Method and apparatus for treating a textile fabric

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Solution Overview

Problem

The textile industry faces challenges in desizing and shrinking fabrics in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner, as existing methods require large amounts of water, chemicals, and solvents.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that involve wetting the fabric in a first pool of liquid, passing it through a chamber with a heatable roller, soaking it in a main pool of liquid, and treating it with ozone gas to achieve controlled desizing and shrinking without excessive use of solvents, water, or chemicals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wet processing with large amounts of water and chemicals is used for desizing and shrinking, then the fabric can be effectively treated, but the environmental impact and operational costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesizing and shrinking effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameters of water from liquid to vapor phase through steam generation, enabling effective desizing and shrinking treatment while reducing water consumption and environmental impact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the conventional wet mechanical processing system with a thermal vapor-based system, where steam is used to achieve fabric treatment without requiring large amounts of liquid water and chemicals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If wet processing with large amounts of water and chemicals is used for desizing and shrinking, then the fabric can be effectively treated, but the operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesizing and shrinking effectivenessVSAvoidwater and chemical consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms water from liquid to vapor phase, allowing effective fabric treatment with significantly reduced water consumption while maintaining desizing and shrinking effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the need for large quantities of water and chemicals from the conventional wet processing system, replacing them with a vapor-phase thermal treatment approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If high processing speeds are used for fabric treatment, then throughput increases, but the degree of shrinkage and desizing may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidshrinkage and desizing degree

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic condensation and evaporation cycles of steam on the fabric, creating repeated thermal shock effects that enhance shrinkage and desizing even during high-speed continuous processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transitions of steam (condensation to liquid and re-evaporation) to create intense localized thermal effects that effectively treat fabric at high processing speeds, maintaining both productivity and treatment quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method allows for efficient desizing and shrinking of textiles with high throughput, achieving a high degree of shrinkage and desizing even at high processing speeds, while reducing environmental impact and operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

contacting the fabric with at least one heatable roller heated at a treatment temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

treating the fabric by means of ozone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS12286740B2Method and apparatus for treating a textile fabric

Publication Date: 2025.04.29 JEANOLOGIA S L

AI summary

A method and an apparatus for desizing and/or shrinking a textile fabric, the textile fabric having a length and a width, the method including moving, lengthwise, the fabric, and wetting the fabric within a first pool of liquid, the first pool of liquid including water; passing the fabric through a chamber, and in the chamber contacting the fabric with at least one heatable roller heated at a treatment temperature; soaking the fabric with a main pool of liquid, the main pool of liquid including water; and treating the fabric with ozone. The apparatus includes a first module for wetting the fabric, a second module with a heatable roller for heating the fabric, a third module for soaking the fabric, and fourth module for treating the fabric with ozone. The second module may optionally be integrated with the first module.