Apparatus and method for carrying out dyeing operations on textile materials

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to an apparatus for carrying out dyeing operations on textile materials and method related there is.

[0002] The technique of preparing colouring substances with the use of stirring devices or shakers is known. These devices receive a preset number of containers for holding suitable quantities of chemical products and solvents for the formation of so-called dyeing baths, and are provided with suitable means able to stir said containers and heat them up so that the dyeing bath will operate in consequence of the stirring and heating of products and solvents introduced into the containers together with the materials to be dyed.

[0003] Currently, the operations of said technique, in particular the steps for metering the products, are carried out by hand and, for this reason, errors are likely to occur, and the results obtained may be affected by fortuity and hardly repeatable, while the work safety for the operators is of a reduced degree.

[0004] An apparatus of this kind is disclosed in DE-C-513285.
From EP-A-612558 it is disclosed a device to mix a flowable colourant with a base paint inside a container which is moved in order to be supplied with the colourant and paint and then to be carried to a shading station.
From EP-A-478211 it is also known a device to mix ingredients, in which the mixing containers are closed containers which are transferred in a controlled to perform the mixing operation in a proper position of the container.
From EP-A-1174535 it is known an automatic apparatus for the preparation of colouring substances from one or more starting products in liquid or solid form. The products are withdrawn and delivered to mixing bottled into which a magnetic body if placed to be moved by a magnetic strirring device making easier the mixing operation of the products in to the final colouring substance. The above already known devices have the drawbacks that they are not able to obtain a dyeing process of textile materials in which the preparation of the colouring substances and an uniform dyeing process of the materials are performed in an automated controlled way.

[0005] The main object of the present invention is to eliminate, or at least greatly reduce, the above drawbacks.

[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 and a method according to claim 4, 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 doing the most difficult operations, such as the metering and the filling of shaker's containers, thereby reducing the risk related to possible handling errors, and increasing the reliability and uniformity of the dyeing cycles, while increasing the safety of work for the operators at the same time.

[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:

• Figs. 1 and 2 show schematically a possible embodiment of the present invention in side view (Fig. 1) and top view (Fig. 2), with some parts being taken away;
• Fig. 3 is a schematic side view, with parts taken away, of a detail from Fig. 1 relating to a stirring device or shaker; and
• Fig. 4 illustrates four steps designated, respectively, (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), of a possible example of withdrawal and delivery of fluids by using the present invention, with the present apparatus shown in partial side view.

[0009] With reference to the figures of the attached drawings, an apparatus 1 according to the invention can be used for preparing colouring substances intended, in particular, for the textile industry.

[0010] The apparatus 1 comprises means 2 for the controlled withdrawal and delivery of preset quantities of products for the preparation of colouring substances, and a stirring device or shaker 3 for vibrating and heating one or more containers 30 intended for receiving the said products and the materials to be dyed.

[0011] The means 2 for the controlled withdrawal and delivery comprise a support plane 4 upon which a plurality of bottles are disposed for holding products for the preparation of colouring substances. In the attached figures, one bottle 40 only has been shown upon the plane 4, for the sake of clarity; it is understood, however, that the bottles will be in greater number, and possibly disposed throughout the surface of the plane 4, when holding different chemical products, water, etc.

[0012] Disposed and acting on the plane 4 is an operating head 5 which supports a withdrawal member 50 which is movable longitudinally, transversally and vertically with respect to the plane 4, and is automatically operated by through suitable software. The withdrawal member 50 may be of volumetric type and consisting of a single or multiple pipette.
The characteristics of said means 2 for the controlled withdrawal and delivery will not be described in greater detail as they are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0013] Actually, dyeing machines are known comprising a platform upon which there are positioned, in a preset order, a plurality of bottles able to hold preset amounts of products which contribute to the formation, when properly metered, of dyeing baths within suitable containers or cups. In this connection, the patent US-6105636 describes a machine comprising a horizontal platform on which there are positioned bottles containing the basic products, as well as means associated with a movable carriage above said platform, in order to remove, according to a program, the products from said bottles and metering them within other containers inside which the solutions are formed for the dyeing tanks.

[0014] The withdrawal member 50 can be disposed, automatically, in correspondence of the bottles 40 to perform the withdrawal of the products held therein, and it can be displaced as far as to result in correspondence of one or more containers 30 of the shaker 3, in order to pour therein the products previously removed in properly preset amounts.

[0015] Shown in Fig. 4 are some operating steps that the present apparatus is able to perform in a fully automatic manner. In the step (a) (see Fig. 4), the operating head 5, with the hold member 50, has already taken out one or more products from the bottles 40 disposed onto the plane 4. Thereafter, in the step (b), as illustrated, the head 5 moves up above the shaker 3 in correspondence of one of containers 30 in order to pour therein, during the step (c), the products previously taken out from the bottles 40. Thereafter, during the step (d), the head is lifted to move back, in the step (e) as shown, onto the plane 4 for a further operation.

[0016] Best visible in Fig. 3 is the stirring device or shaker 3. The shaker 3 has a containment structure (38) which is supported by a base structure 39 holding the containers 30. The arrows v indicate schematically the movement of the structure 38 which allows putting the containers under vibration with the relevant content. Likewise, the arrows H indicate the container's heating action which, together with the said vibration, optimizes the dyeing process of the materials held therein.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preparing colouring substances for dyeing of textile materials, comprising in combination means (2) for the controlled withdrawal from one or more bottles (40) and delivery to containers (30) of products for the preparation of colouring substances, and a stirring device, characterised in that said sterring device in a shaker (3) able to receive one or more containers (30) for holding said products, and
in that the said shaker (3) is provided with heating means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the said means (2) for the controlled withdrawal and delivery comprise a support plane (4) onto which a plurality of bottles (40) are disposed for containing products for the preparation of colouring substances, and an operating head (5) disposed and acting on said plane (4), said head being automatically movable longitudinally, transversally and vertically with respect to the plane (4), according to a program, and supporting a withdrawal member (50).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the said withdrawal member (50) is of volumetric type and consists of a single or multiple pipette.

4. A method for dyeing textile materials, comprising the steps of:

a) withdrawal in an automatically controlled way from one or more bottles (40) displaced on a plane (4) of one or more products for the preparation of dyeing substances;

b) delivery in an automatically controlled way of said products into dyeing containers (30) hold by a shaker (3), the containers containing said textile materials;

c) providing a shaking action of said dyeing containers (30);

d) providing heating action of the said containers (30) simoultansously to said shaking action of the same.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the said withdrawal and delivery steps are performed by withdrawal and delivery means (2) comprising a support plane (4) onto which a plurality of bottles (40) are disposed, and by an operating head (5) disposed and acting on said plane (4), said head being automatically movable longitudinally, transversally and vertically with respect to the plane (4) said head (5) supporting a withdrawal member (50).

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the said withdrawal member (50) is of volumetric type and consists of a single or multiple pipette.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zur Zubereitung von Farbsubstanzen zum Färben von Textilmaterialien, enthaltend in Kombination Mittel (2) zur gesteuerten Entnahme von Produkten zur Zubereitung von Farbsubstanzen aus einer oder mehreren Flaschen (40) und zum Zuführen derselben an Behälter (30), sowie ein Rührwerk, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das genannte Rührwerk ein Schüttelapparat (3) ist, in der Lage, einen oder mehrere Behälter (30) zum Beinhalten der genannten Produkte aufzunehmen, und dadurch, dass der genannte Schüttelapparat (3) mit Heizmitteln versehen ist.

2. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannten Mittel (2) zur gesteuerten Entnahme und zum Zuführen eine Trägerfläche (4) enthalten, auf welcher eine Anzahl von Flaschen (40) zum Beinhalten von Produkten zur Zubereitung von Farbsubstanzen angeordnet ist, und einen Arbeitskopf (5), angeordnet und wirkend auf der genannten Fläche (4), wobei der genannte Kopf nach einem Programm automatisch längs, quer und vertikal im Verhältnis zu der Fläche (4) beweglich ist und ein Entnahmeelement (50) trägt.

3. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das genannte Entnahmeelement (50) von einem volumetrischen Typ ist und aus einer einzelnen oder mehrfachen Pipette besteht.

4. Verfahren zum Färben von Textilmaterialien, enthaltend die folgenden Phasen:

- a) Entnahme auf eine automatisch gesteuerte Weise aus einer oder mehreren auf einer Fläche (4) angeordneten Flaschen (40) von einem oder mehreren Produkten zur Zubereitung von Farbsubstanzen;

- b) Zuführen auf eine automatisch gesteuerte Weise der genannten Produkte in Färbebehälter (30), gehalten durch einen Schüttelapparat (3), wobei die Behälter die Textilmaterialien enthalten;

- c) Einleiten einer Schüttelfunktion der genannten Färbebehälter (30);

- d) Einleiten der Heizfunktion der genannten Behälter (30) gleichzeitig mit der genannten Schüttelfunktion derselben.

5. Verfahren nach Patentanspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannten Entnahme- und Zuführphasen durch Entnahme- und Zuführmittel (2) ausgeführt werden, enthalten eine Trägerfläche (4), auf welcher eine Anzahl von Flaschen (40) angeordnet sind, und einen Arbeitskopf (5), angeordnet und wirkend auf der genannten Fläche (4), wobei der genannte Kopf automatisch längs, quer und vertikal im Verhältnis zu der Fläche (4) beweglich ist, und wobei der genannte Kopf (5) ein Entnahmeelement (50) trägt.

6. Verfahren nach Patentanspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das genannte Entnahmeelement (50) vom volumetrischen Typ ist und aus einer einzelnen oder mehrfachen Pipette besteht.

Revendications

1. Un dispositif de préparation de substances colorantes pour la teinture de matières textiles, comprenant, en combinaison, des moyens (2) destinés, de façon contrôlée, à prélever d'une ou de plusieurs bouteilles (40) et à verser dans des récipients (30) des produits pour la préparation de substances colorantes, ainsi qu'un dispositif agitateur, caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif agitateur est un shaker (3) pouvant recevoir un ou plusieurs récipients (30) destinés à contenir lesdits produits, et en ce que ledit shaker (3) est équipé de moyens de chauffage.

2. Le dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens (2) de prélèvement et de distribution contrôlés comprennent un plan de support (4) sur lequel est disposée une pluralité de bouteilles (40) contenant des produits pour la préparation de substances colorantes, et une tête opératrice (5) disposée et agissant sur ledit plan (4), ladite tête étant automatiquement mobile, selon un programme, longitudinalement, transversalement et verticalement par rapport au plan (4) et supportant un organe de prélèvement (50).

3. Le dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit organe de prélèvement (50) est de type volumétrique et consiste en une ou plusieurs pipettes.

4. Un procédé pour la teinture de matières textiles, comprenant les phases consistant à :

a) prélever, de façon contrôlée automatiquement, d'une ou de plusieurs bouteilles (40) disposées sur un plan (4), un ou plusieurs produits pour la préparation de substances de teinture ;

b) distribuer, de façon contrôlée automatiquement, lesdits produits dans des récipients de teinture (30) situés dans un shaker (3), les récipients en question contenant lesdites matières textiles ;

c) agiter lesdits récipients de teinture (30) ;

d) chauffer lesdits récipients (30) en même temps que ceux-ci sont agités.

5. Le procédé selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que lesdites phases de prélèvement et de distribution sont effectuées par des moyens (2) de prélèvement et de distribution comprenant un plan de support (4) sur lequel est disposée une pluralité de bouteilles (40), et par une tête opératrice (5) disposée et agissant sur ledit plan (4), ladite tête (5) étant automatiquement mobile longitudinalement, transversalement et verticalement par rapport au plan (4) et supportant un organe de prélèvement (50).

6. Le procédé selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit organe de prélèvement (50) est de type volumétrique et consiste en une ou plusieurs pipettes.

Drawing