Patent Publication Number: US-2021163750-A1

Title: Group for preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items, such as for example clothing articles, as well as a plant for dyeing and a method for preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to a group for preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items, such as for example clothing articles, as well as a plant for dyeing and a method for preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Many apparatuses have been proposed for dyeing items of clothing, such as trousers, sweaters, jumpers, jackets, etc. 
     Such apparatuses usually employ specific substances for the dyeing of items which are of chemical extraction. 
     US2018282944A1 and US2011271463A1 describe solutions according to the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a new group for preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a group as above said which is an alternative to traditional processes which use synthetic chemicals. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a group as indicated above which ensures that the dyeing process is safe for operators. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a group for preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items which is able of carrying out an ecological process. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, a group according to the present application is provided. 
     The present application refers to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of an embodiment of a group, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view slightly from above of a group according to the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the group of  FIG. 1  with parts removed and only a visible portion of the liquid path in the group itself, 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a detail of the group of  FIG. 1  with arrows indicating outlets or discharges of the liquid from the group, 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a filter for a group of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a view of a detail of the group of  FIG. 1  with arrows indicating an emptying opening of the tank of the group. 
     
    
    
     In the accompanying drawings identical parts or components are indicated by the same reference numbers. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the attached figures, a group  1  for preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items, such as for example items of clothing, such as trousers, sweaters, jumpers, jackets, etc. has been illustrated, comprising at least a tank  2  for containing a more or less dense liquid, especially water. 
     The water in the containment tank can be, for example, softened or non-softened water. 
     According to the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the figures, the tank  2  may for example have a base  2   a , a top  2   b  and a side wall, if desired cylindrical  2   c  extending between the bases. Moreover, the tank  2  can be arranged with a substantially vertical arrangement or arrangement inclined with respect to the vertical and to the horizontal, that is to say with the main development or symmetry axis of the side wall substantially vertical or inclined with respect to the vertical and to the horizontal. 
     The group  1  then comprises at least one one dye component or filter  3  provided with a basket in fluid communication, if desired by means of suitable ducts, with the tank  2 , so that the liquid (initially in the tank  2  or in a containment and non-filtering part of the same) can be conveyed within or through the filter  3  and through the natural dye substance FS so that the liquid is dyed by the natural dye substance FS. 
     The filter  3  includes a containment means suitable to contain a color release element comprising at least one natural dye substance FS. The natural dye substance FS can include, for example, roots, berries, fruits, shells and/or barks or parts in general of flowers or plants in general, for example shells, peels, berries, barks, roots, grass, mushrooms and/or parts of mushrooms or animals, such as dead and/or dried animals and/or animal or mineral extracts or any other natural substance that releases color, if desired in the form of flakes, pieces or even powder. 
     As it will be ascertained, the natural dye substance FS releases color to the fluid, so it does not purify or allow only certain components of the fluid to pass through. The expressions filter and color release element must therefore be interpreted in the light of this and the other definitions provided for the respective component. 
     The filter  3  can have a configuration with a casing  3   a  delimiting a zone CZ for containing one or more natural dye substances FS. 
     This filter  3  can have longitudinal symmetry axis x-x for example inclined with respect to the vertical and the horizontal or even vertical. As regards the possible inclination of the filter  3 , the respective longitudinal axis of symmetry x-x can define an acute angle with the horizontal between about 10° and about 40°, 50°, 60° or 70°. 
     More particularly, the filter  3  can be arranged with an opening or inlet end  3   b  at a level higher than the respective opening or outlet end  3   c , so that the liquid, or rather the water, passes through the filter from top to bottom, if desired according to a path in an inclined direction with respect to the vertical. If desired, the outlet opening  3   c  is at a level slightly higher than the bottom of the tank  2 . 
     The filter  3  can then comprise containment means  3   d  of the natural dye substances FS, for example grids, membranes or the like intended to delimit the part of the containment area CZ in which the natural dye substances FS are kept and to prevent the latter from being drag away or out of their respective seat. Clearly, the containment means  3   d  do not prevent the passage of the liquid. 
     The natural dye substances FS can be flakes, pieces or loose or untied powders within the containment area CZ, but confined by the containment means  3   d.    
     Therefore, these substances FS define between them a percolation or passage path for the liquid. 
     Subject-matter of the present invention is also a filter as indicated above for a group for preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items or, better, for a plant for dyeing manufactures items, such as items of clothing. 
     Moreover, a connection tube or bypass  4   e  (visible in  FIG. 2 ) can be provided between the filter  3  and the tank  2 , in particular between an upper part of the filter  3  and the tank  2  or a storage tank or the conveyance circuit  4 . This tube makes it possible to completely fill the filter with liquid (and therefore to completely wet the dye substances contained within it) favouring the venting of excess air from the filter  3  to the tank  2  or to the storage tank or to the conveyance circuit  4 . 
     The group  1  is then provided with a conveyance circuit  4  of the liquid taken from the tank  2  into the filter  3  and through the natural dye substance FS so as to dye the liquid with the natural dye substance FS. Clearly, the percolation or passage path for the liquid constitutes a section of the conveyance circuit  4 . 
     There are also preferably provided thrust or suction means, such as a pump  4   a , suitably operated, designed to push or in any case force the liquid along the conveyance circuit  4 . The pump  4   a  can be provided for example at the bottom of the group  1 . 
     The conveyance circuit  4  can extend starting from the bottom of the tank  2  and then have horizontal and/or oblique and/or vertical sections (with suitable connections) until it reaches a predetermined level at which the inlet opening  3   b  of the filter  3  is provided. 
     If desired, heating means are provided, for example a coil or electric resistance (not shown in the figures), which are mounted or in any case act in the tank  2  to heat the liquid, such as water, in particular to heat the liquid before it is fed to the filter  3  to thus promote the absorption by the liquid of the color released by the natural dye substances FS during the filtering or passage of the liquid through them. Naturally, in this case, the group also comprises means for actuating the heating means. 
     The heating means can, in addition or alternative to what has now been indicated, be provided around or within the conveyance circuit  4  and/or in the filter  3 . In the latter case, clearly, the heating means would heat the liquid during the feeding of the liquid to filter  3 . 
     The heating means are for example designed to heat the liquid to a temperature between 40 and 98° C. 
     Advantageously, the conveyance circuit  4  departs from the tank  2 , passes through the filter  3  and flows back into the tank  2  or into a storage container, so that a closed or non-closed circuit is generated during which the liquid absorbs a color from the natural dye substance FS contained in the filter  3 . 
     According to the non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, the conveyance circuit  4  is a closed circuit that departs from the tank  2 , for example from the bottom of the same (from which the liquid is drawn) and also returns or ends in the tank  2  by means of a terminal duct  4   c  of the circuit  4 , for example at a level proximal to the bottom, but slightly above the outlet from the tank of the conveyance circuit  4 . 
     At least one discharge duct or outflow  5   a ,  5   b  of the treated or dyed liquid in the filter  3  towards a washing machine or dyeing machine is also provided. 
     If desired, two or more discharge ducts or outflows  5   a ,  5   b  are provided, so as each of the latter can serve two or more washing machines. 
     In this regard, the discharge ducts  5   a ,  5   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) can constitute branching arms of the conveying circuit  4 . 
     In this respect, the conveyance circuit  4  can comprise a fitting  6  with two or more outlets, each intercepted by a respective shut-off valve  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c , a section  4   b  (in  FIG. 3  shown only in part) being mounted in an outlet of the conveyance circuit  4 , for example upstream of the filter  3 , while a respective discharge duct  5   a ,  5   b  is mounted in the other outlet or other outlets. With such a structure it is possible to selectively feed (by means of appropriate control of the valves  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ) the liquid to the filter  3  or to one or both of the discharge ducts  5   a ,  5   b  and therefore to a respective washing machine or utility. 
     Clearly, the discharge ducts  5   a ,  5   b  could also depart directly from the tank  2  or from a storage container for the final compound to dye manufactured items, without therefore intercepting the conveyance circuit  4 . 
     Of course, the conveyance circuit  4  could also open directly to the outside of the group or into an exhaust duct, without therefore providing a return section to the tank  3  or a transmission section to a storage container. 
     Moreover, the group  1  can also be equipped with an emptying duct  8  of the tank  2 , which starts from a suitable emptying opening delimited by the tank  2 , if desired on the bottom of the same and it is intercepted by a suitable opening/closing valve  9 . 
     The group  1  can also comprise a casing  10  for delimiting or hiding components of the group. 
     In this case, the filter  3  can be supported by a wall of the casing  10 , in particular on the side of the latter and/or by the tank  1 . 
     If desired, the filter  3  can also be provided with an anti-scald protection (not visible in the images), for reasons of safety and protection for the operator. 
     The casing  10  can then support a screen or control panel  11  by an operator. 
     Clearly, the control of the valves (if electronic), the pump and any other possible components of the group can be delegated to a control unit or PLC of group  1 . 
     A group according to the present invention can also include an electronic control unit or microprocessor to allow, for example, to manage automatically, by controlling temperatures, dye release times, quantity of liquid to be introduced into the machine as well as to save recipes for future treatment replicates. 
     In this case, through the central electronic unit it is possible to control, save and define the process parameters as well as the reproducibility of pre-set recipes. 
     The group can then also comprise a flow meter  4   d , which makes it possible to monitor the dosing flow rate of the liquid. This component can be in electrical communication with an electronic control unit. 
     A colorimeter or sensor for detecting the color in the liquid treated in the filter can then be provided in the group, which is responsible for controlling the level of dye absorbed and consequently informing an electronic control unit of the group. 
     Clearly, the group  1  and more particularly the tank  2  or also the conveyance circuit  4  can then have an opening for the introduction of liquid, i.e. water, which would serve for the initial filling of the tank or for the rinsing phase or to dilute the compound, if it is too concentrated in dye. These steps could of course be managed by an electronic control unit or even by an operator as a function, for example with information or lights visible for example on a control panel. 
     Moreover, even if they are not described in general, the group contains special manual and/or automatic valves with means for controlling them, as well as, where necessary, means of motorization of the components and appropriate sensors, if desired in electronic communication with the electronic unit. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a dyeing plant comprising a group  1  as well as at least one apparatus or washing machine or dyeing machine (not shown in the figures) for dyeing of manufactured items, such as clothing articles, which apparatus is in fluid communication with the tank  2  or with a container or with the filter  3  so as to receive from it the compound for dyeing manufactures items obtained by filtering the liquid taken from the tank  2  in the filter  3 . 
     More specifically, the (or each) washing machine or dyeing machine is placed in fluid communication or served by a respective discharge duct  5   a ,  5   b . If two or more discharge ducts  5   a ,  5   b  are provided, then the plant comprises two or more washing machines each connected and in communication with a respective discharge duct  5   a ,  5   b  so as to be able to receive the compound for dyeing only from the latter, and thus it is possible to fed two washing machines at the same time or not by means of the same group. 
     The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a compound for dyeing manufactured items with a group  1 , which involves conveying the liquid into the filter  3  and through the natural dye substance FS so that the liquid absorbs a coloring from the natural dye substance FS contained in the filter  3 . 
     If desired, the method provides a heating step, if desired at a temperature between 40 and 98° C., for example for a time between 5′ and 120′, of the liquid (in the tank  2 , in the circuit  4  or in the filter  3 ), owing to an action of the heating means, before or during the conveyance of the liquid into the filter  3 , so as to increase the action or absorption capacity by the liquid of the coloring released by the natural dye substance FS. 
     Advantageously, a treatment method with a plant according to the present invention can also provide, after having conveyed the liquid into the filter  3  and through the natural dye substance FS, to perform the following steps: 
     return the filtered liquid to tank  2  or send it to a storage container, and, after a certain storage period, 
     transmit the compound to dye into the washing machine or dyeing machine, where this compound will dye the items of clothing. 
     Clearly, after the liquid has been filtered and therefore after the liquid has absorbed the color released by the natural dye substances FS, the dyeing compound can be directly sent to a washing machine or dyeing machine, without therefore being stored in the tank or in a storage container. 
     Changes and variants of the invention are possible within the defined by the claims. 
     Thus, for example, the filter could also constitute a final section, preferably lower, of the tank or this filter could be placed immediately downstream, if desired below, the tank, so that the conveyance circuit  4 , at least between tank and filter, would not be planned or in any case would consist of a (more or less short) duct.