Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C14—SKINS; HIDES; PELTS; LEATHER
  • C14C—CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF HIDES, SKINS OR LEATHER, e.g. TANNING, IMPREGNATING, FINISHING; APPARATUS THEREFOR; COMPOSITIONS FOR TANNING
  • C14C15/00—Apparatus for chemical treatment or washing of hides, skins, or leather

Definitions

• the present invention is generally directed to the technical field of machines for chemical and/or surface treatment of laminar flexible products, such as leathers, hides, fabrics and yarns, and more specifically relates to a drum structure particularly suitable for the transportation from the place of manufacturing to the place of installation and use.
• drums are essentially constituted by a container with at least one part for inlet of the products to be treated and with at least one part for outlet of the treated products, as well as a series of ducts for admission of the substances useful for the treatment.
• the container is rotatably mounted on a support frame formed by robust metallic profiles, in such a manner as to be rotatably driven by suitable motor means about its axis.
• the rotation axis must have a predetermined height from the ground, in order to allow the free rotation without interaction with the ground and the frame.
• a standard drum suitable for the treatment of product quantities ranging between 800 and 1500 kg, has a diameter of about 3 meters and is raised from the ground of 20 - 80 cm, so that its total height with respect to the ground is comprised between 3,20 m and 3,80 m.
• Such maximum height provides, in addition to remarkable big installation problems in companies having little buildings, also great limitations during transportation.
• the machine has to be lifted and loaded on a suitable i transportation means, for example the flatcar of a lorry or of an articulated truck, which has a per se a height of 90-100 cm from the ground.
• the so loaded transportation means can easily reach a height equal to or higher then 4 m, which is the maximum allowable height for transportation without special authorizations.
• the truck driver has to require and obtain from the public traffic authority a special permission in every country or region in which he transits, and has to overcome a number of bureaucratic problems, additional costs and losses of time.
• the truck driver has to require and obtain from the public traffic authority a special permission in every country or region in which he transits, and has to overcome a number of bureaucratic problems, additional costs and losses of time.
• some national laws require special convoys, with dramatic increases of transportation costs and bureaucratic formalities.
• the drum can be transported without any special authorization or convoy.
• this known solution does not solve the problem of reducing the transportation costs because the container and the frame cannot be transported on one single truck and have to be transported using two trucks or one special transport mean, with consequent higher costs than the traditional solution.
• the general object of the present invention is to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks, by providing a drum structure for treatment of flexible sheet-like products, such as leathers, hides, fabrics and yams, which exhibits high flexibility and cost-effectiveness in use.
• a main object is that of providing a drum structure that allows the temporary reduction of the bulk of the machine during transportation until the installation place.
• a particular object is that of providing a drum structure that achieves the above advantages while keeping its effectiveness and functionality.
• a further object is that of providing a drum structure as above described that involves extremely low additional costs, in such a manner to be advantageous from a mere economical point of view.
• a drum structure for treatment of flexible sheet-like products such as leathers, hides, fabrics and yarns, in accordance with claim 1 , comprising a container having a side wall with predetermined outer diameter and with a longitudinal axis, one pair of substantially planar and mutually faced end walls, a support frame securable to the ground on which said container is rotatably mounted for rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis, said container mounted on said frame having a predetermined maximum height from the ground in normal operating condition, characterized in that it comprises support means which are adjustable in height to move said container from a raised position corresponding to the normal operating position to a lowered position substantially ground contacting in such a way as to reduce the vertical bulk and to simplify transportation of the drum structure. Thanks to this particular embodiment, the drum structure can be easily compacted in order to fit the maximum allowable dimensions for transportation without any special permissions or convoys, while being practical and efficient.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective top and front view of a drum according to the invention in an arrangement of normal operating condition
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective top and back view of a drum according to the invention
• FIG. 3 shows a side view of the drum of preceding figures
• FIG. 4 shows a front view of the drum of preceding figures
• FIG. 5 shows a view of a detail of FIG. 3 in an enlarged scale
• FIG. 6 shows a view of the detail of FIG. 5 as taken along the sectional plane Vl - Vl;
• FIG. 7 shows a perspective top view of the drum according to the invention in a compact arrangement of handling and transportation;
• FIG. 8 shows a side view of the drum of FIG. 7
• FIG. 9 shows a view of a detail of FIG. 8 in an enlarged scale
• FIG. 10 and 11 respectively show a side and a front view of the drum according to the invention in a first operating step in a reduced scale
• FIG. 12 and 13 respectively show a side and a front view of the drum according to the invention in a second operating step in a reduced scale
• FIG. 14 shows a block diagram of the operating method according to the invention.
• a drum for treating flexible sheet- like products such as leathers, hides, fabrics and yarns is illustrated, overall denoted with reference number 1 , which essentially comprises a container 2 for the products to be treated and a support frame 3 which can be secured to the ground S.
• container 2 is generally formed by a side wall 4 with a longitudinal axis O and a predetermined outer diameter D.
• the side wall 4 is further covered at the longitudinal ends thereof by a pair of substantially planar and mutually faced walls 5, 6.
• the side wall 4 is substantially cylindrical-shaped with circular section, it is immediately understood that this shape may be notably different, for example prismatic, without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the container 2 is rotatably mounted on the support frame 3 in such a manner to rotate about its longitudinal axis O.
• Motor means are envisaged for causing rotation of container 2 about its axis O.
• openings for filling and removing the products may be provided on side wall 4, the openings being closed by respective covers with secure locks, not shown in figures.
• ducts and orifices are provided on the end walls 5, 6 for feeding the fluids and chemical products suitable for the treatment are providing, for example water, chemical products, dyes, gas and air, not shown in figures as well.
• drum 1 In normal operating condition, drum 1 is fully assembled and ready-to-use and has a predetermined maximum height H1 from the ground S, equal to the outer diameter D of the container 2 plus an optimal height R of about 70-80 cm.
• support means of the container 2 are provided, overall denoted with the reference number 8, which are adjustable in height to move the container from a raised position corresponding to the normal operating position, denoted with P1 , to a lowered position, denoted with P2 and having the aim of reducing the vertical bulk and simplifying the transportation of the whole drum structure, without any special permissions or convoys.
• the maximum height H2 from the ground of the drum 1 is substantially near the outer diameter D of the container 2, optionally increased of few centimetres in order to avoid damages and interferences.
• the adjustable support means 8 comprise a pair of end supports 9, 10 for supporting respective hubs 11 , 12 joined to the end walls 5, 6 of the container 2.
• Each support 9, 10 is securable to the frame 3 at a first level K1 correspondent to the raised position P1 of the container 2.
• the end supports 9, 10 comprise respective housings 13, 14 for hubs supporting bearings 15, 16, for example of spherical or cylindrical type, as shown in FIG. 5.
• the support frame 3, and particularly its side wall 17, 18, comprise a pair of substantially rectangular-shaped slots 19, 20 to house the supports 9, 10.
• Each opening 19, 20 is provided with anchoring means to removably secure the respective and supports 9, 10 respectively at the raised level K1 and lowered level K2.
• a first anchoring mean may be constituted by a substantially horizontal bracket 21 , which can be fitted and locked in a respective slot 19 defined by two vertical rods 19', 19".
• Bracket 21 may be secured at a predetermined height by means of suitable locking means constituted by, for example, a pair of plates 21 ', 21" anchored by means of screws or bolts fitted in a series of holes of the vertical rods 19', 19".
• suitable locking means constituted by, for example, a pair of plates 21 ', 21" anchored by means of screws or bolts fitted in a series of holes of the vertical rods 19', 19".
• the height of the bracket 21 may be adjusted in such a manner as to adapt it to the conditions of the installation site, arranging the screws and the bolts in different holes of the vertical rods 19', 19" of the slot 19.
• a second anchoring mean may be constituted by a second bracket 22, secured in the respective slot 19 and locked thereto to removably lock the support 9 at lowered level K2.
• anchoring and locking means of the container in the position P1 and P2 may be also different from those disclosed and may be adjustable, for example of the nut and screw or ratchet type, optionally actuated by mechanical and automatic means, without departing from the scope of the invention.
• drum 1 In use, drum 1 is assembled in the shop in the operating condition shown in figures from 1 to 4, with supports 9, 10 in their normal position.
• the step a) of slinging the container 2 in order to support it in its raised position P1 corresponding to the normal operating condition is carried out.
• step b) of adjusting the support means 8 from their raised level K1 to their lowered level K2 is effected, in such a manner to move the container 2 in position of substantial contact with the ground S, in order to compact the drum by reducing its vertical bulk and facilitating the transportation.
• step d) of slinging the container 2 in order to support it in the lowered position P2, correspondent to the transportation condition, is accomplished.
• step e) of unlocking the adjustable support means 8 and adjusting them at their raised level K1 is performed.
• step f) of locking the adjustable support means 8 at said raised level K1 and restoring the drum structure to the normal operating condition is provided.
• the definitive height of the drum structure may be adjusted in order to adapt it to the maximum height of the place of installation.
• drum according to the invention fulfils the intended objects, and in particular it is underlined its great flexibility, thanks to that its vertical bulk may be temporarily reduced during the transport, as well as during its movement up to the installation place.
• drum structure is very easy-to-manufacture and low-cost, in order to be advantageously from an economical point of view.
• drum structure according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and changes all falling within the inventive scope expressed in the accompanying claims. All details may be replaced by other technically equivalent and the materials may be different according to requirements, without departing from the object of the invention.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Treatment And Processing Of Natural Fur Or Leather (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34981914

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (7)

• 2004
  • 2004-07-27 IT IT000189A patent/ITVI20040189A1/it unknown
• 2005
  • 2005-07-27 ES ES05768058T patent/ES2304704T3/es active Active
  • 2005-07-27 DE DE602005005693T patent/DE602005005693T2/de active Active
  • 2005-07-27 BR BRPI0513107A patent/BRPI0513107B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2005-07-27 AT AT05768058T patent/ATE390492T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-07-27 EP EP05768058A patent/EP1789596B1/en active Active
  • 2005-07-27 WO PCT/IB2005/002236 patent/WO2006013442A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2005-07-27 CN CN200580025392.6A patent/CN1989258B/zh active Active
• 2007
  • 2007-12-24 HK HK07114065.4A patent/HK1108925A1/xx unknown

Patent Citations (7)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events