side elevation, means for lifting the pile raising member; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the means 5 for lifting the pile raising member.

As shown in the drawing, the fabric l passes round guide rollers l l and I2 and over a tensioning roller I3, the rotation of which is braked by a band 14 weighted at l and engaging a brakedrum 16 connected to the roller l3. From the tensioning roller l3, the fabric I0 is led over the top of a steam box I1 and to a porcupine drawing roller la, the needles of which engage the back of the fabric and draw it through the machine.

A steam pipe I!) perforated on its underside passes centrally through the steam box l1 and ejects steam downwardly against a baflle plate 20. The steam is deflected upwards and dis- 20 tributed evenly throughout the box [1 by the baflie plate 20 so as to pass evenly through the fabric l0 stretched over the top of the box ll. To prevent condensed steam fromv accumulating in the box II the baffle plate 20 is perforated and allows moisture to leave the box by a drain 2|. The substantially flat pile A of the fabric I0 is raised to the upright position shown at B by means of a card-covered cylinder 22, which is mounted at a suitable height over the steam box i1 and rotated to exercise a teaseling action upon the pile A while the fabric is being subjected to the action of the steam applied from the box II.

The cylinder 22 may be driven at a surface speed greater than that of the fabric or may be driven at a relatively low speed, depending upon the effect desired in the finished fabric. Alternatively a stationary card may be employed in place of or in addition to the rotatable card cylinder, in order to comb out the pile in one direc- 40 tion, as is required for example, by way of preparation for dyeing processes.

In order to prevent rusting of the card wire, the cylinder 22 may be heated by steam or otherwise, for example, by passing steam through a hollow shaft so as to prevent any condensation from taking place. In addition to the above precaution it is preferred that card wire of rustless metal should be used, and/or that it should be secured in the card clothing in the manner described in U. S. application S. No. 634,731 filed September 24, 1932 corresponding to British Specification No. 27,323/31 filed 1st October, 1931. In'that specifl'cation is described a method of replacing the rubber employed in the card clothing with an V ester, ether or ether-ester of a polyhydroxy compound of high molecular weight, such as cellulose or polyvinyl alcohol. In this'manner injury to the card clothing and to the fabric being treated on account of corrosion of the card clothing under the action of steam is avoided.

The upper edges of the steam box I l are smooth and level to allow the fabric 10 to fit very closely so as to prevent the escape of steam. The length of the box may equal the width of the fabric, but in order to prevent the escape of steam when the fabric width is less than the length of the box, suitable plates (not shown) may be used to blank over the ends of the box not covered by the fabric.

Raised pattern effects and designs of any description are obtained by raising the pile through a stencil 25 loosely surrounding the cylinder 22.

The stencil 25 is cut to any desired pattern and rotates at a surface speed equal to that of the fabric l and may contain exactly one or more repeats of a' design. The card clothing penetrates the open parts of the stencil, thereby raising the pile coming beneath those parts but is masked from the fabric beneath the blank parts of the stencil, which areas are thus allowed to pass through the machine unraised and may even be further flattened by the pressure of the stencil.

After passing the porcupine roller I8 the fabric proceeds to a beater-fan 23 which serves to free the fabric from'flufi and loose material. When treating the fabric more than once, thus passing it again. through the machine, the extremities of the fabric may conveniently be sewn together to form an endless band. As the seam thus formed is thicker than the rest of. the fabric, it is ad visable to lift up the cylinder 22 momentarily from the fabric when the steam is about to pass the point normally in contact with'the fabric. For this purpose, cylinder lifting means may be used similar to the glossing bar lifting means described in U. S. application S. No. 637,434 filed October 12, 1932, corresponding to British Patent No. 391,191. Thus the shaftof the cylinder 22 may be connected at each end to a lever 2 6 fulcrumed at 21 on a pillar 28 attached to a convenient part of the machine. The lever is weighted at 29 to provide pressure for the cylinder 22. Lifting cams 3| mounted on pillars 32, contact with levers 26 and can be rocked to lift cylinder 22 by means of an arm 33 connected by a vertical link 34 to a pedal lever 35. Thus, as

the seam of the endless length of fabric reaches the pile raising member, the operative canv readily raise the said member by pressing pedal lever 35, the operation not requiring to be stopped.

Vapours other than steam may be used instead of, or in admixture with steam, in order to produce augmented or modified results. Thus for example, when fabrics having a pile of cellulose acetate or other organic derivative of cellulose are under treatment, vapours of a solvent or softener for the cellulose derivative, e. g; acetone vapours, may be mixed with the steam. When the alternative or additional vapour is of a relatively expensive kind, as in the case of acetone, a cowl 24 connected to a suction system is adapted to cover the area over the box I! so as to conduct ing pile fabrics.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

'1. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of a pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of an organic derivative of cellulose, said process comprising mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the area of the fabric while simultaneously applying the vapor of a solvent for the said cellulose derivative to the part of the fabric being raised.

2. Process for eifecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of a pile fabric, wherein the pile contains cellulose acetate, said process comprising mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the area of the fabric while simultaneously applying the vapor of a solvent for the said cellulose acetate to the part of the fabric being raised. i

3. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of a pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of. cellulose acetate, said process comprising mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the area of the fabric while simultaneously applying acetone vapor to the part of the fabric being raised.

4. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of a pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of an organic derivative of cellulose, which comprises mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the area of the fabric'by drawing the fabric past a pile-raising member with its pile side in contact with the member, and simultaneously applying vapor of a solvent for the derivative of cellulose to the part of the fabric in contact with the pile-raising member. I

5. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of a pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of cellulose acetate, which comprises mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the area of the fabric by drawing the fabric .past a pile-raising member with its pile side in contact with the member, and simultaneously applying steam vapor-of a solvent for the cellulose acetate to the part of the fabric in contact with the pile-raising member.

6. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of a pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of an organic derivative of cellulose, which comprises mechanically raising the pileover at least part of the area of the fabric by drawing the fabric past a pile-raising member with its pile side in pressing contact with the member, leaving the back of the fabric exposed as it passes the member, and applying vapor of a solvent for the derivative of cellulose to the said exposed back of the fabric.

7. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of a pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of an organic derivative of cellulose, which comprises mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the area of the fabric by drawing the fabric under tension past a pile-raising member with its pile side in contact with the member, deflecting the tensioned fabric by the member, and simultaneously applying vapor of a solvent for the derivative of cellulose to the back of the part of the fabric in contact with the pile-raising member.

8. Process for effecting substantially perma nent raising of the pile of a pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of cellulose acetate,,which comprises mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the area of the fabric by drawing the fabric under tension past a pile-raising memtil her with its pile side in contact with the member, deflecting the tensioned fabric by the member, and simultaneously applying steam vapor of a solvent for the cellulose acetate to the back of the part of the fabric in contact with the pileraising member. E

9. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of a pile fabric. wherein the pile contains yarns of cellulose acetate, which comprises mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the area of the fabric by drawing the fabric past a pile-raising member with its pile side in'pressing contact with the member. leaving the back of the fabric exposed as it passes the member, and applying steam vapor of a solvent for the cellulose acetate to an enclosed space abutting on the back of the fabric opposite the pile-raising member.

10. Apparatus for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spaced points in its length, means to draw the fabric under tension past the supporting means, a pileraising member disposed between the points of support and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflect the tensioned length of fabric between the supports so that the pile side of the fabric is pressed against the pile-raising member, and means to apply vapor to the part of the fabric incontact with the pile-raising member.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pile-raising member is provided with cardclothing.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising means adapted to vary the height of the pileraising member relative to the fabric.

13. Apparatus for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spaced points in its length, means to draw the fabric under tension past the supporting means, a pileraising member disposed between the points of support and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflect the tensioned length of fabric between the points of support whereby the pile side of the fabric is pressed against the pileraising member, a stencil disposed between the pile-raising means and the fabric and adapted to produce a local raising of the pile of the fabric, and means to apply vapor to the part of the fabric in contact with the pile-raising member.

14. Apparatus for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spaced points in its length, means to draw the fabric un der tension past the supporting means, a pileraising member disposed between the points of support and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflect the tensioned length of fabric between the points of support whereby the pile side of the fabric is pressed against the pileraising member, a chamber disposed on the back of the part of the fabric in contact with the pileraislng member, the chamber having an open face adjacent to the back of the fabric, and means to supply vapor to the said chamber.

15. Apparatus for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile of pile fabric, comprising an open-faced box abutting on the back of the fabric and supporting the fabric between the edges thereof, means to draw the fabric under tension past the supporting edges, a pileraising member disposed between the supporting edges to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflect the tensioned length of fabric between the supporting edges so that the pile side of the fabric is pressed against the pile-raising member, and means to supply vapor to the enclosed chamber formed by the open-faced box and the fabric'passing over its open face.

16. Apparatus for effecting substantially permament raising of the pile of pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spaced points in its length, means to draw the fabric under tension past the supporting means, a card cylinder-disposed between the points of support and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflect the tensioned length of fabric between the points of support whereby the pile side of the fabric is pressed against the cylinder, and means to apply vapor to the part of the fabric in contact with the cylinder.

17. Apparatus for effecting substantially permament raising of ,the pile of pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spaced points in its length, means to draw the fabric under tension past the supporting means, a. rotatable brush disposed between the points of support and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflect the tensioned length of fabric between the points of support whereby the pile side of the fabric is pressed against the brush, and means to apply vapor to the part of the fabric in contact with the brush.

WHJIAIAM ALEXANDER DICKIE, ALEXANDER HENDERSON GENTLE.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,035,641. March 31, 19:56.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER DICKIE, ET An. I

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 51, for the word "teaseling" read teasing; page 2, second column, line 44, claim 5, and page 5, first column, lines 5 and 15, claims 8 and 9, re-

spectively, strike out the word "steam; and that the said Letters Patent shoul be read with these corrections "therein that the .same may conform to the recon of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of April, A. p. 1936.

Leslie Frazer 7 Acting Commissioner of Patents.