Патент USA US2533248

Dec, 12,, 1956
2,533,247
w. e. HELMLBS
WEB FEEDING 0F TEXTILE MATERIALS
Filed Feb. 27, 1947
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3 Sheets-Sheet 1
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INVENTOR.
Wela'an G. ?’elm'us
BY
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Deco 12, 1950
w. s. HELMUS
2,533,247
WEB FEEDING 0F TEXTILE MATERIALS
Fil? Feb. 27; 1947
3 Sheets-Sheet 2
25
26
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INVHVTOR.
msfdon 6- Helmus
Dec.‘ 12, 1950
2,533,247
w. e. HELMUS
was moms 0F TEXTILE MATERIALS
3 Sheets-Sheet 3
Filed Fab. 27, 1947
INVENTOR.
Moldan G. Helms
BY
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“we;
Patented Dec. 12, 1950
2,533,247
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
2,533,241
‘WEB FEEDING 0F ‘TEXTILE MATERIALS
Weldon G. Helmus, Ridgewood, N. 1., assignor
to' Fair Lawn Finishing Company,
a $01130"
tion of New Jersey ‘
Application February 27, 1947, Serial No. 731,376
14 Claims. (01. 68-62)
'
2
1
This invention relates to new‘ and useful im
provements in the web feeding of textile mate
rials.
,
,
When textile fabrics are to be treated in a
_
a device is subject to relatively rapid unchecke
shrinking causing or contributing to a deforma
tion and/or crimping of the web. When then
such a fabric full of crimps and pulled out of
shape reaches the conveyors in the treating
liquid, it will not properly fold onto the same
treating liquid in substantially open, 1. e., full
width extended state, they must be fed into the
but will become irregularly draped, resulting in
treating liquid in substantially that condition.
the formation of creases, causing irregularities
One means of accomplishing this in the past
and other defects which are frequently difficult
has been by way of a relatively shallow stream
of liquid passing over a down-slanting surface 10 and in some cases impossible to remove. This is
particularly true of such 'fabrics as rayon, in
onto which the fabric is led. ‘Though devices of
which any crease in the web as it is being trans
this type suffice for use with relatively low feed
ported through a relatively hot treating liquid,
velocities of the fabric web at a relatively small
is actually "burned” into the material, 1. e., the
depth of immersion in the treating tank, they
have failed where greater web feeding velocities 15 crease will become permanent and cannot again
be thereafter removed, resulting'frequently in the
and depth of immersion are required, as is for
instance the case when the fabric web is to be
complete loss or destruction of entire runs of
material.
continuously draped over conveyors traveling in
One object of the invention comprises inter
the treating bath. This necessitates such a rela
tively high velocity of the current over the slant 20 alia a device for use with an open-web feeding
apparatus of the below-bath-surface current
ingly arranged slide surface that air is drawn
conveying feed-slot type, which will eliminate
into the current or into the treating bath, and
the aforementioned di?iculties normally encoun
may become entrapped at the surface of the
tered in connection with such apparatus.
fabric. The entrapped air, by reason of its ?ota
tion effect upon the weband by reason of the 25 Another object of the invention comprises a '
device permitting the feeding of an open web of
adherence of air bubbles to the fabric surface,
textile fabric in substantially ?at, non-deformed
causes unevenness in the treatment of the fabric
‘ or‘ crimped condition, to and through an open
as well as difficulties in operational control.
web feeding apparatus of the below-bath-surface
An alternative mode of feeding a fabric web in
open state into a treating liquid is one in which 31) current conveying feed-slot type.
Still another object of the invention is a device
a treating liquid is sprayed onto both sides of
permitting a fabric to be fed in substantially
the fabric web thus increasing its weight and
causing its gravitational feeding into the treat
tension-relaxed condition to and into an open
web feeding apparatus of the below-bath-surface
ing liquid. This, however, is equally subject’ to
'
the objection of conveying air into the bath, giv 35 current conveying feed-slot type.
The foregoing and still further objects of the
ing rise to the difliculties hereinabove mentioned.
Air entrapment in the web feeding of textile
invention will be seen from the following descrip
tion read in conjunction with the drawings in
materials may be substantially overcome, how
which:
ever, by the use of a web feeding device of the
below-bath-surface current conveying feed-slot 40 Fig. 1 shows a side view partly in cross-section
and parts broken away illustrating the device in
type. Such ~a device is, for instance, disclosed in
the Gretler Patent No. 2,161,812 (explained in
accordance with the invention;
greater detail below) in which a current is created
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the structure shown
in Fig. 1 in the plane II—I[ thereof;
below a treating liquid surface level in a down
ward direction to pass through a web-feeding 45
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the over?ow
slot, the current gripping the fabric and con
tank shown in Fig. l; and
tinuously pulling the same into the treating
Fig. 4 is an exaggerated view, partly in cross
liquid at a relatively high rate of speed.
sections, of a portion of the structure illustrated
in Fig. 1 and exemplifying the web travel in re
It has been found, however, that this open
web feeding apparatus of the below-bath-surface 60 lation to the treating liquid conveying currents
current conveying feed-slot type exerts such a
over the roll and over the over?ow lip of the
grip upon the fabric-1 that the web, and particu
over?ow tank.
larly one of relatively delicate texture, is fre
Referring to the drawings, l illustrates a tank
quently pulled out of shape. At the same time
for the liquid treatment of textile materials; 2
the fabric passing through the feed-slot of such
indicates the normal liquid level in said tank
2,033,247
4
which may be adjustably controlled by a con
ventional over?ow arrangement (not shown); 3
indicates an endless chain carrying links 4 and
cross-rods 5. The chain is mounted for travel in
the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) driven by a
conventional mechanism (not shown). As the
continuously downwardly moving fabric web 6
meets the cross pieces or rods 5 it is draped over
web is pushed off the surface of the roll due to
the resistance offered its travel through the
treating liquid and aided by its subsequent
change in direction as the result of its current
guided passage over the over?ow lip 29. The
treating liquid input into tank I5 through, for
instance, pipe 23 is such as to create a continu
ous over?ow over lip 20. This creates a current
traveling in the direction of the over?ow lip and
the rods in pendant loops.
Web-feeding apparatus I8, suitably secured to 10 the amount of liquid ?owing over lip 29 is so
adjusted that it has suf?cient depth to substan
tank I, comprises over?ow compartments ‘I and
tially envelop the fabric web passing over the lip
‘Ia having treating liquid supply pipes 8 and 8a
and to act as a conveying current therefor.
Thus the fabric web as it passes off the roll
provided with slots or similar apertures 9 and 9a.
Over?ow compartments ‘I and To have down
wardly bent lips I0 and Illa and are placed with
the lips I0 and IUa opposing each other to form
slacks sufficiently to become tension-relaxed
and in that condition is moved along by the
a web feeding slot II. The upper portions of the
compartments 1 and ‘la are provided with exten
conveying or carrying current onto and over the
over?ow lip 20 and its vertically aligned end
portion 2| terminating below the surface of the
sions and side portions forming a frame I2 above
a slot II and serving to establish a treating 20 treating liquid level 32 in web-feeding appara
liquid surface level below which the web-convey
ing current is formed as indicated by the arrows
(Fig. l) .
An over?ow tank or tray I'4 having side walls
tus I8. The web is then gripped by the convey
ing current from the compartments ‘I and ‘la
being fed downwardly through slot I I and draped
in the dependent loops over the rods or cross
I5, rear and front walls I6 and I9, respectively, 25 pieces 5.
The carrier or conveying current passing over
and bottom I1, is arranged above web-feeding
lip 20 is to some extent aided by the sheet or
apparatus I8 in treating tank I. Wall I3 of
layer of liquid 30 as it enters tank I5 and may be
over?ow tank I4 extends into convexly arcuat
still further in?uenced, depending upon condi
ing overflow lip 20 having a substantially verti
cally aligned end portion 2I positioned with its 30 tions and speeds of rotation by such impeller
action as may be produced by the rotation of
surface in about vertical alignment with the
roll 24 aided by the fabric at or ad‘acent to its
vertical axisvthrough slot II of the feeding ap
line of entry into the treating liquid in tank I5.
paratus I8. Braces 22 are provided to strengthen
The feeding velocity of the sub-surface bath
front wall I9 and over?ow lip 20 and to impart
rigidity thereto. Pipe 23 feeds treating liquid
current through slot II of the feeding apparatus
into tank I4.
A roll 24 suitably driven by, for instance, a
I8 depends inter alia upon the amount of treat
ing liquid fed into the individual compartments
1 and ‘la, the type of material to be treated and
the hydrostatic differential between the level 2
motor (not shown) is arranged above over?ow
tank I4. An over?ow tank 25 is arranged above
roll 24 and receives treating liquid through a 40 in the treating tank I and the level 32 within
the web-feeding apparatus I8. The higher the
suitable slotted or perforated feed pipe 28 and
differential, the greater the current (at constant
feeding pressure to the compartments) and the
21 and over?ow lip 28 onto the fabric 6 carried
greater the rate of feed of the web through the
over driven roll 24. Fabric 6 is guided onto the
roll by way of guide roll 29 from a suitable reel 45 slot II. On the other hand, if the differential
between these two liquid levels is lessened, the
of fabric (not shown).
rate of feed of the web through the slot II de
In the practical operation of the invention,
creases. In all cases it is important that the
treating liquid fed into over?ow tank 25 dis
lower end of slot II, i. e., the lower end portions
charges through opening 21 and lip 28 onto the
of the individual lips I0 and Illa of compartments
fabric web 6 carried on roll 24 as the latter ro
‘I and ‘Ia be below the liquid level 2 in treating
tates. The treating liquid is fed into the com
tank I. The liquid level in treating tank I may
partment or tank 25 in su?icient amount to have
be varied or adjusted in any known manner such
enough treating liquid pass onto the fabric 6 on
as by adjusting the over?ow height of a con
roll 24 to insure at least a thorough soaking
ventional over?ow pipe or valve (not shown).
thereof and preferably in amount sui?cient to
Once a given rate of feed of the textile web
cover the web with an overlying sheet of treat
through slot II is established for a given ma
ing liquid as it is conveyed by the driven roll.
terial, the web carrying or conveying current over
This is, for instance, illustrated in Fig. 4, show
the over?ow lip 20 and end portion 2| may be
ing the fabric 6 and the overlying treating liquid
60 suitably controlled by appropriate adjustment
layer 30.
of the treating liquid input into tank I5 and,
While the fabric 6 and overlying liquid layer
dependent upon conditions of treatment, addi
30 rotate on the roll from point X to a point of
tionally by adjusting the treating liquid input to
entry Y into the treating liquid in over?ow tank
tank 25. The conveying current to and over lip
I5 (at the treating liquid level 3|) the fabric re
ceives a gradual, controlled shrinking to at least 65 20 is preferably so regulated that the fabric web
will be conveyed onto and over the lip substan
a partial extent. Throughout this shrinking or
tially at the same rate of feed at which it is
preshrinking, the fabric web is substantially held
drawn into the treating tank I by way of the web
in shape by its position on roll 24 whereby the
feeding current in web-feeding apparatus I8
shrinking or partial shrinking results in a ten
passing through slot II.
70
sioning of the fabric, which in its turn contrib
The fabric should be brought onto the over
utes to a ?rm positioning of the web uniformly
?ow lip in substantially tension-relaxed condi
over the width of the roll without danger of de
tion which may be accomplished, for instance,
formation.
by the driven roll arrangement herein illustrated
As fabric 6 and the overlying liquid layer 30
by way of preferred embodiment in accordance
reach the liquid level 3| in tank I5, the fabric
discharges treating liquid through the opening
9,538,947
a
.
‘ f. -
‘
with the invention. Rotation of roll 24 is so ad
justed that a tension-relaxed condition of the
cylindrically, arcuate surface and a downwardly
extending end portion positioned for substanti
fabric web in the over?ow tank II is assured.
ally vertically directional alignment, means for
This includes the limiting case on the one hand
where the rotation of the roll is adjusted to a
continuously pass‘ng treating liquid ‘into said
speed where the fabric is fed into the treating
liquid in over?ow tank II at a rate just sufficient
to relax its tension and pass the same without
substantial slack over the over?ow lip 20, and the
to create a web conveying current in said tank to
said over?ow iip,.a roll for feeding a web of tex
tank and preferably positioned away from said lip
tile material into said conveying current‘in ad
vance of its reaching said over?ow lip and means
limiting case on the other hand where the rate 10 for driving said roll at a rate of web feed into
said conveying current to substantially tension
of feed of the web by the driven roll into the
treating liquid in tank II is such as to produce
relax said web on its way to said over?ow lip.
an appreciable slack in the goods before they are
For best results it is recommended that all sur
conveyed over the over?ow lip. In the latter case
faces over which the web of textile material is
care should be taken that not too much slack 15 conveyed and particularly those over which such
occurs which may result in crimping or creasing
web is carried by a conveying current, are sub
of the goods as they are fed onto the lip. The
stantially smooth. This is essential not only to
prevent seizing of the'material on or by the surrate of feed of the web into the treating liquid of
face but is also important in order to assure the
tank IS in a manner to tension-relax the same is
preferably so adjusted that the goods are sub 20 smoothest possible ?ow of the conveying current
stantially uniformly taken over the lip without
for such surface. The latter is necessary to avoid
entrapment of air by the current and thus by the
any appreciable slack accumulating or increas-v
fabric and to assure the substantially smooth
ing in the tank.
Depending upon various factors, including type
?owing of the conveying current over the down
wardly curving lip" to the maximum possible ex
of material, nature or temperature of treating
clusion of any cascading effect into the treating
liquid in tank i5, extent of shrinkage on roll 24,
liquid in the web feeding apparatus l8. For this
more or less additional shrinking of the fabric
reason and also by virtue of its relative strength
web may occur while the web is in over?ow tank
IS. The shrinking or preshrinking conditions
and resistance to the effects of various treating
on roll 24 can be ordinarily suitably so adjusted, 30 baths, I ?nd it of advantage and recommend the
as for instance ,by control of such factors as
use of stainless steel for the over?ow tank and
length of wet travel of the web on the roll, treat
particularly over?ow lip 20, including its depend
ing temperature, etc., that comparatively little
ent end portion 2| as well as for the surface of
after-shrinking occurs in tank l5. Care should,
roll 24. Cross braces, such as braces 22, are desir
however, be taken that whatever after-shrinking 35 able in that they assure the desired rigidity of
the over?ow llp.
in the over?ow tank does occur is taken into con
sideration and compensated for, such as by
Though the front wall l9 extending into over
slightly increasing the driven speed of roll 24, to
?ow lip 20 of tank l5 may be angularly relatively
insure the substantially tension-relaxed condi
steep, as is for instance its opposite wall‘l6, I
tion of the web as it reaches the over?ow lip 20. 40 prefer to have the same extend in a more or less
In the practical operation of the device in ac
smooth reverse curve relation substantially in con
tinuation of the over?ow lip 20. Thus as illustrat
cordance with the invention in,connection with
the open web feeding of a web of textile material
ed in the drawings, wall l9 extends into over?ow
by way of a downwardly directed below-treating
lip 28 with a ?rst substantially concavely, then
bath surface created web conveying current, there
substantially convexly, curving surface, thereby
are involved the steps of at least partly shrink
essentially de?ning with the substantially cylin
drically arcuate surface portions of over?ow lip
ing a web of textile material with treating liquid
while in substantially uniformly supported ten
20, a surface of elongated substantially S-shaped
sion contact with a substantially smooth sur
cross-section. At the same time the roll 24 is
50 so mounted and dimensioned in relation to the
position, dimensions and curvature of wall I 9 as
.to de?ne a structure in which the curved surfaces
of both at the lines of closest proximity are es
sentially parallel, i. e., all tangents to each curve
55 along this line are all essentially parallel.
face, thereafter substantially tension-relaxing
said web in treating liquid and conveying the
same in substantially tension-relaxed condition
and substantially encased in a stream of treat
ing liquid over a downwardly arcuating surface
into substantially vertical position for gripping
contact with a below-treating-bath surface cre
ated web conveying current.
The foregoing speci?c description is for pur
poses of illustration and not of limitation and it
is therefore my intention that the invention be
The device in accordance with the invention
limited only by the appended claims.
for use with an open-web feeding apparatus of
the below-bath-surface current conveying feed 60 I claim:
slot type essentially comprises means de?ning a
1. Device in combination with an open-web
convexly and preferably cylindrically arcuate
feeding apparatus of the type including a feed
surface and a downwardly extending end portion,
slot and means for conveying a below-bath-sur
the latter being positioned for substantially ver
face current through said feed-slot, which com
tically directional alignment, means for continu 65 prises means de?ning a convexly arcuate surface
ously passing treating liquid onto and over said
and a downwardly extending end-portion, said
end-portion being positioned for substantially
surface toward and over said end portion, and
means for continuously bringing a web of textile ' vertically directional alignment with the in
material in open substantially tension-relaxed
let end of said feed-slot, means for continu
condition onto said surface.
70 ously passing treating liquid onto and over said
surface toward and over said end portion, and
Within the preferred embodiment of my inven
tion my novel device essentially comprises a tank,
means for continuously bringing a web of textile
a, substantially smooth over?ow lip from said
material in open, substantially tension-relaxed
tank de?ning with at least av portion of its over
condition onto said surface.
?ow surface a substantially convexly, preferably 75 2. Device in accordance with claim 1 in which
2,533,241’
there are included a tank, a substantially smooth
over?ow lip from said tank de?ning said substan
tially convexly arcuate surface and downwardly
extending end portion, and means for continu
ously passing treating liquid into said tank.
3. Device according to claim 2 in which said
8
10. Device according to claim 9 in which part
of the surface of said concave portion is substan
tially concentric with the roller surface.
11. Device in combination with an open-web
feeding apparatus of the type including a feed
slot and means for conveying a below-bath-sur
lip is of a cross-section substantially de?ning a
face current through said feed-slot, which com
prises a tank, a substantially smooth overflow lip
portion of a circle.
4. Device according to claim 2 in which said
from said tank de?ning a convexly arcuate sur
face and a downwardly extending end portion,
convexly arcuate surface portion of said over?ow
means for continuously passing treating liquid
into said tank are positioned away from said lip
to create a web conveying current in said tank
to said overflow lip, and in which said means, for
bringing a textile web in open, substantially ten
sion-relaxed condition onto said over?ow lip, feed
such web into said conveying current.
5. Device according to claim 4 in which said
convexly arcuate surface portion of said over?ow
lip is of a cross-section substantially de?ning a
portion of a circle.
6. Device according to claim 5 in which one
_ side of said tank has a wall substantially merging
into said over?ow lip with a substantially ?rst
concavely, then convexly curving surface.
7. Device in combination with an open-web
feeding apparatus of the type including a feed
positioned for substantially vertically directional
alignment with the inlet end of said feed-slot,
means for continuously passing treating liquid
into said tank and positioned away from said lip
to create a web conveying current in said tank
to said over?ow lip, a roll, positioning means for
said roll for feeding a web of textile material into
said conveying current, means for passing treat
ing liquid onto the web conveying surface of said
roll to substantially form a web enveloping sheet
of treating liquid thereon, and means for driving
said roll at a rate of Web feed into said conveying
current to substantially tension-relax suchweb
on its way to said over?ow lip, said roll being
mounted for immersion of its lower circumfer
ence in the treating liquid in said tank.
12. Device according to claim 11 in which said
convexly arcuate surface portion of said over
?ow lip is of a cross-section substantially de?n~
slot and means for conveying a below-bath-sur
face current through said feed-slot, which com
prises a, tank, a substantially smooth over?ow lip 30 ing a portion of a circle.
13. Device according to claim 12 in which one
from said tank de?ning a convexly arcuate sur
side of said tank has a wall substantially merging
face and a downwardly extending end portion po
into said over?ow lip with a substantially ?rst
sitioned for substantially vertically directional
concavely, then convexly curving surface.
alignment with the inlet end of said feed-slot,
14. Device according to claim 13 in which part
means for continuously passing treating liquid 35
of the surface of said concave portion is substan~
into said tank and positioned away from said lip
tially concentric with the roller surface.
to create a web conveying current in said tank to
WELDON G. HELMUS.
said over?ow lip, a roll, positioning means for said
roll for feeding a web of textile material into said
REFERENCES CITED '
conveying current and means for driving said roll 40
at a rate of web feed into said conveying current
The following references are ofrecord in the
to substantially tension-relax such web on its way
?le of this patent:
to said over?ow lip.
UNITED STATES PATENTS
8. Device according to claim 7 in which said
Number
Name
Date
convexly arcuate surface portion of said over?ow 45
1,402,765
’ Haskell __________ __ Jan. 10, 1922
lip is of a cross-section substantially de?ning a
1,913,601
Leppin _‘ __________ __ June 13, 1933
portion of a circle.
2,067,915
Haeberlin ________ __ Jan. 19, 1937
9. Device according to claim 8 in which one
2,161,812
Gretler __________ __ June 13, 1939
side of said tank. has a wall substantially
Hinnekens ________ __ Jan. 6, 1942
merging into said over?ow lip with a substantially 60 2,268,590
?rst concavely, then convexly curving surface.
2,313,006
Ufnowski ........ __ Mar. 2, 1943