Patent ID: 6935229
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: D06C

Abstract:
1. A system for air embossing a surface of an embossable fabric comprising: a cylindrical stencil having an inside surface and a fabric-facing surface; an air lance comprising a conduit and at least one nozzle, wherein the nozzle is configured and positioned with respect to the inside surface of the stencil so that it is able to emit a stream of a gas supplied to the air lance such that the gas is directed to pass through openings in the stencil and, when the system is in operation, impinge upon the surface of the embossable fabric, the stream of gas having sufficient velocity and collimation to create visible embossed depressions in the surface of the fabric in a pattern corresponding to a pattern of the openings in the stencil, and wherein the nozzle is positioned so that a minimum distance separating the nozzle from an inner surface of the stencil is less than a minimum distance separating the nozzle from a longitudinal central axis of the conduit; and at least one stencil stabilizer constructed and positioned to apply a force to the stencil during operation of the system to reduce variations in a distance separating the embossable surface of the fabric and a portion of the fabric-facing surface of the stencil directly adjacent thereto during rotation of the stencil, wherein the stabilizer is constructed and positioned so that at least a portion of the stencil stabilizer is separated from the longitudinal central axis of the conduit by a minimum distance exceeding the minimum distance separating the nozzle from the longitudinal central axis of the conduit.