WO2001036734A1

WO2001036734A1 - Machine for treating fancy fabrics and fabrics treated by same

Info

Publication number: WO2001036734A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/003160
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claude Corbiere
Original assignee: Cortex S.A.
Priority date: 1999-11-18
Filing date: 2000-11-13
Publication date: 2001-05-25
Also published as: FR2801324B1; AU1712001A; FR2801324A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a machine (1) for treating fancy fabrics, designed to produce patterns on the fabric (6) by displacing inside the fabrics certain warp and weft yarns. The invention is characterised in that it comprises: means for unwinding (2) and rewinding (10) the fabric; a ramp of nozzles (20) for forming vapour jets (35) directed towards the fabric (6); a baffle (21) arranged opposite the ramp of nozzles (20), and whereon are deflected the vapour jets (35) after they have passed through the fabric (6); means (41-44) for relatively moving the nozzles with respect to the fabric.

Description

MACHINE FOR TREATING FANCY FABRICS AND FABRICS ATTACHED BY SUCH A MACHINE

Technical field The invention relates to the field of the textile industry. It relates more precisely to the sector of fancy fabrics. It relates more particularly to a machine making it possible to produce patterns on warp and weft fabrics, by displacement, within the fabric, of certain warp and weft threads.

Previous techniques

The invention relates to a machine for obtaining new effects, hitherto unknown on fancy fabrics.

The invention relates to a machine for obtaining such effects, and operating on the principle of the emission of jets of fluid, which are directed on the fabric and cause certain deformations.

It has already been proposed to use machines for treating fabrics by needling with fluid jets, as for example in document US Pat. No. 3,485,706.

However, such machines operate essentially by emitting jets of liquid, and are more particularly intended for nonwoven fabrics.

In addition and above all, this type of device operates with very high fluid pressures, generally greater than 300 bars, which require sophisticated equipment, both in terms of sealing and of the fluid recovery system.

It has also been proposed to apply the principle of treatment by fluid jets under very high pressure to warp and weft fabrics, as for example in document US Pat. No. 5,337,460. As for the application to nonwovens, such machines are particularly complex and obviously very expensive. In addition, the use of very high pressures makes them difficult to transpose for the manufacture of fancy fabrics.

Finally and above all, it is very difficult to produce, using such machines, patterns which vary according to the wishes of the user.

One of the objectives of the invention is to allow the production of fancy fabrics having patterns whose design is very easy to modify, and with very great freedom of choice, which can vary infinitely the appearance of the fabric obtained.

One of the other objectives of the invention is to provide a mechanically simple processing machine, which allows the production of patterns without requiring a source of high pressure fluid, and the cost of which is very limited, and in particular very much lower than the cost of the machines. treatment by needling with existing fluid.

Statement of the invention

The invention therefore relates to a fancy fabric processing machine, intended to produce patterns on the fabric by displacement within the fabrics of certain warp and weft threads.

This machine is characterized in that it comprises:

- means for unwinding and winding the fabric; - a nozzle ramp capable of forming jets of steam directed towards the fabric;

- A deflector arranged opposite the nozzle ramp, and on which the steam jets are deflected after having passed through the fabric;

- Means for ensuring the relative movement of the nozzles relative to the fabric.

Thus, when the jet of steam is deflected by striking the deflector, it carries in its movement the warp and weft threads located on its path, and there therefore appears an area where the threads are less dense, this area being limited by the minus a border in which the threads are, on the contrary, denser at random but statically regular. Thanks to the characteristic means, the steam jets describe on the fabric a trajectory forming patterns, according to the law of relative movement of the nozzle ramp relative to the fabric.

The steam jets used are emitted at a pressure typically lower than

15 bars, which does not require complex or expensive installation.

Advantageously in practice, the nozzle ramp is constituted by a cylinder pierced on one of its generators with a plurality of holes forming the nozzles. Thus, the cylinder being connected to a source of pressurized steam, the emission of the steam jets is done by the various holes drilled on the cylinder.

In a preferred form, the machine further comprises means for interrupting the emission of the steam jets from the nozzles.

In this way, it is possible to thus produce patterns having interruptions, and not extending over the total length of the fabric. The selection of the zones of interruption of the trajectories of the steam jets makes it possible to vary the patterns as desired.

Such an arrangement is also advantageous for producing patterns formed by a closed line such as a circle, or any other polygon or the like.

Advantageously in practice, the means for interrupting the emission of the steam jets are constituted by a second cylinder coaxial and external to the drilled cylinder, said second cylinder comprising a plurality of openings formed on at least one of its generatrices, said second cylinder being able to be pivoted relative to the inner cylinder, so that its openings come opposite or close off the holes in the inner cylinder.

In this way, by the simple movement of the outer cylinder around the fixed inner cylinder, the holes in the inner cylinder are plugged, and the passage of steam is prevented, and therefore the choice can be made to immediately or gradually interrupt the chosen jets of steam . A relative translational movement of the two cylinders also allows such an interruption. In a preferred form, the outer cylinder has several series of plurality of openings, distributed over different generators, each series having a different number of openings.

Thanks to this arrangement, it is possible to select the number and / or the position of the steam jets, allowing the emission of jets according to the distribution of the openings made on the outer cylinder.

In other words, it is possible to select only part of the nozzles in order to use jets which are spaced apart from each other. Different distributions of the active nozzles can be obtained using a series of openings on the outer cylinder chosen according to the wishes of the user, which makes it possible to treat very different fabrics.

The assembly of the two cylinders can easily be replaced by a different module as soon as it makes it possible to emit steam jets with a pressure of a few bars, typically less than 15 bars.

In a preferred form, the deflector consists of a cylinder mounted in free rotation around its axis.

In other words, when the steam jets come into contact with the deflector, they heat the latter. According to the invention, the jets also cause a natural rotation of the deflector.

This eliminates the problems of overheating, by distributing heating over the entire deflector.

Advantageously in practice, the means for ensuring the relative displacement of the nozzle with respect to the movement of the fabric are constituted by a mechanism for controlling the means of unwinding and winding the fabric.

In other words, in this embodiment, the trajectories of the steam jets on the fabric are rectilinear, and parallel to the warp threads, on the assumption that these are parallel to the main direction of travel of the fabric. These control means can be arranged to allow movement of the fabric forward and backward.

Advantageously in practice, the winding and unwinding means are mechanically coupled electronically controlled.

In this way, it overcomes the problems of withdrawal or elongation of the fabric which occur when the steam jets come into contact with the fabric.

In a preferred form, the reeling means are motor, and the reeling means are braking at controlled tension, which makes it possible to ensure an almost constant tension of the fabric and to be free from possible phenomena of elongation or retraction which occur when the fabric is sprayed with steam jets.

In a preferred form, the machine is also equipped with means for ensuring the relative displacement of the nozzles with respect to the fabric, in the direction perpendicular to the direction of deπlement of the fabric.

In this way, by combining the displacements in the direction of the warp threads, with perpendicular displacements, it is possible to generate patterns of any geometry, as a function of the combined control law for the displacement of the winding and unwinding means, and the nozzle rail parallel to the weft threads.

Advantageously in practice, the means ensuring the relative displacement of the nozzles relative to the fabric, both in the warp and weft directions, are connected by electronic means capable of controlling them simultaneously as a function of the geometry of the patterns to be produced.

Brief description of the figures

The manner of carrying out the invention as well as the advantages which result therefrom will emerge clearly from the description of the embodiment which follows, with the support of the appended figures in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of the machine in which the left part is made in section, substantially at the plane of the steam jets. Figure 2 is a side view of the machine of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a summary perspective view of the nozzle ramp according to the invention, having two coaxial cylinders.

Way of realizing the invention

The invention relates to a fancy fabric processing machine for producing patterns by the action of a plurality of water vapor jets, which force the relative movement of warp and weft threads.

Thus, such a machine (1) comprises, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, unwinding means (2) constituted as illustrated by the association of three tangent rollers (3y-4, 5), and capable of unwinding the fabric (6) from a first storage bin (7).

Obviously, such a machine can be directly fed by another means than a simple storage bin, such as for example a roller on which the fabric to be treated is already wound.

-This machine also includes winding means (10), also consisting of a set of three rollers (11, 12, 13) tangent, and intended to transfer the fabric (6) into a storage tank (14).

The fabric (6) can also be directly conveyed by the winding device (10) on a storage roller, not shown.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the machine (1) comprises a nozzle ramp (20) intended to emit jets of water vapor on the fabric (6).

This nozzle ramp (20) cooperates with a deflector (21) arranged on the opposite face of the fabric (6) which receives the jets of steam.

Obviously such a nozzle ramp (20) can be supplied with any other fluid, without departing from the scope of the invention.

In variants not shown, the machine is equipped with a plurality of nozzle ramps and deflectors. In the form shown, the machine also comprises a bucket (23) disposed below the nozzle ramp (20) and the deflector (21), and between the reeling (2) and reeling (10) systems.

In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle ramp (20) is formed by the association of an inner cylinder (30) and an outer cylinder (31). The cylinder (30) comprises on a generator, a plurality of holes (33). The diameter of these holes (33) is of the order of 1 to 3 mm.

The cylinder (30) is connected to a conventional pressurized steam source (32), and for example constituted by a boiler. The vapor pressure delivered by this source ^" of steam ^~ is ^" dê ^{^} l ^l ordrë ^_ dë ^~ 2 to ^~ 8 ^~ bars7er preferably in the illustrated example close to 5 bars.

The inner cylinder (30) is associated with an outer cylinder (31) which also has on at least one of its generators, a plurality of openings (34).

These openings (34) are substantially the same diameter as that of the holes (33) of the inner cylinder (30).

The cylinder (31) is movable relative to the inner fixed cylinder (30). Thus, when the outer cylinder (31) pivots about its axis of revolution common with that of the inner cylinder (30), the plurality of openings (34) can be placed opposite the holes (33) of the inner cylinder (30) .

In this way, the holes (33) communicate with the outside and allow the emission of steam jets (35).

Conversely, when the cylinder (31) is pivoted so that the holes (33) of the inner cylinder (30) do not coincide with the openings (34), the emission of the steam jets is blocked, so progressive if the rotation is slow, or instantaneous if the rotation is fast.

This allows in particular to interrupt the path of the steam jet on the fabric, and to obtain patterns clearly separated from each other. As illustrated in Figure 3, the outer cylinder (31) may have several series of perforations intended to come opposite the holes (33) of the inner cylinder, but able to close off a certain part of these holes (33).

Thus, it is possible to vary the number of active nozzles on the boom

(20) by selecting the most appropriate position of the cylinder (31).

The holes (34) present on a generator of the cylinder (31) can be either irregularly spaced, or gathered in sub-groups or have any distribution.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the steam jets from the nozzle ramp (20) pass through the fabric (6), and are then deflected by the surface of the deflector (21).

During this deflection movement, the jets of steam entrain the warp and weft threads of the zone crossed, causing them to move towards the neighboring threads.

This deflector (21) is shown in FIG. 2 in the form of a cylinder, but it can of course take any shape, and in particular be polygonal, which makes it possible to obtain certain particular effects on the fabric.

According to a characteristic of the invention, this deflector (21) is mounted to pivot freely around its axis of revolution (24).

This allows, as already said, to ensure a distribution of heating following the impact of the steam jets.

The deflector (21) is rotated automatically by means of the steam jets, when they are oblique with respect to the deflector.

However, without departing from the scope of the invention, this deflector can be driven by a specific mechanism, and the vapor jets being perpendicular to the deflector. According to an important characteristic of the invention, the machine is equipped with means making it possible to move the nozzles relative to the fabric, to allow the formation of patterns.

Thus, if we consider that the fabric is arranged so that its warp threads are parallel to the main direction of travel of the fabric, the unwinding (2) and reeling (10) means make it possible to move the fabric. (6) relative to the nozzle ramp (20) in the warp direction.

Thus, the unwinding (2) and rewinding (10) devices are, as already said, made up of a set of three rollers (3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13) one of which is either motor, either brake on each ^~ system.

In practice, the first roller (3) of the unwinding means (2) and the last roller (13) of the winding means (10) are driven by an appropriate mechanism (41-42)), essentially comprising an electric stepper motor. not, or torque motor.

In an embodiment not shown, the two rollers (3) and (13) are mechanically coupled to ensure equal speed of rotation, and zero stretching of the fabric between the unwinding device (2) and reeling (10) .

In another embodiment, the roller (13) of the unwinding device is powered, while the roller (3) of the unwinding mechanism is braked, which makes it possible to continuously adjust the tension of the fabric present in the impact zone fluid jets.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the nozzle ramp (20) can move relative to the fabric in the weft direction. Thus, the nozzle ramp (20) is slidably mounted on appropriate bearings (not shown) to allow movement perpendicular to the direction of travel of the fabric.

The movement of the ramp (20) can be obtained by actuating a mechanical device (40) comprising a stepping electric motor, and a geared motor coupled to a worm. The amplitude of the movements of the nozzle ramp (20) in the weft direction is only limited by dimensions, and can typically reach a few tens of centimeters.

It is obviously a function of the geometry of the patterns that one wishes to obtain.

Thus, in practice, good results have been obtained by using motors associated with the winding system rotating at 1400 rpm, and associated with a factor 1: 70 reducer with a motorized roller perimeter of 43 cm, the maximum speed. of the scrolling of the fabric therefore being of the order of 520 meters / hour.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the drive mechanisms (41, 42) of the winding (10) and unwinding (2) means, as well as the mechanism for moving the nozzle ramp (20) according to the frame direction, are all connected to an electronic control device (45) typically consisting of a programmable controller.

If necessary, the programmable controller is also connected to mechanical control means (44) for pivoting the outer cylinder (31) relative to the cylinder (30) of the nozzle ramp (20), to cause the interruption or the start of the emission of steam jets.

The programmable controller (45) is equipped with software instructions allowing the management of the various control mechanisms (40, 41, 42, 44) to ensure movement of the fabric (6) relative to the nozzle ramp (20), this allows the steam jets to draw the preprogrammed patterns.

The programmable controller can ensure the chaining on the same fabric of several series of identical or even different patterns, and possibly having overlapping zones. It appears from the above that the machine according to the invention makes it possible to produce patterns on a fancy fabric by moving the warp and weft threads at the level of the impact area of fluid jets. Thus, on such a fabric, there are areas where the threads are less dense. Such areas are bordered at least on one side by an area where the wires are denser, randomly but statistically regular. With certain settings, the succession of more and less dense areas gives moire effects.

On certain previously dyed fabrics, one can also observe the appearance of aureoles corresponding to migrations of dyes, which give moiré aspects to the treated fabric.

This machine has multiple advantages, including:

- great mechanical simplicity, - great variability in the patterns that can be printed on the fabric,

- great latitude in the geometry of the patterns to be printed, with in particular the possibility of a very high longitudinal ratio,

- minimal operating cost.

Claims

1 / Machine (1) for processing fancy fabrics, intended to produce patterns on the fabric (6) by displacement within the fabrics of certain warp and weft threads, characterized in that it comprises:

- unwinding means (2) and winding (10) of the fabric;

- A nozzle ramp (20) capable of forming jets of steam (35) directed towards the fabric (6);

- A deflector (21) arranged opposite the nozzle rail (20), and on which the steam jets (35) are deflected after having passed through the fabric (6);

- Means (41-44) for ensuring the relative displacement of the nozzles with respect to the fabric.

2 / Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle ramp (20) is constituted by a cylinder (30) pierced on one of these generators with a plurality of holes (33) forming the nozzles.

3 / Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for interrupting the emission of the steam jets (35) by the nozzles.

4 / Fancy fabric treatment machine according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the means for interrupting the emission of the steam jets are constituted by a second cylinder (31) coaxial and external to the drilled cylinder (30 ), said second cylinder (31) having a plurality of openings (34) formed on one of these generators, said second cylinder (31) being able to be pivoted relative to the internal cylinder (30), so that its openings (34) come opposite or close the holes (33) of the inner cylinder.

5 / Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the outer cylinder (31) has several series of plurality of openings (34), distributed on different generators, each series having a different number of openings.

6 / Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the deflector (21) consists of a cylinder rotatably mounted about its axis (24). Il Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for ensuring the relative displacement of the nozzle relative to the movement of the fabric, are constituted by a control mechanism (41, 42) of the unwinding (2) and rewinding means (10) of the fabric.

8 / Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the winding means (10) and unwinding (2) are electronically controlled.

9 / Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the winding means (10) and unwinding (2) are respectively motor and braking.

10 / Fancy fabric processing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises means (40) for ensuring the relative displacement of the nozzles (20) relative to the fabric (6), in the direction perpendicular to the direction scrolling of the fabric.

11 / Fancy fabric processing machine according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it also comprises electronic means (45) connected: = - = - ™ - to the means (41, 42) for ensuring the relative displacement of the nozzles with respect to the fabric in the direction of travel of the fabric;

- Means (40) for ensuring the relative displacement of the nozzles relative to the perpendicular fabric in the direction of movement of the fabric;

- steam distribution devices; said electronic means (45) being able to simultaneously control the displacement means and the distribution members as a function of the geometry of the patterns to be produced.

12 / Fancy fabric having patterns capable of being obtained by the machine according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13 / fabric according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises areas where the son are less dense, said areas being limited by at least one border in which the son are more dense.