US2597490A

US2597490A - Apparatus for treating textile materials

Info

Publication number: US2597490A
Application number: US45183A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alpheus O Hurxthal
Original assignee: Proctor and Schwartz Inc
Current assignee: Proctor and Schwartz Inc
Priority date: 1948-08-19
Filing date: 1948-08-19
Publication date: 1952-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 1969-05-20

Description

May 20, 1952 A. o. HURXTHAL APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Aug. 19, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l May 20, 1952 A. o. HURXTHAL 2,597,490

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Aug. 19, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2' Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS-I*"(ZIt TREAT-ING- TEXTILET MATERIALS.

-A lpheus 0. HurxthaL- Wyncote; Pa., assignorito Proctor v& Schwartz, I'nc.,= Philadelphia; =Pa.,.:a

corporation of Pennsylvania vApplication.August 19, 1948;,Serial'No. 45383 *This' invention relates to apparatus for the" plicable generallyto textile fabrics, it is :particularly applicable to* the shrinking and" drying of tubular knittedfabrics which-undergoa great dealofi stretching in thecourse of manufacture and subsequent treatment, including -i dyeing and bleaching;

*The'problem of garmentshrinkagehasplagued the textile industry for many years, :particularly the underwear industry wherein' shrinkage has been extremely severedueto the character of the material and the relatively; greatstretch imparted to-'-'itinprocessing. The prevention: of garmentshrinkagerequires that 'theimateri'al' be shrunktoremove the stretchprior to the manufacture of garments from-the material; Recent developments have shown, that relaxation. ofthe -materialfor a-period of; time, especially during drying; tends tocausethe :constituent fibres to be restoredto their normal tensionless conditiom and thereby removes the stretch previously imparted toithe-"fibres: and renders: the: fabric material substantially immune. to. later shrinkage. -As' heretofore practiced;- however, suchrelaxation-shrinkage-has-involved the use of. costlyapparatus comprising a plurality of conveyors which serve to support'the material. Such: an apparatus-may comprise-as many as'fiveconveyors in superposed relation, by which the fabric is conveyed; in'succession, duringthe shrinking. and-drying treatment. The cost of such;an apparatus tends to prohibit'its commercial use.

- Loop driers-have long been used in the, textile industry; in-which driersthe fabric is suspended in successive loops on a-moving carrier and-air is brought into contact with the loops tomdry' the fabric. plurality of conveyors; they are generally unsatisfactory-in that-the suspension of the loops subjects the fibres to= tension and imparts further stretch thereto,- and furthermore the airtends to disarrange the loops causing some to become extremely shortand others-to become-extremely long. Consequently loop driers, when-used, have only: aggravatedthe shrinkageproblem, and-they have not -beenwholly satisfactoryeven' from-the standpoint.- of drying alone.

"While such-driers avoid the use-ofa "2 The principalobject of "the present invention is-to provide acommercially suitable apparatus for'relaxation shrinkage, and also for drying, of

textile fabrics.

The present invention is based on the novel concept of arranging a fabric in successive loops and providing basket supports for the loops-so as to eliminate tension therein-andto completely-relax the fibres,- andsubjecting-the supported loops to the drying infiuencerofairorany other gaseous medium. By providing aaconveyor arrangement for thus supporting the fabric in successive loops. it is possible greatly to simplify and to reduce the cost of shrinking and drying apparatus.

According to the preferred form of the invention, there is provided an-apparatus comprising a gasket conveyorha'ving successive basket loops inwhich the fabric is loosely carried, and the apparatus also preferably comprises air jets arranged to dry' the fabric* whileit completely relaxed on saidconveyor. *By virtue of the form of the conveyor,- it is equivalent in length to a plurality of flat conveyors, as regards-treatment of the fabric, and a singleconveyor sufiices for the complete shrinking and-drying treatment. Moreover;the-apparatus is of simple construction and may be -manufactured: at considerably lower cost than a multiple conveyor apparatus.

' The invention may be clearly understood'from the following'detaileddescription with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. I is a diagrammatic plan view of an apparatus constructed according tothe invention;

' Fig.- 2' is a diagrammatic side 'elevational' view of'the' same, with a portion of the casing'broken away and shown in section to" disclose the interior mechanism;

' Figs 3- is across sectionalview taken along line 3"3= of Fig: 2;

Fig. 4 isarelatively largescalesectional view taken longitudinally through a portion: of the basket conveyor and'showing several of the basket loops thereof and Fig. -5 is 1 2: fragmentary: sectional view taken along line 5 -5 of Fig. 4'.

Referring first-to Figs; land 2, the apparatus comprises i an: elongate housing 10 of suitable dimensions throughwhich the-basket conveyor I I extends longitudinally. "The housing 10 may comprise a suitable framework (not shown) and a plurality of sheet metal sections numbered l 2 to IT. As shown in Fig-. 3; the'metal sections are preferably covered with a heat insulating material; Associated with said sections are serve to circulate the air in each section, as hereinafter described.

The conveyor II is preferably of endless form and engages rotatable sprockets 24 and 25 at the opposite ends of the housing l external thereto. In the form of the apparatus illustrated, the sprockets are driven by a motor-driven pulley 26 through the medium of a driving belt 21.

The fabric material F is supplied to the conveyor H at the left hand end thereof, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of power-driven

feed rolls

28 and 29. The latter are operated at a speed of rotation such that the fabric is fed to the conveyor at a rate sufficiently greater than the speed of the conveyor to enable disposition of the fabric loosely in the basket loops of the conveyor. with the fabric extending substantially the full depth of each basket loop, as hereinafter more fully described. This disposition of the fabric is effected by means of a transverse air nozzle 30 which extends the full width of the conveyor, and which is arranged at the feed end of the conveyor so as to blow the fabric into the successive basket loops of the conveyor. Pressurized air may be supplied to nozzle 30 from any suitable source. At the discharge end of the conveyor, the fabric material is fed to an inclined belt conveyor 3! which deposits the material on a scray 32. The conveyor 3| ma be driven from the shaft of pulley 26 by means of a belt 33.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 5, the basket conveyor ll may comprise roller chains at each side carrying spaced transverse rods 34 which serve to support the basket loops 35. One of the roller chains is shown in Fig. 4 and comprises links 35 and rollers 31. In Fig. 3, two of the opposite rollers are visible at 38. Angle members 39 and 40 provide track surfaces along which the rollers run, said members being supported by the framework (not shown). As may be seen in Fig. 1, the sprockets 24 and 25 support theroller chains at the opposite ends of the housing It].

The basket loops of the conveyor, which are preferably about nine inches deep, may be formed of suitable wire screen, as shown in Fig. 5. The screen member forming each basket loop may have its end portions looped about therods 34 for free pivotal support thereby.

As shown in Fig. 3, within each section of housing l0 there is an air head 4| above the upper conveyor run and an air head 42 below said run. The upper air head 4! has a series of transverse downwardly directed nozzles 43, while the lower air head 42 has a series of upwardly directed transverse nozzles 44. The nozzles extend the full width of the conveyor. The upper and lower nozzles are preferably arranged in staggered relation, as shown in Fig. 4. The two air heads 4| and 42 are supplied with air from a common air duct 45 through

air conduits

46 and 41. The air is supplied to said heads under pressure by the fan 48 of the associated motor-driven fan unit. Surrounding the conveyor and said air heads, and extending the full length of the housing 10, is an enclosure formed by wall members 49 and 58 having depending flanges 5| and 52 which form an outlet from said enclosure to the bottom of the casing l 0. After ejection from the

nozzles

43 and 44, the air is drawn downward through a filter 53 and about heating pipes 54 by the suction of fans 48. As may be seen in Fig. 2, the filter 53 and the heating pipes 54 extend the full length of the housing It). The pipes 54 may carry steam or any other suitable heating agent.

In operation of the apparatus, the fabric is loosely deposited in the basket loops, as shown in Fig. 4, so that it is completely free of tension.

This is accomplished by feeding the fabric at a sufficient rate and by the blowing thereof into the basket loops by the air from nozzle 30. As the fabric is carried through the housing 10 by the basket conveyor, it is subjected to the heated air from

nozzles

43 and 44 and is thus dried.

Since the apparatus effectively shrinks the fabric material and reduces its length by an amount comparable to the stretch previously imparted to it, the fabric must be sufficiently loose in the basket conveyor to permit such shortening of its length. Moreover, the fabric should preferably be sufficiently loose so that it may always extend the full depth of each basket loop in order that there will not be any tension on any of the fabric loops due to unsupported weight. Generally speaking, the stretch imparted to a fabric by processing and prior to drying thereof is about fifteen percent of its length at that time. Therefore, the fabric should be supplied to the conveyor at a rate such that the length of the fabric supported by the conveyor is about fifteen percent in excess of the effective conveyor length supporting the fabric.

While the invention contemplates any suitable depth of the basket loops of the conveyor, it is thought to be desirable to maintain the loops fairly short, e. g. about nine inches in depth.

The velocity of the air impinging on the supported fabric should not be suflicient to blow it out of the conveyor loops. As shown in Fig. 3, the relative amounts of air supplied to the upper and lower air heads may be regulated by means of an adjustable vane or deflector 55 in each of the ducts 45. These vanes may be mounted on a common shaft 56 extending the length of the casing and having an operating handle 51 externally of the casing.

It should be understood that the main and essential feature of the present invention is the support of the fabric in successive loops substantially free of tension so that the fibres are relaxed and are free to return to their normal tensionless condition. The promotion of drying of the fabric while thus relaxed may be carried out in any suitable manner by any suitable medium, although the use of upper and lower heated air jets has been found to be most efficacious in effecting rapid drying.

It will be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to the specific apparatus illustrated and described, but contemplates such other specific forms as may be found useful in the accomplishment of the desired results.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for relaxed drying of textile fabrics, a conveyor comprising successive basket loops of foraminous material movable through a horizontal run, said basket loops being of relatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving said conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric to the conveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufficiently greater than the speed of said conveyor to enable deposition of the fabric loosely in said basket loops, air jet means arranged at the feed end of said conveyor run to effect the aforementioned deposition of the fabric, whereby the fabric is carried by the conveyor in a series of loops devoid of tension, and means for impinging air on the looped fabric as it is carried through said horizontal run.

2. In an apparatus for relaxed drying of textile fabrics; a-conveyor-comprising-an-endless. carrier and successive basket loops of fora-minous -material carriedbysaid carrier; said conveyor be'- ing'movable through a-h'orizontal run, said basket loops being of relatively narrow loop width and of substantiallygreater-loop depth, means for driving said: conveyor at: a: predetermined; speed, means for feeding the fabric tozthez-conveyor-at one end of -said-run at-a-rate sufficiently greater than the. speed of said conveyor to enable deposition offthe fabric loosely in-said basket loops; air jetimeans' arrangedatthe'feed end of saidiconveyor 'run" to effectthe" aforementioned: deposition of the fabricrwh'ereby the'fabric is carried by the conveyor"ina' series of loops devoid of tension, and means for impinging air on the looped fabric as it is carried through said horizontal run.

3. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking moist fabric, an elongate housing, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally through said housing so as to provide a horizontal run of the conveyor through the housing to carry fabric therethrough, said conveyor comprising an endless carrier and successive basket loops of foraminous material carried by said carrier, said basket loops being of relatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving said conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the moist fabric to the conveyor at the intake end of said housing at a rate sufficiently greater than the speed of said conveyor to enable deposition of the fabric loosely in said basket loops, an air nozzle extending transversely of said conveyor at the feed end thereof and arranged to effect the aforementioned deposition of the fabric, whereby the fabric is carried through said housing in a series of loops devoid of tension, and means for impinging heated air on the looped fabric as it is carried through said housing.

4. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking moist fabric, an elongate housing, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally through said housing so as to provide a horizontal run of the conveyor through the housing to carry fabric therethrough, said conveyor comprising an endless carrier and successive basket loops of foraminous material carried by said carrier, said basket loops being of relatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving said conveyor at a predetemined speed, means for feeding the moist fabric to the conveyor at the intake end of said housing at a rate sufiiciently greater than the speed of said conveyor to enable deposition of the fabric loosely in said basket loops, an air nozzle extending transversely of said conveyor at the feed end thereof and arranged to effect the aforementioned deposition of the fabric, whereby the fabric is carried through said housing in a series of loops devoid of tension, longitudinally spaced air nozzles in said housing above and below said horizontal run of the conveyor for impinging air on the looped fabric as it is carried through the housing, said last-mentioned air nozzles extending substantially the full width of said conveyor, and means for supplying heated air to said last-mentioned nozzles.

5. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking textile fabric, a conveyor including successive basket loops of foraminous material movable through a horizontal run, said basket loops be ing of relatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving said conveyor ata: predetermined speed,- means fabric, so thatthe fabric may shrink and: still besupported by the basket loops, -and means for promotingdrying-of the fabricas? it-is= carried" through 1 sai dhorizontal-run.

6. -I-n an-apparatus for'drying and shrinking textile fabric, *a conveyor including successive basket loops of 'foraminous material movable through a -horizontal run; said= basket loops being of relatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving said conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric to the conveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufliciently greater than the speed of said conveyor that the fabric is loosely deposited in the basket loops with excess of the fabric at least approximately equal to the expected lengthwise shrinkage of the fabric, so that the fabric may shrink and still be supported by the basket loops, and means for impinging air on the top and bottom of the fabric to dry it as it is carried through said horizontal run.

7. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking textile fabric, an elongate housing, an endless conveyor extending" longitudinally through said housing so as to provide a horizontal run of the conveyor through the housing to carry fabric therethrough, said conveyor comprising an endless carrier and successive basket loops of foraminous material carried by said carrier, said basket loops beingof relatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving said conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric to the conveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufficiently greater than the speed of said conveyor that the fabric is loosely deposited in the basket loops with excess of the fabric at least approximately equal to the expected lengthwise shrinkage of the fabric, so that the fabric 1 may shrink and still be supported by the basket loops, and means for impinging air on the top and bottom of the fabric to dry it as it is carried through said horizontal run.

8. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking textile fabric, an elongate housing, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally through said housing so as to provide a horizontal run of the conveyor through the housing to carry fabric therethrough, said conveyor comprising an endless carrier and successive basket loops of foraminous material carried by said carrier, said basket loops being of relatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving said conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric to the conveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufficiently greater than the speed of said conveyor that the fabric is loosely deposited in the basket loops with excess of the fabric at least approximately equal to the expected lengthwise shrinkage of the fabric, so that the fabric may shrink and still be supported by the basket loops, longitudinally spaced air nozzles in said housing above and below said horizontal run of the conveyor for impinging air on the fabric as it is carried through the housing, said air nozzles extending substantially the full width of said conveyor, and means for supplying heated air to said nozzles.

9. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking textile fabric, a conveyor including successive basket loops of foraminous material movable through a horizontal run, said basket loops being of relatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving said conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric to the conveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufficiently greater than the speed of said conveyor that the fabric is deposited in the basket loops with sufficient looseness of the fabric to permit shrinkage thereof without subjecting the fabric to undesirable 15 ,380

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,037,254 Hopkins Sept. 3, 1912 1,287,172 Andrews Dec. 10, 1918 1,886,030 Lane Nov. 1, 1932 Gautreau Feb. 22, 1949