Softening process and system for roll goods
OwnerKarl Rohr, Donald Vesey +1inventors
InventorsKarl Rohr, Donald Vesey, Nathan Mullinix
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for softening a high-density leather finished roll good and other stiff high density roll goods may include adjusting a first horizontal distance between a first impact grid and a first tunnel opening and adjusting a second horizontal distance between a second impact grid and a second tunnel opening based on the stiffness of the roll good. The method also may include introducing the roll good in a first direction through the air tunnel until the roll good hits the second impact grid, and introducing the roll good in an opposite direction through the air tunnel until the roll good hits the first impact grid. The method may further include passing the roll good through a cooling chamber.
Claims20
A method of softening a roll good using a system for softening the roll good, the system including a first tunnel opening, an air tunnel, a second tunnel opening, a first impact grid adjacent the first tunnel opening, and a second impact grid adjacent to the second tunnel opening, the method comprising:
- adjusting a first horizontal distance between the first impact grid and the first tunnel opening based on a stiffness of the roll good;
- adjusting a second horizontal distance between the second impact grid and the second tunnel opening based on the stiffness of the roll good;
- introducing the roll good in a first direction through the air tunnel from the first tunnel opening to the second tunnel opening until the roll good hits the second impact grid and folds over itself;
- and
- introducing the roll good in a second, opposite direction through the air tunnel from the second tunnel opening to the second tunnel opening until the roll good hits the first impact grid.
A tumbler system for softening roll goods, the tumbler system comprising:
- an air tunnel with a first tunnel opening and a second tunnel opening;
- a controller controlling a speed and a direction of an air flow through the air tunnel and controlling a cross sectional area of at least one of the first tunnel opening and the second tunnel opening to direct the roll goods through the air tunnel in a first direction from the first tunnel opening to the second tunnel opening and in a second direction from the second tunnel opening to the first tunnel opening.
A tumbler system for roll goods, the tumbler system comprising:
- an air tunnel with a first tunnel opening and a second tunnel opening;
- a controller controlling a speed and a direction of an air flow through the air tunnel to direct the roll goods through the air tunnel in a first direction and a second direction;
- a first impact grid positioned adjacent to the first tunnel opening, the controller adjusting a first horizontal distance between the first impact grid and the first tunnel opening;
- and
- a second impact grid positioned adjacent to the second tunnel opening, the controller adjusting a second horizontal distance between the second impact grid and the second tunnel opening.
A tumbler system for softening a roll good material, the tumbler system comprising:
- an air tunnel with a first tunnel opening and a second tunnel opening;
- a controller controlling a speed and a direction of an air flow through the air tunnel to direct the roll good material through the air tunnel in a first direction and a second direction;
- and
- a cooling system applying cooled air to the roll good material after roll good material exits the air tunnel.
A tumbler system for softening roll goods, the tumbler system comprising:
- an air tunnel with a first tunnel opening and a second tunnel opening;
- at least one controller controlling a speed and a direction of an air flow through the air tunnel to direct the roll goods through the air tunnel in a first direction and a second direction;
- and
- at least one moisture sensor positioned adjacent to at least one of the first tunnel opening and the second tunnel opening and in communication with the at least one controller, the at least one moisture sensor sensing a moisture level of the roll goods and communicating the sensed moisture level to the at least one controller, the at least one controller comparing the sensed moisture level to a desired moisture level and adjusting at least one system parameter based on the comparison.
A method of softening a roll good using a system for softening the roll good, the system including a first tunnel opening, an air tunnel, and a second tunnel opening, the method comprising:
- adjusting a cross sectional area of at least one of the first tunnel opening and the second tunnel opening, such that the cross sectional area of the first tunnel opening is smaller than the cross sectional area of the second tunnel opening;
- and
- passing roll goods through the air tunnel from the first tunnel opening to the second tunnel opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.