US4369640A — Apparatus for obtaining uniform solid colors or v…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

Apparatus for producing dye coloration in fabric comprising: (a) a supporting bed for supporting the fabric substantially horizontally; (b) an applicator member including (i) an applicator edge positionable across the width of a moving length of said fabric, and (ii) a smooth upper surface inclined toward said applicator edge; (c) means for delivering a primary coating material onto said smooth upper surface to form a continuous sheet thereof flowing by gravity toward said applicator edge, the means including a conduit having a plurality of outlet ports spaced apart in a row extending across the supporting bed; and (d) foamer means for causing the coating material to be in a foamed condition as it is delivered from the outlet ports and as it forms the continuous sheet.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 126 words

Apparatus for producing dye coloration in fabric comprising: (a) a supporting bed for supporting the fabric substantially horizontally; (b) an applicator member including (i) an applicator edge positionable across the width of a moving length of said fabric, and (ii) a smooth upper surface inclined toward said applicator edge; (c) means for delivering a primary coating material onto said smooth upper surface to form a continuous sheet thereof flowing by gravity toward said applicator edge, the means including a conduit having a plurality of outlet ports spaced apart in a row extending across the supporting bed; and (d) foamer means for causing the coating material to be in a foamed condition as it is delivered from the outlet ports and as it forms the continuous sheet.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 68 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a distribution means including: (a) at least one array of nozzles positioned for delivery of at least one additional coating material onto the continuous sheet upstream of said applicator edge, and (b) delivery means for selectively delivering additional coating material through selected nozzles of said array of nozzles to interdisperse with the continuous sheet material while upon said upper applicator surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 2 including means for reciprocating at least a portion of said nozzle array transversely with regard to the path of travel of the fabric.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 105 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: (a) said array of nozzles includes at least one row of nozzles aligned transversely of the path of travel of the fabric; (b) said delivery means further includes an elongate distributor member having a plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of conduits in individual communication between one of said distributor apertures and one of said nozzles; (c) said conduits including a flexible duct and a valve, and (d) said flexible ducts being of sufficiently low flow area to comprise flow-stabilizing resistance lines, whereby dripping of material at said nozzles is precluded when said valve in said conduit is closed.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (a) a recycling trough, and (b) a means to selectively reciprocate the means for delivering the primary coating material to a position over said applicator member or to a position over said recycling trough.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said applicator member is positionable at differing positions with regard to said means for delivering along the path of travel of the fabric.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 6 in which said applicator upper surface is adjustable in its incline toward said applicator edge.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 68 words

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said conduit includes an inner pipe concentric with an outer pipe, the inner and outer pipes forming an annular chamber communicating with the outlet ports, said inner pipe including a plurality of groups of multiple apertures positioned equidistantly from each other about the circumference of said inner pipe, and said outlet ports are arcuately intermediate and equidistant from adjacent said apertures.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 68 words

The apparatus of claims 1 or 8, further comprising: (a) a recycling trough, and (b) a means for reciprocating the means for delivering so that in an "ON" mode, the means for delivering is over smooth upper surface, and in an "OFF" mode, the means for delivering is over the recycling trough, thus preventing the coating material from flowing onto said smooth upper surface in the "OFF" mode.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 209 words

An apparatus for producing dyed patterns in fabrics including tufted pile fabrics comprising: (a) a reservoir for at least one coating substance; (b) an inner pipe maintained parallel to the fabric to be dyed, the inner pipe having a plurality of apertures along its length; (c) an outer pipe concentric with the inner pipe and having a plurality of outlet ports spaced in a row along a bottom portion of the outer pipe, the inner and outer pipes forming an annular chamber communicating with the outlet ports and the plurality of apertures; (d) a means to supply a coating substance from the reservoir to the inner pipe comprising a feed line and a connection fitting connecting the inner pipe with the feed line; (e) an applicator plate having a smooth upper surface, the applicator plate extending in a direction parallel to the center axis of said concentric pipes and having an adjustable angle with respect to a horizontal plane; (f) a recycling trough; (g) a means to reciprocate said concentric pipes so that in an "ON" mode, the outlet ports are over the applicator plate and in an "OFF" mode, the outlet ports are over the recycling trough, and (h) a means to move fabrics below said applicator plate.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 209 words

An apparatus for producing dyed patterns in fabrics including tufted pile fabrics comprising: (a) a reservoir for at least one coating substance; (b) an inner pipe maintained parallel to the fabric to be dyed, the inner pipe having a plurality of apertures along its length; (c) an outer pipe concentric with the inner pipe and having a plurality of outlet ports spaced in a row along a bottom portion of the outer pipe, the inner and outer pipes forming an annular chamber communicating with the outlet ports and the plurality of apertures; (d) a means to supply a coating substance from the reservoir to the inner pipe comprising a feed line and a connection fitting connecting the inner pipe with the feed line; (e) an applicator plate having a smooth upper surface, the applicator plate extending in a direction parallel to the center axis of said concentric pipes and having an adjustable angle with respect to a horizontal plane; (f) a recycling trough; (g) a means to reciprocate said concentric pipes so that in an "ON" mode, the outlet ports are over the applicator plate and in an "OFF" mode, the outlet ports are over the recycling trough, and (h) a means to move fabrics below said applicator plate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means to supply further comprises a means to foam said coating substance so that the coating substance is discharged from said outlet ports as a foam.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an air bleed means to extract excess air from the means to supply.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a means for adding additional fluid supply means wherein additional material from the additional supply means may be discharged onto said applicator plate to be intermingled with said material from said reservoir.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 177 words

An apparatus for producing dye patterns in fabric comprising: (a) a supporting bed for supporting the fabric substantially horizontally; (b) an applicator member having (i) an applicator edge, the applicator edge being positionable across the width of a moving length of said fabric; (ii) a smooth upper surface inclined toward said applicator edge; (c) means for delivering a primary coating material onto said smooth upper surface across the width of the fabric to form a continuous sheet thereof flowing by gravity toward said applicator edge; (d) foamer means for causing the coating material to be in a foamed condition as it is delivered from the means for delivering and as it forms the continuous sheet; (e) at least one array of nozzles positioned for delivery of at least one additional coating material onto the continuous sheet upstream of said applicator edge; and (f) delivery means for selectively delivering the additional coating material through selected nozzles of said array of nozzles to interdisperse with the continuous sheet of foamed primary coating material while upon said smooth upper surface.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 177 words

An apparatus for producing dye patterns in fabric comprising: (a) a supporting bed for supporting the fabric substantially horizontally; (b) an applicator member having (i) an applicator edge, the applicator edge being positionable across the width of a moving length of said fabric; (ii) a smooth upper surface inclined toward said applicator edge; (c) means for delivering a primary coating material onto said smooth upper surface across the width of the fabric to form a continuous sheet thereof flowing by gravity toward said applicator edge; (d) foamer means for causing the coating material to be in a foamed condition as it is delivered from the means for delivering and as it forms the continuous sheet; (e) at least one array of nozzles positioned for delivery of at least one additional coating material onto the continuous sheet upstream of said applicator edge; and (f) delivery means for selectively delivering the additional coating material through selected nozzles of said array of nozzles to interdisperse with the continuous sheet of foamed primary coating material while upon said smooth upper surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 14 including means for reciprocating at least a portion of said nozzle array transversely with respect to the path of travel of the fabric.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising (a) a recycling trough, and (b) a means to selectively reciprocate the means for delivering the primary coating material to a position over said applicator plate or to a position over said recycling trough.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-01-24	1986-07-26	1987-01-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-01-24	1990-07-26	1991-01-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-01-24	1994-07-26	1995-01-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for obtaining uniform solid colors or variegated patterns in fabrics

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