US3197896A

US3197896A - Apparatus for treating textile materials

Info

Publication number: US3197896A
Application number: US74707A
Authority: US
Inventors: Flelssner Heinz
Original assignee: Fleissner GmbH
Current assignee: Truetzschler Nonwovens GmbH
Priority date: 1960-12-08
Filing date: 1960-12-08
Publication date: 1965-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-03

Description

1965 H. FLEISSNER 3,197,896

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Dec. 8. 1960 IN V EN TOR. HE/NZ F L E ASSNER United States Patent air/ass .nrraaarus non 'rnnarnvo TEXTLE MATEREALd This invention relates in general to textile material treatin apparatus and to a method of treating textile materials, and in particular to a new and useful device and method for finishing, that is, smoothing and flattening combed textile material.

The present invention has particular application in respect to materials referred to in the art as top or slivers. For example, with respect to Wool, such materials may be referred to as wool-top or wool-slivers. Such materials are hereinafter collectively referred to as combed textile materials.

The present invention has particular reference to the finishing of a smooth surface yarn of material spun from long stapled Wool combed in a manner so that the fibers lie substantially in parallel, as, for example, a roving before it is twisted into a yarn. In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that a roving, sliver, or strand of such material is advantageously smoothed or flattened to have a nice exterior finish and texture by irecting the material over heating drums which are maintained in a temperature range of between 90 C. and 100 C.

The invention advantageously includes an apparatus comprising a series of highly heat conductive perforated drums arranged side-by-side and separately driven at independent rotational speeds. The material is advanced to an end drum in a series and held onto the drum by suction applied interiorly and which acts on the perforations to hold the fibers onto the drum and advance the material through an arc to the location ofthe next drum in the series, whereupon means to block the suction of one drum is effective to permit transfer of the material onto the next drum etc. The apparatus is timed to expose active suction areas of the second drum in a series to the material at the location of tangency to the first drum. This transfer procedure for the material is followed through several drums and each is arranged to have a progressively higher speed so that the material is always maintained under a slight tension. This tension aids in eifecting the smoothing operation which is also influenced by a steam air atmosphere which is maintained adjacent the drums and which effectively penetrates the material at a relatively slow velocity rate.

The steam velocity for drying is maintained low by regulating the vacuum within the drums so that penetration of the steam through the material occurs at slow velocity. This makes the present invention a vast in1- proverrient over prior art constructions Where the materia1 is penetrated at high velocities. The small penetration velocity has been found to be necessary in order to effect excellent results in the smoothing or finishing process. Since it is only necessary to circulate a small quantity of the steam atmosphere, it is only necessary to use a small energy consuming device to effect the same.

in accordance with the invention, the preferred apparatus for carrying out the invention advantageously includes cooper drums having very small perforations. Copper is chosen because it has a good coefficient of thermal conductivity and transfers heat very rapidly. Of course, other suitable drum materials may be used which will insure good heat transfer and provide a sur- 3&97595 Patented Aug. 3, i365 face which will have good heat conduction with the material to be treated.

The invention apparatus includes fans arranged coaxially with the drums and which suck off from the interior of the drums the steam air mixture and recycle the mixture over heating batteries or heat exchangers, where the heated steam and air is again circulated over the material being treated on the drums. Recycling of the treating medium is repeated constantly during the operation. Through this procedure sub-atmospheric conditions are produced in the interior of the drums so that the material automatically adheres to the drums.

The drums are bafiled interiority to control the suction so that the material flows from one drum smoothly to the next as the suction on one is cut ofi and the other drum suction becomes effective to easily lift the material from the first drum onto the second drum. Through such an operation an automatic and continuous movement of the material through the smoothing or flattening apparatus is possible. The arrangement is such that feeding can be continuous into the apparatus and it is never necessary that it be stopped in order to direct a new supply of material thereto, since the machine automatically picks up the material which is delivered thereto.

Each of the drums advantageously includes small perforations to insure a low velocity air flow and to also insure that the contacting surface of the copper drum with the material is as large as possible. The device includes a chamber surrounding the drum which is insulated to reduce a radiation loss.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved device for finishing combed textile materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus for treating textile materials including a series of heat conductive drums having small sized perforations on their periphery and having internal suction means active to transport the material from one drum in a series to the next and further including a chamber sur rounding the drum in which is maintained a steam atmosphere.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of treating combed textile materials comprising transporting the materials on a highly conductive surface through a steam atmosphere, drawing some of the atmosphere through the materials as they are transported and there reheating and recirculating the atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for treating textile materials which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG.1 is a transverse section through a treatment device for textile materials constructed in accordance with the invention; and FIG. 2 is a partial section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing in particular, the invention embodied therein includes treatment device generally designated 26 into which textile material to be treated, such as combed Wool material 3 is directed. The material 3 is of a nature such that it is desired to finish or smooth the surface thereof. The material 3 is advanced between cooperating endless

belt conveyor sections

1 and 2 over a guide roller 4 and transported around or perforated

drums

5, 6, 7 and 8 in succession.

. v 3 Each

drum

5, 6, 7 and 8 is formed at one end with a fan element 18 which produces a suction on the interior of the drum by causing the atmosphere surrounding the drum and within an insulated casing or housing 14 to be drawn through the material held on the drum and through the perforations of the drum, and recirculated to the space in the housing 14 surrounding the drums.

The material 3 is held onto each drum entirely by the suction produced within the interior of the drum, and bafiles 3i) are provided to terminate the suction over a particular drum area, for example, the bottom half of drum 5 and the top half of drum 6, in order that the material may be transported over the top half of drum 5 and the bottom half of drum 6. Transfer of the mate'- rial is automatic and is caused by the suction of drum 6 becoming effective at the lower half at a location where the suction from drum 5 is cut oii by the baffle 39. In order that the material'3 may be transferred from one side of the housing 14 to the other it is, of course, nece sary that the

drums

6 and 8 revolve in an opposite manner with respect to the

drums

5 and 7.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the steam is admitted through the nozzle 28 in order to maintain the interior of the housing 14 with a steam and air atmosphere which is advantageously maintained in a temperature range of between 90 and 100 C. From time to time, some of the atmosphere is drawn off by a pump through a conduit enemas 26 in order to pass it through a heater and return it back to the housing 14 for the purpose of maintaining the preferred temperature range which has been found very effective for treating the fibers in this manner (between 90 and 100 C.). The bafiie portions 30 comprise plates curved to conform to the interior of their associated drum. Plates extend from one side of the drum to the other and they close off the perforations of the drum so that suction is not effective at such locations. The baffie portions 30 insure that the vacuum only acts on the upper portion of the first drum 5 sufiicient to transport and hold the material on this drum until it is lifted off by suction applied to the lower portion of the next adjacent drum. The arrangement is such that suction acts on the drum 6 to lift the material onto this drum and at the same time the material contacts the portion of the drum 5 in which the suction nolonger acts to hold the material onto that drum. The cycle is repeated for drums '7 and 8.

The bathe portions 3% may comprise any suitable bafile means for positioning on the interior of the drum to close off a desired area of the perforations of the drum so that they will not be subjected to the internal suction within the drum. Such bafiie means may comprise, for example, the baffle means indicated in Patent No. 3,088, 223, dated May 7, 1963, issued to Heinz Fleissner, and Patent No. 3,084,447, dated April 9, 1963, issued to Gerold Fleissner.

Each of the

drums

5, 6, 7 and 8 is rotatably mounted on hearing portions 11 in the housing 14. Each is rotated through an electric motor 9 which drives through 4 a belt 32 to a common shaft 10. The common shaft 10 drives each drumindividually through a clutch or switching member 13 which also includes a speed adjustment for the individual drums, such as sets of gearing 12. The switching member 13 may be manipulated to change the speed of each drum and the speed is advantageously arranged so that it successively increases from drum 5 to 6 and 6 to 7, etc., in order to maintain the material under a slight tension. The member 13 comprises means connected to the gearing 12 to adjust the velocity at which each of the

drums

5, 6, 7 and 8 is rotated and also includes a clutch for completely disconnecting as associated drum from the motor 9.

The chamber 14 is lined with a heat insulating material and a steam atmosphere and the temperature range between 90 and 100 C. may be maintained for long 5%, periods of time with a minimum of reheating. after the material is treated both by the low velocity flow of the steam atmosphere through the material and the perforations in the drum and by alternate surface contact with each drum in succession, the material is directed over a guide roller 15 to a pair of draw-off conveyor belt members 16 and 17. The conveyor belt members may advantageously consist of adjustable bands, lattice bands or the like. i

In order to facilitate the treatment of the material as it is passed through the device 2%) a contact roller 3 may advantageously be provided adjacent one or more of the rollers, such as the roller 7 in order to maintain rotational contact with the material thereon and aid its advance as well as compress the material as it is fed. The roiier 34 is rotated at the same velocity as the drum i.

Thus the invention provides means for treating material such' as wool which is preferably guided through a chamber maintained with a steam atmosphere with a temperature range of between and C(and over drums which are preferably made of copper or have a copper coating. The

drums

5, 6, 7 and 8 have a high heat transfer capability and maintain the material uniformly hot as the steam atmosphere sucks through very small perforations formed on the surface of the drum. In some instances it is sufi'icient that the number or perforations be suthcient to insure that the material is held by the suction action of the interior of the drum.

The preferred apparatus includes means for adjusting the speed of each of the drums such as by gears so that the revolutions of each successive drum may be progressively increased thereby making it possibie to carry out the smoothing operation with the material maintained under a slight tension. The steam atmosphere favorably influences the smoothing effect on the material and the suction within the drum is maintained such that the velocity of the gases penetrating through the perforations of the drum is very small. The small penetration velocity in accordance with the invention aids in the furthering of the smoothing or the finishing process. In addition the fact that a small quantity of air is circulated results in a saving of energy for this circulation purpose.

Coaxially arranged ventilators or fans such as fan 13 are advantageously associated with each of the drums in order to effect the required vacuum pressure on the interior thereof. Any suitable evacuating means such as a fan in the interior of the drum or an air pump 22 may be advantageously employed. The evacuating means 22 such off from the interior of the drums and recycle the mixture over the heating elements in a heat exchanger 24' and then redirect it to the chamber 14 for recirculation through the respective drums. This cycle of the treating medium is repeated constantly during the operation of the device.

An air steam atmosphere as set forth in this application refers to an atmosphere which includes steam and air.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it Will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for moving and flattening combed textile materials comprising a housing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at an opposite end, means for providing a controlled fluid atmosphere in said housing, a row of perforated drums disposed side-by-side in said housing and extending between said inlet and said outlet, means for rotating said drums in a manner to transfer said textile materials thereon on a portion of the surface of the first drum in the row and then to a portion of the surface of the next drum in the row and continuing in like manner until all the materials are transported to said outlet, means for rotating said drums in a manner to transfer materials over a portion of the surface thereof from one drum in a row to the next, and to rotate each succeeding drum in the row at a faster speed than the previous one to produce a tensioning of the materials transported thereon, baifle means in each drum disposed to cover a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of said drum with the remaining portion of the surface being free, means for maintaining suction at the interior of each of said drums and a flow of fluid through the perforations of said drum and the materials thereon which is effective on the free portion of the surface of the drums for holding the textile materials to each drum as the materials are transported thereon, and means disposed adjacent said outlet to receive the combed textile materials from the last drum in the row and convey it through said outlet.

2. A device for smoothing and flattening textile goods such as combined slivers, comprising a series of perforated drums arranged side-by-side in a row and having a high coefficient of thermoconductivity, a housing surrounding said drum, means for maintaining an air-stream atmosphere in said housing, suction means connected to each of said drums acting to maintain the slivers in contact with the exterior surface thereof by drawing the airstream atmosphere through the slivers and through the perforations of said drums and to discharge the atmosphere into said housing, means to rotate said drums at speeds to maintain a slight tension on said slivers moving References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,016,992 2/12 Hess 38-14 X 1,163,251 12/15 Millspaugh 162-217 X 1,659,708 2/28 Rurnsch 38-14 2,080,635 5/37 Schramek et a1. 68-205 2,195,459 4/40 Kast 271-46 2,204,426 6/40 Millspa-ugh 162-305 2,494,807 1/50 Haeberlin 38-14 X 2,862,707 12/58 Voysey 271-74 X 2,919,496 1/60 Fleissner 38-14 X 2,950,540 8/60 Fleissner 38-14 X 2,981,007 4/61 Fleissner 38-14 X 3,003,195 10/61 Varga 38-48 3,011,266 12/61 Fleissner 38-14 X 3,021,607 2/62 Fleissner 34-115 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS J. HICKEY, DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY,

Examiners.

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR MOVING AND FLATTENING COMBED TEXTILE MATERIALS COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN INLET AT ONE END AND AN OUTLET AT AN OPPOSITE END, MEANS FOR PROVIDING A CONTROLLED FLUID ATMOSPHERE IN SAID HOUSING, A ROW OF PERFORATED DRUMS DISPOSED SIDE-BY-SIDE IN SAID HOUSING AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUMS IN A MANNER TO TRANSFER SAID TEXTILE MATERIALS THEREON ON A PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF THE FIRST DRUM IN THE ROW AND THEN TO A PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF THE NEXT DRUM IN THE ROW AND CONTINUING IN LIKE MANNER UNTIL ALL THE MATERIALS ARE TRANSPORTED TO SAID OUTLET, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUMS IN A MANNER TO TRANSFER MATERIALS OVER A PORTION OF THE SURFACE THEREOF FROM ONE DRUM IN A ROW TO THE NEXT, AND TO ROTATE EACH SUCCEEDING DRUM IN THE ROW AT A FASTER SPEED THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE TO PRODUCE A TENSIONING OF THE MATERIALS TRANSPORTED THEREON, BAFFLE MEANS IN EACH DRUM DISPOSED TO COVER A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID DRUM WITH THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SURFACE BEING FREE, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SUCTION AT THE INTERIOR OF EACH OF SAID DRUMS AND A FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS OF SAID DRUM AND THE MATERIALS THEREON WHICH IS EFFECTIVE ON THE FREE PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF THE DRUMS FOR HOLDING THE TEXTILE MATERIALS TO EACH DRUM AS THE MATERIALS ARE TRANSPORTED THEREON, AND MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID OUTLET TO RECEIVE THE COMBED TEXTILE MATERIALS FROM THE LAST DRUM IN THE ROW AND CONVEY IT THROUGH SAID OUTLET.