US3640102A

US3640102A - Winch apparatus for treating material in strand form

Info

Publication number: US3640102A
Application number: US7604A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Blount Jr; Nelson Crandall
Original assignee: United Piece Dye Works
Current assignee: United Piece Dye Works
Priority date: 1970-02-02
Filing date: 1970-02-02
Publication date: 1972-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-08

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to an apparatus for treating material in a strand or ropelike form. The apparatus includes a bath means for containing a treating fluid and a supporting roller for the strand material spaced thereabove. Winding means in the form of an endless conveyor to which one end of the strand material and a cooperating guide roller are operatively associated with the support roller whereby in operation the strand material is successively unwound at its trailing end and rewound at its leading end about the supporting roller as the intermediate convolution is successively drawn through the treating bath.

Description

mte States Patent 1 3,640,102

mount, Jr. et al. Feb. 8, 1972 [54] WINCH APPARATUS FOR TREATING 3,308,639 3/1967 Ziegler et al ..68/l76 MATERIAL IN STRAND FORM 3,460,362 8/1969 Kilgour et al. ..68/ 176 [72] lnventors: Charles Blount, Jr., Westport, Conn.; Nelr son Cranda, Edenton NC. Pnmary Exantmer William I. Price Attorney-Irving Seidman [73] Assignee: The United Piece Dye Works, New York,

NY. [57] ABSTRACT Filed: 2, 1970 This disclosure is directed to an apparatus for treating materi- [21] Appl. No.: 7,604 al in a strand or ropelike form. The apparatus includes a bath means for containing a treating fluid and a supporting roller for the strand material spaced thereabove. Winding means in [52] the form of an endless conveyor to which one end of the [51] strand material and a cooperating guide roller are operatively [58] associated with the support roller whereby in operation the strand material is successively unwound at its trailing end and [56] References cued rewound at its leading end about the supporting roller as the UNITED STATES PATENTS intermediate convolution is successively drawn through the treating bath. 2,320,89l 6/1943 Ryder ..68/l76 X 2,81 1,351 10/1957 Belcher 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures mph-Inn I All PATENTEDFEB 8m 3.640.102

sum 2 or 2 1 INVENTOR. CHAR/.55 Emu/w, JR. NELSON CR/INQALL HTT'ORNEY WINCH APPARATUS FOR TREATING MATERIAL IN STRAND FORM PROBLEMS AND PRIOR ART This invention is directed to an improvement in the apparatus of the type disclosed in US. Letters Pat. No. 3,308,639. Such apparatus required the need of a relatively costly helical screw and complex infinitely variable gear drive and related driving mechanism to effect the winding and unwinding of strand material for drawing the material through a bath of treating material.

An object of this invention is to provide a simplified means for effecting the winding and unwinding of strand material in spaced convolution about a supporting winch roller.

Another object is to provide an apparatus constructed so that strand material can be readily wound in spaced convolution upon a supporting roller.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to an apparatus for treating sheet material in rope form, such as fabric. The apparatus comprises a means for containing a bath of treating liquid over which there is rotatably supported a winch roller. A winding means is operatively associated with the roller and it comprises an endless conveyor to which one end of the strand material is connected. cooperatively associated with the conveyor and winch roller is a tilted guide roller having its axis disposed out of the plate of the winch roller and disposed at a downwardly and oblique angle with respect thereto in the direction of feed. Disposed below the guide roller is a rake having radially extending finger means or separators which are angularly disposed relative to one another. A drive means is operatively associated with the winch roller and the endless conveyor and associate glide roller and rake to effect the respective drives so that the strand material is wound in spaced helical convolution spaced along the winch roller and associated guide and rake means so as to successively unwind the helical convolution so formed at the trailing end and rewinding the helix at its leading end as the respective convolutions are successively drawn through the treating bath.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a winch type apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is the left side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially diagrammatic enlarged detailed view shown in perspective of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3.

' FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is another modified form of the invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic drawings of a plan view and front elevation view, respectively, of a modified embodiment.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIG. 1, a winch type apparatus 10 for treating material, such as fabric or the like, in rope or strand form. The apparatus 10 comprises a receptacle 11 adapted to define a tub or bath for containing a treating fluid or liquid, as for example, a dyeing liquid, a washing liquid, or the like depending upon the desired operation to be carried out on the material to be passed therethrough. Supported above the container or bath 11 between suitable side supports 12 and 13 extending thereabove is a winch roller 14 which may be slotted or smooth. In the illustrated embodiment the winch roller is illustrated as being elliptical in cross section and of general construction. However, it will be understood that any desirable cross-sectional shape may be employed. The winch roller 14 is rotatably supported about longitudinally extending axis or shaft 15 which is suitably supported in the end bearings 16. A drive means, as for example, a motor 17, is operatively connected through a gear reducer 17A and driving belt 178 in driving relationship to the sha t 15 of the winch roller to effect the drive or rotation thereof as will be hereinafter described.

Supported on the inner side of end support 12 is an endless conveyor means 18 which is suitably threaded about a plurality of spaced

sprockets

19, 20, 21 and 22 for guiding the conveyor in an endless path. In the illustrated form of the invention the conveyor 18 comprises a link chain threaded over the series of sprockets 19-22. Each of the respective guide sprockets 1942 are rotatably journaled about a

suitable pinion shaft

19A, 20A, 21A, 22A, in appropriate bearings on the end support. 'One of the sprockets 22 is connected into driving relationship with the main drive shah 15 of the winch roller. This is attained by extending one end of the winch roller shaft 15 beyond the end support 12 and securing thereto a driving sprocket 23 which is connected in driving relationship to a driven sprocket 24 suitably mounted on the pinion shaft 22A of the conveyor guide sprocket 22. It will thus be noted that the drive of the conveying chain 18 is effected by the driving connection or chain drive 25 between the main shaft sprocket 23, and the associated driven sprocket 24 of the conveyor chain 18.

A means in the form of an attachment ring 26 is connected to conveyor chain 18 for securing thereto one end Ml of the fabric material M to be wound in rope strand about the winch roller 14.

The arrangement is such that in operation, the conveyor chain 18 moves in an endless path about its respective guide sprockets 19-22 in a substantially vertical plane and which path of travel is disposed substantially normal or at right angle to the axis or drive shaft 15 of the winch roller 14. The conveyor chain in rotating in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows, FIG. 1, causes the leading end Ml of the material M to be wound in a continuous orbital path about the periphery of the winch roller.

A means is provided for forming the material into spaced convolution of a helix along the length of the winch roller as the leading end Ml of the material travels in an orbital path about the winch roller 14. This is attained by providing a guide roller 28 suitably supported between the

end bearings

30 and 31 disposed in the end supports 12 and 13 and opposite the winch roller 14 as shown.

The guide roller is supported about an axis or shaft 29 rotatably journaled in

bearing

30, 31 which are adjustably supported on end supports l2, 13. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the

respective bearings

30 and 31 are movably supported in a guide means 30A, 31A respectively and operatively connected to an

adjusu'ng screw

30B, 31B for effecting the adjustment of the axis of the guide roller 28 relative to the axis of the winch roller 14.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 it is to be noted that the axis of the guide roller 28 is skewed so that its longitudinal axis is displaced downwardly and inwardly relative to the axis of the drive shaft 15 of the winch roller 14. As shown, the trailing end 28A or right end of the guide roller as viewed in FIGS. 3 to 5 is angled downwardly and toward the shaft 15 of the winch roller 14. Thus the inclination or the skewing of the guide roller 28 is such that gravity will effect the direction of feed of the convolution of the wound material about the winch roller 14 when the apparatus is placed in operation.

Cooperatively associated with the guide roller 28 and spaced therebelow is a rake means 32 for maintaining the convolution of the helical strand material M being wound uniformly spaced along the winch roller 14. Referring to FIG. 3, the rake means 32 comprises a bar 33 rotatably journaled in end bearing 34 between the end supports 12 and 13. Connected to the rake bar 33 in longitudinally spaced relationship therealong are a plurality of radially extending finger means which are successively disposed in relatively angular relationship about the bar 33.

In the illustrated form of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3 the rake fingers 35 comprise a series of annular members or rings or loops 35 which are connected at a tangent point to the rake bar 33. Each loop or ring finger 35 is thus tangentially connected at angularly disposed positions relative to one another. As shown, one side of the ring fingers 35 is rendered substantially straight and is secured to the rake bar so that the straight edge thereof extends radially therefrom. In operation the arrangement is such that the respective strands or convolutions of the material being wound upon the winch roller 14 will be located between adjacent pairs of rake fingers 35. As the rake bar 33 is rotated during operation the successive convolutions of material M are free to move along the front of the rake bar 33 as the straight edge or tangent portion of the rake finger 35 is rotated to a position paralleling the flow of the strand material thereon.

The drive of the rake bar 33 is attained by a chain drive 36 which is driven from a sprocket 37 journaled on shaft A of guide sprocket 20 of the chain conveyor 18. As best seen, shaft 20A of the sprocket 20 is extended through the end support 12 and has secured to the other end thereof a driven sprocket 37. It in turn is connected in driving relationship to the driven sprocket 38 journaled on the rake bar 33, and a drive chain 36 connects

sprockets

37 and 38 in driving relationship. The rake bar 33 is thus driven or rotated in timed relationship to the rotation of the conveyor chain 18 and to the associated winch roller 14 through suitable gear ratios.

In the form of the invention described, it is to be noted that the guide roller 28 is rotatably mounted so as to idle or be driven by the material being wound thereover.

In operation the inclination of the guide roller 28 and the associated rake 32 insures that the strand material M wound about the winch roller 14 moves or advances along the winch roller 14 in spaced helical convolutions with the respective convolution being drawn through the dye or treating liquid contained in the subsequent container 11. To load the material on the winch, the leading end of the fabric material M1 is suitably attached to the attachment means 26 carried on the conveyor chain 18, and the batch of fabric then disposed in the treating solution within the container. When the motor drive means 17 is actuated, the winch roller 14 is rotated in timed sequence with the winding conveyor 18 operatively connected in driving relationship thereto through the associated chain drive and appropriate gear ratio means. As the chain winding conveyor 18 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrows and during the first revolution of the attachment means 26, the leading end M1 of the fabric attached thereto moves in an orbital path so that the fabric in rope form is drawn over the associated guide roller 28 around winch roller 14, and back to its original position. Continued rotation of the leading end of the fabric M1 thus effects the winding of the fabric about the winch roller in successive convolutions as the winch roller feeds the convolutes down into the dye path where pleats may result on each convolution bottom in the container or bath 11. The fabrics or material M thus wound in a helical form with each convolution advances along the inclined guide roller 28 from the left to the right end of the support roller as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3 or from right to left in an opposite hand machine. The respective convolutions thus formed are maintained in spaced separate relationship by the rake fingers and advance along the rake bar as the tangent portion of the loops pass through the vertical. The fabric is thus continuously wound and unwound in helical form about the supporting roller 14 and its guide roller 28 and associated rake means 32. With the winch apparatus 10 thus loaded and with the proper treating liquid disposed in the bath 11, the speed of the rotation of the winch roller 14, guide roller 28, and its associated rake 32, may be selected through a variable speed motor means or gear means 17A to give the desired timing to the particular operation. As the operation continues the fabric is continuously unwound at its trailing end and rewound at its leading end as the respective convolutions are successively drawn through the treating bath in container 11.

In a modified form of the invention, the guide roller 28 may be driven in a positive manner. The positive drive of the guide roller 28 may be efiected by connecting its shaft 29 in driving relationship to the winch drive or to one of the guide sprockets of the conveyor means through suitable gear ratios. For example, the shaft of one of the guide sprockets is extended through the end support 12 and has journaled thereon a driving sprocket. The driving sprocket in turn is connected through a chain drive to a driven sprocket connected on the end of the roller shaft 29. In this modification the guide roller may be positively driven.

In FIG. 7, the guide roller 28 is positively driven by a drive chain or belt 40 connecting sprocket 41 on the winch shaft 15 to sprocket 42 on the guide roller shaft 29.

Also the rake for maintaining the convolutions of the helical strand material or rope form strand spaced along the supporting winch roller may be modified as seen in FIG. 6 by having radially extending fingers 50, angularly disposed about the rake bar 51. In all other respects the operation of the winch construction of FIG. 6 is similar to that hereinbefore described.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of the invention. In this embodiment the structure of the winch apparatus is identical to that described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 7 with the exception that the guide roller is tapered or made substantially conical as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. It is to be noted that the guide roller 70 is tapered inwardly in the direction of feed, i.e., the smaller end of the roller 70 is to the right as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 when the conveyor means is disposed to the left. With this arrangement the axes of rotation of the guide roller 70 can be disposed parallel to the axes of rotation of the winch roller 71, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. By tapering the periphery of the guide roller 70 in the direction of feed the effect is such that gravity will feed or advance the convolutions of the material along the winch roller 71 during operation as previously described.

While the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof it will be readily appreciated and understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A material treatment apparatus an elongated support roller means mounted for rotation for supporting the material to be treated,

means for winding the material in convolute strand form upon said roller means,

said winding means including an initiating winder and cooperating guide means for guiding the convolutions of said strand material along said roller means,

said cooperating guide means including a guide roller disposed opposite said support roller, and

a rake means disposed below said guide roller for maintaining the convolution of said material spaced along the length of said support roller, and

means for effecting the drive of said support roller means and cooperating winding means,

wherein said rake includes a longitudinally extending bar rotatably journaled, and

a plurality of finger means spaced along said rake bar,

said rake finger means being progressively angularly disposed relative to one another about said bar whereby the convolution of the strand material being wound thereon progressively advances along the length thereof as said bar rotates.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including means for effecting a positive drive for said rake and connected rake fingers.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rake fingers include an annular member tangentially secured to said bar.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rake fingers include a radially extending projection.

5. A winch apparatus for treating fabrics comprising means adapted to contain a bath of a treating liquid, a winch roller rotatably journaled and supported above said bath means,

means for effecting the drive of said winch roller,

means for winding the material to be treated in convolute strand form upon said winch roller as said winch roller rotates,

said winding means including a guide roller rotatably journaled above said bath means and opposite said winch roller,

the axis of said guide roller being obliquely disposed relative to the axis of said winch roller whereby the trailing end of the axis of said guide roller is disposed nearest to and below the corresponding end of the adjacent axis of said winch roller, 7

a cooperating rake means disposed below said guide roller,

said rake means including a rake bar and a plurality of rake fingers longitudinally and angularly spaced along and about said rake bar,

means for rotatably journaling said rake bar,

an initiating conveyor means disposed adjacent one end of said winch roller,

said conveyor means including an endless flexible conveyor having rneansfor securing thereto one end of the strand of material,

means for effecting the drive of said conveyor means in timed relationship to the rotation of said rake whereby the fabric is wound in strand form in helical convolutions spaced along said winch roller, guide roller and associated rake means so as to successively unwind the helical convolution at its trailing end and rewinding the helix at its leading end as the respective convolutions are being successively drawn through the treating bath.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said endless conveyor includes a conveyor chain,

sprocket means for guiding said chain about said winch roller,

means for connecting said chain conveyor in driving relationship relative said winch roller,

and means for connecting said rake in timed driving relationship relative to said conveyor.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said rake means includes a rotatably joumaled bar disposed below said guide roller,

a plurality of radially extending fingers longitudinally spaced along said bar,

said radial disposed fingers being progressively angularly disposed about the axis of said bar.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said fingers include an annular member tangentially connected to said bar in successive angularly disposed relationship whereby said fingers function to separate the successive convolution of the strand material along the length of said winch roller and as sociated guide roller.

9. A material treatment apparatus comprising:

an elongated support roller means mounted for rotation for supporting the material to be treated,

means for winding the material in convolute strand form upon said roller means,

said winding including an initiating winder and cooperating guide means for guiding the convolutions of said strand material along said roller means,

said initiating winder including an endless conveyor disposed adjacent one end of said support winch roller means,

said cooperating guide means including a guide roller disposed opposite said support, whereby the axis of said guide roller is laterally disposed relative to the axis of said support roller, and

said guide roller being tapered to converge in the direction of feed of said convolute strands,

a rake means disposed below said guide roller for maintaining the convolutions of said material spaced along the length of said support roller,

and means for effecting the drive of said support roller means and cooperating winding means.

Claims

1. A material treatment apparatus an elongated support roller means mounted for rotation for supporting the material to be treated, means for winDing the material in convolute strand form upon said roller means, said winding means including an initiating winder and cooperating guide means for guiding the convolutions of said strand material along said roller means, said cooperating guide means including a guide roller disposed opposite said support roller, and a rake means disposed below said guide roller for maintaining the convolution of said material spaced along the length of said support roller, and means for effecting the drive of said support roller means and cooperating winding means, wherein said rake includes a longitudinally extending bar rotatably journaled, and a plurality of finger means spaced along said rake bar, said rake finger means being progressively angularly disposed relative to one another about said bar whereby the convolution of the strand material being wound thereon progressively advances along the length thereof as said bar rotates.

5. A winch apparatus for treating fabrics comprising means adapted to contain a bath of a treating liquid, a winch roller rotatably journaled and supported above said bath means, means for effecting the drive of said winch roller, means for winding the material to be treated in convolute strand form upon said winch roller as said winch roller rotates, said winding means including a guide roller rotatably journaled above said bath means and opposite said winch roller, the axis of said guide roller being obliquely disposed relative to the axis of said winch roller whereby the trailing end of the axis of said guide roller is disposed nearest to and below the corresponding end of the adjacent axis of said winch roller, a cooperating rake means disposed below said guide roller, said rake means including a rake bar and a plurality of rake fingers longitudinally and angularly spaced along and about said rake bar, means for rotatably journaling said rake bar, an initiating conveyor means disposed adjacent one end of said winch roller, said conveyor means including an endless flexible conveyor having means for securing thereto one end of the strand of material, means for effecting the drive of said conveyor means in timed relationship to the rotation of said rake whereby the fabric is wound in strand form in helical convolutions spaced along said winch roller, guide roller and associated rake means so as to successively unwind the helical convolution at its trailing end and rewinding the helix at its leading end as the respective convolutions are being successively drawn through the treating bath.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said endless conveyor includes a conveyor chain, sprocket means for guiding said chain about said winch roller, means for connecting said chain conveyor in driving relationship relative said winch roller, and means for connecting said rake in timed driving relationship relative to said conveyor.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said rake means includes a rotatably journaled bar disposed below said guide roller, a plurality of radially extending fingers longitudinally spaced along said bar, said radial disposed fingers being progressively angularly disposed about the axis of said bar.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said fingers include an annular member tangentially connected to said bar in successive angularly disposed relationship whereby said fingers function to separate the successive convolution of the strand material along the length of said winch roller and associated guide roller.

9. A material treatment apparatus comprising: an elongated support roller means mounted for rotation for supporting the material to be treated, means for winding the material in convolute strand form upon said roller means, said winding means including an initiating winder and cooperating guide means for guiding the convolutions of said strand material along said roller means, said initiating winder includes an endless conveyor disposed adjacent one end of said support winch roller means, said cooperating guide means including a guide roller disposed opposite said support roller, whereby the axis of said guide roller is laterally disposed relative to the axis of said support roller, and said guide roller being tapered to converge in the direction of feed of said convolute strands, a rake means disposed below said guide roller for maintaining the convolutions of said material spaced along the length of said support roller, and means for effecting the drive of said support roller means and cooperating winding means.