Apparatus and method for wet treatment of rope fabric

Abstract

 An apparatus (AT) for wet treatment of rope fabric (T), in particular endless-rope fabric, of the type comprising at least one treatment tank (1) through which the fabric (T) is made to pass in the presence of a liquid, where at least one portion (TF) of the fabric (T) is gathered in laps (FT) inside the tank (1). According to the invention, provided inside said tank (1) are motor-driven conveying means (22) for causing stepwise advance of the laps (FT) of said portion (TF).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for wet treatment of rope fabric, which have the characteristics specified in the preambles of the attached Claims 1 and 13, respectively.

[0002] Apparatuses and methods of the above-mentioned type are used in the textile industry for performing operations of finishing of fabrics (such as dyeing, washing, bleaching, etc.). For processing purposes, a piece or bolt of fabric which is to undergo treatment is loaded in the form of an endless rope into the apparatus and made to circulate repeatedly through a treatment tank in order to be brought into contact with the liquid. For the purposes of the treatment, the piece or bolt is made to fold on itself inside the aforesaid tank to assume a lap conformation.

[0003] In a first type of known apparatus, the portion in laps of the piece is immersed completely in a bath of liquid which fills the tank of the apparatus. In a second type of known apparatus, the portion in laps of the piece is, instead, wetted inside the tank by means of sprinklers which form part of a treatment-liquid circulation circuit, the bottom area of the laps being immersed in a bath of liquid formed on the bottom of the tank. In both of the above-mentioned types of apparatus, continuous circulation of the piece inside the machine is at least in part carried out pneumatically or hydraulically, i.e., exploiting the effect of a jet of air or of a jet of the treatment liquid itself.

[0004] In the present state of the art, in tanks of apparatus belonging to the second type referred to above the level of the aforesaid bath of liquid must be very high in order to reduce the passive resistance to advance of the portion in laps of the piece inside the tank.

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid drawback.

[0006] In the above general framework, one first purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for wet treatment of rope fabric which will enable the amount of liquid necessary for the treatment process to be contained, i.e., which will enable reduction of the so-called "bath ratio" (understood as the ratio between the amount of the liquid used in the apparatus and the amount of fabric treated).

[0007] An associated purpose of the invention is to provide such an apparatus and such a method in which the quality and effectiveness of treatment will be ensured even in the presence of a modest level of the treatment liquid inside the tank.

[0008] Another associated purpose of the invention is to provide such an apparatus and such a method in which, even in the presence of a modest level of the treatment liquid, an efficient movement of the portion in laps of the piece inside the tank will be ensured.

[0009] A further purpose of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is simple and inexpensive to implement, as well as ensuring safe and reliable operation over time.

[0010] The above and yet other purposes are achieved, according to the present invention, by an apparatus and a method for wet treatment of rope fabric that have the characteristics specified in the attached claims, which are to be understood as forming an integral part of the present description.

[0011] Further purposes, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge clearly from the ensuing detailed description and from the attached drawings, which are provided purely by way of explanatory and non-limiting example, and in which

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation, by means of a partial side cross-sectional view, of an apparatus for wet treatment of rope fabric, built according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial and schematic cross-sectional view, according to the line II-II of Figure 1, of the apparatus built in accordance with the present invention; and
• Figure 3 represents, by means of respective schematic lateral cross sections, four different operating positions of a crank mechanism that forms part of the apparatus built in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] In Figures 1 and 2, AT designates, as a whole, an apparatus for wet treatment of rope fabric built according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0013] In the above figures, the reference number 1 designates a treatment tank of the apparatus AT, inside which a piece T of fabric gathered in the form of an endless rope is made to pass in order to be treated with a liquid. By way of example, it is supposed that the said treatment liquid is a dye.

[0014] The tank 1 is equipped with a front door 2 and has a substantially circular cross section. Inside the tank there are provided two parallel walls, designated by 1A in Figure 2, for lateral containment of the piece T.

[0015] The reference number 3 designates sprinkling members set inside the tank 1 and designed to distribute the dye in the form of a spray over the underlying piece T. The various sprinklers 3 are connected together by a distribution manifold 4, the latter being supplied by means of a delivery path 5 which forms part of a dye circulation circuit.

[0016] The reference number 6 designates a pipe for delivery of water from a water supply (not represented) connected to the delivery path 5 for possible washing of the piece T after the latter has been treated with the dye.

[0017] At the opposite end with respect to the one where the door 2 is present, the tank 1 has a through filler 7 to which the end of a tube 8 for conveying the piece T is connected, the said tube 8 branching off from one inlet mouth 9 for soaking. From the filler 7 there branches off, towards the inside of the tank 1, a distribution funnel 10, which is designed to bring about, according to known procedures, the laying-out in laps of the piece T as this enters the tank 1. In this connection, in Figure 1 some of the laps obtained for the piece T are designated by FT, whilst the letters TF designate, as a whole, the portion in the form of laps of the said piece T, as this is formed inside the tank 1.

[0018] The reference number 11 designates a nozzle by means of which dye is introduced into the inlet mouth 9. The nozzle 11 is supplied by means of a respective pump (not illustrated) the delivery of which, designated by 12, is connected to an intake sump 13, the said sump 13 having the purpose of taking up some of the dye bath that gathers in the bottom of the front area of the tank 1. Also reaching the sump 13, via a pipe 14 provided with inlet mouths 14A and 14B, is dye, which gathers in the bottom of the intermediate and rear areas of the tank 1.

[0019] The reference number 15 designates a motor-driven reel for drawing the piece T that comes out of the tank 1, the piece being guided for this purpose by a guide element 16 and a feeler 17, both being designed according to the prior art. The reference number 18 designates an idler roller for controlling movement of the piece T, the said control roller being provided for guiding the piece T towards the inlet mouth 9. The reference number 19 designates a metre-counter idler roller of a known type used for measuring the length of the piece T at input to the apparatus according to the invention.

[0020] The reference number 20 designates a reel which is used for carrying out loading of the piece T from an accumulation station 21 to the apparatus AT. The reel 20 is likewise used, at the end of the treatment process in the apparatus AT, for discharging the piece T into the station 21.

[0021] According to a primary aspect of the present invention, there are provided inside the tank 1 conveying means for conveying the piece T, the said conveying means being designed to bring about stepwise advance of the portion TF set in laps of the piece T and to improve soaking of the said portion. The aforementioned conveying means are in particular made up of a series of mobile elements 22 basically in the form of parallel bars, between which there are interspaced fixed elements 23, which are also made in the form of parallel bars.

[0022] Both the mobile elements 22 and the fixed elements 23 extend longitudinally inside the tank 1 in the bottom portion thereof and for at least one prevalent stretch of its length. It may be noted from Figures 1 and 2 how, by means of respective actuating shafts 24, the various mobile elements 22 may assume a raised position with respect to the fixed elements 23 for the purposes that will be clarified in what follows.

[0023] The shafts 24, by which movement of the elements 22 with respect to the fixed elements 23 is obtained, form part of respective crank mechanisms, designated as a whole by MA1, ..., MA6.

[0024] The reference number 25 designates, as a whole, an electric motor designed for producing rotation of a respective shaft. As may be noted in Figure 2, at the two ends of the aforesaid shaft, which is designated by 25A in Figure 2, there are fitted respective pulleys 26.

[0025] Again in Figure 2, the reference number 27 designates a further two pulleys, each of which is fitted to one end of a shaft 28. Between the pulleys 26 and 27 are fitted respective belts or chains, designated as a whole by 29.

[0026] The pulleys 27 likewise define a respective ring gear 27A, on which there is fitted a chain, designated as a whole by 30 in Figure 1. The chain 30 is fitted on the gears 27A associated to the crank mechanisms MA2, ..., MA6. Instead, no pulley 27 is associated to the crank mechanism MA1 since it is not necessary.

[0027] Thanks to the aforesaid arrangement, the rotation of the shaft 25A can be transferred by means of the chains 29 to the pulleys 27 and then, via the various gears 27A and the chains 30, to the shafts 28 forming part of the crank mechanisms MA2, ..., MA6.

[0028] In Figure 3 there may be seen some components of the crank mechanisms MA1, ..., MA6 in four different operating positions.

[0029] In the above-mentioned figures, the reference numbers 22 and 23 respectively designate one of the already mentioned mobile elements and one of the already mentioned fixed elements that form part of the means for conveying the piece T. The reference number 24 designates one of the aforesaid actuating shafts for operation of a respective mobile element 22.

[0030] The top end of each shaft 24 is rendered fixed, in a known way, to the respective mobile element 22, whilst the bottom end of each shaft 24 is connected to a joint 31. The joint 31 has a hinge pin 33 for hinging to a disk 33, the latter being fitted to a respective shaft 28.

[0031] In the case exemplified in Figure 2, twelve mobile elements 22 are provided, between which are interspaced eleven fixed elements 23. Fitted to each shaft 28 of the crank mechanisms MA1, ..., MA6 are six disks 33 positioned underneath as many fixed elements 23 and aligned to the latter (in particular, underneath the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh fixed element 23. Articulated to the two opposite surfaces of each of said disks 33 by means of a pin 32 are respective joints 31 and shafts 24. In this way, rotation of the shaft 28 enables simultaneous movement of all of the mobile elements 22.

[0032] Part A of Figure 3 illustrates the same position of operation already illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, i.e., the position in which the mobile elements 22 are in a raised position with respect to the fixed elements 23.

[0033] Following upon operation of the motor 25, with the consequent movement of the shafts 28, the various disks 33 are caused to rotate, in a counter-clockwise direction in the case exemplified.

[0034] Part B of Figure 3 illustrates the condition reached following upon a movement of 90° of the disks 33. As may be noted, by virtue of the articulated connection constituted by the pin 32, the said movement of the disks 33 determines a displacement of the joints 31 and of the shafts 24 such as to produce simultaneously an advance (namely, to the left as viewed in the figure) and a lowering of the mobile elements 22 with respect to the fixed elements 23 until the top surface of the former is aligned or flush with the bottom surface of the latter.

[0035] Part C of Figure 3 illustrates the condition reached following upon a further movement of 90° of the disks 33. This movement determines a displacement of the joints 31 and of the shafts 24 such as to produce simultaneously a further lowering of the mobile elements 22 with respect to the fixed elements 23 and a recession of the said elements 22 (namely, towards the right as viewed in the figure). In this situation, the top surface of the elements 22 is at a level lower than that of the elements 23.

[0036] Finally, part D of Figure 3 illustrates the condition reached following upon a further movement of 90° of the disks 33. This movement determines a displacement of the joints 31 and of the shafts 24 such as to produce simultaneously a further recession (namely, towards the right as viewed in the figure) and a raising of the mobile elements 22 with respect to the fixed elements 23 until the top surface of the former is again aligned or flush with the bottom surface of the latter.

[0037] By means of a further movement of 90° of the disks 33, the crank mechanism is brought back to the initial position illustrated in part A of Figure 3, thus obtaining a new raising of the mobile elements 22 with respect to the mobile elements 23 and a simultaneous advance of the mobile elements 22 (i.e., towards the left as viewed in the figure).

[0038] Consequently, from the above description it may be seen how the mobile elements 22 are driven by means of arrangements basically of the connecting rod-crank type, the joint 31 - shaft 24 assembly constituting the connecting rod, and the disk 33 providing the crank. From another point of view, it emerges clearly how the set of the various crank mechanisms MA1, ..., MA6 forms a system of articulation for the mobile elements 22, which is basically of the articulated-quadrilateral or articulated-parallelogram type.

[0039] As regards operation of the apparatus AT, loading of the desired amount of fabric from the station 21 and its subsequent unloading in the same station 21 at the end of the treatment process are performed by means of the reel 20 according to procedures which are in themselves known and which, consequently, do not call for a specific description herein. The same applies to the formation of the piece of endless rope fabric T inside the apparatus AT and to the loading of the treatment liquid or dye. Here, however, it will suffice to recall that the amount of liquid used is basically calculated according to the length, and hence the weight, of the piece T to be treated, the latter being measured by means of the metre-counter roller 19. In any case, the said amount of liquid is always underneath the conveying device, thus obtaining the dying process with the fabric always outside the bath. There derives therefrom the advantage represented by the possibility of operating with reduced bath ratios, in so far as the fabric no longer requires any liquid as a conveyance means because it is moved positively by the aforementioned translators. The liquid acts exclusively as a dyeing agent.

[0040] Also the general operating principle of the apparatus AT is implemented according to substantially known procedures. In this connection, it will suffice to point out that the operation envisages activation of the above-mentioned pump that feeds the nozzle 11. The consequent jet of liquid at intake to the inlet mouth 9 brings about, in a way in itself known, progressive advance of the piece T along the conveyance pipe 8. The liquid injected by the nozzle 11 traverses the pipe 8 until it reaches the tank 1, to be then distributed inside the tank 1 itself, but always beneath the plane identified by the fixed elements 23.

[0041] The piece T is deposited on top of the translator apparatus, inside the tank 1 and by means of the distribution funnel 10, in lapped form TF.

[0042] At output from the tank 1, the piece T is guided by the guide element 16 and by the feeler 17 on the reel 15, which draws along the piece T, the latter being guided by the roller 18 again inside the inlet mouth 9.

[0043] In this way, continuous circulation is obtained of the piece T in the form of an endless rope through the apparatus AT.

[0044] For the purposes of treatment, the piece T is initially soaked in the liquid that flows inside the pipe 8. Inside the tank 1, the laps FT of the portion TF are spray-wetted by means of the sprinklers 3.

[0045] Part of the liquid bath present on the bottom of the tank 1 passes, via the pipe 14, to the manifold 13, which sends the liquid again to the nozzle 11 and to the delivery path 5, the latter feeding the manifold 4 of the sprinklers 3.

[0046] As has been said, the primary subject of the present invention regards the fact that there are provided, within the tank 1, specific conveying means 22 for the piece T, which are designed to produce stepwise advance of the portion TF in laps and to improve soaking of the latter.

[0047] The said features are obtained by means of cyclic movement of the elements 22, as previously described with reference to Figure 3; namely:

• in the position referred to in part A of Figure 3, the laps FT of the piece T are raised with respect to the elements 23 and are resting exclusively on the various elements 22;
• during passage to the position illustrated in part B of Figure 3, the elements 22 cause advance of the portion TF in laps, at the same time bringing about lowering thereof towards the elements 23; when this position is reached, the laps FT are resting both on the elements 22 and on the elements 23;
• during passage to the position illustrated in part C of Figure 3, the laps FT are resting exclusively on the elements 23, and the movement of the elements 22 does not bring about any movement of the portion FT;
• also during passage to the position illustrated in part D of Figure 3, the movement of the elements 22 does not bring about any movement of the portion TF; when the said position is reached, however, the laps FT are again resting both on the elements 22 and on the elements 23;
• the subsequent return to the position illustrated in part A of Figure 3 causes raising of the elements 22 with respect to the elements 23, whereby the laps FT are again resting only on the elements 22 and the latter bring about new advance of the portion FT in laps.

[0048] As may be seen, repetition of the sequence described above brings about progressive advance in successive steps of the portion FT in laps inside the tank 1.

[0049] The action of the conveying means represented by the elements 22, in addition to improving advance of the portion TF, enables a considerable reduction in the level of the liquid bath, which must be kept below the plane identified by the elements 23.

[0050] As mentioned in the introductory part of the present description, in apparatus built according to the prior art the level of the liquid bath must be kept high in order to reduce passive resistance to the advance of the portion in laps of the piece inside the tank.

[0051] The aforesaid need does no longer apply in the present invention thanks to the presence of the elements 22, which enable elimination of the aforesaid resistance. In this connection, it should be emphasized how, by means of the action of the elements 22, in the apparatus AT according to the invention, dragging of the laps on the bottom of the tank 1 is prevented, the said phenomenon being instead typical of the prior art.

[0052] In the apparatus AT according to the invention the quality and effectiveness of the treatment are in any case guaranteed even in the presence of a reduced level of the liquid bath in the tank 1.

[0053] From the above description there emerge clearly the characteristics of the apparatus and method according to the present invention, the said characteristics being summarized in the attached claims. Also the advantages of the present invention emerge clearly from the foregoing description.

[0054] In the case exemplified previously, advance of the piece T along the pipe 8 is at least in part obtained by exploiting the effect of the jet at output from the nozzle 11, namely by means of a hydraulic drawing system. It is however clear that, alternatively, drawing along of the piece T could be obtained by means of an jet of air, i.e., by means of a pneumatic system of a type in itself known.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wet treatment of rope fabric (T), in particular in the form of an endless rope, of the type defining a circulation path (8, 1) for said fabric (T) which comprises at least:

- one conveying pipe (8) along which said fabric (T) is forced to advance by the action of drawing means (9, 11), and

- one treatment tank (1) through which said fabric (T) is made to pass in the presence of a liquid,

   the apparatus comprising means (10) for forming and/or gathering in laps (FT) of at least one portion (TF) of said fabric (T) inside said tank (1) and
   being characterized in that provided inside said tank (1) are motor-driven conveying means (22) for producing stepwise advance of the laps (FT) of said portion (TF).

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said conveying means (22) are operative for producing a cyclic raising of the laps (FT) of said portion (TF) with respect to a resting surface (23) of said tank (1), on which said laps (FT) are able to come to rest in a reciprocating way.

3. The apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that said conveying means (22) are operative for producing, at least in the course of said cyclic raising, a variation in the relative position of said laps (FT) with respect to said resting surface (23).

4. The apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized in that said resting surface comprises at least one fixed element (23) that extends longitudinally in the bottom area of said tank (1), said fixed element (23) being in particular in the form of a bar.

5. The apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said conveying means comprise at least one mobile element (21) that extends longitudinally in the bottom area of said tank (1), said mobile element (22) being in particular in the form of a bar.

6. The apparatus according to Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that a plurality of said fixed elements (23) and a plurality of said mobile elements (22) are provided, the ones being interspaced between the others and extending substantially parallel to one another, for at least one prevalent stretch of the length of said tank (1).

7. The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conveying means or mobile elements (22) are actuated by means of one or more crank mechanisms (MA1, ..., MA6).

8. The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conveying means or mobile elements (22) are actuated by means of an articulation system basically of the articulated-quadrilateral or articulated-parallelogram type (MA1, ..., MA6).

9. The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are provided translating means (22) for translating said laps (FT) above a bath of said liquid present in said tank (1), said translating means (22) being in particular formed by said conveying elements or mobile elements (22).

10. The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that agitating means (22) are provided for agitating said liquid, the latter forming a bath of said tank (1), said translating means (22) being in particular formed by said conveying elements or mobile elements (22).

11. The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sprinkling means (3) are provided for distributing said liquid in the form of spray on said laps (FT) inside said tank (1).

12. The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drawing means (9, 11) are of a hydraulic or pneumatic type and comprise in particular an arrangement for the formation of a jet of fluid.

13. A method for wet treatment of rope fabric (T), in particular in the form of an endless rope, of the type in which said fabric (T) is made to follow a circulation path (8, 1) which comprises at least one conveying pipe (8), along which said fabric (T) is forced to advance by the action of drawing means (9, 11), and at least one treatment tank (1), through which said fabric (T) is made to pass in the presence of a liquid, said method envisaging the formation and/or gathering in laps (FT) of at least one portion (TF) of said fabric (T) inside said tank (1) and being characterized in that the passage of said fabric (T) through said tank (1) is at least in part obtained by stepwise advance of the laps (FT) of said portion (TF), each of said steps comprising a cyclic displacement of said laps (FT) above a resting surface (23) on which said laps (FT) are able to come to rest in a reciprocating way.

14. The method according to Claim 13, characterized in that said cyclic displacement comprises at least one step of raising of said laps (FT) from said resting surface (23), in the course of said step there being obtained a relative movement of said laps (FT) with respect to said resting surface (23).

15. The method according to Claim 13, characterized in that said cyclic displacement comprises at least one step of lowering of said laps (FT) towards said resting surface (23), in the course of said step there being obtained a relative movement of said laps (FT) with respect to said resting surface (23).

16. The method according to Claim 13, characterized in that said cyclic displacement brings about translation of said laps (FT).

17. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it envisages sprinkling of said liquid in the form of spray on said laps (FT) inside said tank (1).

Drawing