Dyeing apparatus for continuous media

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a dyeing apparatus for continuous media, comprising: a media supply unit (10) adapted to receive a continuous media (200) provided in roll or stack form and to unfold the continuous media (200) into a sheet form for supply to a downstream unit; a dyeing unit (20) including a dyeing module (220) having a dyeing nozzle (222) and a media propulsion module (230) for driving the continuous media (200), the media propulsion module (230) being configured to receive the continuous media (200) and propel the continuous media (200) through the dyeing nozzle (222), wherein the dyeing nozzle (222) operates to provide dyeing solution to the continuous media (200) as the continuous media (200) passes under the dyeing nozzle (222); and a media recovery unit (30) configured to receive the dyed continuous media (200). According to this disclosure, a compact dyeing apparatus can be achieved and dyeing can be performed on continuous media.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to digital dyeing, and more specifically to dyeing apparatus for dyeing continuous media. Background Technology

[0002] Compared to traditional immersion dyeing and roller dyeing, digital dyeing offers advantages such as ink savings and higher efficiency. Digital dyeing equipment is being used increasingly. In some applications, it is necessary to dye continuous media (such as fabrics to be dyed), which can be hundreds or even thousands of meters long. Designing the dyeing equipment to ensure stable travel speed and low vibration of such long media is a key challenge, as it significantly impacts dyeing quality. Furthermore, considering the length of the continuous media, the layout of the functional components to achieve compactness and maintainability is also an important design consideration. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a staining apparatus designed to solve or mitigate one or more of the aforementioned problems.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a dyeing apparatus for a continuous medium is provided. The dyeing apparatus includes: a medium supply unit adapted to receive a continuous medium provided in rolls or stacks and to unfold the continuous medium into a sheet form for supply to a downstream unit; a dyeing unit including a dyeing module having a dyeing nozzle and a medium propulsion module for driving the continuous medium, the medium propulsion module being configured to receive the continuous medium and propel the continuous medium past the dyeing nozzle, wherein the dyeing nozzle operates to provide dye solution to the continuous medium as the continuous medium passes below the dyeing nozzle; and a medium recovery unit configured to receive the dyed continuous medium.

[0006] According to this disclosure, it is possible to make the dyeing equipment more compact and to achieve dyeing for continuous media.

[0007] In some embodiments, the media propulsion module includes: a driven media support roller over which the continuous media passes; a first driving roller assembly located upstream of the driven media support roller; a second driving roller assembly located downstream of the driven media support roller; and a first drive module and a second drive module for driving the first driving roller assembly and the second driving roller assembly respectively, the first drive module and the second drive module being operated in concert such that the continuous media traveling on the first driving roller assembly and the continuous media traveling on the second driving roller assembly form a linear velocity difference within a predetermined threshold range. This allows for independent control of the continuous media propulsion within the dyeing unit section, facilitating the achievement of a constant velocity for the continuous media in the dyeing section and reducing vibration of the continuous media in the dyeing section.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first drive roller assembly includes at least two drive rollers configured to rotate at the same speed and cause the continuous medium to pass through the at least two drive rollers in an S-shape sequentially. The use of multiple synchronously rotating drive rollers can provide a large propulsion force for the continuous medium, which is beneficial for maintaining a stable travel speed.

[0009] In some embodiments, a first drive roller of the at least two drive rollers is driven by a motor, and a second drive roller of the at least two drive rollers is driven by a synchronizing device such that the at least two drive rollers are configured to rotate at the same speed, wherein the synchronizing device particularly includes one or more of a timing belt, a timing chain, and a gear.

[0010] In some embodiments, the at least two drive rollers include three drive rollers, a first drive roller of which is driven by a motor, and the three drive rollers are configured to rotate at the same speed, such that the continuous medium passes through the three drive rollers sequentially in a double-S pattern, one S-shape following another. This can further enhance the stable propulsion of the continuous medium.

[0011] In some embodiments, the outer surface of each active roller in the first active roller assembly is coated with an elastic rubber layer.

[0012] In some embodiments, the media propulsion module further includes a tension detection roller located between the first active roller assembly and the driven media support roller, the tension detection roller being equipped with a tension sensor to detect the tension of the continuous media passing over the tension detection roller, wherein the first drive module and the second drive module are configured to operate based on the tension data from the tension detection roller.

[0013] In some embodiments, the media propulsion module further includes a flattening roller located between the tension detection roller and the driven media support roller, wherein the flattening roller is configured to further flatten the continuous media passing over the flattening roller.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second active roller assembly includes a single active media support roller configured to drive the continuous media over the driven media support roller and deliver the continuous media to a downstream unit.

[0015] In some embodiments, the driven media support roller and the active media support roller have the same outer diameter and are positioned on the same horizontal plane, the continuous media from the driven media support roller passes over the active media support roller above the active media support roller, the area between the driven media support roller and the active media support roller defines a dyeing section of the continuous media, wherein when the dyeing nozzle performs a dyeing operation to provide dyeing solution to the continuous media, the dyeing nozzle is positioned directly above the dyeing section of the continuous media.

[0016] In some embodiments, the outer diameters of the driven media support roller and the active media support roller are larger than the outer diameters of the active rollers of the first active roller assembly, and the outer diameters of the driven media support roller and the active media support roller are particularly greater than 180 mm.

[0017] In some embodiments, the outer diameter of each drive roller of the driven medium support roller is larger than the outer diameter of the first drive roller assembly, and the region directly above the driven medium support roller defines a dyeing section of the continuous medium, wherein the dyeing nozzle is positioned directly above the dyeing section of the continuous medium when the dyeing nozzle performs a dyeing operation to provide dyeing solution to the continuous medium. In some embodiments, the media supply unit includes: a continuous media trolley or continuous media rack for holding the continuous media in rolls or stacks; a feeding unit, including at least a tension lever assembly and a pneumatic tension shaft assembly, the feeding unit being configured to unroll the continuous media and adjust the tension in the continuous media; and a guide roller, disposed downstream of the feeding unit and configured to guide the continuous media to the dyeing unit, the guide roller specifically including a tension sensor, the tension lever assembly and the pneumatic tension shaft assembly being adjusted at least in part based on the tension sensor. Thus, the continuous media at the media supply unit can form an independent closed-loop control.

[0018] In some embodiments, the media recovery unit includes: one or more guide rollers configured to guide dyed continuous media from the dyeing unit, one of the guide rollers being provided with a tension sensor; and a take-up roller configured to rotate to recover the continuous media in a roll, the take-up roller being configured to rotate based on the one guide roller. Thus, the continuous media at the media recovery unit can form an independent closed-loop control.

[0019] In some embodiments, the dyeing apparatus further includes a frame on which the dyeing unit is mounted or inside, the frame including a first transverse side and a second side opposite to the second side, the media supply unit being located on the first side and configured to guide a continuous medium thereon first upward and then downward in the vertical direction and laterally into the dyeing unit near the bottom side of the frame; the media propulsion module being configured to elevate the continuous medium entering the dyeing unit at least partially in the vertical direction and to be substantially horizontally oriented as it passes under the dyeing nozzle; the frame further includes an upper region and a lower region, the media propulsion module being disposed in the lower region and the dyeing module being disposed in the upper region, such that the travel of the continuous medium and the dyeing operation of the dyeing module are physically separated from each other.

[0020] In some embodiments, the dyeing nozzle includes multiple workstations, and the dyeing module further includes a drive module for driving the dyeing nozzle to move to the multiple workstations at least in the vertical and horizontal directions. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Several embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings by way of example and not limitation.

[0022] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a dyeing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 This diagram shows an overall side view of a dyeing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 3 A partial schematic diagram of a staining apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; and

[0025] Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of a staining apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0026] Throughout the entire instruction manual, identical or similar parts in the drawings are labeled with the same reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0028] The term "comprising" and its variations as used herein signify an open-ended inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to". Unless otherwise stated, the term "or" means "and / or". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The terms "one example embodiment" and "one embodiment" mean "at least one example embodiment". The term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment". Terms such as "upper", "lower", "front", and "rear", indicating placement or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are used only for the purpose of describing the principles of this disclosure, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the elements referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed or operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting this disclosure.

[0029] According to this disclosure, a dyeing apparatus for continuous media such as textiles and nonwoven fabrics is provided. This dyeing apparatus enables stable and low-vibration feeding of the continuous media, thereby allowing the dyeing nozzles of the dyeing apparatus to achieve uniform dyeing of the continuous media. The dyeing apparatus according to embodiments of this disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A general perspective view and a general side view of the dyeing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure are shown respectively. Figure 1 The dyeing apparatus 100 shown is illustrated with a three-dimensional schematic diagram of its main components. Figure 2 The dyeing apparatus 100 shown is a side plan view taken along the direction of travel of the continuous medium 200 and shows the main components inside the housing or frame 210 of the dyeing apparatus 100 in partial cross-section.

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the dyeing apparatus 100 includes a substantially continuous direction of travel along the continuous medium 200 (i.e., Figure 1 and Figure 2 Multiple units arranged sequentially (as shown in the horizontal direction). The multiple units include a media supply unit 10, a dyeing unit 20, and a media recovery unit 30 for recovering the dyed media.

[0032] At the media supply unit 10, a continuous medium 200 is received in a roll or stack. The continuous medium 200 in roll or stack form is unrolled and supplied to downstream units (such as dyeing unit 20) in sheet form. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the media supply unit 10 may include a receiving component in the form of a trolley 12, in which the continuous media may be received in a stacked manner. In addition to providing the continuous media, the media supply unit 10 also needs to stably, continuously, and accurately supply materials for subsequent processes.

[0033] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, continuous medium 200 from trolley 12 is conveyed upwards in the vertical direction and via medium sway arm assembly 14. This arrangement allows the medium to be spread out with minimal lateral space, which is beneficial for reducing the size of the dyeing equipment. Medium sway arm assembly 14 may include one or more pivotally mounted sway rollers 144 and sway roller mounts 142. Sway roller mounts 142 may be pivotally mounted to frame 210 or to a fixed component 162 disposed on frame 210. One or more sway rollers 144 may, for example, be mounted to sway roller mounts 142. The travel angle of the medium can be adjusted by adjusting the pivot angle of sway roller mounts 142. The sway rollers 144 may be implemented as rotatable driven rollers. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, a trolley 12 is used to supply the continuous medium 200. In other embodiments, a fixable support can be used to supply the continuous medium. As an example, the continuous medium can be placed on the fixable support in roll form, for example. In this case, the medium swing arm assembly 14 can be omitted.

[0034] After passing through the media lever assembly 14, the tension of the continuous medium 200 can be adjusted by the tension lever assembly 16. The tension lever assembly 16 may include two or more rods 164, and the included angle between the two or more rods can be adjusted to achieve tension regulation of the material. The tension lever assembly 16 may be mounted, for example, on a frame 210 or on a fixing member 162 disposed on the frame 210. In some embodiments, the included angle between two rods 164 may be adjusted, for example, manually.

[0035] Subsequently, the continuous medium 200 can be conveyed to the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18. The pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18 is configured to precisely adjust the tension on the continuous medium 200. The pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18 can be located at the top vertically of the dyeing apparatus and can include a pneumatic tension shaft 184. As an example, the pneumatic tension shaft 184 can be mounted to the frame 210 or to a fixing member 182 disposed on the frame 210. In some embodiments, the fixing member 182 can be located at a higher position than the fixing member 162. In some embodiments, the fixing members 182 can be arranged side by side with each other in the vertical direction. Such an arrangement is beneficial for optimizing the layout of the dyeing apparatus and minimizing the dyeing apparatus.

[0036] In some embodiments, the pneumatic tension shaft 184 can rotate freely, or it can be braked by a braking component to partially rotate or completely stop rotating. The pneumatic tension shaft 184 (e.g., at its end) is connected to a brake cylinder with a brake disc. Braking or partial braking of the pneumatic tension shaft 184 can be achieved by adjusting the air pressure of the brake cylinder. The brake disc can selectively brake or partially brake the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18. For example, when the tension of the continuous medium passing through the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18 meets a predetermined requirement, the brake disc can brake the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18. In some embodiments, when the tension of the continuous medium passing through the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18 does not meet a predetermined requirement, the brake disc can partially brake the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18 to allow the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18 to rotate within a certain angle range, thereby providing the ability to dynamically adjust the tension of the continuous medium passing through the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18. In some embodiments, the braking operation can be achieved manually or automatically. By adjusting the air pressure of the brake cylinder, the tension on the continuous medium 200 can be stabilized.

[0037] In some embodiments, the continuous medium 200 is conveyed vertically downwards after passing through the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18 to, for example, near the bottom of the frame 210. This mode of travel allows the continuous medium 200 to be fully extended within a compact space. As an example, the medium supply unit 10 may be provided with guide rollers 110 near the bottom of the frame 210. The direction of travel of the continuous medium can be easily changed by the guide rollers 110. In some embodiments, the guide rollers 110 may include tension sensors, and the angle between the rollers 164 of the tension swing arm assembly 16 and / or the adjustment of the brake cylinder are adjusted at least in part based on the tension sensors. Thus, tension control of the continuous medium 200 in the medium supply unit 10 can be achieved based on the tension sensors, thereby enabling travel control.

[0038] In some embodiments, a continuous medium processing device 120 may be provided along the path from the pneumatic tension shaft assembly 18 to the guide roller 110. The continuous medium processing device 120 can process the continuous medium 200, for example, to center the continuous medium 200 so that the continuous medium is held in a predetermined position. In some embodiments, the continuous medium processing device 120 can remove dust from the continuous medium, for example, it can remove impurities such as lint, dust, and lint from the continuous medium.

[0039] A dyeing unit 20 is disposed downstream of a media supply unit 10. The dyeing unit 20 is configured to dye a continuous medium from the media supply unit 10. The dyeing unit 20 may be mounted on or inside a frame 210. The frame 210 may include a first side laterally and a second side opposite to the second side. In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the media supply unit 10 is located on the first side and is configured to guide the continuous media 200 on it first upward in the vertical direction, then downward, and laterally into the dyeing unit 20 near the bottom side of the frame 210. The dyeing unit 20 may include a dyeing module 220 having a dyeing nozzle 222 and a media propulsion module 230 for driving the continuous media 200.

[0040] The media propulsion module 230 is configured to receive continuous media 200, for example, from guide roller 110 near the bottom side of frame 210, and propel continuous media 200 past dyeing nozzle 222. As continuous media 200 passes beneath dyeing nozzle 222, dyeing nozzle 222 operates to provide dyeing solution to continuous media 200. In some embodiments, dyeing nozzle 222 may be structured to provide dyeing solution to continuous media 200 in the form of a liquid column.

[0041] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the dyeing nozzle 222 is movably fixed to the frame 210. The dyeing nozzle 222 may include multiple stations, such as a dyeing station closely adjacent to the continuous medium, a maintenance station laterally and / or vertically offset relative to the dyeing station, and a testing station laterally and / or vertically offset relative to the maintenance station. Figure 2 In the indicated state, the dyeing nozzle 222 is positioned at the dyeing station, close to the continuous medium 200, and controlled to spray dyeing solution onto the continuous medium 200. At the maintenance station, the nozzle needle of the dyeing nozzle 222 can be immersed in, for example, a liquid to moisturize the needle and prevent clogging. At the testing station, the dyeing nozzle can be tested before being moved to the dyeing station to ensure it is ready for dyeing operations.

[0042] In some embodiments, to enable the movement of the dyeing nozzle 222 across multiple workstations, the dyeing unit 20 may include a drive module for driving the movement of the dyeing nozzle 222. The drive module can be implemented in various forms. In some embodiments, the drive module can be configured to drive the dyeing nozzle 222 to move vertically and horizontally. In some embodiments, the frame is provided with a multi-dimensional movement mechanism for moving the dyeing nozzle 222, enabling multi-dimensional servo movement on the frame, including left-right lateral movement and vertical lifting, allowing for flexible switching between dyeing workstations and equipment maintenance workstations, fully meeting the needs of various process operations and equipment maintenance such as dyeing operations, equipment cleaning, and nozzle calibration.

[0043] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the media propulsion module 230 is configured to raise the continuous media 200 entering the dyeing unit 20 at least partially in the vertical direction and to be substantially horizontally oriented as it passes below the dyeing nozzle 222. This horizontal orientation allows for convenient control of the dyeing posture of the dyeing nozzle 222 relative to the continuous media 200, and this horizontal arrangement allows the dyeing solution to be uniformly distributed to the dyeing media.

[0044] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the frame 210 may also include an upper region and a lower region, with the media propulsion module 230 configured in the lower region and the dyeing module 220 configured in the upper region. In this way, the propulsion of the continuous media 200 and the dyeing operation of the dyeing module 220 are physically separated from each other, which simplifies the structural design of the dyeing equipment and avoids interference between the propulsion of the continuous media and the operation of the dyeing module 220 itself.

[0045] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A media recovery unit 30 is also shown. The media recovery unit 30 is configured to receive dyed continuous media 200. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the media recovery unit 30 is configured to recover dyed continuous media 200 from the dyeing unit 20 in the form of a roll 32. The media recovery unit 30 may include a take-up roller 34, which may be controlled to rotate by a motor (e.g., a stepper motor) to recover the dyed continuous media 200. In some embodiments, one or more guide rollers 35 may be included upstream of the take-up roller 34. In some embodiments, one of the guide rollers may be equipped with a tension sensor, which can be used to control the rotational speed of the take-up roller 34. This allows for tension regulation of the continuous media 200 at the media recovery unit.

[0046] Figure 2Structural details of the main components of the staining unit 20 are also shown in partial cross-section. In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the media propulsion module 230 may include a driven media support roller 232, a first driving roller assembly 236, and a second driving roller assembly. The driven media support roller 232 is configured to support a continuous media 200, and the continuous media 200 passes over the driven media support roller 232. The driven media support roller 232 at least partially defines a dyeing area of ​​the continuous media. The first driving roller assembly 236 is located upstream of the driven media support roller 232. As an example, the first driving roller assembly 236 may be disposed adjacent to the guide roller 110 and may be disposed near the bottom of the frame 210. The first driving roller assembly 236 serves as a drive component and is used to drive the continuous media 200 to move. The second driving roller assembly is arranged downstream of the driven media support roller 232. In the illustrated embodiment, the second driving roller assembly is arranged adjacent to the driven media support roller 232.

[0047] The media propulsion module 230 may further include a first drive module and a second drive module (not shown) for driving the first active roller assembly 236 and the second active roller assembly, respectively. The first drive module and the second drive module may each include a motor (e.g., a stepper motor), and each motor is used to drive the first active roller assembly 236 and the second active roller assembly to rotate, respectively. The first drive module and the second drive module may be configured to operate cooperatively such that the continuous media 200 traveling on the first active roller assembly 236 and the continuous media 200 traveling on the second active roller assembly form a linear velocity difference within a predetermined threshold range. By selecting an appropriate linear velocity difference, the continuous media 200 travels stably below the dyeing nozzle 222 at a preset speed. Considering that the dyeing nozzle 222 sprays dyeing liquid, for example, in the form of a liquid column, the traveling state of the continuous media 200, such as its traveling speed and traveling stability (i.e., jitter), significantly affects the distribution of the dyeing liquid on the continuous media 200.

[0048] According to this disclosure, the first active roller assembly 236 and the second active roller assembly, respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the driven media support roller 232, included in the media propulsion module 230, can achieve precise and good control over the travel state of the continuous media 200 in the dyeing area (e.g., near the driven media support roller 232). Furthermore, according to this disclosure, the first active roller assembly 236 and the second active roller assembly constitute a propulsion module for the continuous media 200 at the dyeing unit 20. This arrangement can decouple the tension of the continuous media 200 from that of the media supply unit 10 and the media recovery unit 30 at the dyeing unit 20, ensuring that the tension of each section is independently controllable.

[0049] The first drive roller assembly 236 and the second drive roller assembly can be implemented in various suitable forms. In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first drive roller assembly 236 may include at least two drive rollers 2362 and 2364. The at least two drive rollers 2362 and 2364 are configured to rotate at the same speed and cause the continuous medium 200 to pass through the at least two drive rollers 2362 and 2364 sequentially in an S-shape. By utilizing the synchronously rotating at least two drive rollers 2362 and 2364, the travel capability of the continuous medium 200 can be significantly improved.

[0050] The inventors of this application, through extensive testing, discovered several problems when the first drive roller assembly 236 uses a single drive roller. When using a single drive roller, insufficient driving force may occur, leading to unstable travel speed of the continuous medium 200 at the driven medium support roller 232. When attempting to increase the outer diameter of the single drive roller, slippage or other phenomena inevitably occur, severely affecting the speed stability of the continuous medium 200 at the driven medium support roller 232. While using a combination of single drive rollers (e.g., arranged adjacently and clamping the continuous medium 200) to drive the continuous medium can increase the propulsion force of the continuous medium 200, it results in accumulation of the continuous medium upstream of the drive roller, which severely affects the tension distribution on the continuous medium 200. According to this disclosure, the above-mentioned technical problems can be effectively solved by employing at least two synchronously rotating drive rollers 2362, 2364.

[0051] There are several ways to achieve synchronous rotation of at least two drive rollers 2362, 2364. In some embodiments, the first drive roller of the at least two drive rollers 2362, 2364 is driven by a motor, and the second drive roller of the at least two is driven by a synchronization device, such that the at least two drive rollers 2362, 2364 are configured to rotate at the same speed. By combining the synchronization device and the motor, the structure of the first drive roller assembly 236 can be simplified and the cost of the dyeing equipment can be reduced. The synchronization device can be implemented in various ways. In some embodiments, the synchronization device can be a timing belt, a timing chain, gears, etc. In some embodiments, each drive roller of the first drive roller assembly 236 can be driven by its own motor, and these motors can be configured to rotate synchronously.

[0052] exist Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the first drive roller assembly 236 may include two drive rollers 2362 and 2364. The continuous medium 200 passes through the two drive rollers 2362 and 2364 in an S-shape. This S-shaped travel pattern increases the contact area between the continuous medium and the drive rollers 2362 and 2364, thereby improving the travel capability of the continuous medium 200.

[0053] Figure 3 A partial schematic diagram of a staining apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 3 The illustrated embodiments and Figure 2 The illustrated embodiments are similar, and the differences will be described in detail. Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the first drive roller assembly 236 may include three drive rollers 2362, 2364, and 2366. The three drive rollers 2362, 2364, and 2366 are configured to rotate synchronously at the same speed. In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first of the three drive rollers is driven by a motor, while the second and third drive rollers are driven by synchronous belts. The three drive rollers are configured to rotate at the same speed, causing the continuous medium 200 to pass through them sequentially in a double-S pattern, following another S-shape. The continuous medium 200 passes through the three drive rollers 2362, 2364, and 2366 in a double-S pattern. This double-S pattern increases the contact area between the continuous medium and the drive rollers 2362 and 2364, thereby improving the travel capacity of the continuous medium 200.

[0054] exist Figure 3 In one embodiment, by providing an arrangement of three drive rollers 2362, 2364, 2366, and... Figure 2 Compared to the two active rollers 2362 and 2364, the travel capability of the continuous medium 200 can be further enhanced. It should be understood that... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The embodiments shown are merely exemplary. In other embodiments, a greater number of synchronously rotating drive rollers may be provided, such as four, five, or even more.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the outer surface of each drive roller in the first drive roller assembly 236 is coated with an elastic rubber layer. By applying this rubber coating process to the drive rollers, their performance can be further improved. The elastic deformation characteristics of the rubber layer can effectively compensate for roller diameter machining tolerances, eliminate linear velocity differences between rollers, and prevent media tension fluctuations and wrinkling defects. Furthermore, the elastic deformation characteristics of the rubber layer can increase the contact friction between the outer surface of the roller and the media, enabling flexible transmission and providing protection for the media surface.

[0056] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the media propulsion module 230 may further include a tension detection roller 231 located between the first active roller assembly 236 and the driven media support roller 232. The tension detection roller 231 is equipped with a tension sensor to detect the tension of the continuous media 200 passing over it, wherein the first drive module and the second drive module are configured to operate based on the tension data from the tension detection roller 231. By arranging the tension detection roller 231 between the first active roller assembly 236 and the driven media support roller 232, the tension characteristics of the continuous media in the dyeing unit 20 section can be effectively detected, enabling closed-loop control of the drives of the first active roller assembly 236 and the second active roller assembly.

[0057] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the media propulsion module 230 also includes a flattening roller 233 located between the tension detection roller 231 and the driven media support roller 232. In some embodiments, the flattening roller 233 can be a curved roller with a certain curvature. In some embodiments, the flattening roller 233 may not be a curved roller, but may be in the form of a spiral flattening roller, an expansion rod, or an expansion plate. The flattening roller 233 can be configured to further flatten the continuous media 200 passing through the flattening roller 233. By providing the flattening roller 233 upstream and adjacent to the driven media support roller 232, a final flattening and wrinkle removal process before dyeing is achieved, ensuring that the media enters the dyeing area without wrinkles and flat. This is beneficial for further improving dyeing quality.

[0058] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the second active roller assembly includes a single active media support roller 234. The single active media support roller 234 is arranged adjacent to the driven media support roller 232, which helps the continuous media 200 form a stable dyeing surface near the driven media support roller 232. The active media support roller 234 is configured to drive the continuous media 200 over the driven media support roller 232 and convey the continuous media 200 to downstream units.

[0059] According to the advancement measures of the continuous medium 200 disclosed herein, the continuous medium 200 can be implemented as dyeing sections at multiple locations.

[0060] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, during the dyeing operation, the dyeing nozzle 222 can be positioned directly above the driven medium support roller 232. The outer diameter of the driven medium support roller 232 is larger than the outer diameter of each of the driven rollers of the first driven roller assembly 236, and the area directly above the driven medium support roller 232 defines the dyeing section of the continuous medium 200. When the dyeing nozzle 222 performs the dyeing operation to supply dyeing solution to the continuous medium 200, the dyeing nozzle 222 is positioned directly above the dyeing section of the continuous medium 200. According to this disclosure, the outer diameter of the driven medium support roller 232 is larger than the outer diameter of each of the driven rollers of the first driven roller assembly 236, which is beneficial for improving dyeing quality. This is particularly due to the large propulsive force provided by the small outer diameter of the multiple driven rollers of the first driven roller assembly 236 and the frictional force between the driven medium support roller and the continuous medium 200 provided by the large diameter of the driven medium support roller, which is beneficial for improving the stability of the continuous medium 200 and preventing vibration of the continuous medium 200.

[0061] Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of a staining apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 3 The illustrated embodiments and Figure 2 , Figure 3 The illustrated embodiments are similar, and the differences will be described in detail. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, during the dyeing operation, the dyeing nozzle 222 can be positioned directly above the area between the driven media support roller 232 and the active media support roller 234.

[0062] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the driven media support roller 232 and the driven media support roller 234 may have the same outer diameter and are positioned on the same horizontal plane. The continuous media 200 from the driven media support roller 232 passes over the driven media support roller 234. The area between the driven media support roller 232 and the driven media support roller 234 defines the dyeing section of the continuous media 200. When the dyeing nozzle 222 performs the dyeing operation to supply the dyeing solution to the continuous media 200, the dyeing nozzle 222 is positioned directly above the dyeing section of the continuous media 200. The fact that the driven media support roller 232 and the driven media support roller 234 may have the same outer diameter facilitates the formation of the dyeing section above the driven media support roller 232 and the driven media support roller 234, and effectively prevents vibration of the continuous media 200 in the dyeing section.

[0063] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the driven medium support roller 232 and the active medium support roller 234 are arranged closely adjacent to each other and spaced apart by a gap, which is configured to be as small as possible to allow the driven medium support roller 232 and the active medium support roller 234 to move without interfering with each other.

[0064] In some embodiments, the outer diameters of both the driven media support roller 232 and the active media support roller 234 are formed to be relatively large, particularly larger than the outer diameters of the active rollers of the first active roller assembly 236. This can improve the travel stability of the continuous media 200 and prevent vibration of the continuous media 200 while ensuring reliable propulsion. In some embodiments, the outer diameters of the driven media support roller 232 and the active media support roller 234 are not less than 180 mm, for example, not less than 200 mm, 220 mm, 250 mm, or even larger. In some embodiments, the diameters of the active rollers of the first active roller assembly 236 may not be greater than 150 mm, for example, they may be 120 mm, 130 mm, 140 mm, etc.

[0065] Although the operations are described in a specific order, this should be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the specific order shown or in sequential order, or requiring that all illustrated operations be performed to achieve the desired result. In certain environments, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, while several specific implementation details are included in the above discussion, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure. Certain features described in the context of individual embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented individually or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple implementations.

[0066] Although the subject matter has been described using language specific to structural features and / or methodological logic, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described above. Rather, the specific features and actions described above are merely illustrative examples of implementing the claims.

[0067] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A staining apparatus for a continuous medium (200), comprising: The media supply unit (10) is adapted to receive a continuous medium (200) provided in roll (34) or stack and to unfold the continuous medium (200) into a sheet form for supply to downstream units; The staining unit (20) includes a staining module (220) having a staining nozzle (222) and a media propulsion module (230) for driving the continuous medium (200), the media propulsion module (230) being configured to receive the continuous medium (200) and propel the continuous medium (200) through the staining nozzle (222), wherein the staining nozzle (222) operates to provide staining solution to the continuous medium (200) as the continuous medium (200) passes under the staining nozzle (222). as well as The media recovery unit (30) is configured to receive the dyed continuous media (200).

2. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the media propulsion module (230) comprises: Driven medium support roller (232), the continuous medium (200) passes over the driven medium support roller (232); The first active roller assembly (236) is located upstream of the driven medium support roller (232). A second active roller assembly located downstream of the driven medium support roller (232); A first drive module and a second drive module are used to drive the first active roller assembly (236) and the second active roller assembly respectively. The first drive module and the second drive module are operated in coordination such that the continuous medium (200) traveling on the first active roller assembly (236) and the continuous medium (200) traveling on the second active roller assembly form a linear velocity difference within a predetermined threshold range.

3. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The first active roller assembly (236) includes at least two active rollers (2362, 2364), which are configured to rotate at the same speed and cause the continuous medium (200) to pass through the at least two active rollers (2362, 2364) in an S-shape.

4. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The first drive roller of the at least two drive rollers (2362, 2364) is driven by a motor, and the second drive roller of the at least two is driven by a synchronizing device, such that the at least two drive rollers (2362, 2364) are configured to rotate at the same speed, wherein the synchronizing device particularly includes one or more of a timing belt, a timing chain, and a gear.

5. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The at least two drive rollers include three drive rollers configured to rotate at the same speed and cause the continuous medium (200) to pass through the three drive rollers in a double S-shape following another S-shape.

6. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, Each active roller in the first active roller assembly (236) has an outer surface coated with an elastic rubber layer.

7. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The media propulsion module (230) further includes a tension detection roller (231) located between the first active roller assembly (236) and the driven media support roller (232), the tension detection roller (231) being equipped with a tension sensor to detect the tension of the continuous media (200) passing over the tension detection roller (231), wherein the first drive module and the second drive module are configured to operate based on the tension data of the tension detection roller (231).

8. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The media propulsion module (230) also includes a flattening roller (233) located between the tension detection roller (231) and the driven media support roller (232), wherein the flattening roller (233) is configured to further flatten the continuous media (200) passing through the flattening roller (233).

9. The dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 2-8, wherein, The second active roller assembly includes a single active media support roller (234) configured to drive the continuous media (200) over the driven media support roller (232) and deliver the continuous media (200) to the downstream unit.

10. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, The driven medium support roller (232) and the active medium support roller (234) have the same outer diameter and are positioned on the same horizontal plane. The continuous medium (200) from the driven medium support roller (232) passes over the active medium support roller (234) above the active medium support roller (234). The area between the driven medium support roller (232) and the active medium support roller (234) defines a dyeing section of the continuous medium (200). When the dyeing nozzle (222) performs a dyeing operation to provide dyeing solution to the continuous medium (200), the dyeing nozzle (222) is positioned directly above the dyeing section of the continuous medium (200).

11. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, The outer diameter of the driven medium support roller (232) and the active medium support roller (234) is larger than the outer diameter of each active roller of the first active roller assembly (236), and the outer diameter of the driven medium support roller (232) and the active medium support roller (234) is particularly greater than 180 mm.

12. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, The outer diameter of each active roller of the driven medium support roller (232) is larger than the outer diameter of the first active roller assembly (236). The area directly above the driven medium support roller (232) defines a dyeing section of the continuous medium (200), wherein the dyeing nozzle (222) is positioned directly above the dyeing section of the continuous medium (200) when the dyeing nozzle (222) performs a dyeing operation to provide dyeing liquid to the continuous medium (200).

13. The dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, 10, and 11, wherein the media supply unit (10) comprises: A continuous medium trolley or continuous medium rack for holding the continuous medium in rolls or stacks; The feeding unit includes at least a tension swing arm assembly and a pneumatic tension shaft assembly, and the feeding unit is configured to expand the continuous medium and adjust the tension in the continuous medium. as well as A guide roller, arranged downstream of the feeding unit and configured to guide the continuous medium to the dyeing unit (20), specifically includes a tension sensor, and the tension swing arm assembly and the pneumatic tension shaft assembly are adjusted at least in part based on the tension sensor.

14. The dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, 10, and 11, wherein the media recovery unit (30) comprises: One or more guide rollers are configured to guide the dyed continuous medium from the dyeing unit (20), and one of the guide rollers includes a tension sensor; as well as A take-up roller (34) is configured to rotate to recycle the continuous medium (200) in a roll, the take-up roller (34) being configured to rotate based on the one guide roller.

15. The dyeing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, 10, and 11, further comprising a frame (210) on or inside the frame (210), the dyeing unit (20) being mounted on or inside the frame (210), the frame (210) comprising a first side laterally and a second side opposite to the second side, the media supply unit (10) being located on the first side and configured to guide a continuous media (200) thereon first upward and then downward in the vertical direction and laterally into the dyeing unit (20) near the bottom side of the frame (210). The media propulsion module (230) is configured to raise the continuous media (200) entering the dyeing unit (20) at least partially in the vertical direction and to be substantially horizontal as it passes under the dyeing nozzle (222); The frame (210) also includes an upper region and a lower region, with the media propulsion module (230) disposed in the lower region and the dyeing module (220) disposed in the upper region, so that the travel of the continuous media and the dyeing operation of the dyeing module (220) are physically separated from each other.

16. The dyeing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein, The dyeing nozzle (222) includes multiple workstations, and the dyeing module (220) further includes a drive module for driving the dyeing nozzle (222) to move to the multiple workstations at least in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Images