Apparatus with dual modes of use for dyeing of fabrics and yarns

Abstract

A dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) is described which is provided with a single tank ( 12 ) comprising: side walls ( 14 ); a bottom wall ( 16 ), which has a convex outer surface; a first inner partition wall ( 18 ) and a second inner partition wall ( 20 ), which delimit a dyeing compartment ( 26 ) and define respectively a first interspace ( 28 ) and a second interspace ( 30 ); and at least one mobile and/or removable upper lid ( 32 ), which closes the dyeing compartment in a watertight sealed manner. A first hydraulic circuit ( 34, 36; 38, 40 ) is designed for circulation of a first process fluid (B), whereas a second fluid circuit ( 42 ) is designed for circulation of a second process fluid (N). The first hydraulic circuit comprises first means ( 34, 36 ) for entry/exit of the first process fluid, which are designed to feed the first process fluid up to a first predefined filling level (L 1 ) both in the dyeing compartment and in the interspaces, and second means ( 38, 40 ) for entry/exit of the first process fluid, which are designed to feed the first process fluid up to a second predefined filling level (L 2 ) both in the dyeing compartment and in the interspaces. The second distance (D 2 ) is greater than the first distance (D 1 ), so that the second predefined filling level (L 2 ) is greater than the first predefined filling level (L 1 ).

1 . A dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) for dyeing a continuous and moving textile support ( 100 ), the dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) comprising a single tank ( 12 ) which comprises in turn:
 at least one side wall ( 14 ), which is substantially vertical and completely surrounds said tank ( 12 );   at least one bottom wall ( 16 ), which has a convex outer surface;   at least one first inner partition wall ( 18 ), which faces a first inner surface ( 14 A) of said side wall ( 14 ) placed at an edge ( 22 ) for the entry of said textile support ( 100 ) into said tank ( 12 ), and at least one second inner partition wall ( 20 ), which faces a second inner surface ( 14 B) of said side wall ( 14 ) placed at an edge ( 24 ) for the exit of said textile support ( 100 ) from said tank ( 12 ), wherein at least one dyeing compartment ( 26 ) of said tank ( 12 ) is provided between said first inner partition wall ( 18 ) and said second inner partition wall ( 20 ), wherein a first interspace ( 28 ) for the passage of said textile support ( 100 ) from said entry edge ( 22 ) to said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) is provided between said first inner partition wall ( 18 ) and said first inner surface ( 14 A) of said side wall ( 14 ), and wherein a second interspace ( 30 ) for the passage of said textile support ( 100 ) from said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) to said exit edge ( 24 ) is provided between said second inner partition wall ( 20 ) and said second inner surface ( 14 B) of said side wall ( 14 );   at least one upper lid ( 32 ), which engages in a mobile or removable manner on said first inner partition wall ( 18 ), on said second inner partition wall ( 20 ) and on the upper side channels of said tank ( 12 ), forming a perimeter system for watertight sealing of said dyeing compartment ( 26 );   a first hydraulic circuit ( 34 ,  36 ;  38 ,  40 ), which is designed to feed a first process fluid (B) into said tank ( 12 ), to circulate said first process fluid (B) inside said tank ( 12 ) and to discharge said first process fluid (B) from said tank ( 12 ), so that said first process fluid (B) can flow both in said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) and in said first interspace ( 28 ) and second interspace ( 30 ); and   a second fluid circuit ( 42 ), which is designed to feed a second process fluid (N) into said dyeing compartment ( 26 ), to circulate said second process fluid (N) inside said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) and to discharge said second process fluid (N) from said dyeing compartment ( 26 ), so that said second process fluid (N) can only flow into said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) due to the watertight seal performed by said first process fluid (B) contained in said first interspace ( 28 ) and second interspace ( 30 ),   wherein said first hydraulic circuit ( 34 ,  36 ;  38 ,  40 ) for feeding said first process fluid (B) into said tank ( 12 ), for circulating said first process fluid (B) inside said tank ( 12 ) and for discharging said first process fluid (B) from said tank ( 12 ) comprises:
 first means ( 34 ,  36 ) for entry/exit of said first process fluid (B), which are operatively connected to said tank ( 12 ) and are positioned at a first distance (D 1 ) from the lower end of said bottom wall ( 16 ), so as to feed said first process fluid (B) up to a first predefined filling level (L 1 ) both in said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) and in said first interspace ( 28 ) and second interspace ( 30 ); and 
 second means ( 38 ,  40 ) for entry/exit of said first process fluid (B), which are operatively connected to said tank ( 12 ) and are positioned at a second distance (D 2 ) from the lower end of said bottom wall ( 16 ), wherein said second distance (D 2 ) is greater than said first distance (D 1 ), so as to feed said first process fluid (B) up to a second predefined filling level (L 2 ) both in said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) and in said first interspace ( 28 ) and second interspace ( 30 ), and wherein said second predefined filling level (L 2 ) is greater than said first predefined filling level (L 1 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said tank ( 12 ) is provided with means ( 44 ) for thermoregulating said first process fluid (B). 
     
     
         3 . The dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein said thermoregulating means ( 44 ) consist of one or more coils for the circulation of a thermoregulating fluid, said coils being positioned on respective outer surfaces of said bottom wall ( 16 ). 
     
     
         4 . The dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said tank ( 12 ) is internally provided with a plurality of return rollers ( 46 ) for said textile support ( 100 ), wherein said return rollers ( 46 ) are designed to transfer said textile support ( 100 ) from said first interspace ( 28 ) to said dyeing compartment ( 26 ), in order to increase the drawing-in of said textile support ( 100 ) inside said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) and to transfer said textile support ( 100 ) from said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) to said second interspace ( 30 ). 
     
     
         5 . The dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , further including a first device ( 48 ) for squeezing said textile support ( 100 ), wherein said first squeezing device ( 48 ) is positioned at said edge ( 24 ) for the exit of the textile support ( 100 ) from the second interspace ( 30 ) of said tank ( 12 ) and is configured to extract excess liquids from said textile support ( 100 ). 
     
     
         6 . The dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 5 , further including a second device ( 50 ) for squeezing said textile support ( 100 ), wherein said second squeezing device ( 50 ) is positioned at said edge ( 22 ) for the entry of said textile support ( 100 ) into the first interspace ( 28 ) of said tank ( 12 ) and is configured to extract excess liquids from said textile support ( 100 ). 
     
     
         7 . The dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , further including a third hydraulic circuit ( 54 ) for feeding at least one third process fluid (W; T) into said tank ( 12 ), for the circulation of said at least one third process fluid (W; T) inside said tank ( 12 ) and for the discharge of said at least one third process fluid (W; T) from said tank ( 12 ), wherein said third hydraulic circuit ( 54 ) is hydraulically connected to said first hydraulic circuit ( 34 ,  36 ;  38 ,  40 ), so as to feed said at least one third process fluid (W; T) up to said first predefined filling level (L 1 ) or up to said second predefined filling level (L 2 ) both in said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) and in said first interspace ( 28 ) and second interspace ( 30 ). 
     
     
         8 . The dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said dyeing compartment ( 26 ) is internally provided with at least one volume reducer device ( 52 ) having the function of reducing the volume of the first process fluid (B) or the third process fluid (W; T) contained in said dyeing compartment ( 26 ). 
     
     
         9 . The dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said tank ( 12 ) is internally provided with at least one ultrasound generator ( 56 ) adapted to increase the efficiency of the first process fluid (B) or the third process fluid (W; T) when circulated inside said tank ( 12 ). 
     
     
         10 . A method for dyeing a textile support ( 100 ) using a dyeing apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first process fluid (B) consists of a bath for dyeing based on indigo or other reduction dyes for said textile support ( 100 ). 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said second process fluid (N) consists of an inert gas which is capable of generating an inert environment inside said dyeing compartment ( 26 ). 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said inert gas is nitrogen. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said third process fluid (W; T) is selected from the group consisting of:
 a washing fluid (W); and   a fluid (T) for carrying out treatments complementary to the dyeing on said textile support ( 100 ).