Fabric treatment apparatus and related method

Abstract

A continuous fabric treatment apparatus includes a steaming section for steaming a section of a fabric. A steam container, a steam suction means and at least one motorized conveyor belt of a fabric section A in a forward direction X above the steam container are arranged in the steaming channel, and steam generated by the steam generation means is introduced into the steam container. Unlike similar known systems, the system of the present disclosure includes at least two different and separate conveyor belts configured to move at different speeds, and an equal number of motorized rollers, each motorized roller mounted upstream of a respective conveyor belt and configured to place a fabric on the conveyor belt, the fabric advances in a flat or overlapping configuration that differs from the configuration exhibited by the fabric itself on other conveyor belts. Related fabric processing methods implemented with the systems of the present disclosure are also disclosed in which two conveyor belts travel at different speeds.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to fabric treatment equipment, and more particularly to equipment having a channel steaming section and related fabric treatment methods. Background Art

[0002] Continuous fabric treatment processes are known and include the following operations:

[0003] 1. Impregnating and squeezing the fabric with a solution of chemical products for washing and / or bleaching;

[0004] 2. Vaporizing the fabric placed on a conveyor belt;

[0005] 3. Cleaning.

[0006] Among the three basic steps mentioned above, the first step is not discussed further below because it is relatively simple to implement.

[0007] Different types of fabric steaming processes are known, which include systems with very different characteristics: post-printing fabric steaming systems for fixing dyes to fibers; post-impregnation steaming systems for fabrics that utilize chemical products for various purposes (fixing, oxidation, etc.); steaming systems for relaxation and subsequent shrinkage of fabrics aimed at imparting dimensional stability to the fabrics.

[0008] The steaming system for imparting dimensional stability to fabrics includes a steaming channel through which the fabric to be steamed passes via a conveyor belt having a breathable structure, and the fabric is placed on the conveyor belt. The steaming channel includes a steam container at the bottom, and a porous tube conveys steam inside the steam container. The steam rises upward after permeating the steam container, passes through the conveyor belt and the fabric, and is sucked in by a suction hood located above the channel. Once the steam has affected the fabric, the suction hood sucks in the steam to prevent the steam from escaping from the steaming channel and thus invading the surrounding working environment. Since the fabric is simply placed on the conveyor belt, the fabric can freely contract under the action of the steam to reach its natural size.

[0009] The action of the steam on the fabric produces relaxation of the fibers and consequent shrinkage, thereby improving the dimensional stability of the fabric due to the thermal action, due to the heat transferred by the steam, due to the hydrolysis reaction and chemical action produced by gaseous water molecules. This steaming process is suitable for treating fabrics made of natural fibers (cellulose fibers and animal fibers) as well as synthetic fibers and man-made fibers.

[0010] The fabrics that need to be processed more are natural or artificial cellulose knitted fabrics. Such fabrics should generally not be subjected to tensile stress during processing because they are particularly sensitive to longitudinal elongation, which is caused by the longitudinal tension generated during the transmission of the fabric along the continuous processing equipment. The elongation of the fabric is a negative factor because it can lead to negative consequences, such as a decrease in fabric density and weight per unit meter, the formation of wrinkles, and the consequent risk of indelible marks caused by the friction and abrasion of the wrinkles themselves around the conveying means. The uniformity of fabric density, i.e., the constancy of its weight per unit meter, is an extremely important factor at both the technical and commercial levels. Therefore, it is important to avoid temporary or local conditions during processing that can cause changes in longitudinal tension, which will produce the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0011] WO2022 / 096530 discloses a processor for shrinking and dimensionally stabilizing fabrics, which is provided with at least one module that includes a first fabric accumulation station, a second fabric accumulation station, an alternating movement path of the fabric between the two accumulation stations, an air distribution system on the fabric along the movement path at least between the accumulation stations, and a detection device for the free loops of the fabric in the middle area of the movement path, the forming area of the free loops of the fabric, and the formed fabric loops, such that during the alternating movement of the fabric between the accumulation stations, the fabric is moved and free loops are maintained within the forming area. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The object of the present disclosure is to provide a continuous fabric processing device that overcomes the limitations of the prior art. This object is achieved by a fabric processing device, the main features of which are defined in the appended claims.

[0013] In particular, the applicant has established a processing device with a steaming section to steam-treat a section of the fabric. Inside the steaming channel, there is a steam container, steam suction means, and at least one motorized conveyor belt for the fabric section A in the forward direction X above the steam container, and the steam is generated by steam generating means and introduced into the steam container.

[0014] Different from similar known systems, the system of the present invention includes at least two different and separate motorized conveyor belts, which are configured to move at different speeds, and an equal number of motorized rollers, each roller is installed upstream of the corresponding conveyor belt and is configured to place the fabric on the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt advances in a flat or overlapping configuration different from the configuration presented by the fabric itself on the other conveyor belt.

[0015] Also disclosed are related methods of fabric treatment implemented with the system of the present disclosure, in which two conveyor belts travel at different speeds, such that the fabric to be treated is flatly conveyed through the steaming section on the first conveyor belt, forming a first fold or being fully stretched, and is fully stretched or forms a second fold with a different shape from the first fold on the second conveyor belt.

[0016] Additional embodiments are defined in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1A A continuous fabric treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0018] Figure 1B is Figure 1A a detailed view of the steaming section and the cleaning section of the system of

[0019] Figure 2A A continuous fabric treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0020] Figure 2B is Figure 2A a detailed view of the steaming section and the cleaning section of the system of

[0021] Figure 3A A continuous fabric treatment system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] Figure 3B is Figure 3A a detailed view of the steaming section and the cleaning section of the system of

[0023] Figure 4A A continuous fabric treatment apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0024] Figure 4B is Figure 4A a detailed view of the steaming section and the cleaning section of the system of DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The fabric treatment apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1A to 4B the drawings, which show some exemplary embodiments. Corresponding elements in different drawings are denoted by the same numerical reference signs.

[0026] Generally, the fabric processing apparatus includes an inlet section 1, which includes a motorized inlet roller for feeding a fabric section A into the apparatus. The fabric A passes through a container 2 filled with a fluid for washing and / or bleaching and is impregnated with the fluid. A section 3 arranged downstream of the container 2 includes a pair of rollers that squeeze the fabric to drain excess liquid before transferring the fabric A to the steaming section V.

[0027] In all embodiments, there is a first motorized roller at the entrance of the steaming section V. The first motorized roller advances the fabric A to be steamed at a nominal processing speed and brings the fabric A onto the corresponding steam-permeable conveyor belt 4. The conveyor belt 4 defines the traversing direction X of the fabric A through the steaming section V. The conveyor belt 4 runs above the steam container 9, and the steam container 9 has an opening facing the conveyor belt 4 and thus facing the thin fabric section A. The conveyor belt 4 is located below the suction device 10, and the suction device 10 is configured to suck the steam that exits the steam container 9 and passes through the fabric section A.

[0028] Several steam distribution pipes open into the steam container 9 and are connected to a steam supply source, which is not shown in the figures for simplicity.

[0029] Different from ordinary fabric processing systems, the steaming section V of the system of the present disclosure includes at least two different and separate motorized conveyor belts 4 and 5, and the motorized conveyor belts 4 and 5 transport the fabric section A to be processed along the traversing direction. The two conveyor belts 4 and 5 are configured to move at different first and second speeds respectively. In addition, there is a second motorized transfer roller between the first conveyor belt 4 and the second conveyor belt 5, and the second motorized transfer roller is configured to rotate such that the advancing speed of the fabric A located above it is equal to the nominal processing speed of the fabric A.

[0030] As shown in the figures, the steaming section V may include two different and separate steaming channels (Figs. 1a - 3b), including the corresponding conveyor belts 4 and 5 and the associated steam containers 9 and the associated suction devices 10, or the two belt conveyors 4 and 5 may be located in different planes (Figs. 4a - 4b) or even in the same plane.

[0031] Assuming that the two permeable conveyor belts 4 and 5 run at different speeds and are separated by the motorized intermediate roller 11, the fabric A undergoes a steaming process while the fabric A presents different configurations on the two conveyor belts 4 and 5. For example, as Figures 1A - 1B shown in Figs. 4A - 4B, in the case where the first conveyor belt 4 advances at the nominal fabric processing speed while the second conveyor belt 5 advances at a lower speed, the fabric A lies flat on the first conveyor belt 4 and is transported, and through the motorized intermediate roller 11, the fabric A is stacked with folds on the second conveyor belt 5, and the second conveyor belt 5 moves at a second speed lower than the nominal processing speed of the fabric.

[0032] Conversely, as Figures 2A - 3B shown, the first conveyor belt 4 moves at a first speed, and the first speed is lower than the nominal processing speed of the fabric, so the fabric A is transported in a folded manner on the first conveyor belt 4. Conversely, the second conveyor belt 5 moves at the nominal advancing speed, such that through the second intermediate motorized roller 11, the fabric from the first conveyor belt 4 is fully extended on the second conveyor belt 5 and passes through the steaming channel of the section V in this second configuration.

[0033] According to an additional configuration not shown in the drawings, both conveyor belts 4 and 5 move at a speed lower than the nominal forward speed of the fabric, and the first forward speed of the first conveyor belt 4 is different from the second forward speed of the second conveyor belt 5. Obviously, both the first speed and the second speed must not be higher than the nominal fabric processing speed. In this configuration not shown in the figure, the fabric will be transported in layers on the two conveyor belts 4 and 5, but it will have different configurations on the two conveyor belts because the intermediate powered roller 11 will unfold the wrinkles of the fabric A from the first conveyor belt 4 and will not create new wrinkles when the fabric A is placed on the second conveyor belt 5. Therefore, also in this case, the fabric will be steamed in at least two different configurations.

[0034] Due to this method of steaming the fabric in two different configurations, better results are obtained in terms of the uniformity of steaming. In addition, during the steaming process, the fabric is always placed on the conveyor belt, so it does not undergo stretching or deformation due to its own weight, which would occur when steaming the fabric while it is hanging between the conveyor rollers.

[0035] According to Figures 1A - 1B On the one hand, as shown in FIGS. 4A - 4B, the fabric A is fed at the same speed as the first conveyor belt 4, for example 30 meters per minute. Then, the fabric A is placed on the conveyor belt 4 in a stretched and wrinkle - free configuration to allow maximum heat exchange and thus produce very effective results on the fabric. Since there is only one layer of fabric, the mass heated by evaporation is minimal. At the end of the first conveyor belt 4, the fabric is picked up by the powered intermediate roller 11 and placed on the second conveyor belt 5 moving at a lower speed (for example 5 meters per minute). The difference in speed causes wrinkles in the fabric to form on the second conveyor belt 5 with partial overlap, and thus determines the evaporation time on the second conveyor belt 5, which is six times longer than the evaporation time on the first conveyor belt 4.

[0036] On the one hand, as shown in FIGS. 2a - 3b, the processing mode is reversed by moving the first conveyor belt 4 at a low speed, for example 5 meters per minute, with a nominal processing speed of 30 meters per minute established by the input power supply. In this way, partial overlap wrinkles of the fabric A are generated on the first conveyor belt 4. The intermediate powered roller 11 will rotate to advance the fabric A at the nominal processing speed of 30 meters per minute, and the second conveyor belt 5 will advance at the same speed of 30 meters per minute, so the fabric A will be transported completely flat without any folding or overlap.

[0037] According to Figures 3A - 4BIn the alternative aspect shown, between the first conveyor belt 4 and the second conveyor belt 5, there can be a second container 2 containing the solution of water and products required for the washing and bleaching process, and the associated pair of squeeze drums 3. In this configuration, after steaming on the first belt 4, the fabric is again impregnated and then subjected to steaming on the second conveyor belt 5.

[0038] Laboratory tests carried out by the applicant have shown that more effective results can be obtained by carrying out two impregnations prior to multiple steaming treatments.

[0039] Among the advantages of the current technical solution, the following can be mentioned:

[0040] It is possible to combine the two fabric geometries (relaxed and partially overlapping pleats) as desired to simultaneously obtain the benefits of maximum heat transfer and extended evaporation time;

[0041] Maximum uniformity of evaporation along the entire treated fabric;

[0042] There is absolutely no longitudinal tension and therefore no risk of stretching;

[0043] The reduced space inside the channel, the lowered and radiant heated upper cover, synergistically provide better heating of the fabrics in a wet environment (oxidation and bleaching reactions).

[0044] According to aspects not shown in the accompanying drawings, the steaming section V may further include a third conveyor belt, which is different from and separated from the first two conveyor belts 4 and 5 and is located downstream of them, with corresponding motorized rollers preceding the third conveyor belt, wherein the third conveyor belt advances at a third speed different from the advancement speed of the first two conveyor belts 4 and 5, so that the fabric A on the third conveyor belt presents another structure different from the structure presented on the first two conveyor belts 4 and 5.

[0045] According to one aspect, in the system shown in the figure, downstream of the steaming section V, there is also a washing section 6, in which the fabrics A are washed.

[0046] According to one aspect, also in order to improve the washing process, the washing section 6 installed downstream of the steaming section V comprises a plurality of rollers defining a washing path having at least one vertically oriented portion, and a first permeable conveyor belt and a second permeable conveyor belt supported by the rollers, the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt each forming a closed loop through the rollers. The permeable belts are configured to allow water to pass through them and transport the fabric section A by sandwiching the fabric section A between opposite faces and supporting it along the vertical portion of the washing path.

[0047] Due to this vertical cleaning configuration, the system occupies a small area, has a good cleaning effect, and does not stretch the fabric A because the weight of the fabric A is supported by the two permeable belts.

[0048] According to one aspect, there is also a nozzle holding rod driven by a pump in a relative position. Due to this pump, the cleaning water is sprayed at a certain pressure, which can be, for example, between 5 and 12 bar, along a direction orthogonal to the two permeable belts carrying the fabric A to be cleaned. The configuration shown in the figure includes the fabric A entering from the lower part of the two permeable belts, and the cleaned fabric leaving upward from the opposite side. The velocity of the water with a high supply pressure from the circuit allows the atomized water droplets to easily pass through the three-layer sandwich formed by the two permeable belts and the fabric.

[0049] According to one aspect, there is a first flushing circuit and a second flushing circuit. The first flushing circuit consists of a pump connected to the clean water supply line and the last three nozzle holding rods located in the upper part of the cleaning section 6. The second flushing circuit consists of a second circulation pump, connected to the cleaning liquid collection container located at the bottom of the cleaning section 6 and another three nozzle holding rods located below the first three flushing nozzle holding rods.

[0050] Alternatively, a single cleaning and flushing pump can be provided, connected to the collection container located at the bottom of the cleaning section 6. In this case, the clean flushing water is directly introduced into the cleaning container via a pipe equipped with a supply valve, and the single cleaning circuit requires this pump to extract the liquid from the cleaning container and pump the liquid to the six nozzle holding rods at a pressure of 5 to 12 bar.

[0051] With these configurations, it is possible to use high-pressure cleaning and flushing jets, which can reach a pressure of 5 to 12 bar, and compared with the typical consumption of 10 kg of clean water per kg of dry fabric to be cleaned in known systems, the clean water consumption per kg of dry fabric to be cleaned can be reduced by up to 4 kg.

[0052] According to one aspect, the system of the present disclosure further includes a dewatering section 7 and a folding section 8. The dewatering section 7 is installed downstream of the cleaning section 6 and is configured to eliminate the excessive liquid impregnating the fabric section A when the fabric section A leaves the cleaning section 6. The folding section 8 is installed downstream of the dewatering section 7 and is configured to fold the fabric section A leaving the drying section 7 into overlapping layers.

[0053] Those skilled in the art can make any changes or additions to the embodiments described and illustrated herein while remaining within the scope of the appended claims. Specifically, additional embodiments can include the technical features of one of the following claims, either individually or in any combination with one or more technical features described in the text or illustrated in the drawings.

Claims

1. A fabric treatment device having a steaming section (V) configured to perform steaming of a fabric section (A), and comprising: At least one steaming channel defined between an inlet and an outlet along the advancing direction (X) of the fabric (A) through the steaming section (V); Conveying means (4, 5, 11) adapted to transfer the fabric section (A) between the inlet and the outlet of the steaming section (V); At least one steam suction device (10) placed above the conveying means (4, 5, 11); At least one steam container (9) located below the conveying means (4, 5, 11), the at least one steam container (9) including an opening configured to allow steam to leave the steam container (9) towards the conveying means (4, 5, 11) and thus towards the fabric section (A); and A steam delivery pipe for flowing into the steam container (9); Wherein the conveying means (4, 5, 11) comprises: A first motorized roller for transferring the fabric section (A) and configured to rotate to establish a nominal processing speed of the fabric (A) through the steaming section (V); and A first conveyor belt (4) placed in the at least one steaming channel downstream of the first motorized roller along the advancing direction (X), the first conveyor belt (4) being configured to receive the fabric section (A) from the first motorized roller and transfer the fabric section (A), wherein the first conveyor belt (4) is motorized to advance at a first speed not higher than the nominal processing speed; Characterized in that the conveying means (4, 5, 11) comprises: A second motorized roller (11) for transferring the fabric section (A) downstream of the first conveyor belt (4) along the advancing direction (X), the second motorized roller (11) being configured to rotate to establish the nominal processing speed of the fabric (A); A second conveyor belt (5) downstream of the second motorized roller (11) along the advancing direction (X), configured to receive the fabric section (A) from the second motorized roller (11) and transfer the fabric section (A), wherein the second conveyor belt (5) is motorized to advance at a second speed, the second speed being not greater than the nominal processing speed and different from the first speed.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: An intermediate container arranged between the first conveyor belt (4) and the second motorized roller (11), configured to contain a solution for washing and bleaching the fabric section (A) and configured to impregnate the fabric section (A) when the fabric section (A) is transferred from the first conveyor belt (4) to the second motorized roller (11). A pair of squeezing rollers, arranged between the intermediate container and the second motorized roller (11), configured to squeeze the impregnated fabric section (A) from the intermediate container before the impregnated fabric section (A) from the intermediate container is placed on the second motorized roller (11).

3. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a first evaporation channel and a second evaporation channel different from and separate from the first evaporation channel, wherein: The first motorized roller and the first conveyor belt (4) are installed in the first steaming channel, The second motorized roller (11) and the second conveyor belt (5) are installed in the second steaming channel.

4. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cleaning section (6) for the fabric section (A), the cleaning section (6) being installed downstream of the steaming section (V), wherein the cleaning section (6) comprises: A plurality of rollers defining a cleaning path having at least one vertically oriented portion; A first permeable belt and a second permeable belt supported by the rollers, the first permeable belt and the second permeable belt forming respective closed loops through the rollers, the first permeable belt and the second permeable belt being configured to allow water to pass through them and being configured to transport the fabric section (A) by clamping the fabric section (A) from opposite sides along the vertically oriented portion of the cleaning path; A plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles arranged along the vertically oriented portion of the cleaning path and facing the first permeable belt and the second permeable belt perpendicularly from opposite sides respectively, the nozzles being connected to a source of cleaning fluid and being configured to deliver the cleaning fluid under pressure.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: A dewatering section (7) installed downstream of the cleaning section (6) and configured to remove the excess liquid impregnating the fabric section (A) leaving the cleaning section (6); A folding section (8) installed downstream of the dewatering section (7) and configured to fold the fabric section (A) leaving the dewatering section (7) into overlapping layers.

6. A method of treating a section (A) of a thin fabric, comprising the following operations: Obtaining and installing an apparatus according to one of the preceding claims; Rotating the first motorized roller and the second motorized roller (11) of the apparatus so as to establish the same nominal processing speed of the fabric (A) through the steaming section (V) of the apparatus; Advancing the first conveyor belt (4) of the apparatus at a first speed not higher than the nominal processing speed; Advancing the second conveyor belt (5) of the apparatus at a second speed not higher than the nominal processing speed and different from the first speed.

7. The processing method according to the preceding claims, wherein the first speed or the second speed is equal to the nominal processing speed.

8. The processing method according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the first speed is equal to 30 meters per minute, the second speed is equal to 5 meters per minute; or the second speed is equal to 30 meters per minute, the first speed is equal to 5 meters per minute; and wherein the nominal processing speed is equal to 30 meters per minute.

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