GB977400A - Method and apparatus for dyeing tubular knit material - Google Patents

Abstract

977,400. Treating textiles. SAMEOE HOLDING CORPORATION. Sept. 7, 1961 [Sept. 13, 1960], No. 32169/61. Headings D1L and D1S. Apparatus for continuously dyeing tubular knit material, comprises means for spreading the material to a flat form and to a predetermined uniform width, a dye bath roller means providing nips for compressing the spread material and releasing it in the dye bath and roller means for extracting excess dye from the material emerging from the bath, said roller means being arranged to maintain continuous contact with the material during said compressing, releasing and extracting steps. In the arrangement shown a spreader 10 is positioned to receive tubular material from a prior processing station, and sets it to predetermined width. The spreader 10 also advances the material towards a dyeing station 11. Steamers 12 and/or squeeze rolls 13 may be provided depending on whether the material is dry or wet to pre-condition the material prior to entry to the dye bath. After passing through the dye bath, in which the material passes through the nips of a number of pairs of squeeze rollers, the material passes between the nip 42 of a pair of pressure rollers covered with resilient material to extract excess dye from the fabric. The reservoir 19 (Fig. 3) of the dyeing apparatus has rotatably mounted therein and below the level of the liquid, rollers 25 and 26 and a roller 27 of larger diameter and only partly immersed. Roller 27 forms nip 42 with a pressure roller 43 and is connected to suitable drive means. Mounted below rollers 25-27 and positioned in the spaces therebetween are rollers 29, 30. These are suspended by arms 31, 32 from yoke 33 which in turn is connected at pivot 36 to a lever 35 pivoted at 37 to the frame of the reservoir. Lever 35 carries at the other end a handle 38 which can co-operate with a plurality of notches in a bracket 39. By selecting the position of handle 38 on the rollers 29, 30 can be moved away from the other rollers to permit threading of the material through the rollers or can be moved into contact therewith to form nips for the material to pass through the loading between the rollers being. produced by the resilience of the lever system. The passing of the material through the nips of the rollers results in a sponge-like action-air and liquid is squeezed out of the material at each nip particularly the first one, and liquid is drawn back into the material between the nips in a uniform manner. In a further embodiment, in order to ensure uniformity of dyeing, the material may first be passed through a similar device to that described above but containing water so as to ensure a uniformity of water content and of temperature before the dyeing operation. The spreader 10 consists of a pair of belts 14, 15 supported within the fabric tube on a frame 16 which may be adjusted to a predetermined width to stretch the fabric widthwise. The fabric is propelled forward over the spreader by means of the belts 14, 15 driven by edge rolls 17, 18.