Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Thls is a divisional o~ Canadian Pa~ent Application Serial
No. 492,262, filed October 4th, 1985.
The present invention is directed to apparatus for applying liquids to
moving materials and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus for the
patterned application of dye or other liquids to moving textile materials,
such as pile carpets, fabrics and the like.
It is known to apply liquid dyes to moving textile materia1s from
plural strealns which are directed onto the materials and selectively
controlled to produce a desired pattern thereon. McElveen, U. S. Pat. No
3,393,411, describes apparatus and process wherein plural streams of dye
are selectively controlled in their flow to provide a distinct pattern on a
pile carpet.
lJ. S. Pat. No 3,443,878 and 3,570,275 describe apparatus and process
for the patterned dyeing of a moving textile web wherein continuously
flowing streams of dye normally directed in paths to impinge upon the web
are selectively deflected from contact with the web in accordance ~ith
pattern information. The webs are thus dyed in a desired pattern and the
deflected dye is collected and recirculated for use.
In such continuous flow, deflection-type d~yeing apparatus, it is known
to position a plurality of dye applicators, or "dye gun bars", generally
above the path of movement of a material to be dyed and wherein each of the
gun bars extends across the path of material movement and is provided with
a row of dye outlets which project streams of dye downwardly toward the
material to be dyed. Each continuously flowing dye stream is selectively
deflected by a stream of air which ls discharged, in accordance with
pattern information, from an air outlet located adjacent each dye discharge
outlet. The air outlet is positioned to direct the air stream into
intersecting relation with the dye stream and to deflect the dye into a
collection chamber or trough for recirculation. To accurakely control the
amount of dye appl;ed to a given location on the material during the dyeing
~ g
operation, and to insure that the dye strikes the material in a very small,
precise spot, -the lower portion oF the collection chamber contains a
collector plate supportably positioned in spaced relation above the lower
wall of the collection chamber. This collector pla~e is adjustably
attached to the lower wall so that its edge can be accurately positioned
relative to the dye (lischarge a~es of the gun bar ~o insure prompt and
precise interception oF the streams when de-Flected. Details of such a
dyeing apparatus and collection chamber constructiGn are dèscribed and
claimed in comlnonly assigned Klein, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.
471,111, filed ~lay ]7, 1974, now U.S. Pat. rlo. 3,9~2,343
As described in said application, each dye stream, when deFlected,
passes across the edge of the collector plate and irrto the collection
chamber. Upon removal of deflection from the stream, the stream moves back
across the plate edge and resumes its normal path of travel toward the
material to be dyed.
In apparatus of this type to obtain finer definition between colors, it
is necessary to use more dye jets per unit measure of the gun bar and
consequently, more air tubes per unit length. As the number oF air tubes
per unit length increases, it is necessary to stagger the location of the
air tubes in order to provide the desired number of tubes in a
pre-determined length. These tubes must be correctly located with respect
to ~he dye jet and secured in such position so that it will not move during
operation of the machine during dyeing of the selected fabric.
Therefore, it is an object ol the invention to provide a new and
improved air supply tube holder assembly in a jet dyeing machine which
insures proper and secure location of the air tube relative to the dye jet.
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In accordance with-the invention of the present di~.~isional there is
provided an apparatus to secure a plurality of tubular members each in a
groove of a plurality of grooves comprising: a plurality of tubular
menlbers conrlected to a holder a triangular shaped member pivot.ally mounted
to said holder at olle end and abutting said tubular members at the other
and mean assembly associated with saidi triangular member to pivot said
triangular member in said holder toward and a~ay from said tubular rnembers.
The invention will be better understood and further
explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
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FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevdtion of appardtus for tlyein~ a Inovirl9
mdterial;
FIGURE 2 is a schematic drawing of a single dye dpplicator or gun b~r,
of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 and shows a basiu arrangement for supplying
dye to and from, and air under pressure to, each of the gun bars~ together
with control means for programming the same;
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side view, partially in section, of a gun bar
of the apparatus of the present invention, and showing in more detail the
positiondl arrangement of the dye applicator section and dye collection
chamber of the gun bar; and
FIGURES 4-9 represent air supply tub~ holder assemblies for the jet
dyeing machine of FIGURES 1-3 with the air tube holder assemblies rotated
about 60 counter-clockwise for the purposes of illustration.
FIGURE 4 illustrates the arrangement employed when the air tubes were
not staggered;
FIGURE 5 is an end view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;
FIGURE 6 is a cross-section view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5
illustrating the effect when staggered ~ir tubes were employed.
FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 illustratirlg the new and novel
air tube arrangement;
FIGURE 8 is a cross-section view taken on line 8-~ of FIGURE 7; and
FIGURE 9 is an exploded view of the air tube support arrangemerlt of
FIGURE 7.
Referring more specificcllly to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows, in
schematic side elevation, apparatus for applying liquids to a rnoving
material to which the present invention pertains. As shown and as will be
described, the apparatus is particularly adapted for the patterned
application of dyes to a moving length of pile carpet mat~rial; however, it
is to be understood that the liquid applicator of the apparatus could be
employed to apply various types of liquids to various moving materials in a
programnled manner.
The dyeing apparatus shown generally comprises ~ dye applicator section
10, a steam chamber 12, a washer lq, and a dryer 16. The dye applicator
section lO is conlposed of a main frame 1~ supporting an inclined conveyor
20 which jc clriven by motor means 22. Positioned above and spaced along
the length of the conveyor are plurality of dye applicator members, or gun
bars 24, (8 being shown), which extend in parallel, spdced relation across
the width of the conveyor and are suitably supported at their ends by
attachment to diagonal frame rllembers (one of which, 26, is shown) on either
side of the conveyor. For pattern dyeing broadloom carpets, the conveyor
convenierltly may be 12 to 15 feet in width and the gun bars 24 each are
provided with a diFferent color dye to apply a colored pattern to the
carpet.
In opera-tion, a length of carpet 28 is cGntinuously withdrawn from a
supply roll 29 by a driven pinroller 27 and delivered to the incl'ined
conveyor 20 which transports the carpet beneath the gun bars 24. Each gun
bar i5 provided with a different colored liquid dye which is dispensed in
streanls frorn orifices or outlets spaced along the gun bar onto the carpet
as it passes through the applicator section 10. Details of the
constructior, ~nd control of gun bars will be explained hereinafter. Dyed
carpet leaving conveyor 20 is directed by suitable support mear,s, such as
guide rollers, one of which 30 ls shown, throuah the stearn chamber l2, the.
washer 1~, and the dryer 16 where the dyed carpet is tredted ln
conventional rrlarlner to fix the dye, remove excess dye, and dry the dyed
carpet, respec.tively. Oetails o~ the dye-fixing steam cilarnber 12, washer
14, and dryer l~ do not form part oF the present invention and apparatus
for per-Forming such convelltional practices are ~ell known in the art. The
dyed carpet is collected on a collection roll 31.
The gun bars 24 are of substantially identical construc-tion and -the
details of their construction and operation can he~ter be described by
reference to FIGURES 2 and 3. As seen in FIGUR~ 2, which is a schematic
side elevation of a gun bar 24, each gun bar is provided with a separate
dye reservoir tank 32 which supplies liquid dye, by means of pump 34 and
conduit rneans 36, under pressure to a dye manifold pipe 38 of the gun bar.
Pipe 38 communicates at suitable locations along its length with a
sub-manifold section ~0 attached to the pipe. The manifold pipe 3& and
sub-manifold section 40 extend across the width of the cGnveyor 20 and
sub-manifold sectior, 40 is provided with a plurality of dye outlets 42
spaced along its length to continuously discharge a row of parallel dye
strealns downwardly toward the material to be dyed.
PositiGned adjacent and at about a right ansle to each dye outlet 42 of
sub-manifold section 40 is an outlet. of an air supply tube ~q. Each air
tube communicates by way o-f a conduit or tube 45-with a separate valve,
illustrated collectively by the symbol V9 located in a valve support box 46
of the gun bar. Each valve is, in turn, connected by a conduit or tube 47
to an air supply manifold 48 which is provided wilh pressurized air by a
compressor 50. Each of the valves V3 which may be of the electromagnetic
solenoid type, are individually controlled by electrical si~nals from a
pattern control device 52. The air outlets of tubes 44 provide streams of
air to impinge at approximately right angles agains~ ~he continuously
flowing dye streanls from the dye outlets 42 and deflect the sarne into a
collection cham~er or trough 60 from which ll~luid dye is removed, by way of
suitable conduit means 62, to dye reservoir tank 32 for recirculation.
The pattern control device 52 -for operating the solenoid valves may be
composed oF various type pattern control means, such as a computer with
magnetic tape transport for patterrl information s-torage. Desired pattern
information from control device 52 is transmitted to the solenoid valves of
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each gun bar dt appropria~e times in response to conveyor movement which is
transmitted by suitable transducer means 64 operatively connecting the
conveyor 2C and pattern control device 52
In a typical dyeing operation utilizing the presently disclosed
appara~us, when no pattern information is supplied to the air valves of the
gun bars from the control device 52, the val~es remain "open" to permit
passage of pressuri~ed air through supply tubes 44 lo continuously deflect
all of the continuously flowing dye streams trom the gun bar outlets 42
into the collect;on trough 60 for recirculation. When carpet to be dyed
passes beneath the first gun bar of the dye applicator section 10, pattern
control device 52 is actuated in suitable manner, such as manuall~y by an
operator. Thereafter, signals from transducer 64 release pattern
information from device 52 to selectively "close" the air valves so tha-
~the corresponding dye streams are not deflected, bu~ pass in their normal
discharge paths to strike the carpet. Thus, by operating the solenoid air
valves of each gun bar in the desired pattern sequence, a colored.pattern
of dye is placed on the carpet during its passage through the dye
application section 10.
Details cf the construction of each gun bar are best shown in FIGURE 3
which is ar, end elevation view, partially in section, of orle of the gun
bars 2~. As seen, each gun bar includes a main structural support plate 70
which extends across the full width of the conveyor and is supportably
attached to the diagon~l members of the support frame 18. At-tached to the
upper portion of plate 70 is the air supply maniFold 48 ~nd adjustably
attached to the lower flanged edge of the plate, by suitable bracket and
clamp mear,s 7~, which are spaced along the length of plate 70~ is th~ dye
manifold pipe 38. Sub-manifolcl section 40 is suitably attached, as by
bolts (not shown), to dye manifold pipe 38 and has d sub-manifold chamber
73 which communicates by way of a plurality of passageways 74 spaced along
3~ .
pipe 38 with an interior chalnber of manifold pipe 38 which receive dye
therefrom. The dye recei~ing chamber 73 o-f sub-manifold sec~ion 40 is
provided wi-th the plurality oF dye discharge outlets 42 which are spaced
along the length of sub-nldnifold section ~0 and across the width of the
conveyor to discharye dye in a row of parallel streams onto the moving
carpet.
Details of the construction and arrangement of the dye collection
trough or chamber of the present invention may be best described by
reference to FIGURE 3. The collectiun chamber 60 includes a relatively
thick, rigid main support plate, or bar 80 which extends the entire length
of the gun bar and is attached thereto at spaced locations along the length
of the gun bar by rod members 82 connecting plate 80 to the clamping means
72. To provide positional stability for the collectiGn chamber, the
support plate 80 is formed of a high strength material, such as a
relatively thick stainless steel plate.
The outer walls 84 of the collection chamber are conveniently formed of
a thin, lightweight rnaterial, such as stainless stéel sheet metal, attached
in suitable manner to support plate 80 and clamping means 72 Gf the gun bar
(FIGURF 8). The outer edge porti~n ol plate &C is suitably tapered, as
shown, to form a sharp edge which extends generally parallel to the row of
dye outlets 42 of the gun bar. The support pldte 80 also serves as a
secondary dye collector, as will be explained.
Supportably positioned in spaced relation above the upper surface of
the tapered portion of support plate 80 is a first, or primary dye
collector plate 86 which extends the length hf the gun bar and has a sharp
outer edge positioned closely adjacent and parallel to the row of discharge
outlets of -the gun bar. The primary collector plate 8~ is adjustably
attached, as by bolt and spacer mealls 87, at spaced locations along its
length to ~he upper surFace of suppGrt plate 80 so that the plate 86 may be
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moved to posi-tion its outer edge relative to the dye dischase axes of the
dy~ olltlets. Various Fast~ning mealls may be employ~d for adjustably
rr!ounting the primary collector plate and one such means is disclosed in
previously ref~rred to Klein, U. S. PatLnt Application Ser. No. ~71,111,
filed ~ay 17, 1974, nGw U. S. Pat. No. 3,9~2,3~3.
Supportably attached, dS by screw and spacer means 89, in spaced
r~lation below the support plate 80 is a third dye collector plate 88, the
outer edg~ of which exterids generally parallel to the outer edge of plate
~0 and 86 and is located at a further distance fronl the discharge axes of
the dye outlets o-F the gun bar thdn these two edges. In the embodiment
shown in FIGURE 3, the third collector plate 88 does not communicate
directly with the interior of the dye co!lection chamber, but extends in
spaced relation below the collection chamber throughout its length to
points beyond both sides of the conveyor so that dye collected by the third
collector plate may drain from the open sides of the collector plate
without striking the moving carpet being dyed.
As seen, the collection chamber 60 has an elongate open;ng or entrance
61 for Ihe reception of deflected dye. The opening exterlds the lerlgth of
the gun bar and is located on the opposite side of the d;scharge axes of
the dye outlets 42 from the air supply tubes 44. The dye deflected by
streams of air from the air supply tubes passes into the opening of the dye
collection chamher and flows by gravity into the lower interior portion of
the chamber. The collected dye is removed, as by gravity, from the
collection chamber through one or more drain lines 62, which direct the dye
back to the dye reservoir 3~ for recirculation.
ln FIGURE 3, the reference numeral 90 represents a meter which senses
the flow rate of the dye fluid from the dye jets by measuring a head
~ressure and through the transducer 92 controls the opening and closing of
the flow valve 94 ~FIGURE 2~. The flow controller 90 receives dye fluid
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fronl the ~anifold 38 through the inlet connec~ion 95 tO t~perate in the
mdnner disclos~d in U. S. Patent No. 4 392 366.
Looking now to FIGURES 4 ar~d 5 the air tube holder assembly 96 is
shown with th~ air tubes 44 assembled in d single row with their outlets
perpendicular to their respective dye discharge outlet 42. To properly
locate and mdintaill the air tubes ~ in correct position and alignnlellt with
the dye outlet -the longituoinal rib 98 in the Face of the upper portion
1nC of the dye ejection module is formed with V-shaped grooves 102
perpendicular to the centerline of the dye discharge outlet 42. The sides
of thr~ shaped grooves 102 are at 45 angles to the centerline of the dye
outlets 42 with the apex aligned with the dye outlet centerline. The air
tubes 44 in the air tube holder assembly 96 are maintained in correct
position in the grooves 102 by the stainless steel spring strip 10~ secured
in the air tube holder assembly.
The above described arrangenlent works well when you are dying fab ics
where definitinn of designs are not critical; but when ;t is necessary to
dye fabric with designs that definition is critical it is then necessary
to provi~e more dye outlets per unit length an~ consequently more air tubes
per unit length. Due to space limitations the air tubes 44 were staggered
in the air -tube holder assembly 96. It was found as shown in FIGURE 6
that the spring strip loa h~as not strong enough to seat and maintain all of
the air tubes 44 in correct position in the grooves 102 oF the rib 98. ~ue
to space limitations and materials it was not Feasible to substitute a
stronger sprinlJ strip 104.
To alleviate the above problem and secure the staggered air tubes 44 in
correct position in the grooves 102 the air tube holder 106 is employed.
The air tube holder 106 is similar to the holder 96 except it has a
longitudinal V~groove 107 in the bottom thereof and a plurality oF
clearance openings 1~8 therein to accomodate socket head capscrews 110.
Cooperating wi~h the air tube holder 106 is an elongated triangular shaped
clamp bar 112 extending longitudinally of the holder 106 and having a
V-shaped projection 11~ located in the groove 107 of the holder 106. At
the other side of the clamp bar 11~ is a triangular shaped projection 116
restin~ against the air tubes ~ at a point opposite the grooves 102 in the
rib 98 ot the upper portion 100 of the dye ejection module. To force the
air tube 44 into position in the grooves 102 and maintain them there the
screws 110 are tightened in the tapped holes 118 to prevent ~he projection
114 in the groove 107 to cause the triangular projection 116 to move
clockwise dgainst the air tubes 44 to force ~hem into the grooves 10?. This
positive force forces them into the grooves 102 and maintains them there
until the screws 220 are rotated in the opposite direction.
It can be seen that the new and novel positive vise-like air tube
holder allows the jet dying of fabrics requiring finer definition of
desigr,. The novel air tube holder provides positive location of the air
tubes relative to the dye orifices an~ nlaintains them in such position
until it lS desired to replace or remove them. This a1lows the addition of
a plurality of air tubes in a staggered arrangement to produce d finer
gauge machine for the purpose of finer definition in the dyed fabric.
~0 Although ~he preferred embodiment has been described in detail it is
contemplated that changes may be made without depart-ing from the scope or
spirit of the invention and it is desired to be limited only by the scope
of the claims.
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