U.S. patent application number 11/793689 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-29 for method and apparatus for creating patterns in dyed textiles by water-jet treatment.
Invention is credited to Jurgen Heller, Ullrich Munstermann.
Application Number | 20080120794 11/793689 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35695990 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080120794 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heller; Jurgen ; et
al. |
May 29, 2008 |
Method and Apparatus for Creating Patterns in Dyed Textiles by
Water-Jet Treatment
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for creating patterns on dyed
materials (1), comprising the following steps: a continuous length
of a dyed material (1) of a predetermined width is transported on a
support element (2) in a machine direction with a selected web
speed; at least one jet distributor is provided above the dyed
material (1) that is transported on the support element (2), said
distributor producing columns or bars of fluid jets (4), which are
produced with a selected distributor pressure and spray onto the
opposing face of the dyed material (1) that is transported on the
support element (2); the fluid jets (4) strike the opposing face of
the dyed material (1) whilst the latter is transported on the
support element (2) in the direction of the machine; the fluid jets
(4) traverse the defined openings (6) of a template (5) before
striking the opposing face of the dyed material (1).
Inventors: |
Heller; Jurgen; (Dassendorf,
DE) ; Munstermann; Ullrich; (Egelsbach, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
K.F. ROSS P.C.
5683 RIVERDALE AVENUE, SUITE 203 BOX 900
BRONX
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Family ID: |
35695990 |
Appl. No.: |
11/793689 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
November 24, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP05/12558 |
371 Date: |
January 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/478 ;
68/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06C 23/00 20130101;
D06B 11/0093 20130101; D04H 1/495 20130101; D04H 18/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
8/478 ;
68/200 |
International
Class: |
D06C 23/00 20060101
D06C023/00; D06P 5/00 20060101 D06P005/00; D06B 1/02 20060101
D06B001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 062 666.9 |
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. A method of patterning a dyed textile web, the method comprising
the steps of: passing the dyed textile web continuously in a
predetermined travel direction through a patterning station;
supporting the web in the station on a support element; directing
from a nozzle array at least one water jet at the web in the
station on the element; and interposing between the nozzle array
and the web in the station a template having at least one pattern
hole so as to intercept at least a portion of the water jet such
that the water jet only impinges a predetermined region of the web
and washes dye out of the web at this region.
10. The patterning method defined in claim 9 wherein the template
is endless and is formed with an array of holes, the method further
comprising the step of continuously moving the template between the
nozzle array and the web.
11. The patterning method defined in claim 10 wherein the template
and web are moved in the same direction.
12. The patterning method defined in claim 9 wherein the support is
underneath the web and the jet is directed downward at the web.
13. The patterning method defined in claim 12 wherein the array
emits a plurality of jets in a row extending transverse to the
travel direction.
14. The patterning method defined in claim 9, further comprising
sucking water from jets through the web by a suction box forming
the support element.
15. An apparatus for patterning a dyed textile web, the apparatus
comprising: conveyor means for transporting the dyed textile web
continuously in a predetermined travel direction through a
patterning station; a support element underneath the web in the
station; a nozzle array having at least one water jet directed at a
the web in the station on the element; and a template interposed
between the nozzle array and the web in the station and having at
plurality of small pattern holes so as to intercept at least a
portion of the water jet such that the water jet only impinges a
predetermined region of the web and washes dye out of the web at
this region.
16. The patterning apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the jet
includes a row of nozzles extending transverse to the direction,
directed downward, and each emitting a respective such water jet.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for
creating patterns in dyed textiles.
[0002] For a number of textile products, a visible pattern or other
pattern effect is produced on the finished fabric. For dyeing and
color printing, additive processes are often carried out in which
dyes or pigments are added to undyed or previously dyed textile
products. A subtractive process is also possible for removal of
color from a previously dyed textile product. Various subtractive
processes for treatment of dyed textile products are known in this
field that, however, have various disadvantages. For example,
discharge printing is a subtractive printing method in which a
previously dyed textile product is imprinted with a paste of sodium
hydroxide or sodium hydrogen sulfite to eliminate the color in the
previously printed areas. The etching paste used may cause severe
damage to the textile product if it is not carefully washed off
afterward. Another chemically induced subtractive process is acid
washing, in which the color is removed from a textile product that
has already been processed into a clothing article. In acid
washing, pumice stones are soaked in chlorine bleach and then added
to a load of clothing articles in an industrial washing machine not
containing water. The load of stones and clothing articles is
agitated for a long period of time, and the effect of the acid
combined with the abrasion from the stones achieves the desired
degree of decolorization that, however, may be extremely
disadvantageous for the strength and durability of the textile.
[0003] A purely mechanical, color-subtractive process is provided
when stone washing is performed without the addition of acid. In
this case the decolorization results strictly from friction,
abrasion, and lack of wash fastness of the color. In stone washing
the textile product is subjected to less wear and damage than in
acid washing. In both cases, however, the washout patterning of the
textile product cannot be precisely controlled, and is not
reproducible with consistent quality when performed repeatedly.
[0004] These methods also represent a great environmental burden
when chemical substances are used in the subtractive patterning of
textiles.
[0005] In light of the foregoing, methods have been developed for
subtractive patterning of fabrics by treatment with a nonetching
fluid that does not create damage and wear on the production
equipment, and does not harm the textile products.
[0006] One example of an apparatus and a method for wet patterning
of textile products is described in EP 0,459,976 [U.S. Pat. No.
5,737,813]. A web of a textile product is transported through a
patterning station, the conveyor including a support surface that
is provided with a pattern of solid areas and void areas
interspersed therein. The textile product is placed flat in contact
with the support surface as it is transported through the
patterning station. Water jets form a fluid curtain that is
directed downward against the textile product while it is moved
through the patterning station on the support surface. The water
jets impact the textile product and the patterned surface situated
therebelow, such that a visual property of the textile product is
altered corresponding to the pattern of solid and void areas on the
support surface.
[0007] A further method and apparatus for striped patterning of
dyed fabrics by water jet treatment are disclosed by EP 1 012
369.
[0008] Described therein is an improved technique for creating a
striped pattern on a dyed material by water jet treatment. Striped
patterns are created without a support surface, provided with
patterning, beneath the fabric. Striped patterns having strong
contrasts and improved clarity may be produced in this manner. In
addition, different striped patterns may be easily and economically
created without the use of pattern-directed nozzles.
[0009] A disadvantage of the previously known methods and
apparatuses for creating patterns in dyed fabrics by water jet
treatment is that either the quality of the patterning is reduced,
or the design is limited to stripes.
[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a method
of and an apparatus for creating patterns in predyed fabrics by
means of water jet treatment that allows a large number of patterns
of high quality.
[0011] The object is achieved according to the invention by use of
a method according to claim 1, and a corresponding apparatus.
[0012] Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the
subclaims.
[0013] The method for creating patterns in dyed textiles comprises
the following steps: a continuous length of a dyed material having
a predetermined width, i.e., a textile web, is transported on a
support element in a machine direction at a predetermined travel
speed. The term "textile" includes woven fabrics, knitted fabrics,
and bonded nonwoven fabrics. At least one nozzle array is provided
above the dyed textile that is transported on the support element,
columnar jets or a liquid jet curtain generated at a predetermined
distributor pressure being sprayed onto a confronting face of the
textile that is transported on the support element. The liquid jet
or jets strike the confronting face of the textile while the
textile is transported on the support element in the machine
direction. A special feature in this method is the step in which
the liquid jets pass through defined openings in a template before
being sprayed downward on the confronting face of the textile. The
liquid jets from the nozzle array strike the dyed textile only in
the region of the openings in the template, and the dye is washed
out from the dyed textile only in the region of the openings. The
fabric thus acquires a light coloration at these locations. As the
result of the specialized design of the openings in the template,
any given pattern may be created on a textile, for example a jeans
textile, by washing out.
[0014] In one preferred embodiment of the method, the template
comprises a continuous belt. In a further advantageous embodiment
the template is designed as a drum made of metal or plastic. In
both cases the template rotates about a horizontal axis that
extends transverse to the direction of the web velocity.
[0015] The support element may also be designed as a continuous
belt. Such continuous belts run over multiple cylindrical rollers,
for example.
[0016] Below the dyed textile impacted by water, the dyed textile
may be transported by a support element designed as a screen belt.
The water that seeps through it is preferably collected in gutters
or is drawn off by suction boxes.
[0017] The nozzle array is provided with outlet openings from
which, depending on the shape, water jets are emitted in the form
of columns or curtains. Water is fed under high pressure into the
nozzle array by means of suitable high-pressure pumps.
[0018] One illustrated embodiment of the invention is explained
below with reference to the FIGS. that show the following:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus according to the invention for
creating heart-shaped patterns on a textile web 1, a template 5
being designed as a belt. The belt runs over four cylindrical
rollers 9 as a continuous belt having defined openings 6 in the
form of small hearts. The dyed textile 1 is transported from left
to right in the direction of the arrow between support element 2
that runs on two additional cylindrical rollers 3, and the belt
template 5, while columns of liquid jets 4 emitted from above from
outlet openings 8 in a nozzle array (not illustrated) strike the
textile web 1 perpendicularly through the openings 6 in the
template 5. A suction box 7 is located below the outlet openings 8
and the support element 2;
[0020] FIG. 2 shows an apparatus according to the invention for
creating heart-shaped patterns on a textile web 1, the template 5
being designed as a drum. Shown as the pattern are small hearts
that are recognizable on the textile 1 as regions 10 of washed-out
color;
[0021] FIG. 3 shows an apparatus according to the invention in
which the dyed textile 1 is transported in an arcuate path between
the template 5 and the support element 2, in the direction of the
arrow;
[0022] FIG. 4 shows an apparatus according to the invention in
which the support element 2 is designed as a continuous belt and is
moved by three rollers 3 in the direction of the arrow; and
[0023] FIG. 5 shows a further variant analogous to FIG. 4 in which
the support element 2 is designed as a continuous belt and is moved
by three rollers 3.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0024] 1 Dyed textile [0025] 2 Support element [0026] 3 Roller
[0027] 4 Liquid jets [0028] 5 Template, drum; continuous belt
[0029] 6 Opening [0030] 7 Suction box [0031] 8 Outlet opening
[0032] 9 Roller [0033] 10 Color contours
* * * * *