Highland Industries, Inc.

Joe Nicholson

Earl T Crouch

Larry A Marett

A printing substrate is formed in a single operation by a method of forming and finishing a fabric web. The forming step creates a continuous fabric web. That fabric is sent to an accumulator, then downstream for finishing. The finishing step includes applying a printable coating via a knurled applicator, controlling the level of liquid in the applicator and compensating for knurled roller deflection. The finishing step further includes curing the coated fabric and selectively employing VOC hoods where needed.

Method for forming and finishing a continuous fabric web

A water jet loom having an on loom drying system. The water jet loom includes: a frame; a warp former; a shed former; a weft inserter and a two mode on loom dryer system downstream from the weft inserter. In the preferred embodiment, the two mode on loom dryer includes: a high volume air supply downstream from the weft inserter; and a second dryer adjacent to the high volume air supply. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the second dryer being at least one of radiant or convection heaters; and a fabric web take-up means.

On loom dryer

An apparatus for forming and finishing a continuous fabric web in a single operation. The apparatus includes a fabric web forming station for forming a continuous fabric web and a finishing station downstream from the fabric web forming station for receiving the continuous fabric web from the fabric web forming station and for providing a finishing treatment to the continuous fabric web. In the preferred embodiment, the finishing station includes a substantially excess-free applicator which helps to prevent thick spots in the coated fabric web which may occur when a coating applicator is stopped and restarted. In the preferred embodiment, the finishing station includes a curing station downstream from the applicator. The curing station may include both a drying station and a heat set station downstream from the drying station. The operating temperatures of the drying and heat set stations are controlled to minimize the amount of air having VOCs to be treated before being discharged into the atmosphere. Also in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an accumulator located between the fabric web forming station and the finishing station for providing a fabric web reserve between the fabric web forming station and the finishing station. The accumulator includes a control system for varying the speed of the finishing station in response to the amount of the fabric reserve.

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Kernersville, NC, United States of America

Joe Nicholson