US2881087A - Method and apparatus for flocking and removing excess flock - Google Patents

Description

April 7, 1959 s. M. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,881,087

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLOCKING AND REMOVING EXCESS FLOCK Filed Oct. 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l \A I 5 5% ska IN V EN TORS M- 8 C H WAQTZ DflN/EL 20 3S 4 00) Arrow/5y JAMUEL Apnl 7, 1959 s. M. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,881,087

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLOCKING AND REMOVING EXCESS FLOCK Filed Oct; 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PM! El.

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April 7, 1959 s. M. SCHWARTZ ET AL 9 9 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLOCKING AND REMOVING EXCESS FLOCK Filed Oct. 23, 1954 4 sheets-sheet:

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Q i ,;/2 7 L Q a 294 I I 282 zaf INVENTORS DfiN/EL GROSS BY SAMUEL M. scan 41271 A ril 7, 1959 s. M. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,881,087

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR F LOCKING AND REMOVING EXCESS Ff- OCK Filed Oct. 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLOCKING AND REMOVING EXCESS FLOCK Samuel M. Schwartz, Paterson, and Daniel Gross, Passaic, N..l., assignors to Velveray Corporation, Clifton, N.J., a corporation of New York Application October 28, 1954, Serial No. 465,406

4 Claims. (Cl. 117-19) The present invention relates to a method" and apparatus for flock printing fabrics.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a speedy, reliable, low-cost, high production flock printing system of removing finely divided particles which may closely adhere to, become enmeshed in the openings, or entangled in the interstices in knitted or woven fabrics.

In many types of fabrics, particularly those of synthetic nitrogenous materials and particularly those of nylon character, it has been found that finely divided particles of flock very closely adhere to the fibres and m the interstices with the result that sometimes it is almost impossible to remove the undesirable residual unattached fiock therefrom without causing substantial abrasion or wearing of the fabric material.

It is among the further objects of the present invention to provide a flock printing procedure, particularly in connection with fabrics containing, or made in part or whole of, nylon or other synthetic nitrogenous or fibre materials, which will quickly and accurately remove a large portion of all of the adhering excess flock without any substantial wear or friction upon the fibres, filaments or mesh of the fabric itself, and with further assurance that the removal will be so complete as to not require any subsequent wet-cleansing or scouring operations.

Furthermore, with many types of flock printed fabrics when strongly brushed or beaten to cause removal of excess fiock, and also to accomplish other finishing procedures, it has been found that such mechanical treatmore detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way'of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory according to one embodiment of the present invention to apply to the fabric a very high alternating static charge.

This static charge may be applied while the fabric is passing in any direction, as for example either horizontally or diagonally, but it has been found most suitable and most useful to pass the fabric vertically between oppositely charged high potential static charges.

This is desirably accomplished while a stream of air 'is being drawn across the face of the fabric and desirably obliquely across the mesh or interstices of the fabric.

It has been found that this variation in application of a high potential static charge results in a rapid removal 65 sides of the fabric.

2 of any adherent excess flock, particularly at the last stage or finishing stage in'a flocking operation.

It has also been found particularly helpful to utilize this alternation of static charge immediately after or in combination with alternate brushing and/or beating operations.

Most effectively the fabric may be brushed'or beaten while passing in a reverse direction to the direction of passage when subjected to the alternating static charge, and then with the immediate reversal direction the fabric is subjected to an alternating static high potential charge, while air or gas is being rapidly'drawn through th'e fabric, mesh or interstices.

This will result in an almost-immediate removal of all undesirable excess flock, and only the flock Which'has been permanently attached by heat-hardened adhesive will remain attached to the fabric.

Although varying procedures may be employed, it has been found that a reversal charge of some 10 to 50 thousand static volts has been most effective in removing the excess flock. This high charge may be applied by means of a static generator, but most desirably it is applied from an alternating current source which is transformed up to a very high potential and is applied across in narrow gap upon the rapidly moving fabric,

Although according to one form of the invention a high potential oscillating charge may be applied as of the nature of 55 to cycles per second, it has been found suflicient to alternate the high potential charge 2 or 3 times a second or even from 30 to times a minute to give the most effective results. 1

For example, the fabric may first be passed through a static field in one direction of 20,000 to 40,000 static volts and be in this field during such passage for one-half to two to three seconds, and then it may be immediately passed through a reverse field for the same length of time and with the same charge.

However, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two reverse fields have been found to be sufficient with the second field exceeding the first field by 10,000 to 20,000 volts and using shorter application in them.

For example, the fabric may first be subjected to a static charge for two to four seconds of 10,000 to 30,000 static volts, and then it may be subjected to a reverse charge of 20,000 to 50,000 static volts for one-half to two seconds.

During this treatment it is most important the static charge be concentratedlaterally across the fabric I and transversely of the direction of the movement of the fabric rather than parallelly to the direction of the movement of the fabric.

To assure most effective treatment it has been found that the fabric should be passed between two closely spaced electrode members, one electrode member consisting of a metal plate slightly wider than the width of the fabric, the length of which will determine the period triangular shape with their fiat sides adjacent to the passing fabric and closely spaced by a distance say of 1 to 2 inches.

Reverse application then is attained when the-same electrode combinations are reversely placed on opposite To prevent any breakdown or sparking which might injure the fabric it has been found desirable to' supply fairly thick glass plates to atleast one of the electrodes and desirably over the metal plate electrode. Theseglass plates should desirably extend beyond the electrode by a distance of at least 1 inch on all sides, and desirably 'may be of a thickness of glass of to 2 inches.

It has been found "that this will effectively prevent .any breakdown or excessive sparking of the high static potential, and the fabric will be well protected against any injury due to sparking or any uneven electrical discharge.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but :itis to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein .like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of a complete flocking system showing the application of the gelectrostatic cleaner of the present invention as a final operation.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side sectional view illustrating an alternative static cleaner arrangement.

Fig. 3 is a side diagrammatic sectional view showing ,still another alternative static cleaner arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view upon a greatly enlarged .scale as compared to Fig. 2 of the static cleaner arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view-of an alternative mechanical beater arrangement to replace or to be used in addition to the multiple brush arrangement at the left .of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transvertical sectional view taken upon the .line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and upon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a side sectional view upon an enlarged scale of an alternative form of static cleaner arrangement.

Fig. 8 is a side sectional view of still another alternative form of static cleaner arrangement.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of one of the transverse bars of one separated electrode construc- 1101].

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of an alternative beating and static cleaner arrangement in .which the flock printed fabric is passed through the beating and electrostatic chambers in horizontal position.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side sectional view similar to Fig. 10 of an alternative embodiment in which the :brushing chambers and electrostatic cleaning chambers are :so arranged :that the fabric will pass in a direct line and horizontally through such chambers.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of still another embodiment in which the fabric is first passed through a heater at an upper level and then through an electrostatic cleaner at a .lower level.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the -direction'ofthe .major lines of electrostatic force where opposite plate and bar electrodes are employed.

Fig. .14 is a diagrammatic side sectional view showing analternative arrangement of electrostatic electrodes with the lines of force extending in concentrated pattern and directed transversely to the fabric.

'Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic side sectional view showing the lines of force extending obliquely between staggered electrostatic electrodes.

.Referringto Fig. 1 there is shown a flock application apparatus A whiehmay be provided with the electrode arrangement B.

.After application of the flock the fabric is passed into :a drying chamber C and-there is. subjected to ;a mechanical excess flock and dirt removal D followed .by the static cleaner operation '.E :to which the present invention is particularly .directed.

:InlFig. l-the fiockisfed in at 10 to :the hopper 11 :fromwhich itisted by the revolving-measuring device :12 onto the vibrating screen .13.

l'1hewihrating-..screen: 13 is.-reciprocated ,by means 01: 7.

the eccentric '14 and is positioned inside (tithe-enclosed chamber or casing 15.

The flock will descend as indicated at 16 and will pass through the perforated or foraminous electrode 17. This electrode cooperates with a lower electrode 18 to apply high static in one or in reverse direction to the fabric P, which has been printed with a suitable adhesive before entering the chamber 15 through the slot 19.

The fabric F will be carried through the chamber by means of the continuous belt 20 which may be of a loose woven or knitted material and which passes over the main pulleys 21 and 22. The belt is guided by the auxiliary pulleys 23, 24 and 25.

The fabric then passes over the guide pulley 26 and is preliminarily looped at 27. It then passes over the two pulleys 28 and 29 into the drying procedure C.

The chamber C has an enclosure 30 and byrneans oi the triangular carrier device which pass around the pulleys 51, 52 and 53, the fabric ;is draped as indicated at 54 and 55 upon a series of poles 5 6.

These poles are carried up and placed upon the carrier belt 57 which is carried on the pulleys 58 and 59.

The length of the chamber 30 is shown greatly shortened and the fabric will pass in the draped condition as indicated at 55 through a long chamber after the flock and adhesive have been thoroughly dried, and any flock to permanently remain upon the fabric will have been mounted by means of hardened and substantially permanently fixed adhesive material.

The fabric then passes over the pulley 60 and under the lip 61 to the outlet 62 of the chamber 30. The poles 56 will have been removed from the fabric and the fabric will then pass into the mechanical treatment chamber.

It first passes under the pulley 64 and then between the alternating brushes 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, and 71. Desirably a strong air current flows through the chamber 62 to remove any of the flock or dirt which has been mechanically eliminated.

The fabric will then pass out of the chamber 63 by way of the pulley 72 and will then pass down over the pulley 73 into the static cleaner chamber 74.

In the static cleaner chamber 74 it will first pass downwardly between the foraminous electrode 75 and the solid electrode 76. Then the charge will be reversed and it will pass between the foraminous electrode 77 and the solid electrode 78. A current of air will be drawn through the chamber and transversely across the fabric as it is passing downwardly in the direction 79.

The fabric will then pass downwardly out of the chamber at 80, over the pulley 81, and then upwardly as indicated at 82 and will be wound or rolled as indicated at 83 as a finished, cleaned, flocked fabric. The rollers 84 and 85 will control the rolling up operation.

It has been found that the successive mechanical brushing at D and the static application at B will remove up to about 85 to and sometimes even up to of all excess flock which has not been permanently engaged by :the fixed adhesive, no matter how deeply such flock may have been held within the interstices of the mesh and no matter how strong an aifinity it has for the nylon fibres or the nylon part of the 'fabric.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the fabric G enters into the brushing chamber H and then into the static chamber J. It will be noted that the fabric first passes down through the chamber H entering at 100, and it will then be subjected to treatment by opposite and alternating brushes 1,01 102 103, 104 and '105 as it passes downwardly as indicated by the arrow 106.

The fabric will exit at 107 and pass over the pulleys 108 and 109 and upwardly into the chamber of the static cleaner 1'.

In passing upwardly as indicated at 110, between the solid electrode 111 and the foraminous electrode 112, and then reversely betwee the solid electrode 113 .and the foraminous electrode 114, substantially all residual dirt, dust and excess flock will be removed.

The fabric then passes over the pulleys 115 and 116 and downwardly over the pulley 117 until it is rolled up at 118 upon the rollers 119 and 120.

In the alternative arrangement of Fig. 3, the fabric K will pass into the right angular chamber L which has a mechanical cleaning unit M and a static cleaning unit N.

It will pass into this chamber L through the opening 130 and then past the alternating brushes 131, 132, 133, 134 and 135. These brushes will loosen any partly held flock and also they will remove a great deal of the loose fiock that may also drive in some loose dust and flock which will have to be subsequently removed by the static cleanser N.

This same operation will also occur in connection with the brushing arrangement D of Fig. 1 and the brushing arrangement H of Fig. 2.

The fabric will then pass over the pulley 136 and downwardly between the foraminous electrode 137 and the solid electrode 138. Beyond the electrodes 137 and 138 it will pass beyond the solid electrode 139 and the foraminous electrode 140, out through the opening 141 and over the pulley 142.

The cleaned fabric will then be rolled up as indicated at 143 upon the rolls 144 and 145.

Fig. 4 shows the combination mechanical and static cleaner of Fig. 2 upon a substantially enlarged scale. The pulley 99 is mounted upon the bracket 98 upon the top wall 97 of the chamber H. The sidewalls 96 and 95 will carry the exhaust connections 94 and 93 and they will be removable by bolts 92 and 91.

There will be a strong suction of air through the connections 93 and 94 which will be drawn out by a suction source indicated at 92, which may consist of a high powered fan or reversed blower.

As a result the air will be drawn into the chamber H at the upper opening 100 and the lower opening 107, and it will be drawn both upwardly and downwardly across the fabric and then transversely through the interstices and then into the exhaust connections 93 and 94.

The air will also be drawn over the brushes 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 and will aid in cleaning any excess flocking away from the brushes.

The belt 91 will drive the rotary brushes 101 to 105 and it will pass over the intermediate idle pulleys 90 and 89. The lower pulley 108 will be carried on the bracket 88 on the bottom plate 87 of the casing H.

In the static cleaner J there will be a similar arrangement. The top plate 150 will carry a bracket 151 for the pulleys 115 and 116.

The foraminous electrodes 112 and 114 will consist of a base plate 152 and 153 which are mounted upon the insulating sleeves 154 and 155 on the removable side plates 156 and 157.

The solid electrodes 111 and 113 will be similarly mounted upon the side plates 156 and 157 by the insulating sleeves 158 and 159. These solid plate electrodes 111 and 113 will be covered by the glass plates 160 and 161 which will extend as indicated a short distance between the edges of the plate electrodes 111 and 113.

The exhaust connections as indicated at 162 and 163 will be positioned opposite the middle of the separated electrodes 112 and 113, and they will be connected to the exhaust main 164 and 165 and 166.

In the arrangement shown the air will be drawn through both the bottom opening 167 and the top opening 168, down and up over the face of the fabric and also transversely through the mesh thereof into the exhaust pipes 162 and 163.

This will result in a cleaning of the fabric and in substantially complete removal of all excess flock, dust and dirt therein, even completely removing that material which may have been pressed further in by the rotary brushes 101 to 105.

Each of the bars of the foraminous electrode 112, which is typical of the foraminous electrodes shown in all embodiments, is mounted at the base of its V by the bolt upon the vertical bars 181.

This mounting is shown in large scale upon Fig. 9, and it will be noted that the interior of each bar, as indicated at 182, is hollow and that the fiat face 183 faces towards the solid electrodes and toward the passing fabric. The corners will be rounded as indicated at 184 so that there will not be any tendency to spark or have an excess concentration of charge at said corners. This will assure a more even distribution of static charge of the flat face 183 of the triangular bar 180.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown an alternative mechanical removal arrangement. In Fig. 5 mechanical beater P is provided with a series of square cross section wooden rods 200, 201, 202, 203 and 204, which have sharp edges and which beat the fabric Q at the points 205, 206, 207, 208 and 209. At the same time a very strong exhaust is applied at 210 and 211 on the opposite side walls 212 and 213.

These heaters will act in lieu of or in addition to the brushes of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, to give an initial removal of excess flock and also to treat the fabric so it is in proper condition to be passed through the static cleaner.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 there is an L- shaped cleaning chamber R having the brush mechanical remover and the static cleaner T.

The fabric will enter as indicated at U and then .be subjected to brushing by the brushes 230, 231, 232, 233 and 234.

These brushes are driven by the belt 235 which passes over the idler pulleys 236 and 237. The motor 238 will drive the belt 235.

The upper chamber S is provided with exhaust connections 239 and 240 upon its upper wall 241 and its lower wall 242.

The fabric after it passes over the pulley 243 will pass downwardly through the static cleaner T.

The static cleaner T has the foraminous electrodes 244 and 245 which are mounted by means of the insulating sleeves 246 and 247 upon the Walls 248 and 249.

The plate electrodes 250 and 251, with their covering glass plates 252 and 253, are also mounted by the insulating sleeves 254 and 255 upon said walls 248 and 249.

The fabric after being cleaned will pass out through the opening 256 over the pulley 257.

The opposite walls 248 and 249 of the static cleaner section T will be provided with the exhaust connections 258 and 259 opposite the central portion of the separated electrodes 244 and 245.

These exhaust connections 258 and 259, as well as the exhaust connections 239 and 240, will communicate with the exhaust main 260, which leads at 261 to an exhaust fan or reverse blower.

The air will be drawn in great velocity through the openings 256 and 252 through the right angle chamber, and any residual dust and dirt will be picked up and discharged at 261.

The alternative embodiment of Fig. 8 is very similar to that of Fig. 7, except that instead of the brushes 230 to 234 of Fig. 7 there will be provided hexagonal cross section heaters 280, 281, 282, 283 and 284.

These beaters will be in the mehanical cleaning chamber Y of the L-shaped chamber or box W, which has the static cleaner X.

The fabric Y will enter through the opening 285 and then will pass between the hexagonal heaters 280 to 284 and will be subjected to suction at the connections 286 and 287, and will then pass over the pulley 288 and between the separated electrode 289 and the plate electrode 290 where it will be subjected to suction through the connection 291, positioned at about mid-height of the separated electrode 289.

The static cleaner of Fig. 8 may be of the same construction as the static cleaners shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 10 there is shown a beating chamber 310 followed by an electrostatic cleaning chamber 311. The fabric will pass into and through the chamber startirig from its position at 312 over the guide rollers 313 and 314 and then under and over the beaters 315 and 316, respectively. A suction will be applied at 317 and at 318 on the top and bottom of the chamber or compartment 310 which will draw air into the openings 319 and 320. which air will entrain any residual flock which may beat out of the fabric 312.

The fabric will then pass continuing in a horizontal direction at 321 into the chamber 312 wherein it' will be subjected to alternating or pulsating electrostatic charge between the opposite pairs of electrode plates and bars 322 and 323 and 324 and 325.

The suction will also be applied tothis static cleaner chamber 311 at 326 at the top of the chamber and at 327 at the bottom of the chamber.

The cleaned fabric will then pass as indicated at 328 past the guide roller 329 and will be rolled up at 330.

In Figure 11 the fabric 340 will pass over the guide rollers 341 into the brushing chamber 342 having the brusher 343 acting on top of the fabric and 344 acting on the bottom of the fabric. Suction will be applied at the top of the chamber 342 at 345 and at the bottom of the chamber at 346.

The fabric will then pass its horizontal path over the guide roller 347 and into the electrostatic cleaning chamher 348 where it is acted upon by the electrostatic charge applied from the opposite plate and bar electrodes 349, 350, 351 and 352. Suction will be applied through the conduits 353 and 354 at the top and bottom of the chamber 348. The cleaned fabric will then be rolled up as indicated at 355.

In the embodiment of Fig. 12 the beating chamber 360 is positioned above the electrostatic chamber 361 and although the fabric 362 passes horizontally through both chambers it will pass downwardly between the chambers from the guide roller 363 down to the guide roller 364 as indicated at 365. The upper heaters 365 and the lower heaters 366 and the suction pipes 367 and 368 will exhaust any flock which has been beaten out by the beater 365 and 366.

In the lower compartment 361 there will be opposing electrodes 368 and 369 and 370 and 371. This chamber 361 will be exhausted by the exhaust pipes 372 at the top and 373 at the bottom.

The finished fabric will pass over the guide rollers 374 and 375 and then onto the main collection roller 376.

In the diagrammatic showing of Fig. 13 the hollow triangular electrodes 380 are shown as opposed to a metal plate 381 with the lines of force 382 mushrooming out or diverging outwardly from the bottom portions 383 of the electrodes 380 toward the plate 381. I

The arrangement of Fig. 13 has been found to be most effective in assuring a rapid and effective cleaning of the fabrics.

In the embodiment of Fig. 14 opposite bar electrodes 384 and 385 are shown with their effective faces 386 and 387 directly aligned with and facing one another so that the lines of 338 will form a more concentrated pattern extending directly transversely in the space between the faces 386 and 387.

In both the embodiments of Figs. 13 and 14 the fabric 389 and 390 may pass in either direction as indicated by the double arrows 400 and 401 and the direction, although shown as vertical in Figs. 13 and 14, may be horizontal as shown in Figs. 10 to 12 or oblique at anfangle of 30", 45'? or 60 to the horizontal.

In the embodiment of Fig. 14 the hollowtriangular bars 402 and 403 are offset so that the lines of force 404 will extend in concentrated manner obliquely across the fabric 405 which may move in either direction 406. This concentrated effect is sometimes most effective with closely adherent small flocked particles. The electrodes may also take other forms such as round, hexagonal, or octagonal, or even square but it has been found desirable to use triangular cross-section electrodes with rounded corners so as to spread the lines of force and prevent any point, edge or corner concentration which might result in sparking.

Less desirably the heating or brushing operations may be combined together with the electrostatic removal and in some instances a final brushing or beating or both may follow after the electrostatic cleaning. However, this is not preferred since the static cleaning operation is most satisfactory when it takes place as a final operation.

The arrangement shown in Figs. l to 8 surprisingly remove all of the closely adhering excess flock and other loose material even though it be substantially hammered into the meshes or interstices of the fabric by means of the heaters or the brushes shown.

A highly effective removal of the excess flock is obtained even from such adherent materials as nylon fibres or filamcnts.

The static cleaner of the present invention may be used if desired independent of the mechanical cleaning arrangements, or it may be used both before and after mechanical brushing and beating arrangements, and is most effective when utilized in combination with electrostatic flock application procedure where a high potential static charge is employed at 17 and 18 of Fig. l to apply the flock.

As many changes could be made in the above method and apparatus for removing particles from fabrics, and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a process wherein a fabric is printed with adhesive, a finely-divided fiock is applied to said adhesiveprinted fabric in a field of high static voltage and the flock is afiixed on the portion of said fabric which is printed with adhesive, the improvement which comprises the further step of removing excess flock from the flockprinted fabric by passing said fabric between successive fields of static voltage, the charge of one of said static fields being opposite to the charge of the succeeding static field.

2. In a process wherein a fabric is printed with adhesive, a finely-divided flock is applied to said adhesiveprinted fabric in a field of high static voltage and the flock is affixed on the portion of said fabric which is printed with adhesive, the improvement which comprises the further step of removing excess fiock from the flockprinted fabric by passing said fabric, after the fabric has been subjected to a drying operation to dry the adhesive thereon, between successive fields of static voltage, the charge of one of said static fields being opposite to the charge of the succeeding static field.

3. In a process wherein a fabric is printed with adhesive, a finely-divided flock is applied to said adhesiveprinted fabric in a field of high static voltage and the flock is aflixed on the portion of said fabric which is printed with adhesive, the improvement which comprises the further step of removing excess fiock from the flockprinted fabric by passing said fabric between successive fields of static voltage, the charge of one of said static fields being of lower voltage and opposite to the charge of the succeeding static field.

4. In a process wherein a fabric is printed with adhesive, a finely-divided flock is applied to said adhesiveprinted fabric in a field of high static voltage and the flock is affixed on the portion of said fabric which is printed with adhesive, the improvement which comprises the further step of removing excess flock from the flockprinted fabric by passing said fabric between successive fields of static voltage, the charge of one of said static fields being within the range of 10,000 to 30,000 static volts and opposite to the charge of the succeeding static field which is within the range of 20,000 to 50,000 static volts.

5. In a process wherein a fabric is printed with adhesive, a finely-divided flock is applied to said adhesiveprinted fabric in a field of high static voltage and the flock is afiixed on the portion of said fabric which is printed with adhesive, the improvement which comprises the further step of removing excess flock from the flockprinted fabric by passing said fabric, after the fabric has been subjected to a drying operation to dry the adhesive thereon, between successive fields of static voltage, the charge of one of said static fields being within the range of 10,000 to 30,000 static volts and opposite to the charge of the succeeding static field which is within the range of 20,000 to 50,000 static volts.

6. In a process wherein a fabric is printed with adhesive, a finely divided flock is applied to said adhesiveprinted fabric in a field of high static voltage and the flock is aifixed on the portion of said fabric which is printed with adhesive, the improvement which comprises the further step of removing excess flock from the fiockprinted fabric by passing said fabric vertically downward, after the fabric has been subjected to a drying operation to dry the adhesive thereon, between successive fields of of static voltage, the charge of one of the said static fields being within the range of 10,000 to 30,000 static volts and opposite to the charge of the succeeding static field which is within the range of 20,000 to 50,000 static volts.

7. In a flocking device comprising means for applying adhesive to a base and means for applying flock to said adhesive-coated base, the improvement which comprises means for removing excess flock from said base, the latter means comprising a plurality of pairs of electrodes arranged in succession through which said flock-coated base i0 is adapted to pass, each of said pairs of electrodes comprising a solid electrode and a foraminous electrode spaced therefrom, the electrodes of each pair being oppositely arranged with respect to the electrodes of the succeeding pair, and means for applying a static voltage to said electrodes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the solid electrode comprises a metal plate slightly wider than the fabric being treated and of a length suflicient to apply a predetermined static charge to the fabric, and the foraminous electrode comprises a plurality of bars.

9. In a flocking device comprising means for applying adhesive to a base and means for applying flock to said adhesive-coated base, the improvement which comprises means for removing excess flock from said base, the latter means comprising a plurality of pairs of electrodes arranged in vertical succession through which said flockcoated base is adapted to pass, each of said pairs of electrodes comprising a solid electrode and a foraminous electrode spaced therefrom, the electrodes of each pair being oppositely arranged with respect to the electrodes of the succeeding pair, and means for applying a static voltage to said electrodes.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the solid electrode comprises a metal plate slightly wider than the fabric being treated and of a length suificient to apply a predetermined static charge to the fabric, and the foraminous electrode comprises a plurality of bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,616,138 Porter Feb. 1, 1927 2,173,032 Wintermute Sept. 12, 1939 2,191,827 Benner et a1 Feb. 27, 1940 2,221,338 Wintermute Nov. 12, 1940 2,328,577 Oglesby Sept. 7, 1943 2,328,904 Hiers Sept. 7, 1943 2,371,605 Carlton et a1 Mar. 20, 1945 2,447,374 Smyser Aug. 17, 1948 2,675,330 Schwartz et al. Apr. 13, 1954 2,681,036 Ewing et al June 15, 1954

Claims (1)

1. IN A PROCESS WHEREIN A FRABRIC IS PRINTED WITH ADHESIVE, A FINELY-DIVIDED FLOCK IS APPLIED TO SAID ADHESIVEPRINTED FABRIC IN A FIELD OF HIGH STATIC VOLTAGE AND THE FLOCK IS AFFIXED ON THE PORTIONS OF SAID FABRIC WHICH IS PRINTED WITH ADHESIVE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES THE FURTHER STEP OF REMOVING EXCESS FLOCK FROM THE FLOCKPRINTED FABRIC BY PASSING SAID FABRIC BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE FIELDS OF STATIC VOLTAGE, THE CHARGE OF ONE OF SAID STATIC FIELDS BEING OPPOSITE TO THE CHARGE OF THE SUCCEEDING STATIC FIELD.

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