WO2015144623A1

WO2015144623A1 - Machine for the continuous decatising treatment of textile material

Info

Publication number: WO2015144623A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/056066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide MANZARDO
Original assignee: Red Carpet S.R.L.
Priority date: 2014-03-25
Filing date: 2015-03-23
Publication date: 2015-10-01

Abstract

The present finding concerns a machine for the continuous decatising treatment of textile material, consisting of the treatment of the fabric with saturated vapour at pre-established pressure and temperature, as well as a subsequent drying step, with the aim of conferring the textile material particular properties, both technical and aesthetic. Such a machine has a cylinder (1) on the side wall of which the fabric (2) is wound; in the lower area of the cylinder (1) there is a vaporization chamber (8), where saturated vapour at pre-established pressure and temperature is sent, which vaporises said fabric (3). The machine is characterised in that it foresees pressure areas (10) that compress the fabric (3) and that are generated by thrust devices positioned inside the vaporization chambers (8).

Description

Title: Machine for the continuous decatising treatment of textile material DESCRIPTION

of the invention having TITLE "Machine for the continuous decatising treatment of textile material"

to RED CARPET S.R.L.

The present finding concerns a machine for the continuous decatising treatment of textile material, according to the general part of claim 1.

Among the various industrial processes that a piece of fabric undergoes there is a finishing treatment, known by the name decatising, applied, in particular, to woollen or mixed wool fabrics, which has the aim of giving the textile material particular properties, both technical and aesthetic, such as dimensional stabil ity, the so-called

"smooth" texture and pleasant appearance.

Operatively, the decatising treatment substantially consists of the treatment of the fabric with saturated vapour at pre-establ ished pressure and temperature and immediately thereafter, subjecting it to a drying step.

Constructively, a machine for the continuous decatising treatment of fabric comprises a vapour-heated cylinder on which the fabric to be treated is wound, directly in contact with the side surface, and upon this a wrapper made from textile material is wound, called "external wrapper", as well as means for pull ing the fabric and the wrapper under tension and devices suitable for drying the fabric and the wrapper in outlet from the aforementioned heated cylinder. For particular processing it is foreseen that on the vapour-heated cyl inder a further "internal wrapper" or a sleeve of textile material be wound, directly in contact with the side surface, so that the fabric is contained between two layers of textile material. The treatment action of the fabric is obtained through the presence, in the winding area of the wrapper and of the fabric on the cylinder, of a tank, fed with pressurised saturated vapour, also called "vaporisation chamber", in which the perimeter seals, the two upper longitudinal ones and the two side semi-circular ones, are obtained through the use of so-called "scraping" gaskets, where sliding blocks are pressed by air chambers against the support wall.

As an example, we quote patent document EP 0 238 028 A 2 where, in tig. 1 , a vaporisation chamber is represented (ref. 15) equipped with longitudinal sealing gaskets of the type with scraping sliding block (ref. 20).

Again as an example we also quote patent document EP 1 01 0 797 A 1 where, in figs. 1 -2-3, the vaporisation chamber (ref. 1 2 ) is equipped along the perimeter edge with scraping sealing gaskets, longitudinal (ref. 14, 1 5 ) and semi-circular (ref. 16), pressed by air chambers (ref. 18, 19 ).

Opcrativcly, for the successful performance of the decatising operation it is necessary for the external wrapper to exert a compression pressure on the fabric wound in the cylinder, said compression being obtained, usually, by placing the aforementioned wrapper under tension.

As an example, we quote patent document EP 0 293 028 A2, where (fig. 1) the fabric (ref. 14 ) is subjected to compression through a wrapper (ref. 14), which is kept under tension by return rollers (ref. 22 ) equipped with a pneumatic or hydraulic device for regulating the tension.

Again as an example we quote patent document US 2 494 807 A, where (fig. 1) the fabric (ref. 69) is subjected to compression through a wrapper (ref. 31) that is kept under tension through a return roller (ref. 34 ) on which an equalizer (ref. 48 - 54) for regulating the tension is appl ied. Again as an example we quote patent document EP 0 533 295 A 1 , where (fig. 1) the compression action of the wrapper (ref. 13 ) on the fabric (ref. 10 ) is obtained through the compression action of an external band (ref. 16), kept under tension through a return roller (ref. 3 1 ) that is made in the winding area on said wrapper.

Moreover, in the state of the art, the compression action of the wrapper on the fabric is obtained also using rollers that rotate in tangent contact on the outer part of said wrapper and that are equipped with devices that regulate the thrust force of said rollers on said wrapper.

As an example we quote patent document DE 1 6 35 329 A 1 , where (see drawing) the wrapper (ref. 8) is kept compressed against the fabric (ref. 2) by the thrust action of the rotating rollers (ref. 36).

Again as an example we quote patent document WO 93/ 1 7167 A 1 , where (figs. 1 , 2) the wrapper (ref. 2 ) is kept compressed against the fabric (ref. 4 ) by the thrust action of at least one tangent roller (ref. 6) actuated by a cyl inder (ref. 7) with variable pressure.

Again as an example we quote patent document EP 0 293 028 A2, where (fig. 3 ) the rollers (ref. 25 ) in tangent contact keep the wrapper (ref. 14) compressed against the fabric (ref. 24).

In practice, the use of thrust rollers in tangent contact, whilst improving the compression action of the wrapper on the fabric, have the operative drawback as a consequence of the fact that the contact area between roller and wrapper consists of a tangent line, which means a concentration of the thrust force in a "confined" area where incision can form, more or less deep, which in any ca.se damage the wrapper. The purpose of the present finding is to make a machine for the continuous decatising of textile material which, with respect to similar known machines, is able to have a greater influence on the parameters that qualify the decatising process, i.e.:

- the stabilization of the fabric through a high temperature treatment using vapour;

- modifications of the "smooth feel", i.e. the quality produced by just the "touch" sensation (for example, smooth sensation, fullness, softness and rigidity);

- the change in appearance and shape of the fabric, so as to obtain a fabric that has undergone a decatising treatment, which is qual itatively better with respect to fabrics treated with known decatising processes and machines.

Specifically, the purpose of the finding is to make a decatising machine of the type that foresees the use, at the vapour chamber, of thrust devices, to generate pressure areas on the external wrapper, on the fabric and on the internal wrapper, when it is present, against the wall of the heated cyl inder, which do not have the drawbacks of similar known thrust devices.

Such a purpose is accomplished with a decatising machine that foresees inside the tank fed with saturated vapour, i.e. the "vaporization chamber^'", the positioning of thrust devices, suitable for generating pressure areas on the external wrapper, on the fabric and on the internal wrapper, when it is present, against the wall of the heated cylinder, which are characterised in that the pressure area on which they act on the wrapper is of limited extension, instead of focused as occurs on the other hand with the use of rollers, as described above.

Laboratory tests on decatising machines modified according to the finding, where the pressure on the wrapper is of l imited extension and not focused, have shown the excellent results are obtained, in particular in "smooth texture" and appearance of the fabric, since it is possible to fully exploit the particular condition of the fabric that, in this treatment step, being immersed in water under pressure, is very malleable and therefore well suited to undergoing physical changes through the effect of the compression exerted by the wrapper, w hich is regular and homogeneous, thanks to the use of thrust dev ices that act on a surface of l imited extension.

Laboratory tests have shown how it is possible to further increase the quality of the fabric being made, during the vapour treatment step, by inserting at least one vapour ejection area into the vaporization chamber, where a suction is obtained, in a natural manner (exploiting the pressure difference betw een the inside of the tank and the outside) or forced (using external aspirators) which engages the external wrapper and the fabric.

In practice, this further constructive solution promotes, in particular, the stability of the fabric, since w ith the suction/ejection action of the vapour, preferably exerted at the start of the treatment, the fabric is cleaned, so that said cleaned fabric is better arranged for better pressurised vapour treatment.

The finding will be better defined through the description of a possible embodiment thereof, given as a non-limiting example, with the help of the attached table of drawings, where:

- fig. 1 (table I ) represents an elevated section view of the machine according to the finding;

- fig. 2 represents a detailed view of the thrust devices, present in said mach ine;

- fig. 3 represents a detailed view of the suction/ejection duct made with two thrust devices spaced apart from one another.

As can be seen in fig. 1 , the machine for the continuous decatising of textile materials substantially consists of a cyl inder 1 , on which the fabric 3 is wound and the external wrapper 4, as well as the internal wrapper 2, when required. The fabric 3 and the external wrapper 4 wind onto the cylinder 1 and are driven to advance through the driven rollers 5 and 6.

In the lower area of the cyl inder 1 , external and pro imal to the wall, there is a vaporization chamber 8, fed with pressurised saturated vapour, through supply ducts (not represented), and it is equipped with longitudinal and lateral perimeter sealing gaskets 9.

What has been described above is per se known, whereas a first novelty of the finding concerns making pressure areas 10, of limited extension, which compress the packet consisting of the upper wrapper 4 and the fabric 3, where said fabric 3 is compressed against the heated cylinder 1 and where said pressure areas are generated by thrust devices 1 1 positioned inside the vaporization chamber 8, where there are the optimal conditions of humidity, temperature and pressure to improve the characteristics of the treated fabric.

The devices can consist of rotary pressure cylinders.

As can be seen, in particular, in fig. 2, the thrust device 1 1 is of the "sliding type^"", consisting of a buffer 12, which contact the upper wrapper 4, pressed by an air chamber 1 3, which is inflated to variable pressure, through pum ing members, which are not represented for the sake of simpl icity, since they are per se known.

In practice, the thrust devices 1 1 can be positioned at any point on the entire angular opening of the vaporization chamber 8; in particular, they are position close to the end part of the aforementioned vaporization chamber 8, specifically at the outlet side of the fabric 3, since in such a last portion the fabric is substantially impregnated with vapour, so that the pressing action of said pressure devices on the wrapper 4 is more effective. A second novelty of the finding concerns making at least one vapour ejection area 20, where a suction is obtained that acts on the upper wrapper 4 and on the fabric 3.

Constructively, the suction is obtained through a suction channel 2 1 , which radially crosses the vaporization chamber 8, so that an outward suction flow is generated. Operatively, the outward suction flow (see arrows), can be "natural", as a consequence of the pressure difference between the vaporization chamber and the external environment or, in order to increase the suction action on the wrapper, "forced", through an external suction duct 22, which is connected to suction apparatuses, arranged externally and not represented, since they are per se know n. As can be seen in fig.3, the suction channel 2 1 can, advantageously, be configured using the thrust dev ices 1 1 already present in the vaporization chamber 8, arranging two thrust devices 1 1 close together, so as to define said suction channel 21.

Constructively, the two thrust devices 1 1 extend longitudinally for the entire length of the lateral surface of the heated cylinder 1 , so as to define a longitudinal suction channel 2 1 that extends at least for the entire width of the wrapper 4 and is closed at the two ends by perimeter sealing gaskets of the vaporization chamber 8.

In practice, the suction channels 2 1 can be inserted in any position of the vaporization chamber 8; in particular, they arc positioned close to the end part of the aforementioned chamber 8, specifically in the entry side of the fabric 3, so as to "clean" the fabric to then once again subject it to treatment with the saturated vapour. The finding thus conceiv ed can undergo modifications and v ariants and its constructive details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements, provided that everything is covered by the inventive concept defined by the follow ing claims.

Claims

1 . MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DECATIS ING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, consisting of the treatment of the fabric with saturated vapour at pre-established pressure and temperature and, immediately thereafter, subjecting it to a drying step, with the aim of conferring the textile material particular properties, both technical and aesthetic, such as dimensional stability, the so-called "smooth" texture and pleasant appearance, of the type consisting of a cylinder ( 1 ) on the side wall of which a sleeve (2), made from textile material, which constitutes the lower wrapper, is wound, when required, on which the fabric (3) and the external wrapper (4) are wound, controlled to advance through driven rollers (5,6) and where, in the lower area of the cylinder (1), external and proximal to the side wall, a vaporisation chamber (8) is located, equipped with perimeter gaskets, longitudinal and lateral, having functions of sealing means (9), where saturated vapour at pre- established pressure and temperature is sent, through external ducts, vaporising the external wrapper (4) and the fabric (3), said machine being characterised in that it foresees pressure areas (10), which compress the packet consisting of the external wrapper (4) and the fabric (3), said pressure areas (10) being generated by thrust devices (1 1) positioned inside the vaporisation chamber (8).

2. MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DEC ATI S ING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to claim 1 , characterised in that the thrust devices (1 1) act on pressure areas (10) of limited extension.

3. MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DEC ATI S ING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the thrust device (1 1 ) is of the "sliding type^", consisting of a buffer (12), which contacts the external wrapper (4), said buffer (12) being kept pressed against said wrapper (4) through an air chamber (13), inflated with variable pressure through pumping members arranged outside the vaporisation chamber (8).

4. MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DECATISING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to claim 3, characterised in that the thrust devices (1 1) can be arranged at any point on the entire angular opening of the vaporisation chamber (8).

5. MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DECATISING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to claim 4, characterised in that the thrust devices (1 1) are positioned closer to the end part of the vaporisation chamber (8) and specifically in the outlet side of the fabric (3) from said chamber (8).

6. MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DECATISING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it foresees at least one vapour ejection area (20), where a suction action is made that acts on the upper wrapper (4) and on the fabric (3).

7. MACH IN E FOR THE CONTINUOUS DECATISING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to claim 6, characterised in that the suction action is obtained through a suction channel (21), which radially crosses the vaporisation chamber (8) so as to generate a suction flow towards the outside of said chamber (8).

8. MACH INE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DECATIS ING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to claim 7, characterised in that the outward suction flow of the vaporisation chamber (8) can be "natural", as a consequence of the pressure difference between the vaporisation chamber (8) and the external environment or, in order to increase the suction action on the wrapper (4), "forced", obtained through an external suction duct (22).

9. MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DEC ATI S ING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to claim 8, characterised in that the suction channel (21 ) is obtained through the use of two thrust devices (1 1), already present in the vaporisation chamber (8) and arranged spaced apart so as to define said channel (21).

10. MACHINE FOR TH E CONTINUOUS DECATISING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the pair of thrust dev ices (1 1) extends longitudinally, extending for at least the enti e width of the wrapper (4) to define a longitudinal suction channel (21).

1 1 . MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DECATISING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIA L, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that at least one ejection area (20) and the corresponding suction channel (21) are positioned close to the initial part of the vaporisation chamber (8), precisely at the entry side of the fabric (3) in said chamber.

12. MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS DECATISING TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL, according to one or more of the prev ious claims, characterised in that the thrust devices (1 1) are of the rotary type and consist of rollers or other profiles with variable pressure.