US2604772A - Apparatus for treating fabrics - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1952 G. c. WARD' 2,6 ,77

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRICS Filed Dec. 29. 1949 FIGJ.

1N VENTOR.

GEORGE C. WARD BY I ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 29, 1952 [v -rfr ED F TE NT ore-ice Thi invention relates to textile materials: and relates more particularly to afproces's and p paratus for. treating fabrics and. the like. bylimmersingthe same in a liquid medium such'las a dyebath. i x 2 During the treatment of fabrics and the like by immersing the same in a liquid medium such as a dyebath, it frequently happens that the surface of the .bath becomes covered with a foreign material. The foreign material may consist of individual particles floating on the surface of the bath, or may be in the form of a film or foam covering all or a portion of the surface of the bath. When the fabric enters the bath, the for-.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a process and apparatus for treating fabrics and the like by immersing the same in a liquid medium such as a dyebath which will be free from the foregoing and other disadvantages of the processes and apparatus hitherto employed for this purpose.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a process and apparatus for treating fabrics and the like by immersing the same in a liquid medium such as a dyebath in which the fabrics will initially contact the bath at a, point below the surface thereof.

other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

According to the present invention, fabrics and the like are immersed in a. liquid medium such as a dyebath between a pair of curtain extending the full width of the fabric from a point above the surface of the bath to a point below the surface of the bath, which curtains are urged toward each other and into contact with the surfaces of the fabrics. Advantageously, the curtains contact the surfaces of the fabrics from a point above the surface of the bath to a point below the surface of the bath. The fabrics entering the bath between said curtains initially contact the bath at a point below the surface thereof so that any foreign material on the surface of the bath does not come into contact with the fabrics and cannot adhere thereto. As a result, the production of spotted fabrics owing to the adherence of foreign material to the surfaces 'o'rjthe fabricsa they enter the bath is prevented.

Thefcurtains-between which the fabric enter 1 the bath maybe formed from a resilient mat such as rubber or a sheet of flexible metal and are arranged so that the curtains are urged toward each other by their own resilience. Alternatively, the curtains may be formed from a flexible material and be urged toward each other through the expediency of springs or other suitable mechanical means. If desired, one of the curtains may be formed from a rigid material against which the other and flexible curtain is urged by its own resilience or by suitable mechanical means.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a top plan view of the apparatus for treating fabrics and the like, with certain parts, including the vat, omitted in the interest of clarity, and

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral ll designates a vat having therein a liquid medium such as a dyebath I2 whose surface is covered with a layer of foam I3. Mounted on the vat II are a pair of brackets 14 that are held securely in place by means of downturned lips l5 integral therewith that engage the sides of the vat ll. Each of the brackets I4 carries a pair of plates IE adjustably fastened thereto by means of screws ll that extend through slotted openings [8 in the plates l6. Secured to the plates 16 are trunnion bearings IS in which are mounted a pair of parallel tubular rods 2! that extend across the vat I I and are held against rotation by means of set screws 22 passing through the bearings IS.

A pair of flexible rubber curtains 23 extending the full Width of the fabric to be dyed are clamped to the tubular rods 2| by means of bars 24 having screws 25 extending therethrough into threaded engagement with the tubular rods 2i. The point at which the flexible rubber curtains 23 contact the fabric, the spacing between the top of the curtains and the force with which the curtains contact the fabric may be adjusted to take care of fabrics of all types or varying dyebath conditions by moving the plates 16 toward or away from each other, by rotating the tubular rods 2|, or by a combination of both of these expedients. During dyeing, a fabric 26 is taken from any suitable source of supply (not shown), passed over a guide roll 21 and entered in the dyebath l2 between the flexible rubber curtains 23 so that it initially contacts the liquid of the dyebath at a point below the surface thereof and does not come into contact with the foam I3. As a result, the production of foam spots on the fabric 26 is prevented.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an apparatus for treating fabrics and the like by immersing the same in a liquid medium, the combination with a vat for holding the liquid medium, of a pair of parallel tubular rods extending across the vat and adjustably spaced from each other bearing means carried by the vat in which the ends of said rods are rotatably supported, set screw means in said bearings for holding said tubular rods in fixed position, and

4 a pair of flexible rubber curtains clamped to said rods and extending from a point above the surface of the liquid medium to a point below the surface of the liquid medium, the construction and arrangement being such that the flexible rubber curtains are urged toward each other and into contact with the surfaces of the fabrics from a, point above the surface of the liquid medium to a point below the surface of the liquid medium whereby the fabrics may be entered into the liquid medium between said curtains and will initially contact the liquid medium at a point below the surface of the liquid medium.

GEORGE C. WARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 324,137 Mather Aug. 11, 1885 1,889,009 Woodhead Nov. 29, 1932 1,950,010 Riggs Mar. 6, 1934 2,372,248 Bouton Mar. 27, 1945

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