US3210970A - Apparatus for high temperature dyeing - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 12, 1965 c. BLOUNT, JR 3,

APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING Original Filed Jan. 10. 1961 4 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR. CHARLES BLOU/VT, JR.

Oct. 12, 1965 c. BLOUNT, JR 3,210,970

APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING Original Filed Jan. 10. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F l G. 3 INVENTOR.

C Hnnzs BLauNT, JR.

A TTORIVE Y.

Oct. 12, 1965 c. BLOUNT, JR

APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING Original Filed Jan. 10. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGS.

INVENTOR. CHARLLJ BLou/vT, JR.

\ Z fl'r TORNEY.

be reduced appreciably-to the extent of 35% "known in the trade as non-leveling of the dye.

United States Patent 3,210,970 APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING Charles Blount, Jr., Westport, Conn., assignor to The United Piece Dye Works, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application Jan. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 81,780. Divided and this application July 9, 1963, Ser. No. 327,568

3 Claims. (Cl. 68--177) This is a division of a copending patent application, Serial No. 81,780, filed January 10, 1961, for Method and Apparatus of High Temperature Dyeing, and now abandoned.

The invention relates to an apparatus for effecting the dyeing of synthetic fibers and synthetic sheets or film, particularly as embodied in a fabric which is composed,

for example, in Whole or in part of polyester fibers such as Dacron, Kodel, Vycron, etc.; or in a sheet or film composed, for example, of such synthetic as Mylar sheeting.

In the art of dyeing these synthetics, it has long been recognized that a process, an apparatus for conducting the dyeing at relatively high temperatures, was required. The advantage of utilizing such temperatures is that the synthetics under these conditions have a greater afiinity for the dye.

Thus, at atmospheric pressure and temperatures below 212 F., dyeing of synthetics of the aforesaid nature require a dyeing cycle of the order of 25 hours6 hours of which being consumed in chemical treatment for the removal of sizing waxes and oils added during the Weaving process of fibers into fabric. This dyeing period may or more-by the addition of chemical carriers to the dye bath. These carriers appear to carry dyestuif from an aqueous dispersion thereof to the fiber and thus disturb the equilibrium between dye bath and fiber in favor of the dyestuif absorption by the synthetic fiber.

nection to develop such a high temperature process and suitable apparatus for carrying out the same. The most successful method to date involves winding the fabric about a perforated cylinder and subjecting the material to the dye under elevated temperature and pressure conditions while flowing the dye liquor through the fabric. The practice in'such operation has been to alternate the flow of the dye liquor, i.e., to flow said liquor in a tank through fabric from inside said tank to outside the fabric; and then reverse the flow pattern. This method has met with limited success only and for several reasons. Thus, extra caution must be observed to insure that the fabric wound about the cylinder is not creased, as otherwise the creases willbecome' permanently fixed during the dyeing operation. Furthermore, the

"tension of the Wind is critical, in that a too tight wind results in overload of the power'source and conversely a 'too loose wind results in damage'to material. Also, there is a tendency for the fabric to become unevenly shaded along its length and width; the result of a condition This condition is due partly to the filtering action of the several layers of cloththus only loosely woven cloth may be dyed by this method and closely woven cloth cannot be so dyedpartly due to uneven penetration of the dye in and around the fibers caused by the pressure characteristics of fluid fiow through layers of open Width fabric. Finally, a phenomenon referred to as moire occasionally occurs during the dyeing operation, with the result that the entire dyed fabric must be discarded or re-dyed.

Prior to this invention, it has also been believed that an apparatus for dyeing synthetic fabric at high temperature and under pressure in relaxed rope strands would be prohibited not only in cost but also in practical application. It was generally believed by those skilled in the art that fabric dyed under these conditions in relaxed rope strands would show creases and breaks which would be impossible to remove in subsequent processing operations.

However, in accordance with the novel method of dyeing, in the case of fabrics-which are constituted in whole or in part of synthetic fibers, as well as sheets and films of synthetic material, such as Dacron, Kodel, Vycron, Mylar, etc.it becomes possible to eliminate a pre-dyeing step termed boil-off, which operation constitutes the removal of oils and waxes as well as other deleterious substances added during, and to facilitate, the weaving process except in the case of those fabrics which require further treatment after dyeing to give Waterproof characteristics thereto.

I have found that high-temperature dyeing, in accordance with my invention, that with the addition of a nonionic detergent to the dye bath, and while under high temperature, the oils and waxes become emulsified and are held in emulsion, which limits the amount that may remain on the fabric, but are so distributed in evenness as not to affect the dye absorption rate of each fibre due to spotty concentrations of such oils and Waxes.

Furthermore, creases and breaks, normally occurring in materials when dyed according to present methods, are eliminated by the rapid passage of such material through the dye bath when the latter is maintained at temperatures substantially above 212 F.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for high temperature dyeing of synthetic fabric in which the fabric is passed through the dye bath in a relaxed rope strand fashion.

It is another object to provide an apparatus for high temperature dyeing of synthetic fabrics in which the time required for accomplishing the same is greatly reduced over the time required with known apparatuses.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for dyeing synthetic fabrics in which the resort to the use of carriers is eliminated.

It is another object to provide an apparatus for high temperature dyeing of fabrics which may be composed either wholly or only in part of a synthetic fiber.

It is an object of the invention not only to obviate the possibility of formation of fixed creases in the fabric, but to reduce substantially the time required to effect the dyeing operationthrough elimination of the addition of chemical carriers, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide high temperature dyeing means which permit (with certain modifications) .the use of standard developed dyeing apparatus and allow therewith thedyeing of all synthetics without limitation on the closeness of weave or on the quality of dye absorption and to provide leveling of dye uniformly.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the apparatus permits synthetic fabric to be dyed by passing the same in the form of relaxed rope strand through a dye bath under conditions of elevated temperatures and at pressures above atmospheric without creasing or breaking.

In carrying out the invention, the material to be dyed which may be constituted wholely, or in part, of synthetic materials such as Dacron, Kodel, Vycron, Mylar, etc-is, contrary to present practice, to be supported for travel through an associated aqueous dye bath located within a pressure vessel and maintained at a temperature substantially in excess of 212 F. The interior of the pressure vessel to this end is maintained under a substan- .tial pressure in order to assure during the dyeing period the required elevated temperature of the dye bath therein.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, through the pressure vessel with installed dye tub-the section being taken immediately within the door thereof anda portion of the dye tub being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section on a reduced scale, taken on the line 22, FIG. 1 of the drawings and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a multi-stage trackage arrangement for admitting of the mounting of the fabric in the dye tub externally of the pressure vessel.

FIG. 4 is an end view, on a reduced basis, illustrating the manner of introducing the dye tub into the pressure vessel.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views, in perspective, of dye apparatus which may be utilized in the case of pad or jig dyeing methods.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a pressure-sealable cylinder 10, for example, resting on a supporting saddle 10', constitutes the pressure vessel or chamber in which a semi-cylindrical dye tub 11 of novel design is placed. In this connection, it is to be noted that it is convenient to mount the tub on wheels 12, which are designed to ride then along rails 13 located on the bottom of the pressure vessel to permit the tub to be freely introduced within the pressure vessel 10 and removed therefrom, as by rolling the said tub along the rails.

The pressure vessel 10, furthermore, is equipped with supply lines 14, 15 and 16 for supplying to the tub dye, water and steam, respectively. A perforated plate 17 may, also, be disposed along the length of the tub to prevent material from floating against the distributing piping and especially to prevent contact with concentrated dye.

A slatted, reel 18 for the fabric and preferably of elliptical shape, is mounted on a rotatable axle 19 above the tub 11, the axle being to this end supported rotatably on a platform member 20 in an imaginary off-center line along the length of the tub. The axle 19, moreover, is designed for connection to a power source such as the electric motor 21, FIG. 2, for rotation-the source being generally outside of the pressure vessel 10, as is indicated.

The term fabric as used herein is intended to cover a length of cloth or strands, constituted in whole or in part of synethetic materials, as well as sheets and films thereof. It will be noted that in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fabric is placed on the slatted reel in the form of relaxed rope like strands 22.

In the dyeing of these, a length of fabric is introduced into the dye bath 30 in the form of an endless loop 22 in open width form and traveling in one direction; or, for a single pass, through the dye bath in open width, FIG. 5, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Also, and as is indicated in FIG. 6 and hereinafter more fully set forth, several reciprocations through the dye bath may be effected.

A preferably slatted, idler cylinder 23 is carried on a further rotatable axle 24, which is mounted on a platform member 25 secured to the tub; and it is disposed ac oss from reel 18 ab ve the said tub 11. The idler cylinder 23 may be rotated by the looped fabric strands themselves; but it is preferably power-driven, as in being connected with the axle 19 as through a chain drive 26 located externally of the tub 11. An intermediate folding of the rope strands or loops 22, as is indicated in FIG. 1, will then be effected as the fabric passes from reel 18 to the floor of the tub.

A port hole 27 and one or more pressure-relief valves 28, as well as a vacuum-breaker valve 28', are provided in the cylinder 10, as shown. Furthermore, an external sampling tube 29 is provided and extends therethrough into the dye bath 30.

The dye tub 11 is provided, also, with one or more drains, as the drain 32, which is positioned below a false bottom 33 and connects with an overflow outlet gutter 34 by means of a pipe 35.

The pressure vessel 10, moreover, is equipped with an air-tight door 36, FIGS. 2 and 3, which is suitably mounted at one end of said vessel to establish a tight fit therewith during operation.

In FIG. 2, the fabric is indicated as divided into the plurality of relaxed rope-like, endless strands 22, of one or more pieces, the said strands 22 being mounted over the reel 18 and idler 23 and arranged to dip into the dye bath 30. However, the fabric strands may be either in the form of one piece or as several pieces.

Upon sealing then the pressure vessel by the door 36, the temperature of the bath 11 is further elevated to the required degree, for example 250 F., in the case of Dacron, by introducing steam into the sealed vessel through the supply line 16. Thereupon motor 21 is energized for rapid ft. per minute) advance of the material through the said bath as relaxed rope strands until the desired shade is obtained.

The power source 21, as hereinbefore noted, may be carried by the pressure vessel, preferably externally thereof, as shown; and is connected to axle 19 through a stufiing box 37 and dog clutch 38 for power engagement.

Rake rods or bars 39 are also provided so that each rope-like strand will pass between a set of the same and thus be prevented from entanglement while circulating through the dye bath.

The ends of the respective strands of fabric are connected to provide the continuous endless loop which is to be passed over the rotating reel 18 and idler 23, as shown. The shape of the reel, however, is not critical; but it is desirable to provide a shape which will prevent slippage of the fabric and thus insure uniform folds.

In practice the fabric is mounted on the reel and idler, and the dye tub filled with the dyeing liquor. The temperature of the dye bath is then preheated to about F.212 F., for example, at a station external the pressure vessel. Also with reference being had to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the fabric is mounted on the tub, e.g. at station A, as aforesaid, for subsequent passage through the dye tub 11.

The tub, through its wheels 12, is supported and rides on tracks 40, which extend adjacently and parallel to the tracks 13 (not shown) located within the cylinder 10. A carriage 41 is designed to travel on tracks 42, through supporting wheels 43after receiving the dye tub 11- for delivery of said tub into the interior of pressure vessel 10. The tracks 42 to this end are directed at right angles to the tracks 40; and an intermediate track section 44 is provided at the pressure vessel 10 and aligned with the tracks 13 (not shown) therein.

It will be understood that other means (not shown) to transfer the dyeing apparatus into and out of the dyeing apparatus may be employed, for example, such as monorails or castors or the like in place of the said tracking arrangement shown.

When the dyeing at elevated temperatures within the pressure chamber has been completed and the dye tub is to be withdrawn, the latter is brought beyond the pressure vessel over track section 44 onto the carriage 41;

and it may then be shifted by the latter laterally to convey the tub toa further set of tracks 40which are located at the opposite side of the pressure vesselby moving said carriage accordingly, for further disposition of the tub unit. Other types of dye tubs may, of course, be similarly introduced.

Thus, reference being had to FIGS. 5 and 6 of. the drawings, there are disclosed various conventional mountings of the fabric in which the same is not-passed through a dye bath in the form of an endless loop. For example, in the pad type, FIG. 5, the fabric 45 taken from a supply roll 46 is passed through the dye bath 47 in one pass only; and is wound upon a roll 48.

In the latter figure, FIG. 6, a conventional jig type is indicated including bath 50, together with advancing and take-up rolls 51, 52 respectively, which are provided to reciprocate the fabric 53 through the dye bath 50.

It will be understood, of course, that in accordance with the invention, such units are similarly to be introduced into the pressure vessel for the dyeing operation, and power connection made accordingly.

Also, other means (not shown) to transfer the dyeing apparatus into and out of the pressure vessel may be utilized, for example, monorails, 'oastors or the like.

While the instant invention has been described in detail with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications thereof may be practiced without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for high temperature dyeing comprising:

(a) a pressure vessel open at one end,

(b) rail means located on the bottom of said vessel,

(0) a closure for sealing said open end vessel pressure tight,

(d) a dye bath means including a tub for containing a dye bath,

(e) wheel means mounted on said tub, said wheel means being adapted to ride on said rail means to effect bodily movement of said tub int-o and out of said vessel,

(f) means for supporting a fabric on said tub,

(g) said means including a slatted reel and supports for rotatably journalling said reel on said tub,

(h) an idler operatively associated with said slatted reel,

(i) means for driving said reel for feeding the fabric through the dye bath, and

(j) means for introducing steam into said vessel when sealed and with tub and fabric loaded thereon in place within said vessel to elevate the temperature of the dye bath above 212 F. and track means disposed externally of said pressure vessel, said track means extending substantially normal to the rail means located on the bottom of said vessel,

(k) said track means being disposed at a slightly lower elevation than said rail means,

(l) a carriage mounted on said track means for traversing there along,

(m) said carriage means having mounted thereon complementary rails adapted to align with the rails on the bottom of said vessel,

(11) a second track means intersecting the first track means, said second track means complementing the rails of said carriage whereby the dye bath thereon may be transferred from said carriage to said second rail means.

2. An apparatus for high temperature dyeing of synthetic fabrics comprising:

(a) a pressure vessel open at one end,

(b) a closure adapted to seal said one end pressure tight,

(0) a dye bath means adapted to be bodily moved into and out of said pressure vessel,

(d) said dye bath means including a tub for containing the dye bath,

(e) a perforated plate spaced inwardly from the walls of the tub,

(f) a slatted reel for supporting and feeding the-fabrics to be dyed through the dye bath,

(g) means for rotatably supporting said reel above said tub,

(h) a slatted idler operatively associated with said reel for feeding the fabric,

(i) means for driving said reel for feeding said fabrics to said dye bath,

(j) said latter means including a motor disposed exterior of said pressure vessel,

(k) clutch means for detachably connecting said reel in driving relationship with said motor means,

(1) wheels mounted on said tub,

(in) rail means located on the bottom of said pressure vessel on which said tub wheels ride for enhancing the positioning of the tub into and out of said vessel,

(11) and track means disposed externally of said pressure vessel,

(0) said track means extending substantially normal to the rail means located on the bottom of the vessel,

(p) said track means being disposed at a slightly lower elevation than the rail means in said pressure vessel,

(q) a carriage mounted on said track means for traversing there along,

(r) said carriage means having mounted thereon complementary rails adapted to align with the rails on the bottom of said vessel, and

(s) a second track means intersecting said first track means, said second track means complementing the rails of said carriage whereby the dye bath thereon may be transferred from said carriage to said second rail means.

3. An apparatus for high temperature dyeing of synthetic fabrics comprising:

(a) a pressure vessel open at one end,

(b) a closure for sealing the open end of said pressure vessel pressure tight,

(c) a dye bath means adapted to be moved bodily into and out of the pressure vessel,

(d) said dye bath means including a tub for containing a dye bath,

(e) a perforated plate spaced inwardly from the wall of the tub,

(f) a slatted reel for supporting and feeding fabric in rope strand form through the dye bath,

(g) means for rotatably supporting said reel above said tub,

(h) a slatted idler cooperatively associated with said reel for feeding fabric in rope strand form,

(i) means for driving said feeding reel for feeding said fabric in rope strand form through the dye bath, (j) said driving means including a motor disposed exterior of said pressure vessel,

(k) clutch means for detachably connecting said reel in driving relationship with said motor means,

(1) Wheels mounted on said tub,

(in) rail means located on the bottom of said pressure vessel on which said tub wheels ride for enhancing the positioning of the tub in and out of said vessel,

(n) and track means disposed externally of said pressure vessel, with said track means extending normal to the rail means located on the bottom of the vessel,

(0) said track means being disposed at a slightly lower elevation than the rail means in said pressure vessel,

(p) a carriage mounted on said track means for traversing therealong,

(q) said carriage means having mounted thereon complementary rails adapted to align with the rails on the bottom of said vessel,

(r) a second track means intersecting said first track means, said second track means complementing the rails of said carriage whereby the dye bath thereon may be transferred from said carriage to said second rail means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,050 3/04 Schirp 68210 X 2/29 Cole 68--177 X 2/55 Jacobs 685.3 10/58 Etfinger 685.3 X

4/ 61 Fahringer. 4/62 Brown 68177 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/07 Germany.

10 IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING COMPRISING: (A) A PRESSURE VESSEL OPEN AT ONE END, (B) RAIL MEANS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL, (C) A CLOSURE FOR SEALING SAID OPEN END VESSEL PRESSURE TIGHT, (D) A DYE BATH MEANS INCLUDING A TUB FOR CONTAINING A DYE BATH, (E) WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TUB, SAID WHEEL MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO RIDE ON SAID RAIL MEANS TO EFFECT BODILY MOVEMENT OF SAID TUB INTO AND OUT OF SAID VESSEL, (F) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A FABRIC ON SAID TUB, (G) SAID MEANS INCLUDING A SLATTED REEL AND SUPPORTS FOR ROTATABLY JOURNALLING SAID REEL ON SAID TUB, (H) AN IDLER OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SLATTED REEL, (I) MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID REEL FOR FEEDING THE FABRIC THROUGH THE DYE BATH, AND (J) MEANS FOR INTRODUCING STEAM INTO SAID VESSEL WHEN SEALED AND WITH TUB AND FABRIC LOADED THEREON IN PLACE WITHIN SAID VESSEL TO ELEVATE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE DYE BATH ABOVE 212*F. AND TRACK MEANS DISPOSED EXTERNALLY OF SAID PRESSURE VESSEL, SAID TRACK MEANS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE RAIL MEANS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL, (K) SAID TRACK MEANS BEING DISPOSED AT A SLIGHTLY LOWER ELEVATION THAN SAID RAIL MEANS, (L) A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK MEANS FOR TRAVERSING THERE ALONG, (M) SAID CARRIAGE MEANS HAVING MOUNTED THEREON COMPLEMENTARY RAILS ADAPTED TO ALIGN WITH THE RAILS ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL, (N) A SECOND TRACK MEANS INTERSECTING THE FIRST TRACK MEANS, SAID SECOND TRACK MEANS COMPLEMENTING THE RAILS OF SAID CARRIAGE WHEREBY THE DYE BATH THEREON MAY BE TRANSFERRED FROM SAID CARRIAGE TO SAID SECOND RAIL MEANS.

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