US3323153A - Process for the continuous fluid-treatment of fabric webs - Google Patents

Description

H. FLEISSNER PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT June 6, 1967 OF FABRI C WEBS Original Filed May 31. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HE/NZ FLEISSNEP INVENTOR.

BY 9 )U Attorney June 6. 1967 H. FLEISSNER 3,323,153 PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT OF FABRIC .WEBS Original Filed May 31, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :n o -q $2 75 7 5a 91 s 77 a 3 h 95 78 f .93 79 O YOZ 72 IVE/NZ FLE/SSMET? IN VENTOR.

June 6. 1967 H. FLEISSNER PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUIl)--TREATMENT OF FABRIC WEBS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 31. 1962 FIG.

(Wfi WA 2% a J Attorney June 6, 1967 H. FLEISSNEF? PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT OF FABRIC WEBS 4 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed May 31, 1962 IN VENTOR.

HEINZ FLEISSNER \Aizmmey United States Patent 6 Claims. cl. s 149.3

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Process for the continuous fluid-treatment of fabric webs (e.g. the treatment of fabrics with steam or the like for fixing dies etc.) whereby the fabric web 1s passed along at least two perforated surfaces in a substant ally closed chamber and fluid is drawn through the webs 1n a first zone along one of said surfaces at a relatively high rate per unit quantity of the material treated and drawn through the web in a subsiding zone at a second surface at a relatively low rate per unit quantity, at least a port on of the fluid drawn through the web at said first zone being heated and recirculated for a subsequent passage through the web.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 198,972, filed May 31, 1962, now US. Patent No. 3,242,702.

My present invention relates to a method of cont nuous treatment of fabric Webs with fluids and, more particularly, the continuous treatment of textiles with steam.

In the steaming of continuous webs of fibrous material such as textiles, autoclaves have been provided whereln a charge of the textlie fabric is introduced into the vessel, which is sealed against the ambient atmosphere and filled with steam. Occasionally, the autoclave is evacuated prior to the introduction of the steam. This arrangement is intermittent in nature and requires a relatively large amount of time for the charging and discharging of the autoclave.

In copending application Ser. No. 142,561, WhlCh I filed Oct. 3, 1961 jointly with Wolfgang Friedel. I have CllS- closed apparatus for the continuous treatment of fibrous webs, i.e. the drying of such webs, wherein the webs are conveyed by perforated carriers, The devices disclosed in these applications are not, however, suitable in themselves for the treatment of webs or bands of material with steam or wet high-temperature atmospheres, since large heat and pressure losses would inevitably result. Moreover, it is important to note in connection with the steam treatment of textile fabrics, and especially the steam fixing of dyed materials, that condensation of liquid upon the material must be avoided. Thus, when working with saturated steam, it is vital that a dyed material be heated as quickly as possible to avoid the condensation of moisture thereon and a consequent dilution or redistribution of the dyestuff thereon.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to

provide a process for treating webs of fibrous material with heated fluids as well as an apparatus for carrying out this process.

This object is realized, according to the invention, by a process wherein the fibrous material, in the form of a band or web, is treated with steam circulated through the material at a relatively high rate so that relatively small amounts of heat per unit volume or weight of the steam is given up to the fibrous material. Upon each pass through the material the steam is reheated so that the difference between the loss of heat by the steam and its increase in heat is relatively small. Consequently, the temperature drop in the steam while it is in contact with the material is minimal, thereby guaranteeing that no substantial precipitation of moisture upon the web will take place. In a process of this type, it is possible to employ a fluid consisting almost of steam since a superheating of the steam prior of its contact with the web is not necessary. When the material to be treated is brought to the saturation temperature, condensation thereon can no longer occur so that it is possible to reduce the volume of steam passed through the web to a minimum.

By an increase in the temperature of the steam treatment above 100 C., the duration of the treatment time can be substantially reduced. It has been found, for example, that each 10 C. rise in the steam temperature approximately halves the required treatment time. Thus, if a treatment time of 30 minutes is required at a temperature of 100 C., only 15 minutes is necessary at C. and about 7.5 minutes at C. To prevent superheating of steam at the latter temperature I maintain the steam at a pressure of about two atmospheres since the saturation temperature at a pressure of two atmospheres is about 119.62 C. The temperature has, of course, a maximum since each textile material to be treated is to some degree temperature sensitive. Wool, for example, is particularly sensitive to temperatures in excess of 120 C.

The process of the present invention can be carried out in an apparatus for continuously treating webs of fibrous material (e.g. porous textiles or the like) with a fluid at elevated temperatures; the system comprises a pressure chamber containing conveyor means for transporting the web while the fluid is passed therethrough. As disclosed in said copending application, the conveyor means may include preforated drums or conveyor belts through which the fluid is drawn. The pressure chamber is formed with relatively thick walls and is generally of cylindrical configuration so as to be able to withstand the high steam pressures employed. Other round configurations, e.g. spherical, may also be employed. The perforated drums may be rotatable within the chamber about generally parallel axes arranged therein between the inlet and the outlet of the chamber. Thus, the axes may lie along a common plane so that the drums are oriented in a substantially straight row whereby the web of material can alternately underand overshoot the drums along a generally sinusoidal transport path.

Since, as previously mentioned, it is desirable to circulate, at least initially, the treating fluid through the web at a relatively high rate per unit quantity of material treated, I prefer to provide means for passing a large quantity of treating fluid through each unit quantity of the web. Such means may include means for driving the successive drums in such a way that a drum proximal to the inlet is displaced with a peripheral speed in excess of that of a drum distal from the inlet. Thus, if the rate at which the treating fluid is drawn through the drums is substantially equal, the material conveyed by the first or proximal drum will have less intense contact with the treating fluid than the material passing through a subsequent zone along the treatment path. The variation in peripheral speeds may be accomplished by rotating the drums with different angular velocities or by providing them with different diameters. Moreover, it is possible to insure a higher rate of fluid flow per unit quantity of material processed in the first zone if the first drum is provided with openings whose total cross-section along the drum periphery hugged by the web is in excess of that of a succeeding drum.

It is also possible to arrange the fluid-displacement means so that, say, a larger quantity of fluid is drawn through the first drum than through a succeeding drum. In each case it is preferable, when several drums are em-.

ployed, to effect a stepwise reduction in the rate at which the fiuid contacts the material. It will be apparent, accordingly, that successive drums may have successively reduced diameters while being driven with a constant angular velocity; they also may have stepped drives for rotating them with successively reduced angular velocity; or they may be provided with exhaust means for drawing the fluid therethrough having capacities successively smaller in a stepwise relationship. It is not necessary that the material alternately overand undershoot the drums since advantageous results can also be obtained if the web passes along one side of the drum axis, say, along the upper side of each drum. In the former case alternate drums will rotate in opposite senses whereas in the latter case all the drums rotate in the same sense.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for introducing a first fluid into the preheating or first zone of the transport path in order to raise the temperature of a web to the saturation temperature of a condensable second fluid introduced at a succeeding zone. Hot air may, advantageously, be employed as the first fluid, while steam serves as the second fluid. I have found that it is often desirable to provide partition means between the zones in order to reduce the possibility that fluid in a first zone can enter another zone along the path. In fact, when the pressure chamber is subdivided into an entry portion, which may constitute the preheating zone, an intermediate portion constituting the main steaming zone, and an exit portion, the partition means may include movable members adapted to provide a quick closure of each compartment in order to isolate it from the others.

When employing successive drums operating at progressively reduced peripheral speeds, the web gathers into a pleat-like configuration upon the surface of the slower drum. I have found that, after an initial heating of the web, it is desirable to fold the web into accordion pleats for subsequent treatment by a fluid. Thus, a relatively large quantity of material can be slowly displaced while a treating fluid is drawn therethrough.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of my present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal crosssectional view through an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a modification of the apparatus;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged detail view of the shutters of FIG. 2 showing the actuation mechanism therefor;

FIG. 2B is a fragmental view of another installation similar to that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view showing still another textile-treating apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a vieW taken generally along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 4 illustrating further modifications;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through still another apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom-plan view of the drums of the apparatus of FIG. 7.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing I show a treatment chamber 1 provided with two perforated drums 2 and 3 of the type generally disclosed in application Ser. No. 142,561, filed Oct. 3, 1961. The drums 2 and 3 each have a perforated periphery and are rotated in opposite senses (arrows 54, 55) about their parallel axes by means to be described in greater detail hereinafter. A web 5 of flexible material, e.g. a textile band or other fibrous ribbon, undershoots the first drum 2 while overshooting the second drum 3 along a generally sinusoidal transport path. A stationary shield 56 blocks the perforations of drum 2 in that region of its rotation wherein its periphery is not covered by the web 5' so that a reduced suction force is needed to draw the treating fluid through the material. The suction force derives from a blower 57 of the type shown in the abovementioned copending application, which circulates steam through the web 5 past a heater 58 and also supplies part of the steam to the second drum 3 whose blower 59 draws same through the web 5 in this region. The first drum 2 permits the material to be treated with a relatively large volume of steam per unit quantity of material since the blower 57 is a high-speed ventilator drawing the steam through inlet 60 and expelling it via outlets 61 and 62. That portion of the steam recirculated via outlet 62 through the web 5 in the region of the preheating zone is reheated via heater 58 so that the small amount of heat lost to the web 5 by the steam is restored to it. When the temperature of the web has been raised to the saturation temperature of the steam within chamber 1 (e.g. about 120 C.), the web passes on to drum 3 whereupon steam is drawn through it at a reduced rate. Partitions 63, 64 are provided between the drum 3 and an endless conveyor 6, which is representative of conveying means in general and may, in fact, be composed of a plurality of bands, to subdivide chamber 1 into a rapid-heating compartment 1' and a slow-heating compartment 1". Since the duration of the steam treatment will depend upon the fabric treated, the dyestuft employed and other characteristics of the web, chamber 1" permits the web to remain in contact with the treating fluid for a prolonged period without inordinately increasing the size of the installation. Thus, I provide means for laying the Web 5 upon the conveyor band 6, which moves at a peripheral speed substantially less than that of drum 3 in the direction of arrow 7, in accordion pleats, loops or folds 5 which remain in contact with the steam within compartment 1" for a relatively prolonged period.

The folding means comprises a plurality of angularly displaceable dampers 4, pivotable about axes relatively stationary with respect to the drum and extending parallel to generatrices thereof. In a first operative position the jalousie-like dampers form an extension of the shield 65 of drum 3 to block perforations therein over a substantial arc of its periphery, thereby releasing a substantial length of material and permitting it to fold along guide plate 66 onto conveyor belt 6. In a second operative position of the dampers 4, the perforations are unblocked and the fluid sucked into drum 3 draws the web thereagainst so that it is entrained until it again is released as a fold. The dampers 4 are provided with arms 67 pivotally connected to a rod 68 of a periodically operated solenoid 69. From the upwardly inclined portion 6' of conveyor belt 6 the folded web 5 is drawn between a pair of rollers 8, 9, forming a fluid-retaining gate at the outlet 70 of the chamber. Rollers 8 and 9 are driven by a motor 71 with a peripheral speed in excess of that of band 6 and, if desired, equal to that of drum 3, so that the web 5 is again straightened as it leaves the apparatus.

In FIGS, 2 and 2A of the drawing I show an arrangement generally similar to that of FIG. 1 but with the treating apparatus arranged in a form of a so-called J-box wherein the J-shaped chamber 1a is enclosed by a pressure-retaining housing 72 wherein a perforated transport drum 2a is journaled. The web 5a is fed into chamber 1a via a fluid-.pressure-retaining lock 73 whose inlet opening is provided with a pair of rollers 74, 75 between which the web is fed and which serve to prevent the escape of the fluid within lock 73 and chamber 1a.

The web then passes between another pair of rollers 76 at the inlet 77 of chamber 1a whence it passes over the drum 2a. The latter rotates in the direction of arrow 78 and has a blower (not shown) whose intake 79 draws steam over heating tubes 80 through the web hugging the drum. The outlets 81, 82 of the blower return the treating fluid to the chamber 1a. Drum 2a is provided with a stationary shield portion 83 which blocks the apertures of the ineifective part of the drum. The remaining portion of the shield means is formed by an angularly offset array of dampers 84, which are of a butterfly type, journaled for rotation about axes extending parallel to generatrices of the drum. The shafts 85 of these dampers are provided with generally radial arms 86 which are successively engaged by cams 87 (one of which can be seen in FIG. 2A) for successive actuation upon rotation of the drum 2a to open the dampers 84 and release that portion of the web 5a which is entrained along the drum in the region of the dampers.

Cams 87 are carried by the shaft 88.0f the drum 2a which is journaled on an axle 89 and driven by a sprocket wheel 90. The cams periodically open the shutters 84, which are closed by springs 91, so that the web 5:: is alternately swung between the dot-dash position thereof and its solid-line position to deposit successive folds of the web upon one another. It should be noted that the expression web, as used in the present application, i intended to designate sheet material as well as parallel arrays of ribbon or sliver and any other elongated flexible elements which can be drawn against the perforated surface of the conveyor means. The folded Web 5a passes between a further drum 3a and a conveyor belt 6a, spaced therefrom, so that the folds are oriented in generally radial direction. The drum 3a and conveyor 6a are operated with identical angular velocity so that no shear stresses are applied by them to the folds. The movable conveying means 3a, 6a completely obviate the disadvantages of hitherto known J-box arrangements wherein rigid walls are employed. While the blower of drum 3a, whose intake 92 draws the treating fluid through the relatively dense mass of material and the perforated conveyor band 6a from outlet 82, has substantially the same capacity as the blower of drum 2a and likewise supplies the outlet 82, the more compact folds of the web limit the throughput of steam so that a reduced quantity of the latter is employed per unit quantity of material processed in the second stage.

A pair of outlet rollers 93 are arranged at the exit opening 94 and draw the web 5a from the magazine formed by drum 3a and band 6a at a relatively high rate through another lock 95 and its rollers 96.

In FIG. 2B I show another arrangement wherein a drum 2b has its shield 83b formed with a slidable shutter extension 84b, which is shiftable, as indicated in dotdash lines, by a solenod 69b via its arm 69b to per-iodically block and unblock the perforations of portions of the periphery of drum 2b. The web 5b thus folds in loops onto the bars 200 of a rotary loop dryer. Other wellknown dryer types may also be employed. The solenoid (69b) is coupled with a timer 201 which blocks the shutter 84b in its dot-dash position for a predetermined period while drum 2b rotates so that a loop of any desired length may be formed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention wherein an autoclave 13 whose cylindrical casing 96 is bolted to outwardly convex terminal casing portions 97, 98 along their flanges 99, 100, has an inlet 101 and an outlet 102 at opposite ends of the housing. The material 105 is fed between a pair of rollers 15, 15a at the inlet onto the lower surface of a first perforated drum 10 whence it passes in generally sinusoidal pattern alternately over and under the successive drums 11 and 12. From drum 12 the web is displaced between another pair of rollers 17, 17a of the outlet opening 102. The drums 10, 11 and 12 are jouranled upon a rear plate 103 forming a compartment 104. The latter houses the blowers 106, 107, 108 of these drums, the first two of which are shown in detail in FIG. 4. Blower 107, for example, draws the steam through its intake 109 after it has passed through the web 105 and distributes it via a discharge opening 110 to the drums 10 and 12 flanking it. Blowers 106, 108 of these drums expel steam 5 through outlets 111, 111' whence it can feed the central drum 11. As previously mentioned, the quantity of air drawn through drum 10 is greater than that drawn through drum 11. Similarly drum 12 draws still less treating fluid, per unit quantity of material, through the web hugging its periphery.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drives for the rotors of the blowers 1106, 107, 108 (e.g. the motor 20, belt or gear transmission 19 and rotor shaft 18 shown in FIG. 4) are operated atprogressively reduced speeds. The periphery of drum 10 may be provided with perforations having a larger total cross-sectional area than those of drums 11 and 12, or drum 10 may be rotated with a somewhat higher angular velocity than the other drums. Since rollers 15 and 15a, which displace the web in the direction of arrow 14 into the chamber 13, are driven at a peripheral speed somewhat in excess of that of drum 10, the material is deposited in a pleated conformation on the drums. This conformation is essentially maintained throughout the transport path of the web inasmuch as the other drums 11 and 12 operate at somewhat slower speeds. It should be noted that the inlet and outlet slots 101, 102 shown are relatively narrow so that hardly any escape of steam, which may be introduced via a conduit 112, takes place. Locks such as those shown in FIG. 2 may, of course, also be provided at the inlet and outlet ends of the wind-tunnel shaped chamber 13.

In FIG. 5 I show another arrangement wherein drums 23, 24, 25, 26 within pressure chamber 113 have driving sprockets 114, 115, 116, 117 of successively larger diameter around which passes a driving chain 118. The latter, displaced by a conventional motor not shown, rotates the drums alternately in opposite senses and with progressively reduced angular velocity so that a result similar to that previously described is attained. The fabric web 21 is fed in the direction of the arrow over an idler roller 22 between a pair of driven feed rollers 119 at the restricted inlet opening 120 of the installation. Rollers 119 operate with a peripheral speed in excess of that of drum 23 so that the material is gathered into slight folds as it is laid unto the drums. The terminal drum 26 carries web 21 to the outlet rollers 121 whence it passes between another idler roller 122 and the conveyor belt 27 which carries the web away for further processing. It will be immediately apparent that one or more of the drums 23-26 can be replaced by conveyor belts or other means having a closed perforated transport surface. As in FIGS. 3 and 4, the unused portions of drums 23-26 are covered by shields 123-126 while only the intakes 127-130 of the associated blowers are shown. The blowers may be positioned behind the plate 131 or at the base of chamber 113.

The apparatus of FIG. 6 has its treatment chamber subdivided into a preheating or first heating compartment 28, whose walls are of cylindrical configuration like those of the chamber 13 in FIGS. 3 and 4 so as to withstand the steam pressure (e.g. two atmospheres) therewithin, and a main treatment compartment 36 in which the material 31a remains for a prolonged period in contact with the treating fluid at reduced pressure (e.g one atmosphere). The web 31:: passes over an idler 132 and between two feed rollers 133, of the character previously described, onto the primary drum 29 which conveys it at a relatively high peripheral speed onto a succeeding drum 30 operating at somewhat lower speed. Thus the steam introduced into the pressure compartment 28 via conduit 134 is drawn through the web into drum 29 at a relatively high rate per unit quantity of material processed while drum 30 draws the steam through the web at a relatively lower rate per unit quantity of material processed.

The steam is circulated and heated by fluid-displacement means of the type previously described and shown in the aforementioned copending application. From compartment 28 the web 31a passes between a pair of rollers 135 which deposit it in slight pleats upon the first of a plurality of stacked conveyor belts 31-34 which are somewhat staggered to permit a continuous flow of the material downwardly and out of the lower compartment 36 in the direction of arrow 35. Again the outlet 136 of this compartment is provided with rollers 137 which prevent the influx of air. It will be understood that other arrangements of the high pressure and low pressure compartments may also be suitable. For instance, the high-pressure and low-pressure compartments may be disposed side by side or one below the other as desired. Moreover, the drums 29 and may be oriented for rotation about axes extending codirectionally with the axis of the cylindrical casing.

In FIGS. 7-9 of the drawing, I show a modified arrangement of a linear array of drums for the fluid treatment of a web 160. The installation comprises a cylindrical housing 161 whose inlet 162 is provided with a pair of rollers 163 which feed the Web 160 onto the first drum 164 of a plurality of drums. Hot air is fed into a first compartment 165, containing the drum 164, which is delimited by a pair of movable partitions 166, 167, slidable in a channel 168 to separate compartment 165 from the steam treatment compartment 169, 170. The hot air is introduced via a conduit 171 and is drawn by a pair of high-capacity blowers, whose intakes may be seen at 172, 173, through the web carried by the array of angularly spaced slats 274 forming the perforated periphery of drum 164. A stationary shield 175 blocks the slots of the unused portion of the drum periphery.

As indicated in FIG. 8, each ventilator or blower of drum 164 (one of which is indicated at 176) is driven by a motor 177 via a transmission 178 to expel the hot air through a vent 179.

The web 160 passes along the upper side of drum 164 and thence onto the upper sides of drums 180, 181 in succession. Drums 180 and 181 are located within compartments 169 and 170, respectively, and serve to treat the web 160 with steam. Drum 180 is provided with two relatively small blowers whose intakes 172, 173 draw steam, introduced via nozzles 174, through the web and the perforations in the drum. The nozzles 174 are adjustably mounted in slots 174' and may be shifted toward or away from the Web.

Drum 181 is separated from drum 180 by a pair of movable partitions 184, 185 vertically slidable in a channel 186, and is provided with a single blower with an intake port 187 which draws the steam blown into compartment 170 by the blower of drum 180, through the web. From drum 181, the web 160 passes between a pair of rollers 188 through the exit opening 189 of the casing 161. Compartments 165, 169 and 170 constitute an intake portion, an intermediate portion and an exit portion of the pressure chamber which can be quickly closed off by the sliding partitions 166, 167 and 184, 185.

Drums 164, 180 and 181 are provided with respective driving sprockets 190, 191, 192 which are engaged by a chain 193 driven by motor 194. Since the drum-s carry the web 160 along their upper surfaces, they are driven in the same sense as is apparent from FIG. 7. Moreover, the drums 164, 180 and 181 are of progressively decreasing diameter while their sprockets 190, 191 and 192 are of the same diameter so that the drum proximal to the inlet operates with a higher peripheral speed than the successively arranged drums. The peripheral speed of the drums is reduced in stepwise fashion between the inlet and the outlet although they are all driven at the same angular velocity.

In FIG. 9 I show the drums 164, and 181 to be provided with apertures or perforations of successively decreasing cross-sectional area. Thus, each slot 274 between the slats 195 of drum 164 has a greater cross-sectional area than does the longitudinal row of openings 196 in the periphery of drum 180. The cross-sectional area of the openings of the latter row is, in turn, greater than the corresponding row of openings 197 in drum 181. Consequently, the throughput of treating fluid drawn into the drums 164, 180 and 181 is reduced progressively from drum to drum. If desired, shields 175, 198 and 199 of the drums may be dispensed with and the web 160 returned along the undersides of the drums, as indicated by dotdash lines, to the inlet opening.

Theinvention as described and illustrated is believed to admit of many modification within the ability of persons skilled in the art, such modifications being deemed included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of treating a web of flexible textile mate rial with at least one treatment fluid, comprising the steps of:

(a) continuously conveying said web through a substantially closed chamber along at least one perforated surfaoe forming a transport path having a plurality of successive zones;

(b) drawing said fluid through said web and said surface at a first of said zones at a relatively high rate per unit quantity of the material treated; and

(c) subsequently passing said fluid through said web at a succeeding zone at a relatively low rate per unit quantity of said material treated.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said web is at a lower temperature than that of said fluid prior to passage through said first zone, said method further comprising the steps of heating at least a portion of the fluid drawn through said Web in said first zone and passing it again through said web.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid is steam and said chamber is maintained at an elevated pressure at least in the region of said first zone.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said web is conveyed through said succeeding zone at a rate of excess of its rate of displacement through said first zone in terms of the quantity of material treated per unit time.

5. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of folding said'material upon its passage through said succeeding zone.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said web is displaced along a perforated surface in said succeeding zone, and said fluid is drawn through said web and said surface in said succeeding zone.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,670,262 5/ 1928 Kershaw. 1,764,089 6/1930 Sibson et a1. 1,808,701 6/1931 Wigglesworth. 3,011,266 12/1961 Fleis-sner.

FOREIGN PATENTS 148,881 11/1952 Australia.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner.

Claims (2)

1. A METHOD OF TREATING A WEB OF FLEXIBLE TEXTILE MATE

1. A METHOD OF TREATING A WEB OF FLEXIBLE TIXTILE MATERIAL WITH AT LEAST ONE TREATMENT FLUID, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) CONTINUOUSLY CONVEYING SAID WEB THROUGH A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED CHAMBER ALONG AT LEAST ONE PERFORATED SURFACE FORMING A TRANSPORT PATH HAVING A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVE ZONES; (B) DRAWING SAID FLUID THROUGH SAID WEB AND SAID SURFACE AT A FIRST OF SAID ZONES AT A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE PER UNIT QUANTITY OF THE MATERIAL TREATED; AND PER UNIT QUNATITY OF THE MATERIAL TREATED: AND (C) SUBSEQUENTLY PASSING SID FLUID THROUGH SAID WEB AT (C) SUBSEQUENTLY PASSING SAID FLUID THROUGH SAID WEB AT A SUCCEEDING ZONE AT A RELATIVELY LOW RATE PER UNIT QUANTITY OF SAID MATERIAL TREATED.

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