US3884632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous durable-press processing of fabric and garments
Assignee: American Laundry Machinery Co
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Filing: 1973-03-14
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A vapor-phase process for imparting a durable press to cellulosic-containing material (fabric or successive garments) is an improvement on U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,013, dated May 2, 1972, in that the material being treated is moved through successive treating compartments and is processed faster and more economically. The new process includes first introducing an abundant moisture content into the material at a first compartment or station while not in contact with any chemical treating agents (formaldehyde and sulphur-dioxide vapors) and in then conveying the material through a second compartment containing the chemical treating agents, while the material is at a cooler temperature than the temperature of the chemical compartment whereby to accelerate condensation of the chemical treating agents on the material and a faster reaction therewith. Exhausting is carried out following the chemical compartment in order to enable faster and more economical heating in the curing compartment that follows, and in order to avoid moisture buildup in the curing compartment. In an elongate passageway for treating garments, the respective compartments are divided off by air screens, flap valves and/or rollers. In addition, a slow exhausting lengthwise of the passageway is maintained to provide an effective seal at the entrance end.
Inventors
- 👤 George L Payet
- 👤 Berthal D Brummet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:46
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06M; D06M13/00; D06M13/10; D06M13/12; D06M13/127; D06C; D06C29/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A VAPOR-PHASE PROCESS FOR CONTINOUSLY TREATING CELLULOSIC FABRIC-CONTANING MATERIAL TO IMPART A DURABLE PRESS THERETO COMPRISING CONVEYING SAID MATERIAL THROUGH A FIRST STATION TO INTRODUCE MOISTURE THEREINTO, CONVEYING THE MATERIAL THEN THROUGH A SECOND STATION TO SUBJECT IT TO FORMALDEHYDE AND SULPHUR-DIOXIDE VAPOR AGENTS, AND CONVEYING SAID MATERIAL NEXT THROUGH A THIRD STATION TO EFFECT A DRYING THEREOF AND TO SUBJECT THE MATERIAL TO A CURING TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 250*F.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A VAPOR-PHASE PROCESS FOR CONTINOUSLY TREATING CELLULOSIC FABRIC-CONTANING MATERIAL TO IMPART A DURABLE PRESS THERETO COMPRISING CONVEYING SAID MATERIAL THROUGH A FIRST STATION TO INTRODUCE MOISTURE THEREINTO, CONVEYING THE MATERIAL THEN THROUGH A SECOND STATION TO SUBJECT IT TO FORMALDEHYDE AND SULPHUR-DIOXIDE VAPOR AGENTS, AND CONVEYING SAID MATERIAL NEXT THROUGH A THIRD STATION TO EFFECT A DRYING THEREOF AND TO SUBJECT THE MATERIAL TO A CURING TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 250*F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process set forth in claim 1 wherein said third station comprises a first compartment for predrying the material to reduce substantially the moisture content thereof and a second compartment having a dry heated atmosphere to raise the temperature of the material to said 250*F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process set forth in claim 1 wherein said material is conveyed lengthwise of an elongate pathway through said successive stations, and the treating steps are substantially isolated from each other while allowing passage of said material between stations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process set forth in claim 3 wherein said second station comprises a chemical compartment containing said agents, and said material is introduced into said compartment while at a temperature lower than the temperature in said compartment so as to accelerate condensation of said agents on and into said material and to expedite a reaction of said agents therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process set forth in claim 4 wherein said chemical compartment has an atmosphere containing 2-20% by volume formaldehyde gas and 0.1-5% by volume sulphur-dioxide gas and wherein said temperature in said compartment is higher by approximately 20* F. than that of the material at the time the material is introduced into the compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process set forth in claim 4 wherein said material is a continuous fabric and the fabric is first saturated with water by feeding it through a water pad, and the moisture content is then reduced to a predetermined percentage content by feeding the fabric around a series of drying cans controlled as to temperature and speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process set forth in claim 4 wherein said material comprises a series of garments, and the moisture is introduced by feeding the garments through a wet steam atmosphere in a steam compartment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process set forth in claim 7 wherein the wet steam atmosphere is maintained by having water running down the walls of said steam compartment to confine the steam in said steam compartment and to cause the garments to receive an abuNdant moisture content.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process set forth in claim 4 wherein said material is a continuous fabric and is drawn continuously through seals into and out of said stations and wherein leakage from said seals of said second station is exhausted and returned to said chemical compartment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process set forth in claim 4 wherein steam is fed into said chemical compartment at a controlled rate adapted only to maintain substantially the moisture content in the material during the passage thereof through said chemical compartment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
The process set forth in claim 1 wherein said material is a series of garments fed continuously through said stations in shoulder-to-shoulder arrangement, said first station comprises a steam compartment with a low pressure steam and with water running down the walls thereof to confine the steam in the compartment, said second station comprises a chemical compartment containing said agents, and the temperature in said chemical compartment is maintained at a higher value than that in said steam compartment by about 20*F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process set forth in claim 1 wherein said material is a series of garments conveyed on hangers in shoulder-to-shoulder arrangement, and wherein the temperature is maintained at said third station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
A vapor-phase process for continuously treating cellulose-containing garments to impart a durable press thereto, comprising an elongate passageway through which said garments are successively conveyed, providing air screens dividing said passageway into at least four successive compartments while permitting said garments to be conveyed from one compartment to the next, introducing steam into the first of said compartments and concurrently providing running water on the side walls thereof so that said garments have a rapid absorption of moisture and steam is confined in said compartment, maintaining the temperature of said second compartment above that of said first compartment while introducing formaldehyde and sulphur dioxide vapors thereinto, continuously predrying said garments in said third compartment at the output end of said second compartment to prevent moisture buildup in said fourth compartment, and heating said fourth compartment to bring each garment to a curing temperature of the order of 250*F during its passage therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
152 words
A vapor-phase process for continuously treating cellulose-containing garments to impart a durable press thereto, comprising an elongate passageway through which said garments are successively conveyed, providing air screens dividing said passageway into at least four successive compartments while permitting said garments to be conveyed from one compartment to the next, introducing steam into the first of said compartments and concurrently providing running water on the side walls thereof so that said garments have a rapid absorption of moisture and steam is confined in said compartment, maintaining the temperature of said second compartment above that of said first compartment while introducing formaldehyde and sulphur dioxide vapors thereinto, continuously predrying said garments in said third compartment at the output end of said second compartment to prevent moisture buildup in said fourth compartment, and heating said fourth compartment to bring each garment to a curing temperature of the order of 250*F during its passage therethrough.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vapor-phase process set forth in claim 13 wherein said vapors are maintained in a range of 2-20% by volume of formaldehyde gas and 0.1-5% by volume sulphur dioxide gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vapor-phase process set forth in claim 13 wherein said predrying step includes a transverse exhaust heating and venting back into said second compartment to capture chemicals passing from said second compartment and to insure against high concentrations of chemicals entering said third compartment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process set forth in claim 13 wherein an exhausting is applied to said passageway beyond the output end of said fourth compartment sufficient to maintain a slight negative pressure within said passageway to prevent leakage therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process set forth in claim 16 including steaming and drying compartments following said exhausting after said fourth compartment for cleaning said garments of contaminants and residual odors, wherein said exhausting is vented into a scrubber and utilized also to cool said garments.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |