Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/36—Textiles
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04B—KNITTING
  • D04B35/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, knitting machines, not otherwise provided for
  • D04B35/22—Devices for preparatory treatment of threads
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06H—MARKING, INSPECTING, SEAMING OR SEVERING TEXTILE MATERIALS
  • D06H3/00—Inspecting textile materials
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
  • G01N21/91—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination using penetration of dyes, e.g. fluorescent ink
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S8/00—Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification of textiles and fibers
  • Y10S8/92—Synthetic fiber dyeing
  • Y10S8/922—Polyester fiber

Definitions

• ABSTRACT A method of detecting defects in substrates comprising the steps of applying to a substrate, a composition comprising a fugitive tint and a solvent mixture containing at least two solvents of differing polarity which are substantially immiscible under certain conditions, and permitting said composition to undergo phase separation whereby the tint migrates with one of the solvents to a portion of the substrate to facilitate visual inspection of the substrate. Also, a detecting composition.
• the problem of fabric defect detection is further compounded by the use of textured synthetic yarns which possess different dye affinity depending upon the type of yarn, the number of filaments or fibers in yarn bundle, the heat history of the yarn during texturing, the particular texturing process utilized, and similar factors.
• textured synthetic yarns which possess different dye affinity depending upon the type of yarn, the number of filaments or fibers in yarn bundle, the heat history of the yarn during texturing, the particular texturing process utilized, and similar factors.
• there are certain variables that introduce different dye characteristics to yarns produced by the particular process For example, where the yarn is heated to a plastic state and a twist is set therein as in a false twist process, different heat histories of the yarns so processed can well affect the dyeing of the yarn.
• variations in the sharpness of the edge may create different characteristics in the yarn which may affect the dyeing of the yarn.
• a polyester fiber identification system has been proposed in Knitting Industry, November 1972, page 44. ln this system, colorants are applied to a fabric or group of fibers in a two-step operation with a preparation solution being brushed onto the fabric and after thirty seconds a special blue colorant is sprayed onto the fabric. Heat then is applied to hasten development. This technique is said to allow identification or separation of basic dyeable polyester from regular polyester.
• the present invention provides a simple and quick method for'identifying defects in substrates. Further, the invention provides a single-step method which permits the visual observation of defects of a physical, chemical and/or optical nature in textiles without cutting samples and/or machine stoppage. This results in fewer seconds and increased production rates. The present invention also provides a technique for detecting the probability and degree of barre in textile fabrics before the fabrics are finished. Moreover, the invention provides a novel composition for detecting textile defects.
• the method of the present invention generally comprises the steps of applying a composition comprising a fugitive tint and a solvent mixture containing at least two solvents of differing polarity which are substantially immiscible under certain conditions, and permitting said composition to undergo phase separation whereby the tint migrates with one of the solvents and is affixed or diffused to a portion of the substrate to facilitate visual inspection of the substrate.
• fugitive tint refers to any dyestuff, colorant, pigment, UV absorber and the like that may be applied to textiles and subsequently removed therefrom by washing or scouring without retaining color or adversely affecting dyeability.
• Suiitable tints are polyethyleneoxy tints such as those marketed by Milliken Chemical Division of Magnolia Industries,
• polyethyleneoxy tints have the following formula:
• R is a dyestuff radical
• n is at least 15, x is from 1 to 6, and the product of n times x is at least 30, preferably between 50 and 200, and more preferably between about and 150.
• Fugitive tints described in US. Pat. No. 3,157,633 to Kuhn are particularly useful. The tint color is selected to provide good contrast with the substrate. Blue and green tints are useful with undyed textiles.
• the composition changes character and one of the components thereof preferentially migrates to a particular portion of the textile, thus facilitating visual inspection of the textile in search of chemical, physical and/or optical defects therein.
• the substrate treated according to the method of the present invention may be any surface that will accept components of the treating composition unevenly due to physical or chemical characteristics of the substrate, for example, textiles, plastics, etc.
• the substrate is a textile such as a woven, knitted, or nonwoven fabric, silver, batt, yarn or the like.
• the substrate may contain natural or synthetic fibers or filaments or mixtures thereof. Particularly suitable are blends of two different types of polyester fibers.
• composition and method of the invention may be used to detect a wide variety of chemical, physical and/or optical defects including the following typical examples: barre, misdrawn ends, needle marks, low bulk ends, off-quality denierv ends, yarn mixes, and the like.
• the composition of the present invention may be applied to mixtures of basic dyeable polyester and regular dyeable polyester to visually observe and segregate the basic or cationic dyeable polyester from the regular polyester.
• a particular pattern is intended to include cationic dyeable polyester in one portion and regular polyester in another portion, the correctness of the design may be verified quickly and accurately without removing a sample of the goods or disrupting operation of the machine producing the goods. Moreover, this can be accomplished without adversely affecting the finished goods.
• a plurality of yarns is simultaneously fed to the knitting needles from separate locations around the periphery of the machine.
• Yarn tension must be closely controlled to produce first quality fabric and each end must be controlled individually. if proper tension control on one or more of the ends of yarn is lost, the affected ends of yarn will be knitted into the fabric under off-target tension conditions. After dyeing the fabric, the off-target tensioned ends of yarn may appear as different color streaks in the fabric.
• needles used to knit fabric are very fragile and subject to damage, which can produce fab ric defects such as needle marks that appear in the dyed fabric. Visual observation of such defects shortly after damage to the needle permits replacement of the needle before large amounts of off-quality fabric have been produced.
• Numerous other defects may likewise be sought when using the composition and process of the present invention.
• knitting machines are set up to knit a particular pattern into a fabric.
• one or more ends may be misaligned to create an incorrect pattern in the fabric.
• the knitting machine is put into production, it is difficult to detect an imperfection in the pattern being knitted.
• the correctness of the pattern or presence of defects may be ascertained rapidly as the fabric is being knitted without stopping the machine.
• the capability of defect detection without machine stoppage is especially important in knitting operations which produce a defect at each machine stop.
• the yarns from the different producers may possess different dyeing characteristics.
• the present invention may be utilized to detect the presence of such different yarns. 1n the same way, differences in the number of filaments in a yarn bundle as well as numerous other potential errors may be detected. While the present invention is particularly useful on finished textiles such as knitted, woven and nonwoven fabrics, the invention also may be utilized in fiber and yarn preparation such as with webs, slivers, warp beams and the like.
• the defect detecting composition of the present invention advantageously is made up of a small quantity of a fugitive tint anad a suitable solvent mixture, al-
• the tint concentration may vary from about 0.01% up to 25% or more by weight.
• the concentration is between about 0.1% and 5%.
• the solvents are of differing polarity and are substantially immiscible in certain proportions or under certain conditions.
• the tint preferably is soluble in at least one of the solvents and insoluble in at least another of the solvents. Either polar or nonpolar type solvents may dissolve the tint, depending upon the particular tint and solvents employed, with the tint being insoluble in the opposite type.
• the preparation of the detecting composition varies.
• the tint enters the solution via the solvent in which it is soluble.
• the solvents form a solution only in a particular range of ratios and not in other proportions.
• Such solvent mixtures are desirable for the purposes of the present invention since, after application of the composition to the substrate, one of the solvents evaporates more rapidly than the other to create an imbalance in the ratio and separation of the solvents.
• two solvents of differing but similar type polarity that are immiscible in each other may be employed, e.g., a mixture of a highly polar solvent and a solvent of low polarity.
• a third solvent is added in which both of the first two solvents are miscible and a solution is formed. After application, evaporation of the third solvent brings about a phase separation of the first two solvents.
• Virtually any polar and nonpolar solvents may be utilized according to the present invention, with the particular solvent selection being dependent upon solubility of the tint, and solubility in each other or a third or fourth solvent. Selection of the solvents also may be based on flammability and- /or toxicity requirements. In some cases, the solvents may be selected to provide differing UV absorbing characteristics.
• phase separation occurs on the substrate very quickly after application, with the tint following the particular solvent in which it is soluble or has an affinity. Generally, the phase separation occurs within about 5 to 10 seconds after application under ambient conditions, which permits inspection without machine stoppage. With some of the solvent mixtures, contrast is retained for relatively long periods while with other mixtures, contrast is lost more quickly. In any case, visual inspection is preferably made while a sharp contrast is present.
• Defect detection solutions are prepared by mixing solvent and fugitive tent components as listed below in Table 1.
• the composition is applied to a knitted textile fabric containing both cationicdyeable polyester and regular polyester filaments.
• the composition is applied by pouring same over a portion of the knitted fabric until there is apparent saturation of the fabric at the contacted area.
• EXAMPLES 28-40 EXAMPLE 42 The following compositions are prepared and like- Two parts of tinting Yellow L, a p-nitrophenol salt wise poured over a knitted polyester fabric as described fugitive tint manufactured by Milliken Chemical Diviin Examples l-27.
• the compositions listed in Table II 40 sion of Magnolia Industries, Inc., Inman, South Caroexhibit a green or blue color and likewise show good lina. pattern and fiber location within 5 to 60 seconds.
• EXAMPLE 44 0.2 parts ofI Nylon Orange dissolved in one part of methyl alcohol, an aqueous fugitive tintmanufactured by US. Testing Company, Hoboken, New Jersey.
• EXAMPLE 45 Four parts of Green V tint, a complex of acid dyestuffs and polyvinyl pyriolidone manufactured by Chemurgy Products, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina.
• the fugitive tint composition provides excellent visual identification of the fiber groups and shows excellent pattern identification.
• the present composition and process permit particular ends of yarn to be traced back to their sources to identify damaged needles, incorrect tension, different heat histories for the yarns, different numbers of filaments in yarn bundles, different producers, and the like.
• the yarns are later scoured and permanently dyed according to conventional production techniques.
• the dyed fabric shows a like imperfection. In some cases, however, the imperfections noted after dyeing are not as pointed as observed with the method according to the present invention.
• the concentration of the fugitive tint may be varied and other materials which do not adversely affect the functioning of the composition may be added.
• the substrate may be subjected to sequential treatments with the composition, if desired. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined only by the claims appended hereto.
• a method of detecting defects in fabrics comprising the steps of:
• composition comprising a fugitive polyethyleneoxy modified dyestuff and a solvent mixture containing at least two miscible solvents of differing polarity which are substantially immiscible when exposed to the atmosphere in thin films, and
• said polyethyleneoxy fugitive tint has the formula wherein R is an organic dyestuff radical, R is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl and aralkyl containing from 6 to 12 carbon-atoms, and (CH CH O),, H, n is at least 15, x is from 1 to 6, and the product of n times x is at least 30.
• one of said solvents is a polar solvent and a second solvent is a non-polar solvent.
• the solvent mixture comprises 1,1 ,1-trichloroethane, formamide, methanol and methylene chloride.
• the solvent mixture comprises perchloroethylene, methylene chloride and'ethylene glycol monomethyl ether.
• the substrate is a textile fabric including two different types of polyester fibers.
• a detecting composition comprising a fugitive polyethyleneoxy modified dyestuff and a solvent mixture containing at least two miscible solvents of differing polarity which are substantially immiscible when exposed to the atmosphere in thin films whereby the tint migrates with one of the solvents.
• composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said fugitive tint is soluble in one of said solvents and substantially insoluble in the other of said solvents.
• composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said polyethyleneoxy fugitive tint has the formula 2 2 )n ]-t wherein R is a'dyestuff radical, n is at least 15, x is from 1 to 6, and the product of n times x is at least 30.
• composition as defined in claim 14 wherein said polyethyleneoxy fugitive tint has the formula wherein R is an organic dyestuff radical, R is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl and aralkyl containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and -(CH CH,. O), H, n is at least 15, x is from 1 to 6, and the product of n timesx is at least 30.
• composition as defined in claim 14 wherein one of said solvents is a polar solvent and a second solvent is a non-polar solvent.
• said composition includes water.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Coloring (AREA)
• Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)

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Citations (7)

• 1973
  • 1973-05-21 US US361994A patent/US3929406A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1973-10-30 NL NL7314900A patent/NL7314900A/xx unknown
  • 1973-11-02 IT IT53478/73A patent/IT997781B/it active
  • 1973-11-12 JP JP48126383A patent/JPS5011287A/ja active Pending
  • 1973-11-17 ES ES420627A patent/ES420627A1/es not_active Expired
• 1974
  • 1974-01-31 BE BE140389A patent/BE810423A/fr unknown
  • 1974-02-05 FR FR7403855A patent/FR2230789B1/fr not_active Expired
  • 1974-02-12 CH CH188874A patent/CH576032A5/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1974-05-03 GB GB1956874A patent/GB1442902A/en not_active Expired

Patent Citations (7)

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