WO2001086052A1

WO2001086052A1 - Garment dyeing machine and plant

Info

Publication number: WO2001086052A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/005314
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Bellini
Original assignee: Loris Bellini SpA
Current assignee: Loris Bellini SpA
Priority date: 2000-05-11
Filing date: 2001-05-10
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2002-11-11
Also published as: ITMI20001048A0; IT1317519B1; AU2001265940A1; ITMI20001048A1

Abstract

A garment dyeing machine (10) comprises a vat (11), a piping system (12) for dyeing liquid inlet to, circulation in and draining from the vat and at least one drum (13) with pierced walls designed to contain the garments to be dyed. The drum is arranged in the vat to be at least partially immersed in the dyeing liquid and powered means (14) rotate it axially. The drum (13) is supported in the vat in a rotatable and removable manner to be withdrawable from the vat for removal therefrom or addition thereto of garments. A garment dyeing plant comprising said dyeing machine also comprises among other things a centrifugation station (23) which receives the drum withdrawn from the dyeing machine and powered means (25) for grasping and transfer of the drum between the dyeing machine and the centrifugation station.

Description

be automatic, fast and efficient.

In view of this purpose it was sought to provide in accordance with the present invention a garment dyeing machine comprising a vat, a piping system for inlet, circulation and draining of dyeing liquids in the vat, at least one drum with pierced walls designed to contain the garments to be dyed and arranged in the vat to be immersed at least partially in the dyeing liquid inlet thereto and powered means of axial rotation of the drum in the vat characterized in that the drum is supported in the vat in a removable and rotatable manner to be withdrawn from the vat for removal therefrom or addition thereto of garments . Again in accordance with the innovative principles of the present invention it was sought to provide a garment dyeing plant comprising dyeing machine of the above mentioned kind and comprising furthermore a centrifugation station having a reception chamber for the dyeing machine drum and means of support and rotation of the drum in the chamber with there being between the dyeing machine and the centrifugation station powered means of grasping and transferring the drum.

To clarify the explanation of the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared with the prior art there is described below with the aid of the annexed drawings a possible embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example applying said principles. In the drawings :

- FIG 1 shows a diagrammatic view cross sectioned along plane of cut I-I of FIG 3 of a dyeing machine provided in accordance with the present invention,

- FIG 2 shows a front, diagrammatic partially cross section view of the machine of FIG 1,

- FIG 3 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the machine of FIG 1,

- FIG 4a-d shows a loading sequence of the machine of FIG 1 in a plant provided in accordance with the present invention,

- FIG 5 shows a diagrammatic view similar to that of FIG 1 of the dyeing machine during an operational phase,

- FIG 6a-c shows an unloading sequence of the dyeing machine and loading of a centrifugation station in a plant provided in accordance with the present invention,

- FIG 7 shows a diagrammatic view of the centrifugation station during an operational phase,

- FIG 8a-c shows a sequence of unloading of the centrifugation station and loading of a drying station in a plant provided in accordance with the present invention,

- FIG 9 shows a diagrammatic view of the drying station during an operational phase, and

- FIG lOa-b shows a sequence of unloading of the drying station and emptying of the drum in a final unloading station.

With reference to the figures FIG 1 shows diagirammatically a machine designated as a whole by reference number 10 for dyeing garments such as stockings, denim trousers etc comprising a vat 11 equipped with a piping system for input, circulation and draining of dyeing liquids in the vat. 4

At least one pierced walled drum 13 designed to contain the garments to be dyed is placed in the vat. The drum is arranged in the vat to be immersed at least partially in the dyeing liquid input therein and is rotated axially by means of appropriate powered means 14. Advantageously the drum has one end equipped with a door 17 for insertion and removal of the garments .

The drum is received in the vat in such a manner as to be withdrawable there from for removal or insertion of the garments in the drum as clarified below.

As may be seen in FIG 2, advantageously the drum is arranged in the vat with axis horizontal and resting peripherally on a pair of horizontal rollers 15 at least one of which is powered. This way the drum is easy to withdraw through an upper door 16.

As may be seen in FIGS 2 and 3, in accordance with one of the innovative principles of the present invention the dyeing machine comprises advantageously a plurality of drums 13, for example three, parallel and side-by-side to be immersed in the dyeing liquid. This allows provision of a machine with high loading capacity but relatively small drum diameter. This also allows dividing the load effectively for example to avoid mixing different, garments desired with the same color however. Again advantageously, neighboring drums of the plurality of drums share the same supporting roller which is advantageously powered so as to reduce the number of powered rollers needed (as seen well in FIG 3). FIG 4 shows part of a garment dyeing plant provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention and comprising the machine of FIG 1.

FIG 4a shows the filling phase of the drum withdrawn from the machine and placed in a filling station 18 and arranged with horizontal axis to allow top access to the inside by the operator.

Once the drum is filled with a sufficient quantity of garments to be dyed powered means 19 grasp the drum and transfer it from the filling station 18 to the dyeing machine 10. As may be seen in the sequence 4b-4d the means 19 have a powered arm 20 which has an appropriate end 21 for lateral grasping of the drum which rotates on command to take the drum from the filling position with vertical axis to a position of insertion in the dyeing machine with horizontal axis.

As may be seen in FIG 5, once the drum or drums are positioned in the dyeing machine the top door is closed and the machine can perform a dyeing cycle during which the vat is flooded with dyeing liquid up to the appropriate level 22 and the drum is rotated around its axis. The dyeing cycle can take place in a known manner not further discussed as it is easily imaginable to those skilled in the art. As may be seen in FIG 6a-c the plant also comprises a centrifugation station 23 having a chamber 24 for reception of the drum 13 transferred thereto from the dyeing machine by means of other powered grasping and transfer means 25. As may be seen in FIG 6c the centrifugation chamber has powered means of axial engagement of the drum arranged with 6

axis vertical. Advantageously these axial engagement means comprise a powered chuck 26 arranged on the chamber bottom on which it rests and engages the drum and a counter chuck 27 arranged on a cover 28 for closing the top of the chamber to engage the drum at the top upon closing of the cover.

Similarly to the transportation means 19 the powered means 25 comprise a powered arm 29 having ends 30 for side gripping of the drum which rotates upon command to take the drum from the horizontal axis position in the dyeing machine (FIG 6a) to the vertical axis position for insertion in the centrifugation station (FIG 6c). FIG 7 shows a centrifugation station operational phase during which the drum is rotated rapidly to evacuate the liquid from the garments contained therein. The centrifugation station has know means (not shown) for pumping the liquid which is collected on the chamber bottom.

As may be seen in FIG 8a-c the plant can also advantageously comprise a drying station 31 having a drying chamber 32 designed to receive the drum 13 and means 33 for hot air circulation in the chamber. Between the centrifugation station and the drying station there are additional powered means 43 for grasping and transferring the drum.

Advantageously the drying chamber 32 has an upper opening and receives the drum with horizontal axis and the powered means 34 for grasping and transfer comprise a powered arm 35 having one end 36 for lateral gripping of the drum which as for the transfer means 20 and 29 can be rotated on command to take the drum from the vertical axis position in the centrifugation station (FIG 8a) to the horizontal axis position for insertion in the drying station (FIG 8c). FIG 9 shows an operational phase of the drying station 31 during which hot air is sent to the drying chamber. After drying, the drum is removed from the station and the dyed garments can be withdrawn from the drum. The empty drum can then be returned to the filling station 18 to be reused.

Advantageously, to unload the drum additional means 40 are provided comprising a powered arm 41 having ends 42 for lateral gripping of the drum which rotates on command to take the drum from the horizontal axis position in the drying station (FIG 10a) to an inclined axis position (10b) for unloading of the garment from the drum after opening the door. Unloading can take place for example in an unloading station 38 having carriages 39 for reception and transportation of the dyed garments. It is now clear that the predetermined purposes have been achieved by making available a fast, flexible and effective dyeing machine and dyeing plant.

Naturally the above description of an embodiment\applying the innovative principles of the present invention is given by way of non-limiting example of said principles within the scope of the exclusive right claimed here. For example the means of transfer between the various machines and stations can be provided with a single transfer arm or. several arms depending on the desired and 8

possible superimpositions of the various load and unload phases.

Furthermore, since the dyeing cycles are usually longer than the centrifugation and drying cycles, several dyeing machines can be served by a smaller number of centrifugation and drying stations . Intermediate parking stations for the drums between the various stations can also be provided.

Claims

1. Garment dyeing machine comprising a vat and a piping system for dyeing liquid inlet to, circulation in and draining from the vat, at least one drum with pierced walls designed to contain the garments to be dyed with the drum arranged in the vat to be at least partially immersed in the dyeing liquid inlet thereto and powered means of axial rotation of the drum in the vat characterized in that the drum is supported in the vat in a rotating and removable manner to be withdrawn from the vat for removal therefrom or insertion therein of garments .

2. Machine in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the drum is arranged with horizontal axis in the vat and in the vat there is a pair of horizontal rollers at least one of which is powered for peripheral support of the drum to support it in a rotatable manner and allow its removal by withdrawal from above.

3. Machine in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the drum has one end equipped with a door for insertion and withdrawal of the garments.

4. Machine in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that the vat contains a plurality of drums parallel and side-by- side.

5. Machine in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that neighboring drums of the plurality share the same support roller.

6. Garment dyeing plant comprising a dyeing machine in accordance with any one of the above claims and also 10

comprising a centrifugation station having a chamber for receiving the dyeing machine drum and means of supporting and rotating the drum in the chamber with there being between the dyeing machine and the centrifugation station powered means of grasping and transfer of the drum.

7. Plant in accordance with claim 6 characterized in that the centrifugation station has powered means for axial engagement of the drum arranged with vertical axis and the powered grasping and transfer means comprise a powered arm having ends for lateral gripping of the drum which rotates on command to take the drum from a horizontal axis position for insertion in and extraction from the dyeing machine to a vertical axis position for insertion in and extraction from the centrifugation station.

8. Plant in accordance with claim 6 characterized in that the support and rotation means comprise a powered chuck arranged on the chamber bottom on which it rests and engages the drum and a counter chuck arranged on a top closing cover of the chamber to engage the drum at the top upon closing of the cover.

9. Plant in accordance with claim 6 characterized in that it comprises another drying station having a drying chamber designed to receive the dying machine drum and means of hot air circulation in the chamber with there being between the centrifugation station and the drying station other powered means for grasping and transfer of the drum.

10. Plant in accordance with claim 9 characterized in that the drying chamber has a top opening and receives the drum with horizontal axis and said additional powered grasping 11

and transfer means comprise a powered arm having ends for side gripping of the drum which rotates on command to take the drum from a vertical axis position for extraction from the centrifugation station to a horizontal axis position for insertion in the drying station.

11. Plant in accordance with claim 9 characterized in that it comprises other powered means for grasping and transfer of the drum between the drying station and a station for unloading the garments from the drum.

12. Plant in accordance with claim 11 characterized in that the other means comprise a powered arm having ends for lateral gripping of the drum which rotates on command to take the drum from a horizontal axis position for extraction from the drying station to an inclined axis position for unloading of the garments from the drum.

13. Plant in accordance with claim 6 characterized in that it comprises other powered means for grasping and transfer of the drum between a drum filling station and the dyeing machine with the drum being arranged with vertical axis for access to its interior from above.

14. Plant in accordance with claim 13 characterized in that the powered means comprise an arm having ends for lateral gripping of the drum with the arm rotating on command to take the drum from the vertical axis filling position to a position for insertion with axis horizontal in the dyeing machine .