Patent GB-330935-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for applying colours to fibrous textile fabrics
IPC: B41F17/00
Filed: 1929-03-18
Abstract: 330,935. Rauer, P. March 18, 1929. Coating materials in long lengths. -A method of applying colour to textile fabrics consists in applying colour to the surface of a body of liquid to form a film, and moving the fabric towards the surface of the liquid so that the fabric is pressed into the film and the colour is pressed through and into the fabric. Preferably the excess of colour is absorbed by a backing of absorbent paper above the fabric. The method is particularly adapted to produce marbled and similar effects. The apparatus consists of side frames 1, Figs. 1 and 2, supporting rollers for the fabric, and a tank 2, which consists of two parallel flumes A, B joined by semicircular portions C and D. The water in the tank is circulated by paddles 5, 5. The coated fabric is received on a take-up roll 20, Fig. 1, spaced far enough from the colour pick-up roll 19 to permit the colour film to dry. A roll 21 supplies a protective paper web which after passing round the pick-up roller 19 with the fabric, is wound on a roll 24. The fabric to be coloured is supplied from a roll 23. The fabric and paper pass together between driven feed rollers 29, 30, under a bar 31 and under the pick-up roller 19. Cams 44, 45, driven by belts from the feed rollers 29, 30, operate levers 36, 37, which by means of oneway friction clutches cause the rolls 20, 24 to rotate intermittently to take up the fabric and paper. The water in the trough B is caused to flow at the same speed as the fabric at the point where the latter is pressed into contact with the colour film by the roller 19, Fig. 5. The fabric approaches the water surface at an acute angle, so that the colour film is not disturbed. The colour distributors comprise tubes 56, 57, 58, Fig. 5, set across the trough 2, and each provided with a number of nozzles 64. A baffle 67 is provided with its lower edge touching the water in front of the nozzles, to prevent back spreading of the colour film, and a smoothing plate 69 to ensure an even surface on the water. The colour tubes 56 - - 58 are supplied from cylinders 74 - - 76, Fig. 6, provided with cocks to regulate the supply of colour, and with pistons which are caused to reciprocate slowly by means of threaded rods rotated by gearing from a motor 89. The gear ratio of each piston drive may be adjusted by means of change wheels, to allow different amounts of colour to be fed from the various tubes. The colour streams from the nozzles 64 may be broken up to produce marbled effects by means of a rotating and reciprocating shaft 110, Fig. 12, which is supported above the trough at the point X, Fig. 5, and provided with spaced fingers 116, Fig. 12, which dip into the water on rotation of the shaft. A discharge spout 102, Fig. 2, keeps the water level constant, and a doctor blade 103 removes the unused film. The colour used may have a nitro-cellulose or oil base. A pattern such as that shown in Fig. 11 may be produced by arranging the colour nozzles and agitator so that a space is left in the marbled design, and then printing a conventional design 100 in the space by means of a block.