Patent GB-1199969-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for Abrasion Resistance Process
IPC: D06C29/00
Filed: 1967-09-22
Abstract: 1,199,969. Treating textiles. CLUETT, PEABODY & CO. Inc. 22 Sept., 1967 [29 Sept., 1966], No. 43276/67. Heading D1L. Webs of fabric are treated, e.g. to improve their abrasion resistance, by being passed sinusoidally through an enclosed chamber having means for supplying an atmosphere including a treating gas in a direction upwardly of the entire width of the chamber to come into contact with the fabric, the atmosphere supplying means including a treating-gas-distributing device extending into the chamber, the gas device having means including a pipe arranged to distribute gas to blend with the remaining constituents of the atmosphere, and in which they are subjected to a continuously regulated predetermined flow rate of treatment gas. A treatment chamber 10, enclosed on all sides, is provided adjacent its top with entrance lock 40 and a similar exit lock 50, both locks being so constructed that when the chamber 10 is in use no atmosphere escapes therefrom. The chamber is provided with an upper set 28 and lower set 30 of rolls so arranged that a fabric web 36 is fed into the chamber 40 over a first roll 28 and thence alternately over a lower roll 30 and an upper roll progressively in a downstream direction through the chamber, the web finally leaving an upper roll 28 and being led out through exit 50. A pipe 62 having a series of holes 64 on its underside is located in'an upper portion of the chamber 10 near to the exit 50 and downstream of a final vertical reach of the web. The pipe 62 is connected via a fan 68 to a similar pipe 72 having holes 74 located upstream of a first vertical reach of the web. Thus any atmosphere in the chamber can be recirculated by passing into pipe 62 and out of pipe 72. Situated vertically beneath the pipe 72 is a pipe 76 extending the full width of the web and having a series of outlet nozzles 78 along its length, which pipe 76 is connected with a source of the gas to be used to treat the fabric. This location of the gas pipe 76 enables the constant supply of gas to the chamber to be immediately blended with the recirculated atmosphere issuing from pipe 72. It may be desirable to carry out the treatment process in a moist atmosphere and to assist this steam ejection pipes 80, 82 are located at the base of the chamber, one vertically below pipe 76 and one vertically below pipe 62. The steam emitted is at a low pressure but at a temperature above that of the fabric web. To maintain this humidity, especially in the recirculating atmosphere a water distributing pipe 88 may be located intermediate pipes 62 and 82, a baffle 92 preventing directed impingement of any water on the final vertical reach of the web. A sample tube 104 is located within the chamber 10 at a point remote from pipe 82 whereby samples of the treatment atmosphere can be withdrawn and fed to a control device 110, 112, 113, 114, e.g., a gas chromatograph. The results of the analysis are converted to a signal which is fed to a recorder where it is compared with a norm, any deviation being noted automatically and corrective action taken through operation of a valve or flow meter. When different fabrics are used to get the correct treatment either the treatment-gas concentration or flow rate, is adjusted or the dwell time of the fabric within the chamber is altered. This latter is effected by missing out some of the rolls over which the fabric could pass thereby obviating the need for a change in speed of the fabric movement. Where the apparatus is used to prevent or sharply reduce curing or cross-linking in the outer regions only of cotton fabric webs the treatment gas may be any alkaline gas, preferably ammonia gas.