US2001488A - Apparatus for coating fabrics - Google Patents

Description

y 1935. A. w. DROBILE 2,001,488

APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS Filed March 7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 14, 1935. A. w. DROBILE 2,001,483

APPARATUS FDR COATING FABRICS Filed March '7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 14, 1935. A wv DROBILE APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS Filed March 7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1935. A w, DROBILE 2,001,488

APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS Filed March 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Shem 4 May 14, 1935. A. w. DROBILE APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March '7, 1930 Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIE 2,001,488 APPARATUS FOR COATING memos Albert W. Drobile, Cynwyd, Pa. Application March '7, 1930, Serial No. 433,907

8 Claims.

My invention is designed to provide an apparatus for applying an adherent coating to the backing of a pile fabric so as to form thereon a thin water soluble film which penetrates the 5 interstices and pores of the backing and pile fibres to strengthen and prevent raveling of the backing and firmly anchor the pile.

My improvements are particularly applicable to the coating of pile fabrics woven with a backing containing a subnormal number of weft threads and 'having'pile looped over each weft thread so loosely enmeshed in the backing as to be unsuitable for dyeing, finishing or use in the condition in which woven, and the application to such fabrics of an aqueous dispersion of rubber solidifiable on the fabric by heat.

In the preferred practice of my improvements, the loosely woven pile fabric is coated while suspended from card clothing rollers which support the pile face without displacing the pile from the backing and the coating is confined and swirled adjacent to the point of application of the backing, and thereby caused to better penetrate the fabric, which may, if desired, be humidified or moistened to render it more absorbent and increase the capillary action of the fibres. Any loose pile fibres resulting from cutting, passage through the humidifier or from other causes, may be evacuated from the backing, and the loops of the pile are preferably pressed firmly into position against the weft threads immediately before application of the coating and while the fabric is suspended between the card clothing rollers.

My improvements further provide means for nicely regulating the thickness of the applied coat and for letting excess coating to the supply reservoir without violent agitation which tends to coagulate certain aqueous rubber dispersions containing vulcanizers and accelerators or facilitating solidification and vulcanization of the coating on the fabric during the passage thereof through a drier to which it is delivered from the coating mechanism.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will further appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of apparatus illustrating my invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of apparatus embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the coating apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of the coating apparatus; Fig. 3a is an enlarged side elevation of a blade by which the coating may be applied to the fabric backing and caused to permeate the same; Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the coating apparatus and Fig. 5 is an end view of the coating apparatus, with parts omitted, showing a preferred 5 mechanism for returning excess coating to the supply reservoir.

In accordance with my invention, the fabric to be treated, preferably consisting of a loosely woven pile fabric, is translated in a continuous operation through my improved apparatus which first prepares the fabric for coating, then coats the fabric, and then solidifies the coating, the several mechanisms being operated in synchronous relation.

As illustrated in the drawings, a frame I has fixed thereto a bracket 2 in which are journalled rollers 3, 4, 5 and 6. A steam box or humidifier 1 is also mounted upon the bracket 2 and supplied with steam through a perforated tube 8 sur- 2 rounded by a perforated cylinder 9. A loosely woven pile fabric A passes over the rollers 3, 4 and 5, and into the humidifier through the slot l0 where it is moistened by steam emitted from the pipe 8 and cylinder 9 and passes from the humidifier through the slot l l. The engagement of the back of the fabric with rollers 3, 4 and 5 prevents dislodgment of the pile and tends to --properly position it in the backing, and the moistening of the fabric in the humidifier increases the capillarity and absorption of the fibres.

Fabric passing from the humidifier passes over the rotatable roller 6 and under the rotatable roller l2 which hold the fabric taut during brushing of the backing and pile loops thereof by a rotary brush [3. Any loose pile projecting from the backing of the fabric A are swept by the brush l3 into a receptacle M.

The brushed fabric is held by the roller l2 against a card clothing roller I5 having wires 01' teeth l5 projecting therefrom in counterclockwise direction. The wires or teeth [5' support the backing away from the face of the roller I5, the wires or teeth being of suitable length to receive the pile threads among them so as to avoid any pressure on the tips of the pile tending to displace the pile loops from the backing. The rotation of the roller I5 is retarded by a brake band l6 secured to anchorages I1 and passing around drums l5" fixed to the shaft of the roller I 5. The opposite ends of the brake band are connected by links l8 to fulcrumed notched levers H! from which weights 20 are suspended on hangers 2|. The drag on the roller l5 may be varied by changis confined in the ing the number or weights of the disks 28 or the position of the hangers 2| on thelevers I 9.

A card clothing roller 22, complementary to the roller I5, is journalled in the frame I and has its teeth or wires 22' projected therefrom in a clock.- wise direction, the length of such teeth vor wires I being properly proportioned to house between them the free ends of the pile and support the backing on the fabric A. The roller 22 is revolved in a clockwise direction through a; sprocket 23 which is made loose or fast to the shaft of the roller 22 by a clutch 23'. A sprocket chain 24 operatively connects the sprocket 23 with a sprocket 25, and the tension of the sprocket chain may be regulated by means of an idler 26. A sprocket 21 is fixed to the opposite end of the shaft of the roller 22 and is connected by a sprocket chain 28 with a sprocket wheel 29 on the shaft of the brush I3 to rotate the latter. A polished cylinder premer 38 is fixed to the frame adjacent to the card clothing roller 5 and both holds the fabric in contact with such roller and presses into close contact with the backing any pile loops disturbed by the passage of the card clothing roller I5. The fabric is held in engagement with the card clothing roller 22 by the revoluble rollers 3| and 32. A supply reservoir 35 is mounted between the card clothing rollers l5 and 22 and is provided with a series of valved outlets 36 through which the coating is discharged and flows, down an inclined hinged plate 31 to the blade 38 adjustably fixed to the tank frame by the bolts 39. The bottom of the blade contains an arcuate groove 38a forming a lip 38b and a narrow edge 38c lies between the arcuate groove 38a and the bevel 38d. I

The blade edge 38c bears against the fabric backing and applies additional tensionthereto to place the fabric in suitable condition for the application of the coating fluid which flows from the hinged plate 31 down the face of the blade 38. The excess coating is scraped or wiped by the edge 38c and forms a species of wave which groove 384: by the downward projection of the lip 38b, and the swirling action resulting from such confinement and the movement of the fabric forces the coating fluid into the interstices and pores of the fabric.

The tension applied to the fabric and the permeation of the coating thereinto may be regulated by the-vertical and angular adjustment of the reservoir and blade unit which is journalled by trunnions 48 in vertically movable bearings 4| which are vertically adjustable by means of the screws 42 fixed theretdand threaded in worm-' wheels or nuts 43 journalled in the bearings 44. The peripheral teeth of the wormwheels 43 mesh with worms 45 on a shaft 46 rotatable by the handwheel 41.

A scale and pointer 48 indicate the vertical movement of the reservoir and blade and a scale and pointer 49 indicate the angular movement thereof.

heexcess coating deposited on the fabric and deflected therefrom by the blade 38 is discharged into a drip pan 58 from which it may be discharged through a pipe.5| into a pail 52 for return to the storage tank 53 which discharges through the valved pipe54 to the supply reservoir 35. Where, however, considerable quantities of excess coating accumulate in the drip pan it is preferable to withdraw it therefrom by means of the drain pipe 55 projecting downward. into the sump 56 below the screen 51. The pipe 55 contains a non-return valve 58 and forms a siphon,-

and discharging into the tank 59 which communicates near its bottom with the pipe 68 containing the non-retum valve 6|. The pipe 68 may discharge into the supply reservoir 53 or directly to the supply tank 35.

The tank 59 contains a float 62 flxed on an arm 63 of a shaft 64 journalled in the tank. An end of the shaft 64 projecting from the tank has fixed thereto arms 65 and 66 movable by the oscillation of the shaft into engagement with a tumbler 61 of a double acting electric switch 68. When the float 62 rises, it oscillates the shaft 64, and causes the arm 66 to rock the toggle 61, which operates the switch 68 to close the circuits of electric valves 69 and 18 controlling passage through the pipes 1| and 12. The pipe 1| is connected with the atmosphere, and the pipe 12 is connected with a source of fluid pressure, such as an air compressor. When the switch 68 is operated by the rise of the float 62, the valve 69 is actuated to close the pipe 1| and the valve 18 is actuated 12, so that air under pressure is discharged into the tank 59, but diffused by the baille 13 to avoid agitation of the coating fluid therein. The pressure of the tankcloses the valve 58, opens the valve 6| and forces the liquid in the tank through the pipe 68.and into the coating supply tank. When the liquid level in the tank falls, the float 62 falls therewith and causes the arm 65 to rock the toggle 61, thereby operating the switch 68 and causing the actuation of the electric valve 69 to open the pipe 1| and the actuation of the electric valve 18 to close the pipe 12. The pressure in the tank is lated in the sump 56.

to open the pipe The coated fabric passes from the roll 32 over the card clothing-roller 15 having wires or teeth 16 projecting from the periphery thereof in a clockwise direction. The teeth 16 are of sufflcient length to house the pile threads between them and support the fabric, backing.

The fabric passes from the roller 15 to pin chains 16a, which engage the selvage of the fabric and carry it in a circuitous route over the rollers 11 of the enclosed dryer 18. The driving shaft 19 of the dryer is connected through the beveled gears 88, shaft 8|, beveled gears 82, shaft 83, beveled gears 84 and shaft 85 with the sprocket 25, so that the ing mechanismare operated in synchronism.

It will be understood that in the practice of my invention the loosely woven pile fabric formed by splitting the pile of a double plush fabric may be conditioned for coating by passage through the humidifier 1 wherein the backing is dampened without substantially moistening the cut pile face of the fabric, so that the capillarity of the backing fibres and pile loops is increased disproportionately to the capillarity of the pile tips; The moistening of the fibres is of particular advantage where the backing is composed of cotdryer conveyor and coatthe blade by the means described the tension of the-cloth and the degree of penetration of the coating may be regulated. The coated fabric passes under the roller 3| over the card clothing roller 22, under the roller 32 and over the card clothing roller 15 to the pin chain of the dryer by which the coating is coagulated and vulcanized to solidify it into a thin film which firmly anchors the pile threads, and reinforces and prevents raveling of the fabric.

My apparatusis particularly adapted for coating with an aqueous dispersion of rubber, either in the form of natural latex or in the form of an artificial dispersion of rubber. Such aqueous rubber dispersions may have mixed therewith suitable vulcanizers, accelerators and fillers. Such compounds are frequently of a somewhat unstable character, but my improvements permit the use thereof without deleterious effects thereon or upon the loosely woven fabric, which is being treated.

While my improvements are particularly applicable to the coating of cut pile fabrics, it will be evident that they may be used in connection with the coating of uncut pile fabrics, viz fabrics having two spaced backings connected by warp threads.

Having described my invention, I claim:--

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a humidifier, a brush to which fabric passes from said humidifier, a plurality of card clothing rollers to which fabric passes from said brush, a blade disposed between such card clothing rollers for engaging a fabric supported there-' by, and a presser disposed between said blade and one of said card clothing rollers.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising means to humidity the backing of a loosely woven pile fabric disproportionately to the pile face of the{fabric, pile evacuating means, pile repositioning means, means to support said fabric with the pile free from said supporting means, means to tension said supported fabric, and means to coat said tensioned fabric.

3. In apparatus for impregnating fabrics, the combination with means for supporting and translating a fabric, of a reservoir for impregnating material-' to be applied to said fabric, and a blade for distributing on said fabric impregnating material from said reservoir and containing a groove, said blade having an edge at one side of. said groove adapted for engaging fabric translated by said means and also having a lip at the other side of said groove and disposed above the fabric-contacting surface of said edge, said lip partly confining impregnating material swirled in said groove by the movement of said fabric.

4. In apparatus for impregnating fabrics, the combination with means for supporting and translating a fabric, of a reservoir for impregnating material to be applied to said fabric, and ablade for distributing on said fabric impregnating material from said reservoir and containing an arcuate groove, said blade forming an edge along one side of said groove and projecting counter to the direction of movement of fabric by said means, said blade also forming a lip along the opposite side of said groove, said lip projecting downward below the top of said groove and terminating substantially above the contacting surface of said edge and forcing the impregnating fluid into the interstices of the fabric.

5. In apparatus for impregnating fabrics, the combination with a reservoir for an impregnating fluid, of means for supporting and translating a fabric, a blade adapted for engaging a fabric translated by said means, and a spreader and deflector to which impregnating material is discharged from said reservoir and by which such material is distributed uniformly to said blade.

6. In apparatus for impregnating fabrics, the combination with a reservoir for an impregnating fluid and having feed cocks through which fluid is discharged therefrom, of means for supporting and translating a fabric, a blade adapted for engaging a fabric translated by said means, and a plate in the path of discharge from said cocks, said plate being angularly disposed relatively to a side of said blade and adjustable relatively thereto, said plate receiving and spreading the efflux from said cocks and uniformly distributing it to said blade.

7. In apparatus for impregnating the back of pile fabric, the combination witha reservoir for an impregnating fluid, of a blade to which fluid is supplied from said reservoir, and means for supporting and translating fabric past said blade and comprising spaced card-clothing rollers forming the sole support holding against the thrust of said blade pile fabric suspended between said card-clothing rollers during the spreading of v impregnating fluid thereon, said card clothing rollers having teeth housing the pile of fabric be-.

ing impregnated and supporting the back thereof without substantial pressure on the face of the pile.

8. In apparatus for impregnating the back of pile fabric, the combination with a reservoir for an impregnating fluid, of a blade to which fluid is supplied from said reservoir, means for supporting and translating fabric past said blade and comprising spaced card clothing rollers forming the sole support holding against the thrust of said blade pile fabric suspended between said card clothing rollers during the spreading of impreg- I nating fluid thereon, and a presser disposed between said blade and one of said card-clothing rollers for pressing displaced pile into the back of fabric about to move under said blade.

ALBERT W. DROBILE.

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