EP0320701B1 - Method and apparatus for discontinuously wet-treating of textile materials - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method (according to the preamble of claim 1) and an apparatus (according to the preamble of claim 7) for the discontinuous wet treatment of knitted or knitted textile material.

From GB-A-20 50 450 a device is known in particular for drying tubular textile material. This textile material is first fed in strand form via a transport roller and fed through a water flushing pipe to a lower liquid drainage surface before it is inflated in a balloon for the first time and then fed to a pair of squeeze rollers with continuous treatment.

A number of wet treatment processes are also known (EP-A-229 889, GB-A-20 39 966 and GB-A-21 54 255), in which tubular textile material is continuously passed through a corresponding device and possibly passes through a liquor bath and inflated in a balloon shape using air.

From FR-A-25 95 726 a device for various types of wet treatment of a tubular knitted fabric is also known. In this case, the textile material can apparently be treated continuously and discontinuously in a skid-like or U-shaped container, in the lower part of which a liquor bath is formed, from which the textile material is pulled out on one side, then inflated like a balloon and spread out, squeezed out and then is finally reinserted into the liquor bath on the opposite side of the container. This treatment container thus discloses an internal division of the treatment container, which enables a completely different type of wet treatment than is required in the preamble of claim 1 of the present invention (in which a dwelling zone is penetrated in the lower container area and, inter alia, an immersion trough in the upper container area) .

In practice, knitted or knitted textile goods, i.e. so-called knitwear, are usually in rope form in various adapted devices, such as Reel skids, jet, overflow or similar treatment machines and devices colored or otherwise wet-treated. In all system and device-related differences of the types of treatment mentioned, the treatment in the form of a strand is predominant.

In particular, if such relatively sensitive knitted fabrics are subjected to a dyeing treatment in rope form, then there are some problems which lead above all to a loss in quality. The main problems are primarily the flow of goods, the distribution of the dye (product distribution) and the quality of the goods.

The problems with the flow of goods in the treatment device result from downtimes, grinding points, etc. The causes for this can be in unsecured goods transport at low treatment temperatures, knots in the strand of goods in a storage dwell zone, furthermore in basic transport problems with extremely light or extremely heavy goods qualities and in the influence foam, dyeing aids and other chemicals.

For a good levelness of the dyeing, a uniform and quick distribution of the dye is crucial, which, however, can only be achieved very inadequately when working in a strand form (for example, with known methods and devices there are about three to five circulations of textile goods - corresponding to about five to fifteen minutes. - necessary in order to distribute the dyes and other products required for dyeing approximately evenly among the same goods).

All treatment devices have a direct influence on the quality of the goods to be achieved. If you go e.g. from an average treatment time of about six hours and a cycle time of two minutes, then the textile goods have to pass the transport devices, fleet feed devices, the goods store, etc. about one hundred and eighty times. Due to the resulting friction against the goods, there is an undesirable roughening and flossing of the goods surface. In addition, there is a continuous breaking or flexing of the goods combined in the form of a strand, as a result of which the surface of the goods is adversely affected.

For textile material in the form of fabric webs, which are generally considerably more robust than knitted fabrics, it is also known to dye, wash, rinse this textile material discontinuously and in a wide range, because of the structural and technological differences between knitted fabrics and Woven goods, the methods and devices used for woven goods cannot be used satisfactorily in the known embodiments. For example, it is not possible to dye relatively dimensionally unstable knitwear in a known, conventional jigger.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method of the type required in the preamble of claim 1, by means of which, with relatively simple constructive means and avoiding roughening of the textile surface, a uniform product distribution (distribution of the dye and other means to be supplied) and a more reliable one Textile circulation (goods transport) can be guaranteed.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Since this procedure according to the invention ensures that the textile material is particularly spread out in the area of the immersion trough, this knitted fabric can always be carried out in a completely spread form by the diving trough sufficiently filled with the treatment liquor. This enables a particularly intensive wet treatment of this textile material, so that an extremely even distribution of the product to be applied to the textile material (dyes and the like) is ensured from the outset. The use of a diving trough on the one hand and this widespread passage of the textile goods through the treatment liquor in the diving trough also lead to an extremely economical treatment method in which a relatively low liquor ratio can be used.

It is also particularly advantageous in this method according to the invention that the textile material in the area above the immersion trough is mechanically dewatered to a predetermined residual moisture before it is reintroduced into the dwell zone in the lower container area via a - known per se - deflection and transport device. This type of dewatering of the textile goods after a sufficient transport distance above the immersion trough also contributes to an accelerated and intensive distribution of the treatment products throughout the textile goods. Since a quick and even distribution of the treatment products in the textile goods (knitwear) is thus ensured, the entire wet treatment requires considerably fewer circulations within the treatment container compared to known designs, so that for an extremely gentle treatment of the goods surface and thus for the maintenance of the desired Goods character is taken care of.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is particularly advantageous if the knitted or knitted textile material presented in the form of a tube is expanded into a balloon in the region between the immersion trough and the mechanical dewatering and made wrinkle-free.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is also advantageous if the textile material presented multiple times and knitted flat is mechanically spread out in the area in front of the diving trough and aligned in its entrainment. In this way, especially collars and trimmings can be extremely gently and effectively wet-treated, e.g. bleached, dyed and washed, i.e. this treatment is particularly suitable for knitted fabrics made flat and in a broad form, which are generally several times as thick as normal circular knitted fabrics (tubular goods). A strand treatment of this flat-knitted knitted fabric would lead to deformation, becoming lobed and felting, while the wet treatment according to the invention in a spread form maintains the desired rigidity of this type of textile and ensures an excellent surface quality.

A device for carrying out this method, in which a first deflecting roller deflecting the textile material strand rising from the dwell zone and a second deflecting roller immersing the textile material in the treatment liquor are provided in front of the immersion trough, are characterized according to the invention by the feature indicated in the characterizing part of claim 7.

Further refinements of the invention are the subject of the remaining subclaims.

An essential idea in the experiments on which the invention was based was also the endeavor to create a method and a device which is particularly suitable for carrying it out, in order in particular to also process smaller batches or quantities of knitted or knitted textile goods (knitwear) with at least qualitatively and economically the same good wet treatment results, especially for dyeing, bleaching, washing and rinsing, as is possible with continuously operating known methods and devices (on so-called continuous machines), but with which only relatively large quantities of textile goods can be treated economically. The method according to the invention and the device intended for its implementation have proven to be extremely advantageous in the tests in the manner described above for the discontinuous wet treatment, in particular for dyeing with its upstream and downstream treatment steps.

• Fig. 1 eine Vertikalschnittansicht durch eine diskontinuierlich arbeitende Naßbehandlungsvorrichtung mit zugehörigen Einrichtungen, zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;
• Fig. 2 eine Teil-Schemaansicht zur Erläuterung einer anderen Ausführungsform der Entwässerungseinrichtung (als Spannregelsystem);
• Fig. 3 eine ähnliche Teil-Schemaansicht wie Fig. 2, jedoch zur Erläuterung eines Beispieles, bei dem im Bereich vor dem Tauchtrog eine mechanische Ausbreiteinrichtung vorgesehen ist;
• Fig. 4 eine weitere Teil-Schemaansicht im Bereich Tauchtrog und Entwässerungseinrichtung, zur Erläuterung des Gegenstrom-/Überlaufspülens.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a few examples and with reference to a drawing which is kept very schematic. Show in this drawing

• Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a discontinuously working wet treatment device with associated facilities for performing the method according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a partial schematic view for explaining another embodiment of the drainage device (as a tension control system);
• FIG. 3 shows a partial schematic view similar to FIG. 2, but to explain an example in which a mechanical spreading device is provided in the area in front of the diving trough;
• 4 shows a further partial schematic view in the area of the immersion trough and dewatering device, to explain the countercurrent / overflow rinsing.

The device illustrated in FIG. 1 is used for the discontinuous wet treatment of knitted or knitted textile goods, which for the sake of simplicity is referred to below as knitted fabric 1.

This device contains a container 2, into which the knitted fabric 1 to be treated is fed in the usual way via a gallows-like feed device 3. If a sufficient amount of this knitted fabric 1 is introduced into the container 2, the front and rear ends of this knitted fabric 1 are sewn together in a known manner, so that the textile material 1 can circulate endlessly in the direction of arrows 4 within the container 2 in a broad state, for which purpose 1 in the upper right area of the Container 2 at least one known, driven transport roller 5 or a known transport reel is provided.

The upper region of the container interior forms a type of deflection zone 6 for the endlessly circulating knitted fabric 1, while the lower region of the container interior forms a dwell zone 7 for this knitted fabric 1. Here, the knitted fabric 1 is paneled into the dwell zone 7 with the aid of a known, reciprocating fold layer 8 arranged below the transport roller 5. The dwell zone 7 is further preferably delimited by a sliding grate 9 serving as the bottom, indicated only by dashed lines, and by an installation body 10, likewise indicated only by dashed lines, provided approximately in the middle part of the interior of the container, to an open, J-shaped space at its inlet and outlet ends.

Approximately in the middle part of the interior of the container 2 there is a diving trough 11 which extends transversely (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1) over the interior of the container and in front of which a first deflecting roller 12 (deflecting into the diving trough which deflects the dwelling zone 7 from the dwelling zone 7) 11) is arranged, while a second deflection roller 13 is provided within this immersion trough 11, which immerses the knitted fabric 1 in a treatment liquor bath 14 present in the immersion trough 11. In addition, these two deflecting rollers can also at least partially ensure that the knitted fabric 1 is guided in the center of the immersion trough 11 in a spread-out and central manner.

At a distance above the second deflecting roller 13 and the immersion trough 11, a mechanical dewatering device is provided, which in the case of FIG. 1 is formed by two squeezing rollers 15 known per se. These nip rollers 15 have a soft rubber jacket 15a on their outer circumference (preferably with a hardness of 30 to 45 ° shore hardness). The knitwear 1 passed between this pair of squeeze rollers 15 and partially wrapping around these rollers passes through the container 2 during its transport (arrows 4), and then via the transport roller 5.

The approximately perpendicular path between the immersion trough 11 and the pair of squeeze rollers 15 is used to inflate the knitted fabric 1 to a balloon 16 and to make it wrinkle-free. In this balloon inflation section delimited by the diving trough 11 and the squeezing roller 15, a nozzle system 17 is provided, with the aid of which a suitable gaseous medium, in particular compressed air, water vapor, nitrogen or another inert gas, can be blown into the knitted fabric 1 in a controllable manner if it is in the form of a tube.

As is indicated very schematically, this nozzle system 17 can be connected to a blower 18 which, for example in the uppermost region of the container interior, can suck in gaseous medium (for example air or gas) for inflating the balloon 16 with the aid of a suction piece 19 known per se can.

The treatment tank 2 is also associated in a known manner with a liquor circulation line 20 connected to the immersion trough 11 with a liquor circulation pump 21 and a built-in heat exchanger 22 for the provision of a treatment liquor which is controllable in quantity and temperature. Furthermore, it is generally advantageous to provide the treatment container 2 with a steam heating device, which is indicated only very schematically by arrows 23 and which can be used to heat the interior of the container to the required treatment temperature. This can involve both direct heating of the interior of the container and indirect heating.

As is only roughly indicated in the partial schematic view of FIG. 2, instead of the squeeze roller pair 15 according to FIG. 1, the dewatering device can also be designed in the form of a so-called locking bolt system 24, in which three deflection rollers 25 in the transport direction (arrow 4) of the knitted fabric 1 are arranged so closely one behind the other that there are at least two sufficiently strong textile material deflections in order to achieve a sufficient drainage effect for the knitted fabric 1.

Whether or not a pair of squeeze rolls 15 as shown in FIG. 1 or a tie bar system 24 as shown in FIG. 2 is used in this wet treatment apparatus generally depends on the desired dewatering effect, i.e. With the help of the pair of squeeze rollers 15, a more controllable and stronger dewatering effect (squeezing effect) can generally be achieved than with the clamping bolt system 24.

While according to the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, the treatment device is illustrated primarily for the wet treatment possibility of tubular meshes 1, in which a balloon inflation path is provided between the second deflection roller 13 of the immersion trough 11 and the dewatering device 15 and 24, respectively is used, this balloon inflation section according to the example in FIG. 3 can then be omitted or can only be shut down if knitted fabric 1 'knitted and knitted flat 1' is to be wet-treated in this device. In this case, it is expedient if a suitable mechanical spreading device 26 is arranged in front of the first deflecting roller 12 arranged in front of the immersion trough 11, which is preferably equipped with at least two known spreading and center guide rollers 27 for this type of textile material (knitted fabric 1 '). In turn, two squeeze rollers 15 (as indicated in FIG. 3) or a tensioning bolt system 24 according to FIG. 2 can be provided as the drainage device above the immersion trough 11.

When carrying out the method according to the invention with the aid of the device which is carried out in a suitable manner, it is particularly economical and advantageous if the treatment liquor to be supplied to the knitted fabric 1 is applied only in the immersion trough 11 onto or into the knitted fabric 1, 1 ', while the dwell zone 7 remains in the container 2 essentially free of any liquor, apart from any liquor residues that run off or drip off from the goods, these liquor residues are immediately drawn off with the aid of the liquor circulation pump 21 at the bottom of the vessel 2.

During the treatment of the knitted fabric 1, 1 'in this device, after passing through the immersion trough to a residual moisture of about 100 to 250%, based on the weight of the textile fabric, the knitted fabric can be dewatered in a targeted and desired manner with the aid of the pair of squeeze rollers 15 or the clamping bar system 24 will. The squeezed, excessive treatment liquor can run back down into the immersion trough 11 along the route ascending from the immersion trough 11 to the drainage device. As already indicated above and from the following examples, the knitwear 1, 1 'is preferably successively circulated in the container 2 in at least two different treatment liquors, for example washing, dyeing, circulating in succession and separately to the diving trough 11. and rinsing liquors, wet treated.

The treatment liquors for the different types of treatment of an entire wet treatment process can be drained and renewed individually, depending on the procedure, but this is often not necessary, especially since the treatment liquor can renew itself between bleaching and washing. In this case it has been found that in this method according to the invention and in the device intended for carrying it out, it is possible to work with very small amounts of water, for example 20 to 30 liters of water / kg of knitted fabric, for example when washing.

For example, when rinsing and in a similar manner also when bleaching and after washing the paint, the immersion trough 11 can be overflowed in the container 2, as is illustrated, for example, by FIG. 4, which essentially shows an enlarged section of the device according to FIG. 1 - In the area from the diving trough 11 to the pair of squeeze rollers 15 - shows.

The immersion trough 11 is provided with a siphon-like overflow pipe 28 through which the liquor level 14a in the liquor bath 14 of the immersion trough 11 can be adjusted. This height adjustment of the liquor bath 14 can take place, for example, in that the overflow pipe 28 is rotated about its lower pipe axis 28a. The upper overflow end 28b of the overflow pipe 28 can then be connected, for example, to the circuit line 20 or to a dirty liquor drain.

Furthermore, it may be expedient to provide a fresh water or fresh liquor feed 29 close below the squeeze rollers 15 so that fresh water or fresh liquor is sprayed on all sides from the outside onto the knitted fabric 1 transported in the direction of the arrow 4 (at the upper end of the balloon 16) ( Countercurrent rinsing).

Assuming in this embodiment (about Fig. 4) that with 100% liquor application to the knitted fabric 1 all the dirt is loosened at once, then at least 100% fresh water would have to flow in to remove the dirt, so that the concentration with the trough 11 does not steadily increasing. The following data were obtained in a test example for this type of countercurrent and overflow rinsing according to FIG. 4: with an assumed knitted fabric of 500 g / Ifm, with 100 kg of fabric and with a fabric speed of 40 m / min, a circulation time of 5 minutes, i.e. there are twelve rounds per hour. 1200 l of dirty liquor are then introduced in one hour, so that at least 1200 l of fresh water / h should flow. With this rinsing of 100 kg of knitwear, good washing results could be achieved with 1200 1 h, which means a liquor ratio (knitwear: rinsing liquor) of 1:12. With twelve runs per hour, this is a very excellent value. If one compares known discontinue devices and processes which are generally used for strand treatments and which normally expect liquor ratios of 1:80 to 1: 100, then In practice, excellent and extremely economical fleet ratios also result if these occur in the range of 1:20 to 1:30.

• daß für die Ballonbildung von schlauchförmiger Maschenware Raumatmosphäre aus dem Behälterinnern verwendet wird;
• daß neben der im allgemeinen flottenfreien Arbeitsweise in der Verweilzone während des Bleichens, Färbens und dergleichen außerdem auch der untere Bereich des Behälterinnenraumes mehr oder weniger hoch geflutet werden kann, um ein größeres Flottenverhältnis beispielsweise beim Vorreinigen der Maschenware einstellen zu können;
• daß der Innenraum des Behälters direkt oder indirekt durch Dampf auf die gewünschte Flottentemperatur aufgeheizt werden kann;
• daß die Möglichkeit gegeben ist, alle Produktszusätze (z.B. Färbe-, Bleich- und andere Chemikalien) zu einer festgelegten Zeit dosiert zuzugeben;
• daß der Behälter der Vorrichtung sowohl für ein luftdichtes als auch für ein atmosphärisches Arbeiten (wichtig bei Küpenfärbungen) ausgebildet sein kann;
• daß die Ausbildung des Tauchtroges 11 eine einfache Reinigung und einen leichten Wareneinzug gestattet;
• daß beim Herausfahren des fertig behandelten Textilgutes aus dem Behälter das dort vorhandene Quetschwerk in seinem Quetschtrog so eingestellt werden kann, daß ein ausreichender Entwässerungseffekt für eine nachfolgende direkte Trocknung erzielt werden kann.

In the various embodiments of the method according to the invention, it is also possible to work particularly advantageously by

• that a room atmosphere from the inside of the container is used for the balloon formation of tubular knitted fabric;
• that in addition to the generally float-free mode of operation in the residence zone during bleaching, dyeing and the like, the lower region of the container interior can also be flooded to a greater or lesser extent in order to be able to set a larger liquor ratio, for example when pre-cleaning the knitted fabric;
• that the interior of the container can be heated directly or indirectly by steam to the desired liquor temperature;
• that it is possible to add all product additives (e.g. dyeing, bleaching and other chemicals) in a dosed manner at a specified time;
• that the container of the device can be designed for both airtight and atmospheric work (important for vat coloring);
• that the formation of the diving trough 11 allows easy cleaning and easy goods collection;
• that when the finished treated textile goods are moved out of the container, the squeezing mechanism present there can be adjusted in its squeezing trough in such a way that a sufficient dewatering effect can be achieved for subsequent direct drying.

The method according to the invention is described below with reference to a number of experimental examples in which various types of knitwear have been dyed discontinuously.

example 1

In the wet treatment device described, 200 kg of interlock knitwear made of cotton fibers were fed in in a broad state and sewn together in the container to form an endless fabric band. Now the treatment liquor and knitwear were heated to 60 ° C. The knitted fabric was prewashed with about four cycles, and then 150 l of an aqueous liquor, likewise prepared at 60 ° C. in a batch vessel, were added to the liquor bath, the liquor added containing 40 g / l of common salt based on the total liquor quantity of the dyebath. After a circulation of about 6 minutes, 100 liters of an aqueous reactive dye solution were added, which - based on the weight of the goods - contained 2.5% of the dye reactive red and 2.5% of the dye reactive orange. The liquor temperature was then raised to 80 ° C. in 10 minutes and wet treatment was carried out at this temperature for a further 10 minutes.

To fix the dye on the fibers, 1001 of a liquor of 80 ° C. were then metered in, which - based on the total amount of liquor - contained 15 g / l of calcined soda. It was then treated at 80 ° C. for 45 minutes. The dyeing was carried out at a total liquor ratio of 1: 3.

To complete the dyeing, the dye liquor bath was drained off and the knitted fabric was rinsed with fresh water without stopping and subsequently soaped in the customary manner.

The result was a level red coloring in a total coloring time of 4 1/2 hours.

Example 2

In the same way as in the first example, 200 kg of interlock knitwear were inserted into the container of the device, sewn together to form an endless fabric band and then prewashed.

• 30 g/I Reaktiv-Brillantgrün
• 3 g/I Netzmittel
• 0,2 g/I Verdicker
• sowie
• 50 g/I Salz
• 13 g/I NaOH 36°Be
• 1 g/I Calgon;
• mit zwei Umläufen wurde dann bei 20°C elgalisiert. Anschließend wurden die Behandlungsflotte und die Maschenware mit ca. 2,5°C/min (und bei mehreren Umläufen der Maschenware) auf 80°C aufgeheizt, wodurch die Ware zur Fixierung gebracht wurde.

With the help of a conventional two-head dosing pump (for different product additives) the following products were dosed via level control at a mixing ratio of 1: 4 (chemicals: dye liquor):

• 30 g / l reactive brilliant green
• 3 g / l wetting agent
• 0.2 g / l thickener
• such as
• 50 g / l salt
• 13 g / l NaOH 36 ° Be
• 1 g / l calgon;
• it was then equalized with two cycles at 20 ° C. The treatment liquor and the knitted fabric were then heated to 80 ° C. at about 2.5 ° C./min (and in the course of several revolutions of the knitted fabric), which brought the goods to fixation.

To complete the dyeing, the dye bath was drained and rinsed with fresh water without a standstill; Subsequently, soaping and softening were carried out as usual. When the knitted fabric was moved out of the container, the water was drained to such an extent that the fabric was ready for drying.

A level green color was achieved in a total time of 3 1/2 hours with a total water ratio of 1:40.

Example 3

In the same way as in the first example, 220 kg of a cotton lining mesh were introduced and sewn together endlessly.

• 2 g/I eines schaumarmen Netzmittels
• 1 g/I des Natriumsalzes eines Kondensationsproduktes aus Naphtalinsäure und Formaldehyd
• 2 g/I des Natriumsalzes einer modifi zierten Polyacrylsäure enthielt. Nach zwei Warenumläufen wurde in 1001 wässriger Flotte von 45°C dispersvorliegender Küpenfarbstoff in der Kombination von 3,0% Grün und 0,6% Orange (bezogen auf das Warengewicht) zugesetzt.

The treatment liquor was heated to 80 ° C. and 150 l of a prepared aqueous liquor was added which, based on the total liquor quantity of the dyebath,

• 2 g / I of a low-foaming wetting agent
• 1 g / l of the sodium salt of a condensation product of naphthalic acid and formaldehyde
• 2 g / I of the sodium salt of a modified polyacrylic acid contained. After two rounds of goods, vat dye in the combination of 3.0% green and 0.6% orange (based on the weight of the goods) was added in 1001 aqueous liquor at 45 ° C.

After a pigmentation phase of 10 minutes, 150 liters of an aqueous liquor were then metered in with 20 ml of 40 ° / Be sodium hydroxide solution (32.5% strength) and 10 g / liter of sodium dithionite, based on the total amount of liquor. Thereafter, they were treated for a further 20 minutes at 80 ° C. and then rinsed with cold water in the overflow until vat yellow paper only showed a sodium dithionite concentration of 0.5 to 1 g / l (green color of the yellow paper).

After this brief rinsing process, 1 liter of a prepared liquor, which - based on the total liquor quantity - contained 2 g / l sodium salt of nitrobenzenesulfonic acid, was metered in and the dyeing was oxidized at 60 ° C. during three to four cycles. After the oxidation was rinsed and the goods soaped in the usual way.

A level olive green coloring of the raw material was obtained.

Example 4

200 kg of cotton lining mesh were again fed into the device container in a wide-ranging state, sewn together there and prewashed (similar to Example 1).

• 15 g/I Grün
• 3 g/I Orange
• 2 g/I Netzmittel
• 5 g/I Egalisiermittel
• 1 g/I Sequentiermittel
• 20 ml/1 NaOH 36°Be
• 10 g/I Nitrosulfit.

The following products were added in doses via a level control in the diving trough:

• 15 g / l green
• 3 g / l orange
• 2 g / l wetting agent
• 5 g / I leveling agent
• 1 g / l sequencing agent
• 20 ml / 1 NaOH 36 ° Be
• 10 g / l nitrosulfite.

The knitted fabric was equalized in two cycles at 20 ° C. Subsequently, the interior of the container was heated to 100 ° C by means of direct steam heating and the goods were brought together in two or three cycles. Then it was rinsed cold with one or two circulations of goods.

4 g / l of oxidizing agent and 1 g / IH ₂ 0 _{2 were then} metered into the aqueous treatment liquor at 60 ° C. and the mixture was then acidified by means of pH control and the use of acetic acid. The goods were then rinsed hot and softened.

A level olive coloration was obtained.

The tests carried out with the method according to the invention have made it clear that the previously conventional method of discontinuously dyeing knitwear in rope form, in particular for smaller production quantities, can be replaced by an extremely reliable method of working for broadly knitted fabrics with many advantages. Above all, the greatly improved quality of the goods is worth mentioning, since by avoiding the undesirable breaking and flexing of the textile material during the strand forming treatment, an extremely uniform surface, a clear mesh structure and thereby also a certain glossy effect can be achieved, which leads to a more noble-looking product.

Since the fleet is constantly loaded evenly, dyes and fixing chemicals are distributed very evenly the first time the goods are circulated. The leveling phase, which has been common in the various dyeing processes to date, can thereby be shortened considerably or in many cases completely eliminated. This results in considerably shorter treatment times in the overall dyeing process, and it is possible to work with a short rinsing time due to small liquor volumes and liquor separation (especially in the case of reactive dyeings).

Another advantage can be seen in the already mentioned low water consumption, which is mainly due to the working method in a liquor ratio of about 1: 2 to 1: 5 as well as to a better use of the rinsing water by countercurrent rinsing and a high bath separation. Total light consumption of 1: 40 to 1: 60 can be achieved with light goods that are to be bleached, and similar water consumption can be used with darker goods that are not pre-bleached, since the bleaching liquor is dispensed with and can be used for washing up.

Claims (13)

1. Method of discontinuous wet processing of knitted or worked textile material which circulates continuously in open width in a substantially closed tank, is led through a resting zone in the lower region of the tank and through a reorientation zone in the upper region of the tank as well as being led through a dipping vat in which treatment liquor is applied to the textile material, characterised in that the textile material is spread in the region of the dipping vat and has fluid removed mechanically in the region above the dipping vat to a predetermined residual moisture content before it is again introduced into the resting zone by means of a reorientation and transport arrangement.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that in the region between the dippingvat and and the mechanical fluid removal the textile material in tubular form is spread by inflation to a balloon and rendered free of creases.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the multiple-knit and flat-knit textile material is mechanically spread in the region before the dipping vat and is aligned in its centre guide.

4. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that after it has passed through the dipping vat the textile material has fluid removed to a residual moisture content of approximately 100 to 250%, based on the weight of the textile material.

5. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the mechanical removal of fluid from the textile material is achieved by squeezing out excess treatment liquor.

6. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that during its continuous circulation in the tank the textile material is wet processed successively with at least two different treatment liquors, especially dyeing and rinsing liquors, which circulate separately and one after the other through the dipping vat, all of the necessary liquor is applied to the textile material inside the dipping vat and the resting zone remains substantially free of liquor.

7. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1, containing

a) a substantially closed tank (2) which has a reorientation zone (6) in its upper region and a resting zone (7) in its lower region for the continuously circulating textile material (1),

b) a dipping vat (11) for treatment liquor (14) arranged approximately in the central region of the interior of the tank, and in front of this dipping vat a first guide roller (129) is arranged to reorien- tate the strand of textile material (1a), whilst a second guide roller (13) which dips the textile material (1) into the treatment liquor (14) is arranged in this dipping vat, and

c) at least one driven device (5) is provided in the reorientation zone (6) for transporting the textile material (1) and for introducing the textile material into the resting zone (7), characterised in that

d) in the region of the dipping vat (11) means (17; 26, 27) are provided for spreading the textile_ material (1, 1'), and

e) a mechanical fluid removal arrangement (15, 24) with at least two fluid removal rollers (15, 25) which are partially wrapped around by the textile material is arranged spaced above the second guide roller (13).

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the second guide roller (13) of the dipping vat and the fluid removal rollers (15, 25) of the fluid removal arrangement define a balloon inflation area in which nozzles (17) are provided for the controllable inflation of the tubular textile material (1) with a gaseous medium.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that a mechanical spreading arrangement (26) with at least two spreading and centre guiding rollers (27) for the multiple-knit and flat-knit textile material (1') is arranged before the first guide roller (12) which is arranged before the dipping vat (11).

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the fluid removal rollers of the fluid removal arrangement are provided in the form of a pair of squeezer rollers (15) and have a soft rubber casing (15a) on their outer periphery.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the fluid removal rollers (25) of the fluid removal arrangement in the form of a stretch-locking system (24) are associated with at least two turns of the textile material.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the treatment tank (2) has associated with it a liquor circulation pipe (20) connected to the dipping vat (11) with a liquor circulating pump (21) and a built-in heat exchanger (22) to prepare a treatment liquor which is controllable in quantity and temperature and a steam heating arrangement (23) to heat the interior of the tank to the treatment temperature.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that a fresh water supply (29) is arranged at the upper end of the balloon inflation section and the dipping vat (11) is equipped with a liquor overflow arrangement (28) for an adjustable height of the liquor bath (14).

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