US2199093A - Dye spattering machine - Google Patents

Description

April 3o, 1940.

H. C. WOLFENDEN DYE SPATTERING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,770 Mo? 1. wf

torwqq H. c. woLFENDEN 2,199,093

DYE SPATTERING MACHINE April 3o, 1940.

Filed Deo. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 1a 55 30 so 14- is is 1, '`6 L April 30, 1940. H. c. woLFl-:NDEN

DYE SPATTERING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 22, 1937 al1/'Forney Patented. Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DYE SPATTERING MACHINE Harry C. Wolfenden, Attleboro, Mass. Application December 22, 1937, Serial No. 181,176 f lOlaim.

My present invention is a novel and improved machine for use in dyeing articles by splashing or spattering dye thereon, and more particularly 'by using an uneven spotting -or spattering action.

In the present methods of applying dye to yarn, cloth, or fabric various apparatus are employed to produce spotted effects, but al1 such prior machines and methods have resulted in substantially regular spots, lines, or figures. In my present invention I have devised a machine for producing irregular and non-recurring spots, lines, and mottled effects on yarn, cloth, or fabric by means of a spattering, splashing or throwing operation of the dye against the material being treated, thus resulting in irregular and non-recurring spots of dye or coloring material on the articles.

I effect this new result preferably by conveying the yarn, cloth, or fabric thru a machine, or

machines, and subjecting the same to a splashing action of the color or colors which it is desired to apply to the material being treated. By a series of such splashing operations, feeding the material thru successive machines, I am enabled to produce irregular and mottled colored effects, thus producing my novel and improved article bythe method and machine operations hereinafter explained.

In carrying out my present invention I provide means to treat the articles, suchl as yarn for example, by drawing the same preferably thru a moistening treatment; then thru a spattering apparatus, then thru a drying treatment, and thence to a reeling machine where the yarn is wound into skeins.

Where successive colors are to be splashed or spattered on theyarn, I may conduct the same thru successive apparatus for the splashing and drying and then onto the Winding or reeling machine. Strips of fabric, cloth, or other articles may be similarly fed thru these successive machines or thru a single machine when only one color is being applied.

My novel apparatusv consist of means to feed dye or color from a trough or tank by a series of rotating teeth or blades capable of yielding and springing, and having the ends strike against a projection, or projections, such for example as a roller in the line of travel, whereupon the blades as they leave the projection will throw, splash, or spatter spots of dye upon and against the material which is being fed therethru.

Preferably I provide moistening means which will still further enable the splashing dye to l(Cl. 68-200) permeate the material and, preferably also I conduct the now splashed material over or thru a drying device'to'set the spots thus'splashed. Thereupon, a successive dyeing operation of a diierent color can be applied in the line of travel of the material, so that varying mottled effects are produced quickly, economical1y,andv successively as the material is fed thru the apparatus and on to a winding reel.

Additional features consist in means to control the areay and effective extent of the spattering action, means to collect and return the lsurplus coloring material thrown or spattered;

means to vary the speed of travel or the level of the coloring material and, hence, to control the amount of same being thrown by the spattering devices, means to eifect the moistening, and means to protect ready accessibility in the cleaning of the apparatus.

Further features, advantages, novel combinations, and details will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side rview partly in cross-section illustrating the moistening, splashing, and dry ing of the material as it is fed therethru;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic form illustratingk a splashed fragment of yarn which has been subjected to my method'and apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the side of the apparatus looking from the drive end of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. l; i

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 'l--l of Fig. l; f

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the feeding of yarn from a plurality of spools thru my apparatus on to a skein-winding reel;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a plurality or series of treatments and apparatus therefor; v y

Fig.'10 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the spattering teeth;

Fig. 1l illustrates a fragmentary set of teeth with rubber-retaining strips to prevent crystalization;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the manner of holding the 'teeth and rotor, and

Fig. 13 is a modification showing a doctor roll.

In the attached drawings, I have illustrated Y forceful dye-throwing action, and for this -puryarn 58 is threaded and thence over the moistening rolls 1I, and thence thru the comb teeth 55 on the slide 55 and so thru the slot 49 and across the front of the apparatus, the line of feed being inthe direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, over a dryer and thenceto the'winding reel, where each thread is wound into a skein. l

In order to insure a uniform contact of the yarn 58 over the surface of the vmoistening rolls 1I I prefer to apply a guide roll 85 mounted closely adjacent the teeth 58. This guide roll is preferably hinged at 88 to a stud 81 mounted on the cover 38 and with the other end detachably secured to the corresponding stud 88 resting in a slot in said stud so that the fr end of the guide roll 85 may be raised on its hin e 86 when threading the yarn 58 thru the comb teeth 56. Thereupon the rod 85 is swung downwardly into position bearing against the yarn 58 and insuring contact of the same over the moistening roll 1I, as best shown in Fig. 1.

The spattering devices within the tank 3 and cover 38 will now be described. These consist in a series of individual spring teeth 98 arranged in rows and secured to the hub I2 mounted on the shaft I8. These teeth 98 may be formed in any desired manner but preferably, and as herein shown, I stamp or cut the same from a metal plate SI, which plate is solid at the lower portion where it is adapted to fit within slots or grooves 92 in the rim portion of the hub I2, and preferably also'I attach to the hub as addi- ,tional supporting means spacers and holders for the teeth 98, a series of U-shaped metal flanged members 95 having the bottom or U portion secured to the hub I2 by screws 96, see Fig, 12. These U-shaped anges 95 act to hold and support the teeth 98 while permitting the diameter of the hub I2 to be of relatively slight diameter.

I may also secure to the teeth 98 or to the supporting plate 9| strips of rubber on each side 98, 98, see Fig. 11, which will fit or slide between the flanges of adjacent U-shaped members 95 in alignment with the slots 92 in thehub and prevent crystallizingof the teeth during the springing of said teeth to effectthe throwing, spattering, and spotting action of the dye within the tank 3 on the yarn 58.

In order to have the teeth 98 uniformly positioned in the respective rows, Iprefer to thread each end of the hub I2 and t thru a clamping nut |88, which nut is held in position by the threading of the locking nut I8| thereagainst, a washer |82 being fitted between the clamping nut I88 and the locking nut I8I. One or more set screws |85 are provided to clamp the hub I2 to the shaft I8, see Fig. 5.

In order to drain the tank 3, I provide a'plug I I8 threaded. into a tapped recess |83 in the bottom of the tank 3 to draw oli' the dye contained therein and for flushing and cleaning the same after the machine has been in service;

As previously explained the height of the dyecontaining bottle 25 in the conduit 2| will regulate the level within the tank 3 into which the teeth 98 dip during the rotation of the shaft I8. Raising the height of the bottle 25 by washers (not shown) between the same and the flanged holding portion 22 will increase the height of the dye or coloring liquid in the tank 3 and increase the amount thrown or spattered by the teeth 98.

While rotation of the shaft I8 will effect a throwing of the dye against the yarn 58 thru the opening between the sliding plates 35 and 36, yet I prefer to effect a more positive and pose I provide an adjustable member |I2 in position so that the entire teeth 98 of the series will contact with the same and spring by as the shaft I8 continues its rotation. This gives a more positive and forceful throwing action ofthe dye against the yarn 58 and aids in the penetration of the yarn by the coloring material thus thrown.

I also find it desirable to adjust the position of this contact member II2 and, therefore, I mount the same on a slide I|5 secured by a set screw IIS thru a slot -in the slide I |5 to the extension ||8 on the edge of the tank 3.

At the left, viewed in Fig. 1, a thumb nut |28 is secured to the slide I|5 and rotates thru an upstanding lug |24 also secured to the extension II8. 'Ihe thumb nut |28 is secured to a shaft |25, which shaft has its end threaded ||5 and consequently the contact member I|2 toward and from the teeth 98 to regulate the springing eect and, hence, the throwing and splashing action, as will be readily understood.

After the yarn is treated by the operator or throwing of the teeth l98 springing by the contact member ||2, I prefer to effect an immediate drying ofthe treated yarn, and for this purpose I provide a drying device eiiective to dry the treated yarn as soon as it `cornes out of the apparatus. Anysuitable drying element can be employed, but as herein shown, I provide a rotating fan |24 mounted on a shaft I2I and rotated by an electric motor |22 enclosing the fan in a box |38 mounted on the bench I adjacent the spattering apparatus. If desired, a heater I3| can be fitted within the box |38 so that the warm air will be driven by the fan |24 upwardly thru the open'top of the box |38 as the yarn 58 passes thereover.

A plurality of series of these dye-throwing devices can be'arranged to treat the yarn 58 successively in its line of travel from a rack or reel |35, see Fig. 8, to the winding device |38 on which the skeins are wound and then the winding device |38 collapsed, and then the skeins removed.

As shown in Fig. 9, I have shown a series of three dyeing apparatus, each with or without the guiding devices; and in such a series I find that one moistening device and one drying device is sufcient. To rotate the spattering and moistening devices, any suitable source of power can be utilized, transmitting the same thru the sprocket chain |48 to the wheel I8 secured to the shaft I8 and from the'pulley I1 also secured to the shaft I8 and to the pulley 15 by a belt I4I.

Various colors can be thus applied to the yarn 58 during its continual travel, and the spotting, splashing, and coloring is of a mottled and random-like design, "entirely unregulated and irregular.

I have shown in Fig. 13 the provision of a doctor roll which will pick up the surplus dye, (when yarn is 'being treated), which is thrown thru the strands of yarn 'and might strike against the bottom of the trough 53 and, hence, drip down upon the yarn before the same passes thru the apparatus andvbeyond the apron 48. Thus the yarn might be spotted in an undesirable way, particularly when the sliding guides 35 and 35 are open to their fullest extent. To prevent such dripping from the trough 53, I may provide a

Images