Machine for the multiple-pass dyeing of cord fabrics

Abstract: A machine for the multiple-pass dyeing of cord fabrics, comprising a dyeing vat (11) containing at least two Overflow or Jet units arranged one after the other and associated with at least two reels (12-17) straddling the same number of fabric collecting vats (18-23) and of Overflow or Jet funnels (24-29), so as to pick up the cord fabric (36) contained in the collecting vats and introduce it into the Overflow or Jet funnels, said fabric being tied into a ring, characterized in that for the purposes of passing said cord fabric the collecting vats (18-23) and Overflow or Jet funnels (24-29) are connected to each other in a non-sequential manner and in a number lower than the maximum number of collecting vats and Overflow or Jet funnels present in the machine. Moreover, in machines equipped with at least four compartments, two of the collecting vats and the Overflow or Jet funnels set next to the opposite ends of the dyeing vat are connected in series to each other.

Description: This invention refers to a machine for the multiple-pass dyeing of cord fabrics. A number of different solutions have been developped in the field of cord fabric dyeing machines. In fact the machines known to this date show drawbacks related both to their treating speed and their construction, which must be capable of inducing the fabric to absorb an optimum amount of color so as to achieve a uniform dyeing result. A considerable progress was achieved thanks to the machine built according to the Italian patent MI93A 01474 of July 8, 1993, corresponding to EP-A-0633340, which relates to the preamble of claim 1 and which attempted to provide a solution for the problems encountered up to that point. This application notes that the machine is formed by several Overflow or Jet units arranged in series, through which the cord fabric is passed while tied into a ring. The fabric is subdivided by the number of Overflow or Jet units constituting the machine and is capable of passing several Overflow of Jet units in sequence, as many times as needed to dye it, while constantly maintaining its subdivision. In particular in the machine according to the mentioned invention, the speed of the reels of each Overflow or Jet unit is syncronized with respect to that of a pilot reel, while slippages of the fabric in any other reel are corrected by a controlling system on the machine, for example in the form of a microprocessor. This synchronization is possible thanks to the fact that the fabric to be dyed is subdivided in as many equal parts as the Overflow or Jet units constituting the machine, and a magnet is positioned on at least one of these. An appropriate sensor is provided to signal the passage of the magnet to the microprocessor and to take action to retard or advance the affected reel. Such a machine, while still operating extremely well in its overall concept, provides, as already mentioned, for passing the fabric from reel to reel in a sequence, from the first to the last and then returning it through a long conduit from the last reel back to the first reel. In practical terms, this kind of transport of the fabric puts a restriction on the fabric's moving speed, to the point of preventing an adequate processing. The head losses in such a long return conduit limit, due to the fabric's friction on the inner conduit surface, the circulating speed of the piece of fabric even in a machine equipped with two treating compartments. These problems relating to the circulation of the piece of fabric are increased out of all proportion in a machine involving several compartments, for instance four or six. In this case the speed limitation becomes unsustainable and the machine quits working in an industrially acceptable way. The scope of this invention is to produce a machine for the dyeing of cord fabrics capable of overcoming this technical problem of limiting the circulating speed of the piece of fabric. Another scope is to produce a machine for the dyeing of cord fabrics capable of allowing an adequate operation, even and above all in the presence of numerous machine compartments. These scopes are achieved according to this invention by producing a machine for the multiple-pass dyeing of cord fabrics according to claim 1. The characteristics and advantages of a machine for the multiple-pass dyeing of cord fabrics according to this invention will be more evident from the following exemplifying and non-limiting description, referred to the simplified drawing attached, which shows a plan view of such a machine. With reference to Figure 1, a machine for the multiple-pass dyeing of cord fabric is shown and indicated as a whole by the number 10, comprising a dyeing tank 11 for an Overflow or Jet process, containing a multiple number of Overflow or Jet units. Moreover, the vat interior has a number of compartments A, B, C, D, E, F containing a multiple number or reels 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 arranged in series. In the example shown, these compartments A, B, C, D, E, F are in the number of six but may go from a minimum of four to over six, depending on the user's needs and requirements. The reels 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are positioned in a manner to straddle an equal number of collecting vats shown in a simplified manner by 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, respectively, and of the same number of Overflow funnels shown by 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. Moreover, according to the invention, some conduits 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 are provided to connect the collecting vats and as many funnels, not in series. The reels 12-17 pick up the cord fabric, shown in a simplified manner by a dashed and dotted line in 36 and contained in the vats 18-23, and introduce it to the respective Overflow units 24-29. In particular, in the example shown, the fabric 36 contained in the vat 18 is passed by the reel 12 to the funnel 24 and then to the conduit 30. This conduit 30 is arranged according to this invention and arrives at the collecting vat 20 in which it introduces the piece of fabric. The fabric 36 contained in the collecting vat 20 is passed by the reel 14 into the funnel 26 and then into the conduit 32. This conduit, also arranged according to the invention, arrives at the collecting vat 22, not arranged in series, in which it introduces the piece of fabric. As can be seen, the fabric 36 contained in the collecting vat 22 is subsequently passed by the reel 16 to the funnel 28 and then to the conduit 34, from where it is conveyed to the following vat 23, thus concluding the forward path. The flow of the fabric to the remaining compartments occurs in the same manner as described above. In fact, the fabric 36 contained in the collecting vat 23 is passed by the reel 17 to the funnel 29 and then to the conduit 35. This conduit 35 arrives at the collecting vat 21, arranged according to this invention in a non-serial manner, in which it introduces the piece of fabric. The fabric 36 contained in the collecting vat 21 is then passed by the reel 15 to the funnel 27 and then into the conduit 33, which arrives at the collecting vat 19, also not arranged in series, in which it introduces the piece of fabric 36. Finally, the fabric 36 contained in the collecting vat 19 is passed by the reel 13 to the funnel 25 and then into the conduit 31, from which it is again conveyed to the first vat 18, thus concluding the return path of the piece. This achieves the transport across sections of conduit of a not excessive length, which in no way limit the circulating speed of the piece. The transport conduits are between them of comparable length and therefore allow an identical transport speed of the fabric for the various machines, independently of the number of compartments they contain. This solves the technical problem present in the machines based on the prior art , in an extremely simple and entirely novel manner. The invention is equally valid for machines having four compartments, but finds its optimum application in machines having more compartments.

Claims: Machine (10) for a multiple-pass dyeing of cord fabric (36) including an external dyeing tank (11) comprising at least four compartments (A,B,C,D,E,F...) arranged in a row within said tank (11), each of said compartments being provided with a fabric collecting vat (18-23), a reel (12-17) and an overflow or jet funnel (24-29), said fabric (36) being tied into a ring and being circulated in a circulation path through said compartments (A,B,C,D,E,F...) characterised in that said fabric circulation path has a "forward" path and a "return" path, the "forward" path being the path from the first compartment (A) to the last compartment (F) of the row, the "return" path being the path from the last compartment (F) to the first compartment (A) of the row, the fabric in said "forward" fabric circulation path being transferred from the first compartment (A) to the third compartment (C) and so on, i.e. in a non-sequential configuration (A,C,E...), said non-sequential configuration being equally present in the "return" path (...F,D,B), however the fabric is transferred between the last two compartments of the "forward" path and between the last two compartments of the "return path" in a sequential configuration (respectively E,F and B,A), the fabric contained in each collecting vat (18-24) being passed by the respective reel (12,17) to the respective jet funnel (24-29) and then to a conduit (respectively 30,32; 35,33 and 34,31) connecting one compartment to the other compartment according to said not-sequential (A,C,E,...;...F,D,B) and to said sequential configuration (E,F;B,A).

Inventors: CAGNAZZI DANILO, CAGNAZZI, DANILO
Applicants: MCS OFF MECC SPA, MCS OFFICINA MECCANICA S.P.A.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: D06B3
IPC codes: D06B3