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US 6,895,621 B2Granted
Low pressure steam jet fabric finisher
OwnerNeal C. Stoneinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low pressure steam jet fabric finisher (10) for steam setting of dyes on fabric during a steaming cycle, having a substantially cuboid housing (12) which defines a water reservoir (70) with a heating element (72) and a cylindrical steaming chamber (88). Steam from heated water rises into the steaming core (80) having an inlet (84) in fluid communication with the water reservoir (70) and thereafter into the steaming chamber (88) through a plurality of holes in the steaming core (80). Dyed fabric is rolled onto a helical coil spring (90) which is inserted over the steaming core (80) and placed in the steaming chamber (88) for dye setting during a steaming cycle.
Claims10
A low pressure steam jet fabric finisher for steam setting of dyes on fabric during a steaming cycle, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining a water reservoir 70 and a steaming chamber 88, said steaming chamber having an opening at its front end 35, said steaming chamber in fluid communication with said water reservoir via a steam inlet 84;
- a steaming chamber pressure door 104 at said front end 35 having clamping means 106 to clamp shut said pressure door and for providing a pressure-tight seal to said steaming chamber;
- heating means 72 to heat water in said water reservoir;
- a hollow steaming core 80 positioned within said steaming chamber, said steaming core having a plurality of apertures for the passage of steam from said steaming core into said steaming chamber;
- support means 90 adapted to fit over said steaming core while supporting a sheet of fabric and keeping it separate from the steaming core during the steaming cycle;
- and
- control means 38 for providing operator control of the start, duration, and temperature of the fabric steaming cycle;
- characterized in that when the steaming cycle is commenced, said heating element heats water in said water reservoir to create steam, which passes into said steaming core and thereafter through said plurality of holes in said steaming core into said steaming chamber to set inks and/or dye on fabric.
5 more elements
A low pressure steam jet fabric finisher for steam setting of dyes on fabric during a steaming cycle, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing 12 having a front side 14 with a front lockout door 30 connected by a hinge 32 to said front side, and further having a top side 16, a right side 18, a left side 20, and a back side 22, said housing defining a water reservoir 70 and a substantially cylindrical steaming chamber 88 having an opening at its front end 35 accessible when said front lockout door is open, said steaming chamber in fluid communication with said water reservoir via a steam inlet 84;
- a sealable steaming chamber pressure door 104 having clamping means 106 to clamp shut said pressure door and for providing a pressure-tight seal to said steaming chamber;
- a heating element 72 proximate said water reservoir for heating water in said water reservoir;
- a cylindrical hollow steaming core 80 concentrically positioned within said steaming chamber, said steaming core having a plurality of apertures for the passage of steam from said steaming core into said steaming chamber;
- a helical coil spring 90 substantially the length of said steaming core and adapted to slide over said steaming core while supporting a rolled sheet of fabric during the steaming cycle;
- a steaming core support 92 inserted over said steaming core and positioned within the interior cylinder walls of the steaming chamber to center and position the steaming core within the steaming core chamber when a roll of fabric is inserted for steaming;
- and
- control means 38 for providing operator control of the start, duration, and temperature of the fabric steaming cycle;
- characterized in that when the steaming cycle is commenced, said heating element heats water in said water reservoir to create steam, which passes into said steaming core and thereafter through said plurality of holes in said steaming core into said steaming chamber to set inks and/or dye on fabric.
6 more elements
A method of low pressure steam setting dyes on fabric, said method comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a low pressure steam jet fabric finisher for steam setting of dyes on fabric during a steaming cycle, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing 12 having a front side 14 with a front lockout door 30 connected by a hinge 32 to said front side, and further having a top side 16, a right side 18, a left side 20, and a back side 22, said housing defining a water reservoir 70 and a substantially cylindrical steaming chamber 88 having an opening at its front end 35 accessible when said front lockout door is open, said steaming chamber in fluid communication with said water reservoir via a steam inlet 84;
- a steaming chamber pressure door 104 for closing and providing a pressure-tight seal to said steaming chamber;
- means 106 to clamp said pressure door;
- a heating element 72 inserted into said water reservoir;
- a cylindrical hollow steaming core 80 concentrically positioned within said steaming chamber, said steaming core having a plurality of apertures for the passage of steam from said steaming core into said steaming chamber;
- a helical coil spring 90 substantially the length of said steaming core and adapted to slide over said steaming core while supporting a rolled sheet of fabric during the steaming cycle;
- a steaming core support 92 for supporting and centering said steaming core within said steaming chamber during a steaming cycle;
- and control means 38 for providing operator control of the start, duration, and temperature of the fabric steaming cycle;
- (2) peeling any backing paper from the dyed fabric and flattening the fabric;
- (3) removing the helical spring coil from the steaming core;
- (4) rolling a plurality of layers of steaming tissue onto the helical spring coil;
- (5) placing the flattened fabric on the tissue paper and rolling it into layers over the helical coil;
- (6) rolling a plurality of layers of steaming tissue over the outside of the rolled fabric;
- (7) securing the fabric roll with rubber bands;
- (8) opening the front lockout door and the steaming core pressure door;
- (9) ensuring that the water level is sufficient by checking the water level light, and filling the water reservoir with distilled water if needed;
- (10) placing the rolled fabric on the steaming core in the center of the steaming chamber;
- (11) positioning the steaming core support over the end of the steaming core;
- (11) securing the pressure door by tightening the pressure door clamp knobs;
- (12) closing the front lockout door;
- (13) turning on the power to the steamer;
- (14) setting the desired steaming cycle temperature and time;
- (15) starting the steaming cycle;
- (16) after the cycle is completed, removing opening the front lockout door and steaming core pressure door and removing the fabric from the steamer.
22 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.