Method and apparatus for modification of texture and appearance of textile fabrics
AssigneeMilliken Research Corporation
InventorLouis Dischler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for treatment of materials in order to modify the texture and appearance. This is created by application of one or more gas jets directed away from the interior curved surface of a cylinder, generating a vortex which rapidly and repeatedly cycles the substrate at low tension past the gas jets. The rapid vibrations generated in the substrate by the jets serve to break apart fiber to fiber bonds caused by finish and loosen up the structure of the yarns and that of the substrate. This creates a desired aged appearance as well as a very soft texture.
Claims36
An apparatus for modifying the texture and appearance of textile fabric which comprises:
- (a) a closed hollow cylinder having an interior surface with curved walls;
- (b) means for textile fabric entry and exit to said hollow cylinder;
- (c) at least one gas jet attached to said curved walls for the purpose of propelling gas directed away from the interior of the curved wall of said cylinder for propelling said textile fabric around the inside of said cylinder;
- and
- (d) an air exhaust means for said hollow cylinder.
An apparatus for modifying the texture and appearance of textile fabric which comprises:
- (a) a plurality of closed hollow cylinders which intersect to have a closed common area;
- (b) said hollow cylinders having interior surfaces with curved walls;
- (c) means for textile fabric entry and exit to said hollow cylinders;
- (d) at least on gas jet attached to said curved walls for the purpose of propelling gas directed substantially tangential to the interior of the curved wall of at least one of said cylinders for propelling said textile fabric around the inside of said cylinders;
- and
- (d) at least one gas exhaust means for said hollow cylinders.
A method for modifying the texture and appearance of textile fabric which comprising the steps of:
- (a) delivering a textile fabric to a hollow cylinder having an inner surface;
- (b) creating a high velocity vortex in the cylinder by means of at least one gas jet directed substantially tangential to the inner surface of the cylinder which thereby causes the textile fabric to rotate with the cylinder and break apart the fiber to fiber bonds within said textile fabric;
- and
- (c) removing the textile fabric from the cylinder.
A method for modifying the texture and appearance of textile fabric which comprising the steps of:
- (a) delivering a textile fabric to a plurality of hollow cylinders having interconnecting passages;
- (b) creating a plurality of intersecting vortices in the cylinders by means of at least one gas jet directed substantially tangential to the inner surface of at least one of the cylinders which thereby causes the textile fabric to rotate between the cylinders and break apart the fiber to fiber bonds within said textile fabric;
- and
- (c) removing the textile fabric from the cylinders.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.