[0001] The present invention refers to a machine for carrying out dyeing operations on textile
materials.
[0002] Dyeing machines are known to comprise a platform onto which more vessels are positioned
in a preset order, said vessels being able to contain predetermined amounts of products
which contribute to form, suitably metered, dyeing baths within suitable tanks. Inside
each tank a basket is manually inserted which contains the material to be dyed, the
same basket being taken out, also manually, after a preset time.
[0003] The US Patent No. 6105636 describes a machine comprising a horizontal platform upon
which the vessels containing the basic products and the means associated with a movable
carriage located above said platform, are positioned according to a program to remove
the products from said vessels and meter the same products within other containers
inside which the solutions to be delivered to the dyeing tanks are formed.
[0004] The existing machines, although able to automate in part the dyeing cycle, require
the intervention of an operator for completing the cycle.
[0005] The main object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least greatly reduce
the above drawback.
[0006] This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by adopting the idea of
making a machine having the characteristics disclosed in claim 1. Further characteristics
being set forth in the dependent claims.
[0007] The present invention makes it possible to significantly raise the automation level
of the dyeing cycle, thus releasing the operators from exacting operations, such as
the loading of material-holding baskets into the dyeing tanks and, respectively, the
unloading thereof from the same tanks, so as to reduce the risk related to possible
errors in handling the baskets, and increase the safety and reliability of the cycle.
[0008] These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be best understood
by anyone skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction
with the attached drawings given as a practical exemplification of the invention,
but not to be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:
- Fig. 1A is a schematic plan view of a machine according to the invention;
- Fig. 1B is a schematic side view of the machine of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 2 shows the carriage with the means for metering the products and the means for
grasping the material-holding means;
- Fig. 3 is a schematic view in diametral section of a material-holding basket;
- Figs. 4A-4F show schematically a sequence of the operating steps relating to the loading
of baskets into the tanks;
- Figs. 5A-5E show schematically a sequence of the operating steps relating to the metering
of baskets within the dyeing tanks;
- Fig. 6 shows schematically a vessel with a corresponding pipette;
- Fig. 7 is a schematic view in diametral section of a tank;
- Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the programmable system for operating the machine;
- Fig. 9 shows schematically a further embodiment of the carriage (5);
- Figs. 10A-10D show schematically a sequence of steps relating to the use of the means
for the removal and delivery of powdered substances.
[0009] Reduced to its basic structure, and reference being made to Figs. 1-5E of the accompanying
drawings, a machine according to the invention comprises a stationary structure (1)
with a platform (10) on which more vessels (2) are positioned in correspondence of
preset locations, each vessel (2) being provided for containing a liquid product that
contributes to form a dyeing bath, as described later on.
Associated with the same structure (1) are more dyeing tanks (3) also disposed in
correspondence of preset locations.
Moreover, the said structure (1) exhibits an area (11) on which, in correspondence
of preset locations, more material-holding baskets (4) are positioned.
[0010] According to the example shown in Fig. 1A, the vessels (2) and baskets (4) are on
opposite sides with respect to the tanks (3), and the structure (1) is made of one
body having a development mostly longitudinal.
Associated with each vessel (2) is a corresponding pipette (20), in much the same
way as described in the above mentioned US Patent No. 6105636 to which reference can
be made for further details: each pipette (20) comprises a needle (21) which is to
result at right angle within the liquid of the respective vessel (2), a plunger (22)
allowing the liquid drawn therefrom to be delivered through the needle (21) and exhibiting
a hold portion (23) with peripheral collar-like surface (24) allowing plugging the
vessel when the pipette is inserted therein.
[0011] Each tank (3) may be, for example, of a type comprising a cylindrical chamber (30)
wherein a material-holding basket (4) is to be disposed. Mounted inside said chamber
(30) is a blade impeller (36) driven into rotation about its longitudinal axis (coinciding
with the longitudinal axis of the tank) by an electric motor (32) which is engaged
to said impeller via a magnetic transmission (33, 34): the rotation of the flange
(35) borne by the motor (32) and wherein the magnets (33) are positioned, is cause
for the rotation of the impeller (36) located inside the chamber (30). Disposed in
the base of the impeller (36) and engaged solid thereto are the magnets (34) coupled
to magnets (33). The tanks are provided with electric resistors (37) able to heat
the dyeing bath which forms therein, cooling chambers (38) through which water or
other cooling fluid (A) is made to run, and with a section (39) for discharging the
bath. Finally, disposed on each tank (3) is a lid (300) able to be moved in closing
and respectively opening position by means of corresponding actuators (not shown for
the sake of clarity in the figures of the attached drawings). Indicated by (31) is
a bath limiter, that is, a body centrally disposed in the tank to reduce the volume
available for the bath, thereby reducing the required amount thereof for use.
[0012] Each material-holding basket (4) comprises a perforated tubular body (40) on the
outer surface of which the material (M) to be dyed is disposed, and on the base of
which a rim (41) is formed to allow the hold thereof, as will be described later.
[0013] Acting on said structure (1) is a motor-driven carriage (5), supported by the same
structure via corresponding guides (50, 51) developed parallel and across thereto,
the said carriage being associated with:
- means (6) for grasping, handling and activating the pipettes (2);
- means (7) for grasping and handling the baskets (4).
[0014] The said means (6) are of a type described in the US Patent No. 6105636, that is,
they comprise a gripper (60) able to engage the portion (23) of the pipettes (20),
an element (61) associable with the plunger (22) so as to be driven into translation
upwardly (liquid suction step) or downwardly (step of delivering the liquid previously
sucked up) under control of a corresponding actuator (62), and an actuator (63) with
vertical axis with which a shelf (64) is connected for the support of the actuator
(62), of element (61) and of gripper (60).
[0015] The said means (7) are positioned on the side opposite to carriage (5), with respect
to the means (6), and comprise an actuator (70) having vertical axis and a gripper
(71) associated with said actuator. The two jaws of the gripper (71) have an end portion
(72) suitably shaped so as to present a step (73) on the side facing upwards to allow
hooking the baskets (4) from the inside thereof, in correspondence of the rim (41).
[0016] The said carriage (5), being mounted on the said guides (50, 51), can be moved, by
the means (6, 7) associated therewith, to any useful point of the structure (1), that
is, in correspondence of any vessel (2), any tank (3) and any basket (4).
[0017] Described below with reference to Figs. 4A-5E of the attached drawings, is a possible
operating cycle of the present machine.
The carriage (5) is moved as far as to result in correspondence of the region which
receives the baskets (4), so as to dispose the gripper (71) in line with the selected
basket, that is, with the basket which supports the material to be treated, after
which the gripper (71) is lowered and activated to engage the selected basket (Fig.
4A); then the gripper is lifted (Fig. 4B) and the carriage (5) is moved as far as
to result in correspondence of the tank (3), so as to dispose the basket engaged by
the gripper (71) in line with the selected tank (4) (Fig. 4C). Thereafter, the gripper
(71) is lowered, so as to dispose the basket within the stand-by tank below, and deactivated,
so as to release the basket and thus lifting the same gripper (Fig. 4E) to allow closing
the tank inside which, after the closing thereof, the material is subjected to the
dyeing operation in the bath previously formed therein. After a preset time has elapsed,
a reverse sequence of motions will draw the carriage (5) again out of the tank, that
is, to a preset storage location.
[0018] As far as the formation of the dyeing bath previously formed in the tanks (3) is
concerned - and wherein a corresponding amount of water is also introduced via conduits
(not shown in the attached drawings) according to the programmed bath recipes - the
procedure is as follows. The carriage (5) is moved as far as to result in correspondence
of the region which receives the vessels (2), so as to dispose the gripper (60) in
line with the pipette (20) of the selected vessel, that is, of the vessel containing
the product for the tank which is to be fed with, after which the gripper (60) is
lowered to engage the body (23) of the pipette and to allow the element (61) to be
hooked to the pipette's plunger (22): the lifting of the plunger (22) for a travel
of preset length determining the aspiration of a corresponding amount of liquid from
the vessel (2). The gripper (60) is lifted so as to draw the pipette fully out of
the vessel (2), as shown in Fig. 5A, and the carriage is moved as far as to result
in correspondence of the tanks (3) so as to dispose the pipette in line with the tank
which has to receive the liquid (Fig. 5B). Then the pipette is lowered (Fig. 5C) and
the element (61) causes the pipette's plunger (22) to be lowered as programmed, so
that the tank below will receive the preset batch of the selected liquid. Upon completion
of this delivery step, the carriage (5) moves back as far as to result in correspondence
of the vessel, in order to position again the pipette relative thereto (Figs. 5D,
5E) or, if so programmed, moves as far as to result in correspondence of another tank
(3) to let in a preset batch of the same liquid.
[0019] The carriage (5), the means (6) for taking out and metering the products, the means
(7) for handling the baskets (4), the actuators for opening/closing the lids of the
tanks (3), the motors (32), the resistors (37 and the valves associated with the outlets
(39) of the tanks, are all controlled by a programmable electronic central unit (U)
provided with a memory wherein there are stored, besides the positions of each vessel
(2), of each tank (3) and each basket (4), also the recipes of the baths to be formed
in each of the tanks (the said recipes being in terms of, for example, amount of water,
amount or batches of liquids drawn from the vessels (2) and of tank's operating temperature).
Such a programmable unit is of a type known to those skilled in the art and, will
not, therefore, be described in greater details.
[0020] With reference to the example of Fig. 9, the said carriage (5) can also support means
(8) for taking out and delivering powdered substances to be introduced, in preset
batches, into the target tanks (3), according to a predetermined work program. For
example, the said means (8) may be of the type described in the document IT-FI/2000/A/153
to which reference can be made for further details: the means (8) for the removal
and handling of the containers (C) for solid substances are supported by a shelf-like
structure (80) associated with the carriage (5), on the side opposite to said means
(6). Such means (8) comprise gripper means with four jaws (81) (in the figures only
two jaws being shown) activated by corresponding pneumatic actuators (82) by means
of a system of levers hinged to each other and to a tubular skirt (83) borne by the
shelf (80) and acting also as a support for the actuators (82). The said jaws (81),
when disposed in closing condition (as shown in Figs. 10C and 10D), clamp the containers
(C) selected by the program. The said skirt (83) ends up with a cylindrical bush (84)
having such diameter and height as to allow the positioning thereof onto the neck
of containers (C). Moreover, inside the tubular skirt (83) a shaft (85) is disposed
in association with a corresponding electric motor (850) and ending with a power takeoff
(86). The latter is inside the said bush (84) and allows the actuation of metering
means which the containers (C) for solid substances are provided with. The shelf (80)
sustaining the gripper means (8) is engaged to a corresponding pneumatic actuator
with vertical axis (87). Formed externally to said actuator (87) are straight vertical
guides (800) for a guided upward and downward slide of the same shelf (80) relative
to the platform of structure (1) on which the containers (C) are located at corresponding
and preset positions.
The containers (C) exhibit an inner chamber (88) for containing the solid substances
(for example, in the form of powders or crystals) and comprise an inner delivery device.
The said delivery device comprises a vertical rod (89) passing midway across said
chamber (88) and to which a scraper (890) is engaged. The free, upper end (891) of
the rod (89) is suitably shaped to fit into the power takeoff (86) of the unit (8).
In correspondence of the lower base of the chamber (88), the said containers (C) exhibit
an outlet section for the substances held therein.
[0021] When provided by the program, the carriage (5) transfers the means (8) as far as
to result in correspondence of the selected container (C) (Fig. 10), then the means
(8) are lowered to determine the coupling of the power takeoff (86) of the unit (8)
with the end (891) of rod the (89) located inside the container (C) (Fig. 10B), and
the jaws (81) tighten on the neck of container (C) (Fig. 10C). Afterwards, the unit
(8) is transferred by the carriage (5) as far as to result in correspondence of the
selected tank (3) (Fig. 10D) and the motor (850) is started to determine the exit,
in a preset amount, of the substances held in the container (C), that is, the introduction
of such substances into the stand-by tank (3) located below.
1. Machine for dyeing textiles, comprising a structure (1) able to receive a plurality
of containers or vessels (2; C) holding substances which contribute to form dyeing
baths within suitable dyeing tanks (3), a plurality of dyeing tanks (3) and a plurality
of material-holding baskets (4) being located at corresponding and preset positions,
a motor-driven carriage (5) being associated with said structure (1) and supporting
means (6; 8) for removing and subsequently delivering the substances held within said
vessels (2; C), characterized in that the said carriage (5) supports means (7) for removing and handling said material-holding
baskets (4).
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the said means (7) comprise a gripper (71) associated with an actuator (70) with
vertical axis.
3. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the said structure (1), the said vessels or containers (2) are on the side opposite
to baskets (4) with respect to the tanks (3).
4. Machine according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that the said structure (1) is made up of one body having a development mostly longitudinal.
5. Machine according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that the said means for taking out and subsequently feeding substances, are means for
removing and feeding liquid substances.
6. Machine according to one or more preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the said means for removing and subsequently delivering substances, are means for
removing and feeding solid substances.