Processing method and processing apparatus
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SEIKO EPSON CORP
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-04
Smart Images
Figure 0007899620000001 
Figure 0007899620000002 
Figure 0007899620000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a processing method and a processing apparatus.
Background Art
[0002] For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a printing method of dropping ink onto fabrics or the like for printing is known. After printing, the fabric is likely to have inferior original texture and quality, and improvement of this is required. Texture refers to the texture such as touch and feel.
[0003] In the printing method described in Patent Document 1, attempts have been made to enhance the texture after printing by performing heat treatment on specific portions of the fabric before printing. Further, it is not limited to such heat treatment, and for example, physical treatments such as a method of rubbing the surface of the fabric with a brush to roughen it are conceivable.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, in the above conventional method, good processing of the fabric is not sufficiently performed, and in particular, there is a problem that a good texture cannot be obtained. Therefore, further improvement of the texture of the fabric is required.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] In the processing method of the present invention, a liquid injection step of injecting a liquid from the injection nozzle hole of a liquid injection unit including at least one nozzle having an injection nozzle hole and a liquid inlet serving as an inlet through which the liquid flows into the injection nozzle hole toward a fabric and causing it to collide is performed. The process includes a vibration application step in which vibration is applied to the fabric after the liquid spraying step, When the nozzle diameter of the injection nozzle hole is d [mm] and the diameter of the liquid inlet is D [mm], It is characterized by satisfying the conditions 0.01 mm ≤ d ≤ 0.30 mm and 5 ≤ D / d ≤ 150.
[0007] The processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a conveying unit for conveying fabric, A liquid injection unit comprising at least one nozzle having an injection nozzle hole and a liquid inlet that serves as an entrance for liquid to flow into the injection nozzle hole, which injects and impacts a liquid onto a fabric from the injection nozzle hole, The system includes a vibration applying unit that applies vibration to the fabric being conveyed by the conveying unit after the liquid has collided with the fabric, When the nozzle diameter of the injection nozzle hole is d [mm] and the diameter of the liquid inlet is D [mm], It is characterized by satisfying the conditions 0.01 mm ≤ d ≤ 0.30 mm and 5 ≤ D / d ≤ 150. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a processing apparatus that performs the processing method of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid injection section of the processing apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the vibration-applying section of the processing device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a processing apparatus for carrying out the processing method of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the state in which the vibration-applying unit of the processing device shown in Figure 4 is applying vibration to the fabric. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the state in which the vibration-applying unit of the processing device shown in Figure 4 is applying vibration to the fabric. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] The processing method and processing apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0010] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a processing apparatus for carrying out the processing method of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid injection section of the processing apparatus shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the vibration applying section of the processing apparatus shown in Figure 1.
[0011] In Figures 1 to 4, the upper side is referred to as "upper" or "top," and the lower side is referred to as "downward" or "bottom." Also, in Figure 1, the left side is the upstream side in the conveying direction of the fabric 100, and the right side is the downstream side in the conveying direction of the fabric 100.
[0012] The processing method of the present invention is carried out by the processing apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1. The processing method of the present invention is performed, for example, as a pre-treatment for a printing process in which a fabric 100 is printed, but is not limited to this.
[0013] The processing method of the present invention is applied to woven fabrics. The fibers constituting the woven fabric are not particularly limited, but examples include natural fibers such as cotton, linen, wool, and silk; synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyester, acetate, triacetate, polyamide, and polyurethane; biodegradable fibers such as polylactic acid; and blends thereof. From the viewpoint of easily obtaining the effect of improving the texture, it is preferable to use cotton or polyester woven fabrics.
[0014] The fabric may be made from the above-mentioned fibers in any form, such as woven, knitted, or nonwoven. Furthermore, the basis weight of the fabric used in this embodiment is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 1.0 oz to 10.0 oz, preferably 2.0 oz to 9.0 oz, more preferably 3.0 oz to 8.0 oz, and even more preferably 4.0 oz to 7.0 oz. If the basis weight of the fabric is within this range, good recording, i.e., printing, can be performed.
[0015] Examples of the types of fabrics in this embodiment include, for example, fabrics, and clothing and other apparel items. Examples of fabrics include, for example, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, and non-woven fabrics. Examples of clothing and other apparel items include, for example, sewn T-shirts, handkerchiefs, scarves, towels, tote bags, cloth bags, curtains, sheets, bed covers, furniture such as wallpaper, and fabrics before and after cutting as parts before sewing. These forms include long ones wound in a roll shape, ones cut into a predetermined size, ones in a product shape, and the like. Note that the fabric may be one to which a treatment liquid has been applied in advance.
[0016] As the fabric, a fabric pre-colored with a coloring material may be used. Examples of the coloring materials for pre-coloring the fabric include, for example, pigments, water-soluble dyes such as acid dyes and basic dyes, disperse dyes used in combination with a dispersant, and reactive dyes. When using cotton fabric for the fabric, it is preferable to use reactive dyes or pigments suitable for dyeing cotton. When using a pigment, it is preferable in that it can cope with coloring of a relatively diverse variety of fabrics. In the case of a fabric colored using a pigment, since a large amount of solid content is present on the surface of the fabric, the texture tends to deteriorate. By performing the treatment method of the present invention, the texture can be improved and brought closer to the original texture of the fabric.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the treatment apparatus 1 includes a conveyance unit 2, a liquid injection unit 4, a liquid removal unit 5, a vibration application unit 3, and a control unit 6 that controls the operations of the conveyance unit 2, the liquid injection unit 4, the liquid removal unit 5, and the vibration application unit 3. In this treatment apparatus 1, a continuous strip-shaped fabric 100 is treated as the fabric.
[0018] The conveyance unit 2 is a device that conveys the fabric 100, and includes a pay-out unit 21 that is located on the upstream side in the conveyance direction and unwinds the fabric 100 wound in a roll shape, a winding unit 22 that is located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction and winds up the treated fabric 100 in a roll shape, an intermediate roller 23, an intermediate roller 24, an intermediate roller 25, and an intermediate roller 26.
[0019] The feeding section 21 includes a roller 211 around which the fabric 100 is wound, and a first motor (not shown) that applies a rotational force to the roller 211. When the roller 211 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1, the fabric 100 wound around the roller 211 is fed out.
[0020] The winding section 22 includes a roller 221 around which the fabric 100 is wound, and a second motor (not shown) that applies a rotational force to the roller 221. When the roller 221 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1, the fabric 100 can be wound up into a roll.
[0021] The control unit 6 can adjust the rotational speeds of the roller 211 and the roller 221, that is, the conveyance speed, by controlling the energization conditions of the first motor and the second motor. Note that the control unit 6 can appropriately set the tension of the fabric 100 during conveyance by controlling the rotational speed of the first motor and the rotational speed of the second motor, that is, by adjusting the speed difference between the unwinding speed and the winding speed of the fabric 100.
[0022] The intermediate rollers 23, 24, 25, and 26 are provided between the feeding section 21 and the winding section 22 in the conveyance path of the fabric 100. The intermediate rollers 23, 24, 25, and 26 are sequentially arranged on the conveyance path of the fabric 100 from the feeding section 21 side toward the winding section 22, that is, from the upstream side in the conveyance direction toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction. The intermediate rollers 23, 24, 25, and 26 function as feed rollers that send the fabric 100 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the conveyance path.
[0023] [[ID=I8]]The intermediate roller 24 also serves as a part of the liquid injection section 4 and functions as a support roller that supports the fabric 100 onto which the liquid is injected. The intermediate roller 25 also serves as a part of the liquid removal section 5 and also functions as a drying heater. That is, the intermediate roller 25 is a heating roller that heats the fabric 100.
[0024] Intermediate rollers 23 and 25 contact the underside of the fabric 100 during transport, while intermediate rollers 24 and 26 contact the upper side of the fabric 100 during transport.
[0025] Intermediate rollers 23, 24, 25, and 26 may each be a driving roller that rotates on its own, or a driven roller that does not have its own rotational driving force.
[0026] When intermediate rollers 23, 24, 25, and 26 are the main rollers, each roller has a motor (not shown) built into or connected to it, and the power supply conditions to each motor are controlled by the control unit 6.
[0027] With this conveying unit 2, the fabric 100 can be stably conveyed at a desired speed from the upstream side to the downstream side of the conveying path.
[0028] Furthermore, the tension of the fabric 100 in the conveying direction can be adjusted by monitoring the axial torque of the main rollers such as rollers 211 and 221 and adjusting that axial torque. By adjusting the tension of the fabric 100 in the conveying direction to an appropriate value, the processing described later can be performed more effectively and appropriately, and the texture quality of the fabric 100 can be effectively improved.
[0029] Furthermore, the tension in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the fabric 100, i.e., in the width direction of the fabric 100, can be adjusted by using inverted crown-shaped rollers with a concave downward slope, rollers with a helical structure arranged symmetrically from the center, or expander-type rollers that convey the fabric in an outwardly curved shape, for the intermediate rollers 23-26. By adjusting the tension in the width direction of the fabric 100 to an appropriate value, the processing described later can be performed more effectively and appropriately, and the texture quality of the fabric 100 can be effectively improved.
[0030] As shown in Figure 1, the liquid injection unit 4 is the part that performs a liquid injection process in which liquid 101 is injected toward and impacts the fabric. The liquid injection unit 4 comprises at least one nozzle 41 for injecting the liquid 101, a liquid tank 43 for storing the liquid 101 to be injected, a pump 42 for sending the liquid 101 from the liquid tank 43 to the liquid injection unit 4, and an intermediate roller 24 as a support roller for supporting the fabric 100 in the liquid injection unit 4 while it is being transported. In this embodiment, multiple nozzles 41 are provided from the front to the back of the paper in Figure 1, that is, along the width direction of the fabric 100 being transported. The number of nozzles 41 to be arranged is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 2 or more and 100 or less. The number of nozzles 41 is appropriately determined according to various conditions such as the material, characteristics, and width of the fabric 100.
[0031] The arrangement of the multiple nozzles 41 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, they are arranged in a single row from the front to the back of the page in Figure 1, but they may be arranged in two or three or more rows.
[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the nozzle 41 comprises a first portion 44 having a liquid inlet 412 which is, for example, a cylindrical internal space, and a second portion 45 formed above the first portion 44 and having an injection nozzle hole 411 communicating with the liquid inlet 412 and a tapered portion 413 following it.
[0033] The liquid inlet 412 is the entrance through which liquid flows into the injection nozzle hole 411. The injection nozzle hole 411 has a circular shape. Here, let d [mm] be the nozzle hole diameter of the injection nozzle hole 411, and D [mm] be the diameter of the liquid inlet 412.
[0034] The liquid 101, pressurized by the pump 42 and flowing into the liquid inlet 412, is ejected as a high-pressure jet from the injection nozzle hole 411 upwards in Figure 2. The symbol F in Figure 2 indicates the direction of the liquid 101 ejection.
[0035] The jet of liquid 101 ejected from the injection nozzle hole 411 is a continuous flow immediately after ejection, but due to the surface tension of the liquid 101, it quickly turns into droplets and splits into a group of droplets. By successively causing these groups of droplets to collide with the fabric 100, a predetermined process is carried out.
[0036] Furthermore, the nozzle 41 causes the droplets to fly in a straight line with good trajectory from the discharge end face of the injection nozzle hole 411 in the liquid injection direction F, for example, over a distance of about 100 mm to 150 mm.
[0037] As shown in Figure 2, the nozzle diameter d of the injection nozzle hole 411 is set to 0.01 mm ≤ d ≤ 0.30 mm. Furthermore, the ratio D / d of the diameter D of the liquid inlet 412, which is the entrance into which the liquid 101 flows into the injection nozzle hole 411, to the nozzle diameter d satisfies 5 ≤ D / d ≤ 150. This allows for good processing in the liquid injection process. Specifically, it is possible to disrupt the arrangement of fibers in the fabric 100, cause misalignment of intersecting fiber bundles, and cause partial structural damage. Thus, the napped surface of the fabric 100 can be improved, and the texture of the fabric 100 can be enhanced.
[0038] The preferred range for the nozzle hole diameter d is 0.02 mm ≤ d ≤ 0.25 mm, and the more preferred range is 0.02 mm d ≤ 0.15 mm. The preferred range for the ratio D / d is 8 ≤ D / d ≤ 80. The reasons for the above figures are explained below.
[0039] If the nozzle diameter d of the spray nozzle hole 411 is too large, the droplets of liquid 101 that collide with the fabric 100 will be too large, and depending on the type of fiber in the fabric 100, the processing may not be performed properly. In addition, the distance over which the sprayed liquid 101 becomes droplets tends to increase, which may lead to the device becoming larger.
[0040] On the other hand, if the nozzle diameter d of the spray nozzle hole 411 is too small, the ejected droplets may be too small, and depending on the type of fiber of the fabric 100, it may not be possible to process it properly.
[0041] If the ratio D / d is too large, the diameter D of the liquid inlet 412 may be too large, or the nozzle hole diameter d may be too small, which may prevent proper processing depending on the type of fiber in the fabric 100.
[0042] On the other hand, if the ratio D / d is too small, the diameter D of the liquid inlet 412 may be too small, or the nozzle hole diameter d may be too large, which may prevent proper processing depending on the type of fiber in the fabric 100.
[0043] The shape of the liquid inlet 412, i.e., its cross-sectional shape, is circular if there is one injection nozzle hole 411, and elliptical or oblong if there are multiple. However, the shape of the liquid inlet 412 is not limited to circular, elliptical, or oblong; it may also be square, rectangular, etc. If the shape of the liquid inlet 412 is elliptical or oblong, the diameter D is the average of the major and minor axes. If the shape of the liquid inlet 412 is square or rectangular, the diameter D is the dimension of one side of the square, or the average of the short and long sides of the rectangle.
[0044] The injection pressure of the liquid 101 ejected from the injection nozzle hole 411 is preferably 0.2 MPa to 10 MPa, and more preferably 2 MPa to 8 MPa. This allows for more reliable and effective processing of the fabric 100.
[0045] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the nozzle 41 has a structure in which the inner diameter rapidly narrows from D to d in the direction of liquid flow 101. This allows for the formation of a constricted flow in which the injected liquid 101 is less likely to come into contact with the inner surface of the injection nozzle hole 411. Therefore, the influence of the surface roughness of the inner surface of the injection nozzle hole 411 is reduced, making it easier to form droplets of uniform size.
[0046] Specifically, the nozzle 41 has a tapered portion 413 in the second portion 45, which is the liquid outlet side of the injection nozzle hole 411, that widens in diameter toward the liquid injection direction F. The tapered portion 413 has the function of increasing the mechanical strength of the nozzle 41, which has a relatively small nozzle hole diameter d. The tapered portion 413 also has the function of restricting the flight range of the liquid droplets of the liquid 101 injected from the injection nozzle hole 411.
[0047] The angle θ of the tapered portion 413 is not particularly limited and can be, for example, 30° or more and 150° or less. In the illustrated configuration, θ is approximately 90°, but the angle may be made larger or smaller within a range that facilitates the formation of the injection nozzle hole 411.
[0048] When spraying the liquid 101 toward the fabric 100, the distance between the spray nozzle hole 411 and the fabric 100 is not particularly limited, but when S is the average distance shown in Figure 2, it is preferable that 5 mm ≤ S ≤ 200 mm, and more preferably 50 mm ≤ S ≤ 150 mm. By setting S to a value within this range, the impact of the liquid 101 on the fabric 100 can be performed without excess or deficiency, resulting in better processing.
[0049] A pump 42 is provided in the flow path between the nozzle 41 and the liquid tank 43. The operation of the pump 42 is controlled by the control unit 6, and the pump 42 delivers liquid 101 to the liquid inlet 412 so that the injection pressure of the liquid 101 ejected from the injection nozzle hole 411 is, for example, the value described above.
[0050] The intermediate roller 24 is located below the intermediate roller 23. The fabric 100 is wrapped around the outer surface of the intermediate roller 24, deforming the fabric 100 into a curved protrusion that curves downwards. The intermediate roller 24 supports the fabric 100 while conveying it, maintaining this state. The nozzle 41 sprays droplets onto the fabric 100, which is supported by the intermediate roller 24. Specifically, the nozzle 41 sprays liquid 101 onto the fabric 100, which is curved toward the nozzle 41 in accordance with the curved shape of the intermediate roller 24, causing it to collide with the liquid 101. This stabilizes the behavior of the fabric 100 upon which the liquid 101 is colliding, enabling even better processing.
[0051] Examples of liquid 101 include various types of water such as tap water, industrial water, well water, purified water, and RO water.
[0052] The liquid removal section 5 is the part that performs the drying process and includes an intermediate roller 25 which is a heating roller, a casing 51 that covers the upper side of the intermediate roller 25, and an air blowing section 52 that blows air between the casing 51 and the intermediate roller 25. Here, drying in the drying process means removing or reducing moisture adhering to or impregnating the fabric 100, regardless of whether heating is used. In this sense, the drying process can be said to be an example of a liquid removal process that removes liquid 101 adhering to or impregnating the fabric 100. Another example of a liquid removal process is a dewatering process in which, for example, pressure is applied to the fabric 100 to remove water.
[0053] The intermediate roller 25 is located above the intermediate rollers 23 and 24 and rotates clockwise in Figure 1. The intermediate roller 25 wraps the fabric 100 around its outer circumference, deforming the fabric 100 into an upward-curving protrusion, and supports the fabric 100 while transporting it, maintaining this state.
[0054] The fabric 100 is heated and dried by contacting the outer surface of the heated intermediate roller 25 for a predetermined time. In this embodiment, the surface of the fabric 100 that is struck by the liquid 101 is in contact with the outer surface of the intermediate roller 25, while the opposite surface is not in contact with the outer surface of the intermediate roller 25. This is because, comparing the surface of the fabric 100 that is struck by the liquid 101 with the opposite surface, contacting the former with the heated roller results in higher drying efficiency and a better processing effect. However, in this invention, the surface of the fabric 100 that is in contact with the heated roller is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the heated roller is in contact only with the surface of the fabric 100 opposite to the surface that is struck by the liquid 101 is also possible, or a configuration in which multiple heated rollers are arranged to make the heated rollers contact both sides of the fabric 100.
[0055] The casing 51 is a member having an inner surface that curves to conform to the outer circumferential surface above the intermediate roller 25, and has the function of forming an airflow that flows along the surface of the fabric 100 wrapped around the intermediate roller 25. The casing 51 also has an intake port 511 that takes in air from the inside, i.e., towards the intermediate roller 25. The blower 52 is connected to the intake port 511.
[0056] Although not shown in the diagram, the air blower unit 52 has a motor and a fan driven by this motor, and the fan drives air into the intake port 511 at a predetermined airflow rate. The power supply conditions of this air blower unit 52 are controlled by the control unit 6, and the airflow rate and timing of airflow are adjusted.
[0057] When the blower unit 52 is activated, the air taken in from the intake port 511 forms an airflow along the surface of the fabric 100 between the casing 51 and the intermediate roller 25. This airflow can dry the fabric 100 as it is being conveyed on the outer surface of the intermediate roller 25. In other words, it can remove or reduce any liquid 101 adhering to or impregnated in the fabric 100.
[0058] As shown in Figure 1, since the intake port 511 is located at the top of the casing 51, the air taken in from the intake port 511 splits into two opposing directions, arrows A1 and A2, near the top of the intermediate roller 25. That is, an airflow directed upstream in the conveying direction and an airflow directed downstream in the conveying direction are formed from the intake port 511. More specifically, in the first half of drying, drying is performed by an airflow in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the fabric 100 (counterflow), and in the second half of drying, drying is performed by an airflow in the same direction as the conveying direction of the fabric 100 (parallelflow). As a result, in the first half of drying, the relative velocity of the airflow to the conveyed fabric 100 is faster than in the second half of drying, allowing for more efficient drying.
[0059] The ratio of the airflow rate towards the upstream side in the conveying direction to the airflow rate towards the downstream side in the conveying direction is not particularly limited and can be appropriately set in the range of 1:5 to 5:1, for example. In this embodiment, it is set to 1:1.
[0060] Although not shown in the diagram, an angle-adjustable flow straightening plate may be provided inside or directly below the intake port 511, allowing adjustment of the ratio between the airflow rate directed upstream in the conveying direction and the airflow rate directed downstream in the conveying direction. In this case, either the airflow rate directed upstream in the conveying direction or the airflow rate directed downstream in the conveying direction may be zero.
[0061] A heater 53 is provided in the center of the intermediate roller 25, and when the heater 53 is activated, the outer surface of the intermediate roller 25 is heated to a predetermined temperature. The power supply conditions of the heater 53 are controlled by the control unit 6, and the amount of heat generated is adjusted. As a result, the outer surface of the intermediate roller 25 is heated to a desired heating temperature, for example, a predetermined temperature of 35°C to 95°C. This improves drying efficiency compared to the case where only the airflow is formed by the blower 52.
[0062] The temperature of the airflow supplied by the blower unit 52 may be at room temperature, but a heater (not shown) may be installed on the outlet side of the blower unit 52, and heated warm air may be supplied to the intake port 511, i.e., a configuration for heating and drying may be used. In this case, the temperature of the airflow can also be adjusted by controlling the energization conditions with the control unit 6. The temperature of the airflow can be set to a predetermined temperature, for example, between 35°C and 95°C.
[0063] By going through this drying process, or liquid removal process, the liquid 101 contained in the fabric 100 that has gone through the liquid spraying process can be sufficiently removed. As a result, the weight of the fabric 100 is reduced due to the decrease in moisture content, and when vibration is applied in the vibration application process described later, the inertial weight of the fabric 100 is reduced, and the propagation of vibration is also improved. Therefore, vibration is sufficiently and quickly propagated and applied to the entire fabric 100. This makes it possible to perform the vibration application process more effectively.
[0064] Furthermore, by using the liquid removal unit 5 to dry the fabric 100, particularly by using airflow drying or heat drying, the drying efficiency is higher compared to air drying the fabric 100 after the liquid spraying process, thus shortening the transport path length of the fabric 100. As a result, the device can be made smaller. In addition, the drying time can be shortened, and the total processing time is also reduced.
[0065] In addition, drying the fabric 100 in the drying process may be done by either creating an airflow with the blower unit 52 or heating the intermediate roller 25 with the heater 53, but by combining both, a synergistic effect can be achieved, resulting in more efficient drying and contributing to a further reduction in the length of the transport path and drying time required for drying.
[0066] Furthermore, before the drying process, a dewatering step may be added in which pressure is applied to the fabric 100 to remove water, as described in the other example of the liquid removal step mentioned above. This further shortens the drying time in the drying process.
[0067] The vibration application unit 3 is the part that performs a vibration application process to apply vibration to the fabric 100 after it has undergone the liquid spraying process and the drying process. As shown in Figure 3, the vibration application process includes a pair of contact members 36 and a pair of vibration sources 32 corresponding to them. The vibration application unit 3 has the function of applying vibration to the fabric 100 as it is being conveyed. This allows the surface of the fabric 100 to be processed. The processes that the vibration application unit 3 performs on the fabric 100 include "bending," "beating," "stretching," and "rubbing." In this embodiment, the processes performed by the vibration application unit 3 correspond to "bending" and "beating." This will be described in detail later.
[0068] In this embodiment, the contact members 36 are positioned on the upper and lower sides in the thickness direction of the fabric 100 being transported. That is, the fabric 100 is transported between a pair of contact members 36 positioned in the vertical direction.
[0069] Since each contact member 36 has the same configuration except for its position, one of the contact members 36 will be described as representative below.
[0070] As shown in Figure 3, the contact member 36 has a plate-shaped or block-shaped base 361 and a plurality of protrusions 362 that protrude from the base 361. A pair of contact members 36 are provided in the vertical direction along the transport path of the fabric 100. The protrusions 362 protrude from the base 361 toward the transport path of the fabric 100. Vibrations generated in the vibration source 32 cause the base 361 of the contact member 36 to vibrate, and these vibrations are transmitted to and applied to the fabric 100 via the protrusions 362. As a result, the fabric 100 is subjected to localized and sufficient vibration, and processed more effectively. As a result, a good texture is obtained.
[0071] In this embodiment, the projection 362 is made of a cylindrical rigid body. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and the projection 362 may be spherical, conical, or plate-shaped, for example.
[0072] Furthermore, each contact member 36 may have protrusions 362 located on opposite sides of each other via the fabric 100, arranged in a so-called staggered pattern, where they do not overlap, i.e., are offset, when viewed from above in Figure 3 of the base 361 (hereinafter simply referred to as "plan view"). This prevents the protrusions 362 from interfering with each other even when the amplitude of vibration is relatively large. Thus, there is an advantage in that the bending effect of the fabric 100 passing through the vibration-applying section 3 can be sufficiently obtained.
[0073] Furthermore, the protrusion 362 located on the opposite side via the fabric 100 does not need to be misaligned in a plan view of the fabric 100. In this case, a greater beating effect, as described later, can be obtained.
[0074] With such a contact member 36, the fabric 100 can be bent and beaten, and the fabric 100 can be processed well.
[0075] The aforementioned bending refers to the following:
[0076] When a predetermined tension is applied to the fabric 100 and vibration is applied to the contact member 36 while the fabric 100 is in contact with the protrusion 362 of the contact member 36, a deformation occurs in the fabric 100 where the bending angle of the fibers increases, with the tip of the protrusion 362 acting as a fulcrum P. By repeating this process, the meeting forces between parallel fibers are relaxed, the joints of intersecting fiber bundles are released, and partial structural destruction of the fibers progresses. As a result, the rigidity of the fabric 100 can be reduced.
[0077] Furthermore, when applying vibration, it is preferable to reduce the contact area between the protrusion 362 and the fabric 100, thereby increasing the bending angle or curvature angle with respect to the support points formed when vibration is applied. That is, it is preferable to increase the distance between adjacent support points P to a certain extent so that the amplitude of deformation of the fabric 100 increases when vibration is applied to the fabric 100. As a result, the amplitude of the fabric 100 due to the transmitted vibration energy increases, and the bending angle of the fibers increases, so the rigidity of the fabric 100 can be reduced, and the texture can be improved.
[0078] Furthermore, when applying vibration, it is preferable to apply a vibration period / amplitude and tension corresponding to the natural frequency of the fabric 100. This causes the fabric 100 to enter a resonant state. Therefore, it becomes possible to repeat effective bending movements with small vibration energy, and the texture of the fabric 100 can be efficiently improved.
[0079] The aforementioned "beating" refers to the following: A relatively small tension is applied to the fabric 100, and vibration is applied to the contact members 36 while they are fitted together on both sides of the fabric 100. At this time, the protrusions 362 intersect or collide with each other from a direction perpendicular to one side of the fabric 100 and a direction perpendicular to the other side of the fabric 100, and vibration is applied to the fabric 100 while the protrusions 362 are fitted together on both sides of the fabric 100. The fabric 100 repeatedly compresses and restores its fiber bundles due to the applied vibration. At this time, the arrangement of parallel fibers becomes disordered, the intersection positions of intersecting fiber bundles shift, and partial structural destruction of the fibers progresses. As a result, the gaps between fibers expand, the distance between fiber bundles increases, and fluffing progresses due to the cutting of some fibers, increasing the bulkiness of the fabric and improving the texture of the fabric.
[0080] Furthermore, if the upper and lower protrusions 362 are arranged, for example, in a staggered pattern so that they do not come into contact with each other, the fabric 100 deformed by the protrusions 362 can simultaneously repeat a relatively weak beating motion due to collision with the base 361 of the contact member 36 and a relatively weak bending motion with the tip of the protrusion 362 as the fulcrum P, thereby efficiently improving the texture of the fabric 100.
[0081] Furthermore, if the protrusions 362 are positioned such that the fabric 100 repeatedly experiences free fall and bounce due to gravity, the fabric 100 is subjected to strong concentrated stress from both sides within a short time period due to collisions between the protrusions 362, causing repeated compression and recovery of the fiber bundles. During this process, the arrangement of parallel fibers becomes disordered, the intersection positions of intersecting fiber bundles shift, and partial structural destruction of the fibers progresses. As a result, the gaps between fibers expand, the distance between fiber bundles increases, and fluffing progresses due to the cutting of some fibers, increasing the bulkiness of the fabric and efficiently improving the texture of the fabric 100.
[0082] The effects of bending and beating as described above can improve the texture of the 100% woven fabric.
[0083] The tip of the protrusion 362 is preferably rounded. This more effectively prevents the protrusion 362 from damaging the fabric 100. However, the tip of the protrusion 362 may be pointed. When it is rounded, the curvature of the tip of the protrusion 362 is preferably, for example, 1 mm to 100 mm, and more preferably 3 mm to 80 mm. This sufficiently suppresses the occurrence of processing marks caused by collisions with the protrusion 362, even if the surface of the fabric 100 has been printed.
[0084] The length of the protrusion 362, that is, the length from the base 361 to the tip of the protrusion 362, is preferably 1 mm to 100 mm, and more preferably 10 mm to 50 mm. This makes it possible to improve the beating effect of the upper and lower protrusions 362 when the protrusion 362 is vibrated in a direction perpendicular to one surface of the fabric 100 and a direction perpendicular to the other surface, intersecting each other.
[0085] The material used for the protruding portion 362 is not particularly limited and can be any of the following: various resin materials, various metal materials, various ceramic materials, etc. From the viewpoint of achieving good fluffing, it is preferable to use a metal material. The metal material is not particularly limited, but brass, steel, stainless steel, etc. can be suitably used. When steel is used, fluffing can be achieved more reliably. If the fabric 100 is colored with pigment, brass can be used to fluff the fabric while minimizing damage to the colored portion.
[0086] The vibration source 32 has a vibrator 321 that generates vibrations. The vibrator 321 is electrically connected to the control unit 6. The control unit 6 controls the energization conditions to the vibrator 321, thereby adjusting the vibration conditions and characteristics of the vibrator 321.
[0087] Furthermore, the vibration source 32 has a vibration transmission member 322. The vibration transmission member 322 is made of a rigid body and connects the housing, which houses the vibrator 321, to the base 361 of the contact member 36, transmitting the vibrations generated by the vibrator 321 to the contact member 36. This allows vibrations to be transmitted to the fabric 100 via the contact member 36.
[0088] The amplitude of the vibration applied to the fabric 100 is preferably 0.1 mm to 100 mm, and more preferably 0.2 mm to 80 mm. This allows the fabric 100 to be processed more effectively.
[0089] Furthermore, the frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric 100 is preferably between 1 Hz and 1000 Hz, and more preferably between 10 Hz and 100 Hz. This allows the fabric 100 to be processed more effectively.
[0090] Furthermore, it is preferable that the vibrations applied to the fabric 100 include a component along the thickness direction of the fabric 100 during transport, i.e., the vertical direction in Figure 3. This allows for more effective processing.
[0091] Furthermore, it is preferable that the vibrations applied to the fabric 100 include components aligned with the conveying direction of the fabric 100 during transport. This allows the processing to be carried out even more effectively.
[0092] Furthermore, it is preferable that the vibrations applied to the fabric 100 include a component that intersects with the conveying direction of the fabric 100 during transport, particularly along the width direction of the fabric 100 during transport. This allows for better processing.
[0093] In this embodiment, the vibration-applying unit 3 with the configuration shown in Figure 3 has been described, but the configuration of the vibration-applying unit 3 is not limited to this. For example, a brush roller (not shown) may be separately installed on the upstream or downstream side of the contact member 36 in the conveying direction, and the brushes of the rotating brush roller may be brought into contact with the fabric 100 during conveyance. Alternatively, a brush roller may be used as the contact member instead of the contact member 36 shown in Figure 3. In these cases, a process that generates stretching and friction phenomena can be performed. Such brush rollers may be placed on both sides of the fabric 100, or on only one side.
[0094] The aforementioned extension refers to the following:
[0095] A relatively large tension is applied to the fabric 100, and at the same time, a vibration with a small period and large amplitude is applied to the contact member 36 while the back surface of the fabric 100 is in contact with the brush bristles. At this time, due to the influence of the relatively large tension acting on the fabric 100, the fabric 100 repeatedly stretches and relaxes in accordance with the phase of the brush bristles. As the fiber bundles constituting the fabric 100 repeatedly stretch and contract with the contact area with the brush bristles as a pivot point, minute embossed residual distortion can be formed in the non-stretchable fabric 100. This minute embossed residual distortion has the effect of improving the bulkiness of the non-stretchable fabric, and can efficiently enhance the texture of the fabric 100.
[0096] The aforementioned friction refers to the following:
[0097] A predetermined tension is applied to the fabric 100, and at the same time, vibration is applied to the vibration transmission member while the surface of the fabric 100 is in contact with the brush bristles. As a result, the brush bristles do not penetrate the fabric 100, maintaining contact with the fabric 100, and effectively transmitting vibration energy. Consequently, the napped surface of the fabric 100 can be improved.
[0098] As described above, the processing method of the present invention comprises a liquid injection step of injecting liquid 101 from the injection nozzle hole 411 of a liquid injection unit 4, which has at least one nozzle 41 having an injection nozzle hole 411 and a liquid inlet 412 that serves as an entrance for liquid to flow into the injection nozzle hole 411, toward and impacting the fabric 100, and a vibration application step of applying vibration to the fabric 100 that has gone through the liquid injection step, wherein when the nozzle hole diameter of the injection nozzle hole 411 is d [mm] and the diameter of the liquid inlet 412 is D [mm], the conditions 0.01 mm ≤ d ≤ 0.30 mm and 5 ≤ D / d ≤ 150 are satisfied.
[0099] The processing method of the present invention provides excellent treatment to the fabric 100. In particular, the treated fabric 100 has a good texture. More specifically, the fabric 100 is treated by two different methods: impact with liquid 101 and application of vibration, and the synergistic effect of these methods results in a fabric with excellent texture.
[0100] Furthermore, the processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a conveying unit 2 for conveying fabric, a nozzle 41 having an injection nozzle hole 411 and a liquid inlet 412 which serves as an inlet for liquid to flow into the injection nozzle hole 411, a liquid injection unit 4 that injects liquid 101 from the injection nozzle hole 411 toward the fabric 100 and causes it to collide, and a vibration applying unit 3 that applies vibration to the fabric 100 being conveyed by the conveying unit 2 after the liquid 101 has collided with the fabric 100, and satisfies 0.01 mm ≤ d ≤ 0.30 mm and 5 ≤ D / d ≤ 150 when the nozzle hole diameter of the injection nozzle hole 411 is d [mm] and the diameter of the liquid inlet 412 is D [mm].
[0101] The processing apparatus of the present invention provides excellent treatment to the fabric 100. In particular, the treated fabric 100 has a good texture. More specifically, the fabric 100 is treated by two different methods: impact with liquid 101 and application of vibration, and the synergistic effect of these methods results in a fabric with excellent texture.
[0102] In the liquid spraying step of the processing method, one side of the fabric 100 is supported by an intermediate roller 24, which is a support roller, while the liquid 101 is impacted onto the other side of the fabric 100. This allows the liquid to impact the fabric 100 while its behavior is stable, resulting in even better processing.
[0103] In the vibration application step of the processing method, a vibration application unit 3 is used, which comprises a base 361, a contact member 36 having a plurality of protrusions 362 that protrude from the base 361 and come into contact with the fabric 100, and a vibration source 32 that applies vibration to the contact member 36. Vibration is applied to the fabric 100 via the protrusions 362. As a result, the fabric 100 is subjected to localized and sufficient vibration, and processed more effectively. As a result, a good texture is obtained.
[0104] The processing method includes a liquid removal step performed between the liquid spraying step and the vibration application step to remove the liquid 101 that has adhered to or impregnated the fabric 100. This reduces the inertial weight of the fabric 100 when vibration is applied to the fabric 100 in the vibration application step, and also improves the propagation of vibration. Therefore, the processing by vibration can be performed more effectively.
[0105] Furthermore, the liquid removal process is carried out by bringing the surface of the fabric 100 that has been hit by the liquid 101 into contact with the intermediate roller 25, which acts as a heating roller. This allows for efficient drying, i.e., liquid removal, of the fabric 100 in a shorter path, contributing to a reduction in total processing time and miniaturization of the processing equipment.
[0106] In this embodiment, the fabric 100 is processed continuously, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least one of the liquid spraying step, liquid removal step, and vibration application step performed on the fabric 100 may be processed in a batch manner.
[0107] <Second Embodiment> Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a processing apparatus for carrying out the processing method of the present invention. Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the state in which the vibration-applying unit of the processing apparatus shown in Figure 4 is applying vibration to the fabric. Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the state in which the vibration-applying unit of the processing apparatus shown in Figure 4 is applying vibration to the fabric.
[0108] The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above, with reference to these figures, and will omit explanations of similar matters.
[0109] The processing method of the second embodiment of the present invention is performed by the processing apparatus 1 shown in Figure 4.
[0110] As shown in Figure 4, the liquid removal unit 5, located downstream of the liquid injection unit 4 in the conveying direction, has a dewatering unit 7 and a drying unit 8 located downstream of the dewatering unit 7 in the conveying direction.
[0111] Furthermore, the conveying unit 2 includes a pair of intermediate rollers 27, a pair of intermediate rollers 28, an intermediate roller 29, and an intermediate roller 30. The pair of intermediate rollers 27, the pair of intermediate rollers 28, the intermediate roller 29, and the intermediate roller 30 are provided between the drying unit 8 and the winding unit 22 in the conveying path of the fabric 100. The pair of intermediate rollers 27, the pair of intermediate rollers 28, the intermediate roller 29, and the intermediate roller 30 are arranged sequentially on the conveying path of the fabric 100 from the dispensing unit 21 towards the winding unit 22, that is, from the upstream side in the conveying direction towards the downstream side in the conveying direction. The pair of intermediate rollers 27, the pair of intermediate rollers 28, the intermediate roller 29, and the intermediate roller 30 function as feed rollers that feed the fabric 100 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the conveying path.
[0112] The pair of intermediate rollers 27 rotate in opposite directions, with one roller in contact with one side of the fabric 100 and the other in contact with the other side of the fabric 100. This allows the fabric 100 to be fed from the drying section 8 towards the vibration section 9. The pair of intermediate rollers 27 are also located above the vibration section 9 and feed the fabric 100 downwards in a way that folds it back.
[0113] The pair of intermediate rollers 28 rotate in opposite directions, with one roller in contact with one side of the fabric 100 and the other in contact with the other side of the fabric 100. This allows the fabric 100 to be fed from the vibration-applying unit 9 to the winding unit 22. The pair of intermediate rollers 28 are located below the vibration-applying unit 9 and feed the fabric 100 by folding it back toward the right in the figure.
[0114] The intermediate roller 29 is in contact with the upper surface of the fabric 100, and the intermediate roller 30 is in contact with the upper surface of the fabric 100.
[0115] Each of the intermediate rollers 27, 28, 29, and 30 may be a driving roller that rotates on its own, or a driven roller that does not have its own rotational driving force.
[0116] When a pair of intermediate rollers 27, a pair of intermediate rollers 28, an intermediate roller 29, and an intermediate roller 30 are the main rollers, each roller has a motor (not shown) built into or connected to it, and the power supply conditions to each motor are controlled by the control unit 6.
[0117] The dewatering section 7 is located downstream of the liquid spraying section 4 in the conveying direction and has the function of removing or reducing moisture adhering to or impregnating the fabric 100. The dewatering section 7 is the part that performs the dewatering process and has a pair of squeeze rollers 71.
[0118] The pair of squeeze rollers 71 rotate in opposite directions, with one in contact with the upper surface of the fabric 100 and the other in contact with the lower surface of the fabric 100. The pair of squeeze rollers 71 are also biased toward each other by a biasing member (not shown), pressurizing the passing fabric 100, squeezing out the moisture contained in the fabric 100, and dewatering it. The moisture squeezed out of the fabric 100 is collected in a recovery container 72.
[0119] In this way, the fabric 100, to which moisture has been attached or impregnated by the liquid spray unit 4, is squeezed, or dewatered, as it passes between the pair of squeeze rollers 71, reducing its moisture content, and is then sent to the drying unit 8. It should be noted that the dewatering process performed by the dewatering unit 7 can be said to be part of the liquid removal process that removes or reduces the moisture attached to or impregnated in the fabric 100.
[0120] In addition, in the configuration shown in Figure 4, a blade-shaped squeegee can be used instead of the squeeze roller 71. For example, a pair of blade-shaped squeegees made of an elastic material can be placed so as to sandwich the fabric 100, and the moisture adhering to or impregnated in the fabric 100 can be squeezed and dewatered by both squeegees.
[0121] By appropriately setting the surface properties, such as surface roughness, of the contact surface of the squeeze roller 71 or squeegee with the fabric 100, and further appropriately setting the contact pressure of the contact surface with the fabric 100, the processing of the fabric 100 can be improved, and in particular, the texture can be enhanced.
[0122] The drying section 8 is located downstream of the dewatering section 7 in the conveying direction and has the function of removing or reducing moisture adhering to or impregnating the fabric 100, that is, removing or reducing moisture remaining in the fabric 100 after dewatering. The drying section 8 is the part that performs the drying process and has three folding rollers 81, 82, and 83. The folding rollers 81, 82, and 83 are arranged in this order from upstream to downstream.
[0123] The folding rollers 81 and 83 are positioned at the same height and spaced apart to the left and right. The folding roller 82 is positioned below the folding rollers 81 and 83. In the figure, the folding roller 82 is positioned between the folding rollers 81 and 83 in the left-right direction.
[0124] The folding rollers 81 and 83 contact the lower surface of the fabric 100, and the folding roller 82 contacts the upper surface of the fabric 100. The fabric 100 is folded in three places and is configured to make one back-and-forth motion in the vertical direction as it passes through the folding rollers 81, 82, and 83. The fabric 100 is then air-dried during this back-and-forth motion. The transport path required for this air-drying is set to be sufficiently long. Note that the transport path in the drying section 8 is not limited to the illustrated configuration; for example, a transport path of one and a half or two or more back-and-forth motions in the vertical direction may be set. Also, the direction of the back-and-forth motion is not limited to the vertical direction.
[0125] In the second embodiment, the dewatering section 7 is provided upstream of the drying section 8, that is, the dewatering process is performed prior to the drying process, thereby reducing the load on the drying process and increasing drying efficiency. Therefore, even if drying in the drying section 8 is done by natural drying, sufficient drying can be achieved in a relatively short time.
[0126] Furthermore, in the processing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, one or more vertical transport paths are provided in Figure 4, and the drying unit 8 is installed in this vertical transport path. Therefore, the length of the transport path in the left-right direction in Figure 4 can be shortened. Thus, the apparatus can be made smaller and the installation space of the apparatus can be reduced. With the processing apparatus 1 configured as described above, the drying unit 8 can dry the fabric 100 by natural drying. With such a drying unit 8, a heater for heating can be omitted, thus saving electrical energy spent on drying. The drying process performed by the drying unit 8 can be considered part of a liquid removal process that removes or reduces moisture adhering to or impregnating the fabric 100.
[0127] In the second embodiment, the drying section 8 can be configured in other ways, such as heating drying, cold air drying, or hot air drying as in the first embodiment. Also, in the second embodiment, the dewatering section 7 can be omitted.
[0128] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, a vibration-applying unit 9 is installed on a transport path extending vertically in the figures, and the vibration-applying unit 9 applies vibration to the fabric 100 being transported downwards in the figures. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which vibration is applied to the fabric 100 being transported upwards or to the left and right in Figures 4 to 6 may also be used.
[0129] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the vibration-applying unit 9 includes a pair of contact members 91 that are spaced apart with the fabric 100 in between, a vibration source 92, and a vibration transmission unit 93.
[0130] Each pair of contact members 91 has a plate-shaped base 911 and a plurality of protrusions 912 that protrude from the base 911. The contact members 91 are provided in pairs in the left-right direction along the transport path of the fabric 100. The protrusions 912 protrude from the base 911 toward the transport path of the fabric 100. The protrusions 912 on the left side of the figure and the protrusions 912 on the right side of the figure are offset from each other in a plan view of the base 911 as seen from the left side in Figure 5.
[0131] The vibration source 92 includes a pair of motors 921 and a pair of cams 922 fixed to each motor 921. The cams 922 are fixed to the output rotation shafts of the motors 921 and are in contact with one of the bases 911. Both cams 922 are elliptical in shape when viewed from the direction of the output rotation axis of the motors 921. The operation of each motor 921 is controlled by a control unit so that they rotate at the same rotational speed when energized. Driven by each motor 921, the cams 922 rotate and can take on two states: one with the long axis aligned in the left-right direction, as shown in Figure 5, and another with the short axis aligned in the left-right direction, as shown in Figure 6. Both cams 922 are the same shape and size, and rotate in the same direction, at the same speed, and in the same phase.
[0132] Although not shown in Figures 5 and 6, a plurality of cams 922 may be fixed at predetermined intervals to the output rotation shaft of a single motor 921 along the longitudinal direction of the output rotation shaft, i.e., the width direction of the fabric 100. In this case, it is preferable, but not limited to, that each of the plurality of cams 922 has the same shape and dimensions and rotates in the same direction, at the same speed and in the same phase.
[0133] The vibration transmission section 93 includes a support plate 931, a support plate 932, a pair of connecting sections 933 that connect the support plates 931 and 932, and a pair of biasing sections 934. The support plate 931 supports each motor 921. The support plate 932 is positioned parallel to the support plate 931, spaced apart via a contact member 91 and a vibration source 92. The support plate 932 supports the leftmost of the pair of contact members 91 shown in the figure.
[0134] The connecting portion 933 is rod-shaped and is installed between the support plate 931 and the support plate 932, fixing them in a positional relationship with a predetermined distance between them. The base portion 911 of the abutment member 91 on the right side in Figure 5 has a pair of through holes 915 that are spaced apart in the vertical direction in Figure 5, and the connecting portion 933 is inserted through each through hole 915. As a result, the abutment member 91 on the right side in Figure 5 can move along the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 933. This movement of the abutment member 91 is caused by the driving of each motor 921, and both abutment members 91 repeatedly move closer together and further apart.
[0135] The biasing portion 934 is made of a coil spring and is installed on the outer circumference of the connecting portion 933 and between the two base portions 911. The biasing portion 934 is installed in a compressed state and biases the contact member 91 on the right side in Figure 5 toward the vibration source 92. As a result, the base portion 911 of the contact member 91 on the right side in Figure 5 maintains contact with the outer circumference of the cam 922, i.e., the cam surface, regardless of the rotation angle of the cam 922.
[0136] With this configuration, the rotation of the cam 922 accompanying the drive of the motor 921 causes the contact member 91 on the right side in Figure 5 to move from the state shown in Figure 5 to the state shown in Figure 6, and then back to the state shown in Figure 5, repeating this series of operations. During this time, the biasing force of the biasing part 934 keeps the base 911 of the contact member 91 on the right side in Figure 5 pressed against the cam surface of the cam 922, thereby generating regular vibrations in the contact member 91. These vibrations are transmitted to the fabric 100 that comes into contact with the protrusion 912 of the contact member 91. As a result, the fabric 100 can be treated well, and its texture can be improved.
[0137] In the state shown in Figure 5, the contact member 91 on the right side of the figure is closest to the contact member 91 on the left side of the figure, and in the state shown in Figure 6, the contact member 91 on the right side of the figure is furthest from the contact member 91 on the left side of the figure. The difference in the distance between the two contact members 91 corresponds to the amplitude of the vibration applied by the vibration applying unit 9.
[0138] Therefore, for example, by appropriately selecting the shape of the cam 922 used, such as the dimensions of the major and minor axes of an ellipse, the amplitude of the vibration applied to the fabric 100 can be adjusted. Furthermore, the shape of the cam 922 used can be any shape other than an ellipse, thereby allowing the vibration pattern and vibration characteristics of the vibration applied to the fabric 100 to be set as appropriate.
[0139] Furthermore, a phase difference in rotation or different shapes and dimensions can be provided between one cam 922 and the other cam 922, which also allows for the appropriate setting of the vibration pattern and vibration characteristics of the vibration applied to the fabric 100.
[0140] In the processing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, the vibration applying unit 9 applies vibration to the fabric 100 in the transport path that is transported downwards in Figure 4, so the length of the transport path of the fabric 100 in the left-right direction in Figure 4 can be shortened. Therefore, the device can be made smaller and the space required for installation can be reduced.
[0141] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the fact that the drying section 8 is installed in the vertical transport path in Figure 4, combined with other factors, makes it possible to further miniaturize the device and reduce the space required for installation.
[0142] Although the processing method and apparatus of the present invention have been described above in the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these. Furthermore, each step and part of the processing method and apparatus can be replaced with any step or structure that can perform a similar function. In addition, any additional steps or structures may be added. [Explanation of symbols]
[0143] 1... Processing unit, 2... Conveying unit, 3... Vibration unit, 4... Liquid injection unit, 5... Liquid removal unit, 6... Control unit, 7... Dewatering unit, 8... Drying unit, 9... Vibration unit, 21... Feed-out unit, 22... Winding unit, 23... Intermediate roller, 24... Intermediate roller, 25... Intermediate roller, 26... Intermediate roller, 27... Intermediate roller, 28... Intermediate roller, 29... Intermediate roller, 30... Intermediate roller, 32... Vibration source, 36... Contact member, 41... Nozzle, 42... Pump, 43... Liquid tank, 44... First part, 45... Second part, 51... Casing, 52... Blowing unit, 53... Heater, 71... Squeeze roller, 72... Recovery container, 81... Folding roller, 82... Fold 83...Folding roller, 91...Contact member, 92...Vibration source, 93...Vibration transmission part, 100...Fabric, 101...Liquid, 211...Roller, 221...Roller, 321...Vibrator, 322...Vibration transmission member, 361...Base, 362...Protruding part, 411...Injection nozzle hole, 412...Liquid inlet, 413...Tapered part, 511...Intake port, 911...Base, 912...Protruding part, 915...Through hole, 921...Motor, 922...Cam, 931...Support plate, 932...Support plate, 933...Connecting part, 934...Biasing part, A1...Arrow, A2...Arrow, F...Direction of liquid injection, P...Fulfillment point, θ...Angle, S...Average distance, d...Nozzle hole diameter, D...Caliber
Claims
1. A liquid injection step in which a liquid is injected from the injection nozzle hole toward a fabric and collided with it, the liquid injection unit having at least one nozzle having an injection nozzle hole and a liquid inlet which serves as an entrance for liquid to flow into the injection nozzle hole, The process includes a vibration application step in which vibration is applied to the fabric after the liquid spraying step, When the nozzle diameter of the injection nozzle hole is d [mm] and the diameter of the liquid inlet is D [mm], Satisfying 0.01 mm ≤ d ≤ 0.30 mm and 5 ≤ D / d ≤ 150, The processing method is characterized in that, in the vibration application step, a vibration application unit is used which comprises a base, a contact member having a plurality of protruding portions that protrude from the base and come into contact with the fabric, and a vibration source that applies vibration to the contact member, and vibration is applied to the fabric via the protruding portions.
2. The processing method according to claim 1, wherein in the liquid spraying step, one surface of the fabric is supported by a support roller, and the liquid is impacted onto the other surface of the fabric.
3. The processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid removal step performed between the liquid spraying step and the vibration application step to remove the liquid that has adhered to or impregnated the fabric.
4. The processing method according to claim 3, wherein the liquid removal step is performed by bringing the surface of the fabric that has been hit by the liquid into contact with a heating roller.
5. A conveying unit for transporting fabrics, A liquid injection unit comprising at least one nozzle having an injection nozzle hole and a liquid inlet that serves as an entrance for liquid to flow into the injection nozzle hole, which injects and impacts a liquid onto a fabric from the injection nozzle hole, The system includes a vibration applying unit that applies vibration to the fabric being conveyed by the conveying unit after the liquid has collided with the fabric, When the nozzle diameter of the injection nozzle hole is d [mm] and the diameter of the liquid inlet is D [mm], Satisfying 0.01 mm ≤ d ≤ 0.30 mm and 5 ≤ D / d ≤ 150, The vibration-applying unit comprises a base, a contact member having a plurality of protruding portions that protrude from the base and come into contact with the fabric, and a vibration source that applies vibration to the contact member, and the apparatus is characterized by applying vibration to the fabric via the protruding portions.