Patent GB-618947-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for dry cleaning wool and other materials
IPC: D01C3/00
Filed: 1945-07-11
Abstract: Fibrous materials such as wool, hair, skins, fur and fabrics are dry cleaned by advancing the material in layer form through a cleaning <PICT:0618947/III/1> <PICT:0618947/III/2> zone and therein wetting the layer with solvent and subjecting the same at a plurality of spaced locations in said zone to repeated simultaneous working and squeezing action by working one side of the layer relative to the other under pressure while draining usedsolvent therefrom.  The pressure treatment preferably comprises repeated intermittent squeezings such as by rollers, and in addition, a treatment which comprises repeated alternate opposite flexings of the layer transversely of its length with repeated rubbing of its surface under pressure in opposite directions.  The usual solvents are specified and the solvent is recovered from the vapours evolved.  A suitable plant comprises an air-tight chamber 10 sealed by entrance and exit squeeze rolls 12, 14 which conduct the layer of material L to be cleaned between an upper and a lower bank of rotating worker rolls 20 housed therein, the rolls of each bank being located between the axes of a pair of rolls of the other bank and exerting a squeezing action on the layer as it passes therebetween in a sinuous path.  Solvent is supplied through spray pipes 22 and used solvent collected in basins 30; vapours pass off through pipes 36.  The additional superimposed pressure treatment on the layer of material may be effected by endwise reciprocating one of the banks of rolls or of both banks in opposite directions by a preferred apparatus described below.  The chamber 10 is followed by a similar chamber 40 equipped with an endless apron 46 for carrying the layer therethrough and heating devices 48 for vaporizing solvent from the layer for removal through pipes 50.  The apparatus for effecting the additional pressure treatment comprises upper and lower banks of rolls 118, Fig. 4, corresponding to rolls 20, mounted on shafts 120 rotatably journalled through opposite side members of a pair of sub-frames 116, 110 respectively, which latter are slidably suspended on fixed transverse rods 112 and 106 mounted on frames 104 and 100 in each case.  The frames 104 and 100 may be adjustably spaced.  The roll shafts 120 are provided with worm gears 124 which engage worm gears on driving shafts driven by sprockets 132, 142 chain driven by a sprocket 136 on the motor shaft 138.  The latter also drives through sprocket and chain connection a shaft 148 carrying a crank disc 150 having pivoted thereto one end of a crank arm 152.  The reciprocation of the latter rocks a lever 154 pivoted on a shaft 156 between pivotal connections to the ends of a pair of levers 158 and 160 which are themselves pivotally connected at 162 and 164 to the sub-frames 116 and 110 respectively.  The latter and their banks of rolls are thereby caused to slide to and fro in opposite directions axially of the rolls 118. Scrapers or brushes 180, 182 may be provided, and the rolls may be grooved or ribbed.  The rubbing treatment of the layer may be effected oppositely to the direction of travel of the layer instead of transversely by rotating the rolls of the two banks at variant speeds.