Patent GB-1128215-A (GB)
Title: Dyeboarding system
Inventor: SWINDALL JOHN LESLIE
IPC: D06B5/24
Filed: 1965-10-14
Abstract: 1,128,215. Textile treating apparatus. SAMUEL PEGG & SON Ltd. 7 Oct., 1966 [14 Oct., 1965], No. 43674/65. Heading D1L. Apparatus for the operation and control of ,a dyeboarding process comprises an individual and adjustable timer for controlling each of four potential processing stages of preboarding, dyeing, post-boarding and drying, means whereby the completion of each stage in the process initiates the commencement of the successive stages, and electrical control means whereby any stage of the process may be eliminated. The process is described in particular relation to the finishing of stockings. In operation, the various processing stages take place in a retort comprising an upper bell 1 and a fixed base 2. The stockings 9 are positioned on the formers and mounted on a carriage 8. In the starting position, the bell 1 is raised, and the carriage is pushed into the treating zone, thus displacing a carriage which has been through the processing stages. When the carriage 8 reaches the central position, it triggers a solenoid valve 4 which operates pneumatic jacks 3, to shut off the air supply thereto and thus the bell, 1 descends. The closing of the bell 1 on the base 2 activates solenoid valve 6 operating the locking devices 5, which when in the closed position, activate solenoid valve 18. The valve 18 operates valve 12 for the admission of steam to the retort via pipe 13. At the same time, the locking device 5 activates solenoid valve 23 which opens the valve 22 in the discharge conduit, and also operates a timing device which closes the valve 22 after a set time for air discharge from the retort. The pressure of steam in the retort raises the temperature therein, which temperature is sensed by bulb 20 and communicated to a temperature controller 19 which is preferably a Bowdon gauge. When the preset temperature is reached the preboarding process timer is brought into operation. At the end of the time set for preboarding, solenoid valve 23 is again activated and the valve 22 is opened; steam leaves the retort and the pressure drops until atmospheric pressure is reached at which point, a pressure switch is operated to activate solenoid valve 42 and also to close the valve 22. The valve 42 opens valve 41 to admit dye liquor from tank 24 to retort via a pump 17. Probes 34 and 35 determine the level of dye liquor in the tank, and when a predetermined volume has been discharged to the retort, the valve 41 is closed and the pump 17 is started. The lower probe 35 also sets into operation a dyeing process timer which after a preset time stops the pump 17, opens the discharge valve and also the steam admission valve 12. The end of the dyeing stage also sets in operation a delay timing device to close valve 22, the post-boarding timer also being set in operation at the end of the dyeing stage. The completion of the post-boarding process closes the steam valve 12 and opens the drain valve 22. As the pressure built up in the retort falls to atmospheric a pressure switch sets a drying process timer in operation and at the same time starts a blower 44 for the supply of heated air to the retort, the drain valve 22 remaining open. At the end of the drying process, the valve 6 is operated to unlock the bell 1, and the locking devices 5 operates a microswitch to open valve 4 and feed air to the jacks 3 to raise the bell 1. The dye liquor in the tank 24 is preferably preheated to a predetermined temperature, the constituent components being mixed by an agitator 30. Each of the individual process stage timers may be mounted on a single control panel for quick setting by an operative, and a press button may be provided for stopping the sequence at any stage, which button also activates the drain valve for safety reasons. Provision may be made to clean the retort and conduits with water and detergent between changes of dye liquor, the control effecting the washing stage rendering the other process stages inoperative.