Apparatus for the local treatment of yarns, for example the non-continuous dyeing of textile yarns

Abstract

The invention provides an improved apparatus for the irregular local treant of yarn, for example for non-continuous dyeing of textile yarn. The yarn is moved through one or more treatment zones at constant or varying velocity and is sprayed with a treatment fluid from a moving nozzle. According to the invention at least one of the drive mechanisms for the yarn or nozzle is of variable speed.

Description

Different apparatus are already known for the local treatment of yarns, for example of textile yarns. Such apparatus can be used for the non-continuous dyeing of textile yarns, for the manufacture of fancy yarns.

However, the known processes and apparatus for non-continuous dyeing have various disadvantages. In general, they do not allow dyeing to be carried out during continuous axial displacement of the yarn at high speed; moreover, they do not prevent the periodic reproduction of certain effects on the yarn, which causes unsightly faults in the finished articles.

The object of the present invention is therefore an improved apparatus for the local treatment of at least one yarn moving axially continuously and, preferably, at high speed. The invention will be applicable to all sorts of yarns, whether textile or otherwise, and whatever may be the nature of the treatment. It appears, however, to be particularly advantageous in the case of noncontinuous dyeing of textile yarns, also known as "space-dyeing".

In accordance with the ivention, the apparatus essentially comprises:

A. A DRIVE MECHANISM FOR THE YARN TO BE TREATED;

B. A NOZZLE MOUNTED ON A MOBILE SUPPORT AND FED, PREFERABLY CONTINUOUSLY, BY A CHANNEL SUPPLYING A TREATEMENT FLUID, FOR EXAMPLE A LIQUID, THE DIRECTION OF THE JET OF FLUID AT THE NOZZLE OUTLET BENG SITUATED IN AN AREA THROUGH WHICH THE YARN PASSES AND WHICH IS PREFERABLY SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE SAID YARN;

C. A DRIVE MECHANISM FOR THE NOZZLE SUPPORT.

At least one of these drive mechanisms is of variable speed. Several factors are therefore available, in particular the velocity of yarn passage under the nozzle and the frequency of passage of the axis of the nozzle over the axis of the yarn, to avoid too great a regularity both in the length of the treated zones and in their distribution, and to obtain a large variety of products.

The invention will, moreover, be better understood and its advantages and various secondary features will become apparent during the following description of some embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the whole of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for treatment of a yarn;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a portion of another apparatus in accordance with the invention permitting the simultaneous treatment of several yarns;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of a modification of the invention.

If reference is made firstly to FIG. 1, a yarn 1 to be treated, for example to be dyed locally, will be seen passing from an unwinder 2 and entering a chamber 3. The bottom of chamber 3 is formed into a tank collecting the excess treatment fluid 4 which is delivered, preferably continuously, by channels 5 and 6 and a pump 7, to a nozzle 8. For reasons which will become apparent below, channel 6 has at least one flexible and deformable portion 6a in the proximity of the nozzle.

Nozzle 8 is mounted on a shaft 9 substantially parallel to yarn 1 and mounted to pivot in suitable bearings. The axis of the nozzle is perpendicular to shaft 9, to which is in addition keyed a lever 10 linked to a rod 11. The other end of the rod is hinged to a plate or lever 12 rotated by a motor 13, preferably through a speed variator 14. The length of lever 10 and the distance from the pivot of rod 11 to the axis of plate 12 are such that one complete rotation of the latter causes a reciprocating oscillation of nozzle 8, during which the axis of the nozzle and, consequently, the jet of fluid, intersects yarn 1.

Of course, if the apparatus is intended for the simultaneous treatment of several parallel yarns, it could include either a single nozzle, the oscillation of which will have a sufficient amplitude for its jet to intersect all the yarns, or else several nozzles. In the latter case, the treatments carried out on the yarns may differ, provided of course that the treatment fluid collection tanks are isolated from each other.

It is also obvious that several apparatus like the one described above could be arranged successively on the same yarn.

Finally, a mechanism is provided for traction of yarn 1, consisting of a bobbin 15 rotated by a motor 16, preferably through a speed variator 17.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. Yarn 1, being advanced by bobbin 15, moves axially continuously in chamber 3. By means of motor 13, the nozzle effects oscillations of constant amplitude but of a frequency which can be adjusted by means of variator 14 as a function of the velocity of the yarn and of the desired result of the treatment.

When pump 7 delivers fluid to nozzle 8, the jet from the latter periodically intersects the yarn, thus treating the latter locally. In other words, the jet of fluid moves along an area, in this case a vertical plane, through which the yarn moves and which is substantially perpendicular to the latter.

If the velocity of the yarn passing through chamber 3 is constant, the frequency of the nozzle oscillations itself being constant, the treated zones of the yarn are uniformly spaced and generally equidistant. This can be disadvantageous in certain cases, for example in the case of dyed textile yarns for knitting, particularly on circular machines. Geometrical effects (bars, lines, etc.), which can be unsightly, are then observed on the finished articles.

The invention also permits, if necessary, independence of a too regular arrangement of the treated zones. All that is necessary for this purpose is to vary, for example cyclically, the velocity of the yarn in chamber 3 and/or the frequency of oscillations of nozzle 8. The latter result can easily be obtained by means of a variator 14 of conventional type, the reduction ratio of which oscillates about a mean value which the operator can select.

A means will now be described for periodically varying the velocity of yarn 1 in chamber 3, again with reference to FIG. 1. Firstly, a suitable variator 17 can be used which has similar operating characteristics to those just described for variator 14. However, it appears perferable, particularly if bobbin 15 is to turn at high speed, to have this bobbin turn at constant speed and to use the means shown in FIG. 1.

At the outlet of chamber 3, yarn 1 passes through three yarn-guides 18, 19 and 20, yarn-guides 18 and 20 being fixed and preferably aligned with bobbins 2 and 15. The intermediate yarn-guide 19 is mounted at one end of a lever 21 oscillating about a pivot 22 and the other end of which carries a roller 21a, caused to remain in contact with a rotating cam 23, for example by means of a spring 21b. The cam could have any suitable profile, for example circular and eccentric relative to its rotational drive shaft. This rotational drive is provided by a motor 24 through a variator 25 which can, if necessary, itself have a reduction ratio oscillating about a mean value which the operator can select.

However, if the rotational velocity of cam 23 is constant, pivoting of lever 21 on its axis 22 causes reciprocating motion of intermediate yarn-guide 19 between two extreme positions 19a and 19b. Consequently, the velocity of the yarn between yarn-guide 20 and take-up bobbin 15 being supposed constant, the length of yarn between fixed yarn-guides 18 and 20 varies periodically, which causes a periodic variation in the velocity of the yarn between yarn-guide 18 and unwinder 2.

Of course, the drive mechanism of the intermediate yarn-guide could be of a different type from the one just described, provided however that this yarn-guide describes a closed or reciprocating path causing periodic variation in the length of yarn 18 - 19 - 20. In particular, yarn-guide 19 could be mounted eccentrically at the end of a shaft driven by a motor, the said shaft perferably being eccentric relative to the line 18 - 20 and in any case intersecting this line at one point at the most.

Where the apparatus is intended for the simultaneous treatment of several yarns, the traction mechanism for each yarn can still be similar to the one just described, the various organs permitting periodic variation of the velocity of the yarns being synchronised or, on the contrary, set out of phase, or even having different variation periods.

A modification of the treatment apparatus will now be described, with reference to FIG. 2, in the case in which the treatment apparatus is intended for the simultaneous treatment of several yarns. The same references have been used as before, but increased by the number 100, to indicate the same organs as those described above and which will not again be described in detail.

The apparatus is intended for the treatment of four yarns 101 passing from unwinders and advance by take-up bobbins which are not shown. The four nozzles 108 are mounted on a bar 109, preferably arranged transversely to the direction of motion of the yarns and mounted to slide along its axis in suitable slides. Channels 106 running from a pump or several pumps 107 have flexible portions 106a feeding nozzles 108.

Bar 109 is linked at one end by means of a rod 111 to a plate or lever 112 rotated by a motor 113, preferably fitted with a speed variator 114. Rotation of plate 112 causes reciprocating motion of bar 109 and the nozzles 108 which it supports. During this motion, the jet from each nozzle 108 intersects the yarn 101 associated with it, or possibly two or more of these yarns. It is to be noted that by modifying the linkage point of rod 111 to bar 109, the point of the paths of the nozzles corresponding to the passage of the jets over the yarns can be varied. The same result can, of course, be obtained by modifying the position of the nozzles on the bar. The ratio of the distances separating three consecutive treated zones of the yarn can thus be adjusted.

Of course, the mechanism or mechanisms for traction of yarns 101 will advantageously be of the type described with reference to FIG. 1 and, if they exist, the velocity variations of the yarns in chamber 103 may be synchronised or, conversely, independent.

Another means will now be described for departing from a too regular arrangement of the treated zones, in the case in which the apparatus is intended for the local treatment of a yarn by one or more treatment fluids distributed by several successive nozzles. In this case a yarn is obtained bearing groups of stains. To avoid the transposition of these groups of stains, the same frequency is imparted to the oscillations of all the nozzles.

It is obvious that a variation in the frequency of the oscillations of the nozzles will bring about a variation in the density of the groups of stains, but will cause superimpositions and transpositions of the stains at high frequencies. To avoid this fault, the stains of a same group must keep between them a spacing inversely proportional to the density of the groups of stains on the yarn. In other words, the stains must move nearer each other when the frequency of the oscillations increases and vice versa. It is therefore necessary to make the oscillations of the nozzles out of phase and to synchronise the variations in the oscillation frequency of the nozzles and the variations in the phase-shift of these oscillations.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an embodiment of such an apparatus enabling the required result to be obtained, in the case of three nozzles positioned on the path of a same yarn.

This figure does not show the whole of the apparatus for local treatment of the yarn, which is substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 1, but only the particular mechanism for driving nozzles downstream of rods 111.

A single motor 213, with variable speed, drives the three nozzles (not shown) at a same frequency by means of various linkage organs, in particular comprising pullies 221, 222 and 223 and belts 221a, 222a and 223a corresponding respectively to the first, second and third nozzles.

To adjust the distance between the stains deposited by each nozzle on the yarn to be treated, a phase shift is applied to the oscillations of the first and the third nozzles symmetrically relative to the oscillations of the second nozzle. To do this, the paths of pullies 221a and 223a are modified by two additional pulley systems 224 and 225. The belts are tensioned by spring devices 226.

Pulley systems 224 and 225 are both attached to an oscillating shaft 227 and the pullies are themselves arranged symmetrically of each other relative to shaft 227. The positions of pulley systems 224 and 225 are such that any action on shaft 227 causing a positive phase shift in one of the nozzles causes an equal but negative phase shift in the other. Thus, by acting on shaft 227, variations are obtained in the distance between the zones treated by each of the nozzles.

To maintain between the treated zones a distance inversely proportional to the density of these zones on the yarn, a detector 228 of instantaneous position of shaft 227 regulates the velocity of motor 213 through a synchronisation box 229. A single control, represented schematically by device 230, permits simultaneous and synchronised action on shaft 227 and on motor 213.

Control 230 can be of various forms, in accordance with the role of the machine and in accordance with the required effect, and in accordance with the manner, manual or mechanical, in which it is to be operated. Of course, a regular effect will be obtained on the yarn by locking this control in a position predefined by a scale. In general, conversely, irregular effects are sought. In this case, control 230 will transfer a cyclic motion or even a pseudo-random motion, for example from a judiciously selected magnetic recording.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, but, on the contrary, covers all their modifications.

Claims

I claim:

1. An apparatus for the irregular treatment of at least one yarn including a treatment station, first drive means for moving the yarn to be treated continuously through said station in an axial and relatively fixed direction; at least one fluid supply nozzle movably mounted in said treatment station in a plane extending generally perpendicular to the yarn passing therethrough; means for supplying fluid to said nozzles; second drive means for reciprocating said nozzle transversely to the direction of travel of yarn through said treatment station; and regulating means for varying at least one of the speed of movement of the yarn or the speed of reciprocation of the nozzle during treatment of said yarn whereby irregular treatment of the yarn is effected; wherein said regulating means comprises at least three successive guides located between said first drive means and said nozzle at the treatment station; the outer two of said guides being fixed and a middle one being movably mounted and displaceable relative to the other two guides.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle yarn-guide is mounted on a support element; and means for displacing said element along a path having at most one point in common with the linear path of travel of the yarn between the two end yarn-guides.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said displacing means includes means for reciprocating the support element of the middle yarn-guide.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including means for varying the velocity of reciprocation of the support element of the middle yarn-guide.

5. An apparatus for the irregular treatment of at least one yarn including a treatment station, first drive means for moving the yarn to be treated continuously through said station in an axial and relatively fixed direction; at least one fluid supply nozzle movably mounted in said treatment station in a plane extending generally perpendicular to the yarn passing therethrough; means for supplying fluid to said nozzles; second drive means for reciprocating said nozzle transversely to the direction of travel of yarn through said treatment station; and regulating means for varying at least one of the speed of movement of the yarn or the speed of reciprocation of the nozzle during treatment of said yarn whereby irregular treatment of the yarn is effected; said apparatus including a plurality of fluid supply nozzles movably mounted in said treatment station in a plane extending generally perpendicular to the yarn passing therethrough; said second drive means being operatively connected to all of said nozzles for reciprocating said nozzles transversely to the direction of travel of said yarn and including control means for shifting the phase of reciprocation of said nozzles with respect to each other and for varying the relative phase shift therebetween during treatment of the yarn.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, including means for synchronizing the speed of operation of said second drive means and said control means for shifting the phase of reciprocation of said nozzles whereby the spacing between successive treatments of yarn by the nozzles is controlled.