Patent application title: PLASMA PROCESSING APPARATUS
Inventors:
IPC8 Class: AD06M1002FI
USPC Class:
28165
Class name: Textile product fabrication or treatment of thread interlaced article or fabric treating
Publication date: 2016-07-07
Patent application number: 20160194817
Abstract:
A plasma processing apparatus, comprising at least one sealed chamber
(2), a vacuum device and working gas feed device in communication with
the sealed chamber (2), and a plasma processing device and a garment
support mechanism (5) arranged inside the sealed chamber (2); the plasma
processing device comprises at least two parallel spaced electrode plates
(41), and the garment support mechanism (5) comprises a support frame
(51) provided between every two adjacent electrode plates (41) and used
for supporting at least one garment (1) and fully opening the garment
(1). The present plasma processing apparatus simultaneously plasma
processes a plurality of garments (1) on a plurality of support frames
(51); according to requirements, the necessary working gas is fed and
imparts the garments (1) with different properties; the apparatus allows
processing to be done in bulk, improves plasma garment processing speed,
and is suitable for use in industrial processing.Claims:
1. A garment plasma treatment apparatus, comprising at least one sealed
chamber (2), a vacuum device connected with the sealed chamber (2) for
vacuumizing the sealed chamber (2) and a working gas feed device used for
feeding the sealed chamber (2) working gas, and a plasma treatment device
and a garment supporting mechanism (5) provided inside the sealed chamber
(2), wherein the plasma treatment device includes at least two electrode
plates which are parallel spaced with each other, the garment supporting
mechanism (5) includes a garment supporting frame (51) provided between
every two adjacent electrode plates (41) for supporting and fully
unfolding at least one garment (1).
2. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the garment supporting mechanism (5) further includes a movable car holder (52) connected to a bottom end of the garment supporting frames (51), an opening (25) via which the garment supporting mechanism moves into and out from the sealed chamber (2) and a sealed door for opening and closing the opening (25) are defined on one side face of the sealed chamber (2), the plasma treatment device further includes an electrode frame positioned in the sealed chamber (2), the electrode frame includes four rod-shaped support portions (43) vertically supported at a bottom of the sealed chamber (2) and an install portion (44) defined on a topside of the sealed chamber (2) and vertically connected to top ends of the four support portions (43), the electrode plates (41) are vertically positioned, a top end of each electrode plate (41) is fixed on the install portion (44) respectively, one side of each electrode plate (41) is opposite arranged to the opening (25).
3. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movable car holder (52) is connected to at least one garment supporting frame (51), a bottom end of the electrode plate (41) is higher than the movable car holder (52).
4. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a slide rail (26) is provided at the bottom of the sealed chamber (2) for the movable car holder (52) to move along a direction parallel to the electrode plate (41), wherein the direction garment supporting frame (51) unfolding the garments (1) is parallel to the direction the movable car holder (52) moves along.
5. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the garment plasma treatment apparatus includes a stirring mechanism connected to the movable car holder (52) for moving the garment supporting mechanism (5) along a direction parallel to the electrode plate (41), and a control device (7) for controlling the vacuum device, the plasma treatment device and the stirring mechanism.
6. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the stirring mechanism includes a back-and-forth stirring mechanism used for moving the garment supporting mechanism (5) along a direction towards and away from a space between the electrode plates (41), the back-and-forth stirring mechanism comprises a first driving unit, and a gear wheel (61) arranged at the bottom of the sealed chamber (2) and driven by the first driving unit, and a rack (53) arranged on the movable car holder (52) and engaged with the gear wheel (61).
7. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the stirring mechanism includes an up-and-down stirring mechanism connected to the slide rail (26) for moving the garment supporting mechanism (5) up-and-down, a rotation rod is arranged at both ends of the slide rail (26), respectively, one end of the rotation rod is articulated with the slide rail (26), and the other end of the rotation rod is articulated at the bottom of the sealed chamber (2), the slide rail (26) is rotatably connected to the bottom of the sealed chamber (2) via the rotation rod, the up-and-down stirring mechanism comprises a second driving unit and a cam provided under the slide rail (26) and driven by the second driving unit, a contour of the cam contacts with the slide rail (26), a rotation of the cam pushes the slide rail (26) to rotate around the bottom of the sealed chamber (2).
8. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum device includes one main pump connected to the sealed chamber with a 8.times.10.sup.-1 Pa vacuum degree, and one preliminary pump connected to the main pump with a 2.times.10.sup.2 Pa vacuum degree, the vacuum device further includes a pneumatic control valve arranged between the sealed chamber (2) and the main pump.
9. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the garment plasma treatment apparatus includes a first sealed chamber (21) and a second sealed chamber (22) connected to the vacuum device respectively.
10. The garment plasma treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working gas is air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon or a mixed gas of the argon and organic gas, wherein the organic gas is organosilanes, hydrofluoroalkanes, organophosphorus compounds or gasified alkenes.
Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to a garment plasma treatment apparatus, and more particularly to a plasma treatment apparatus for batch treatment of garments.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Recently, plasma treatment technology has been an advanced technology in the textile industry. It can give a variety of fabric materials different properties and functions, such as fabrics, leather and flexibly thin-film fabric. The plasma treatment technology is based on generation of ionized gas inspired by electricity and composed of different electrons, ions and a variety of active particles, to interact with the surface of fabrics to modify the properties of fabrics, thus giving the fabrics various properties and functions such as reduced felting, crease-resistance, hydrophobic, oil repellency, anti-pilling, etc. Various fabric materials, leather and flexibly thin-film are treated with plasma to possess different properties and functions. The plasma treatment process can also be served as pretreatment process which transforms the fabrics to become easily bonded with the innovative nano materials on its surface to achieve the special functions, such as UV-protection, antistatic, anti bacteria and so on. The process of plasma treatment just has tiny surface action on the fabrics, which not only brings different properties and functions to fabrics, but also maintains the originally good characteristic. The process is a dry process without requiring waste water treatment system or causing any environmental pollution.
[0003] However, the plasma treatment technology is mostly applied to the treatment of the fabrics in the textile industry, and there is no system which applies the plasma treatment technology to an industry-scale treatment for garments.
SUMMARY
[0004] A plasma treatment apparatus for batch treatment of garments is provided, aiming at the above defects of the prior art.
[0005] According to one aspect, a garment plasma treatment apparatus is provided, which comprising at least one sealed chamber, a vacuum device connected with the sealed chamber for vacuumizing the sealed chamber and a working gas feed device for feeding a working gas to the sealed chamber, a plasma treatment device and a garment supporting mechanism provided inside the sealed chamber, wherein the plasma treatment device includes at least two electrode plates which are parallel spaced with each other, the garment supporting mechanism includes a garment supporting frame provided between every two adjacent electrode plates for supporting and fully unfolding at least one garment.
[0006] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, the garment supporting mechanism further includes a movable car holder connected to a bottom end of the garment supporting frames, wherein an opening via which the garment supporting mechanism moves into and out from the sealed chamber and a sealed door for opening and closing the opening are defined on one side face of the sealed chamber, the plasma treatment device further includes an electrode frame positioned in the sealed chamber, the electrode frame includes four rod-shaped support portions vertically supported at a bottom of the sealed chamber and an install portion defined on a topside of the sealed chamber and vertically connected to top ends of four support portions, the electrode plates are vertically positioned, a top end of each electrode plate is fixed on the install portion respectively, one side of each electrode plate is opposite arranged to the opening.
[0007] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, the movable car holder is connected to at least one of the garment supporting frame, a bottom end of the electrode plate is higher than the movable car holder.
[0008] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, a slide rail is provided at the bottom of the sealed chamber for the movable car holder to move along a direction parallel to the electrode plate, wherein the direction garment supporting frame unfolding the garments is parallel to the direction the movable car holder moves along.
[0009] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, the garment plasma treatment apparatus includes a stirring mechanism connected to the movable car holder for moving the garment supporting mechanism along a direction parallel to the electrode plate, and a control device for controlling the vacuum device, the plasma treatment device and the stirring mechanism.
[0010] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, the stirring mechanism includes a back-and-forth stirring mechanism used for moving the garment supporting mechanism along a direction towards and away from a space between the electrode plates, the back-and-forth stirring mechanism comprises a first driving unit, and a gear wheel arranged at the bottom of the sealed chamber and driven by the first driving unit, and a rack arranged on the movable car holder and engaged with the gear wheel.
[0011] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, the stirring mechanism includes an up-and-down stirring mechanism connected to the slide rail for moving the garment supporting mechanism up-and-down, a rotation rod is arranged at both ends of the slide rail, respectively, one end of the rotation rod is articulated with the slide rail, and the other end of the rotation rod is articulated at the bottom of the sealed chamber, the slide rail is rotatably connected to the bottom of the sealed chamber via the rotation rod, the up-and-down stirring mechanism comprises a second driving unit and a cam provided under the slide rail and driven by the second driving unit, a contour of the cam contacts with the slide rail, a rotation of the cam pushes the slide rail to rotate around the bottom of the sealed chamber.
[0012] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, the vacuum device includes one main pump connected to the sealed chamber with a 8.times.10.sup.-1 Pa vacuum degree, and one preliminary pump connected to the main pump with a 2.times.10.sup.2 Pa vacuum degree, the vacuum device further includes a pneumatic control valve arranged between the sealed chamber and the main pump.
[0013] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, the garment plasma treatment apparatus includes a first sealed chamber and a second sealed chamber connected to the vacuum device respectively.
[0014] In the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application, the working gas is air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon or a mixed gas of argon and organic gas, the organic gas is organosilanes, hydrofluoroalkanes, organophosphorus compounds or gasified alkenes.
[0015] The garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application comprise at least one sealed chamber, a vacuum device connected with the sealed chamber for vacuumizing the sealed chamber and a working gas feed device for feeding a working gas to the sealed chamber, and a plasma treatment device and a garment supporting mechanism provided inside the sealed chamber, wherein the plasma treatment device includes at least two electrode plates which are parallel spaced with each other, the garment supporting mechanism includes a garment supporting frame provided between every two adjacent electrode plates for supporting and fully unfolding at least one garment.
[0016] The beneficial effects of the present application are as follow. A plurality of electrode plates are provided in the sealed chamber, a garment supporting frame which is capable of supporting a plurality of garments is provided between every two adjacent electrode plates, respectively. The garments are fully unfolded by the garment supporting frame along the direction parallel to the electrode plate. The surface of the garment is completely extended and exposed between electrode plates, such that various parts of the surface of the garment completely contact with various gas particles. Under the sealed vacuum circumstance, multiple electrode plates simultaneously implement plasma treatments to a plurality of garments on a plurality of garment supporting frames. According to the requirement, different properties can be brought to garments with feeding working gas required. Such batch treatment improves the plasma treatment speed of garments, and is suitable for industrialization treatment of garments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present application will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments in the following, in the accompanying drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic drawing of a garment plasma treatment apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic drawing of a garment plasma treatment apparatus in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present application.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic drawing of a garment supporting mechanism of the garment plasma treatment apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application.
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic drawing of a sealed chamber of the garment plasma treatment apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application.
[0022] In the drawings,
[0023] 1 a garment, 2 a sealed chamber, 5 a garment supporting mechanism, 7 a control device, 8 a pressure meter
[0024] 21 a first sealed chamber, 22 a second sealed chamber, 23 a first sealed door, 24 a second sealed door
[0025] 25 an opening, 26 a slide rail
[0026] 31 a first preliminary pump, 32 a second preliminary pump, 33 a first main pump, 34 a second main pump
[0027] 35 a first pneumatic control valve, 36 a second pneumatic control valve
[0028] 41 an electrode plate, 43 a support portion, 44 an install portion
[0029] 51 a garment supporting frame, 52 a movable car holder, 53 a rack
[0030] 54 a support bar, 55 a hang bar, 56 a sleeve bar, 57 a hanger
[0031] 61 a gear wheel, 62 a reversible motor, 63 a big rotatable wheel, 64 a rotatable belt
[0032] 65 a small rotatable wheel, 66 a rotation shaft, 67 a rotation shaft sealer
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] To make the technical characteristic, aim and effect of the present application more clearly understood, now detailed description of the specific implementation of the present application is described with reference to the drawings.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the garment plasma treatment apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application, comprises at least one sealed chamber 2, a vacuum device for vacuumizing the sealed chamber 2, and a working gas feed device (not shown in the drawings) for feeding a working gas to the sealed chamber 2. A plasma treatment device and a garment supporting mechanism 5 are provided inside the sealed chamber 2. The plasma treatment device includes at least two electrode plates, which are parallel spaced with each other. The garment supporting mechanism 5 includes a garment supporting frame 51 provided between every two adjacent electrode plates 41 for supporting and fully unfolding at least one garment.
[0035] In the embodiment of the garment plasma treatment apparatus, the sealed chamber 2 is vacuumized by the vacuum device. After a certain vacuum degree is achieved, the sealed chamber 2 is fed with necessary working gas via the working gas feed device. The electrode plates 41 are connected to the power supply, such that the electricity generated by the electrode plates 41 excites the working gas to generate various active particles, which have reactions on the surface of the garment 1 to modify the fabric properties of the garment 1, then the garment 1 possesses some special properties and functions. Multiple electrode plates 41 parallel spaced with each other are arranged in the sealed chamber 2. A garment supporting frame 51 is provided between every two adjacent electrode plates 4, respectively. Each garment supporting frame 51 can support a plurality of garments 1 which are fully unfolded by the garment supporting frame 51 along the direction parallel to the electrode plate 41. The surface of the garment 1 is completely extended and exposed between the electrode plates 41, such that various parts of the surface of the garment 1 completely contact with various gas particles. Under the sealed vacuum circumstance, multiple electrode plates 41 simultaneously implement plasma treatments to a plurality of garments 1 on a plurality of garment supporting frames 51. Such batch treatment improves the plasma treatment speed of the garments 1, and is suitable for industrialization treatment of garments 1.
[0036] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the garment supporting mechanism 5 in the embodiment further includes a movable car holder 52 connected to the bottom end of the garment supporting frames 51. An opening 25 via which the garment supporting mechanism 5 moves into and out from the sealed chamber 2 and a sealed door for opening and closing the opening 25 are defined on one side face of the sealed chamber 2. The plasma treatment device further includes an electrode frame positioned in the sealed chamber 2. The electrode frame includes four rod-shaped support portions 43 vertically supported at the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 and an install portion 44 defined on the topside of the sealed chamber and vertically connected to the top end of the support portions 43. The install portion 44 has a frame-typed configuration with at least two beams positioned at its middle. The electrode plate 41 is vertically positioned, the top end of which is fixed on the beam. One electrode plate 41 is correspondingly mounted on each beam. The opening 25 on one side of each electrode plate 41 is vertically defined. As many electrode plates 41 as possible can be provided in a certain space of the sealed chamber 2, as only a space between adjacent electrode plates 41 which is larger enough for accepting the garments 1 and garment supporting frames 51 should be guaranteed. Eleven electrode plates 41 are provided in the embodiment. The electrode plates 41 are positioned intensively. If the garment supporting frames 51 are fixed between the electrode plates 41, the user can not support garments 1 on the garment supporting frames 51, therefore, a moving garment supporting frame 51 is needed, which moves the garments 1 and garment supporting frames 51 into and out from the space between electrode plates 41. A movable car holder 52 is provided at the bottom of the garment supporting frame 51. The garment supporting mechanism 5 is moved integrally. An opening 25 via which the garment supporting mechanism 5 moves into and out from the sealed chamber 2, is defined on the sealed chamber 2, thus people outside of the sealed chamber 2 can support the garments 1 on the garment supporting frame 51, then push the garment supporting frame 51 supporting garments 1 across the opening 25 of the sealed chamber 2 to get into the sealed chamber 2. One side of each electrode plate 41 in the sealed chamber 2 is opposite to the opening 25, thus the channel formed between every adjacent electrode plates 41 is opposite to the opening. After across the opening 25, the garment supporting frame 51 is directly moved into the channel between electrode plates 41, then sealed door is closed to start the plasma treatment. Carriage wheels are provided at the bottom of support portions 43 of the electrode frames in the embodiment, and enable the electrode frames and electrode plates of the plasma treatment device to move out of the sealed chamber 2. The sealed chamber 2 can also be used for other purposes.
[0037] Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable car holder 52 in the embodiment is connected to at least one garment supporting frame 51. The bottom end of the electrode plate 41 is higher than the movable car holder 52. The movable car holder 52 moves at the bottom of the sealed chamber 2. When a single movable car holder 52 is connected to the bottom end of each garment supporting frame 51, respectively, that is, a movable car holder 52 is separately provided on a garment supporting frame 51 between every two adjacent electrode plates, respectively, the space between the electrode plates 41 will be greater than the width of the movable car holder 52 to ensure the movable car holder 52 to run through. Meanwhile, the distance between the bottom end of electrode plates 41 and the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 is not limited. However, when a plurality of garment supporting frames 51 are together connected to the same movable car holder 52, the bottom end of electrode plate 41 vertically arranged is suspended, there should be a certain distance between the bottom end of electrode plates 41 and the bottom of the sealed chamber 2, so that the movable car holder 52 is not blocked by the bottom end of electrode plates 41 when moving at the bottom of the sealed chamber 2.
[0038] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a slide rail 26 is provided at the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 in the embodiment for the movable car holder 52 to move along the direction parallel to the electrode plate 41. The direction the garment supporting frame 51 unfolding the garments 1 is parallel to the direction the movable car holder 52 moves along. In the embodiment, by means of the slide rail 26 arranged parallel to the electrode plate 41, the movable car holder 52 is restricted to move between electrode plates 41 along the direction parallel to the electrode plate 41, and would not contact with the electrode plates 41. At the same time, the direction along which the garment supporting frame 51 unfolding the garment 1 is also parallel to the electrode plate 41. As a result, the fully unfolded garment 1 is opposite to the electrode plate 41 totally. Such that the unfolded garment 1 contacts various plasma gas particles generated in the maximum area.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the garment supporting mechanism 5 of the present embodiment includes a garment supporting frame 51 and a movable car holder 52. The garment supporting frame 51 includes two support bars 54 arranged vertically, a hang bar 55 vertically connected to support bars, and at least two sleeve bars 56 connected to the support bars for supporting the garment sleeve. The movable car holder 52 is connected to the bottom end of two support bars, and at least one removable hanger 57 is provided on the hang bar. The garment 1 is supported by the support bar via following process. The hanger 57 is put into the skirt of the garment 1, such that two shoulders of the garment 1 are supported by both ends of the hanger 57, then the pothook is run through the neckband of the garment 1. After that, the hanger 57 is hung on the hang bar 55, the pothook is vertical to the both ends of the hanger 57, thus the garment 1 is hung on the hang bar 55 by the hanger 57, and is parallel to the hang bar 55 and the support bar 54. The garment 1 unfolded and put between the electrode plates 41 is also parallel to the direction of the electrode plates 41. Two cuffs of the garment 1 are respectively sleeved to two sleeve bars 56, thus the sleeves are also stretched out fully. A plurality of hangers 27, and four or six or other even numbers of sleeve bars 56 are provided on the garment supporting frame 51 for a plurality of garments 1 simultaneously to be supported on the garment supporting frame 51.
[0040] Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the garment plasma treatment apparatus in the embodiment further includes a stirring mechanism connected to the movable car holder 52 for moving the garment supporting mechanism 5 along the direction parallel to the electrode plates 41, and a control device 7 for controlling the vacuum device, the plasma treatment device and the stirring mechanism. As the garments 1 are put into the sealed chamber 2 by the movable car holder 52 and the garment supporting frame 51, the garments 1 always remain static during the plasma treatment. In the present embodiment, by arranging the stirring mechanism connected to the movable car holder 52, the garment supporting frame 51 and the garments 1 drove by the movable car holder 52 move up-and-down and back-and-forth. Various parts of the garment 1 can be evenly exposed to various gas particles during moving, such that those parts have the same performance and function.
[0041] The stirring mechanism in the embodiment includes a back-and-forth stirring mechanism for moving the garment supporting mechanism 5 back-and-forth along the direction towards and away from a space of the electrode plates 41, and an up-and-down stirring mechanism for moving the garment supporting mechanism 5 up-and-down along the direction parallel to the direction of electrode plates 41.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, the back-and-forth stirring mechanism comprises a first driving unit, and a gear wheel 61 arranged at the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 and driven by the first driving unit, and a rack 53 arranged on the movable car holder 52 and engaged with the gear wheel 61. The first driving unit includes a reversible motor 62. The gear wheel 61 can directly be mounted on the output shaft of the reversible motor 62, and also can be transmitted by a belt. In the present embodiment, the first driving unit further includes a big rotatable wheel 63 mount on the output shaft of the reversible motor 62, a small rotatable wheel 65 mounted on the rotation shaft 66 of the gear wheel 61, and a rotation control belt 64 sleeved outside the big rotatable wheel 63 and the small rotatable wheel 65. The reversible motor 62 is connected to the rotation shaft 66 of the gear wheel 61 by a belt, and rotates the gear wheel 61. The first driving unit is provided outside the sealed chamber 2, one end of the rotation shaft 66 of the gear wheel 61 connected to the gear wheel 61 is arranged at bottom of the sealed chamber 2, the other end of the rotation shaft 66 connected to the small rotatable wheel 65 is arranged outside the sealed chamber 2. A rotation shaft sealer 67 is provided at where the rotation shaft 66 penetrates through the sealed chamber 2, thus keeping the sealed chamber 2 being sealed.
[0043] The first driving unit is driven as follows. When the reversible motor 62 rotates forward, the gear wheel 61 is driven to rotate forward, the rack 53 engaged with the gear wheel 61 moves along one direction, so that the movable car holder 52 is driven to move on the slide rail 26 along the direction towards the space between the electrode plates 41. As the movable car holder 52 moves on the slide rail 26, the slide rail 26 limits the movable car holder 52 to move along the direction parallel to the electrode plates 41. When the reversible motor 62 rotates backward, the movable car holder 52 is driven to move on the slide rail 26 along the direction away from the space between the electrode plates 41. The back-and forth reciprocating movement of the movable car holder 52 along the direction towards and away from the space between the electrode plates 41 is achieved by the reversible motor 62 via the gear wheel 61 and the rack 53.
[0044] The up-and-down stirring mechanism (not shown in the drawings) is connected to the slide rail 26. A rotation rod is arranged at both ends of the slide rail 26, respectively. One end of the rotation rod is articulated with the slide rail 26, and the other end of the rotation rod is articulated at the bottom of the sealed chamber 2. The slide rail 26 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 via the rotation rod. The up-and-down stirring mechanism comprises a second driving unit provided under both ends of the slide rail 26 and a cam arranged on the output shaft of the second driving unit. The contour of the cam contacts with the slide rail 26. The rotation of the cam pushes the slide rail 26 to rotate around the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 and move up-and-down. The second driving unit rotates the cam along a fixed direction. During the rotation, the height of the output shaft of the second driving unit relative to the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 remains fixed, that is the cam axis remains a fixed height. When the curvature radius of the cam changes, the slide rail 26 and the rotation rod rotate around the bottom of sealed chamber 2. As the height of the slide rail 26 relative to the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 changes, the height of the movable car holder 52 on the slide rail 26 changes accordingly, thus the garment 1 moves up-and-down relative to the electrode plates 41.
[0045] The back-and-forth stirring mechanism and the up-and-down stirring mechanism in the embodiment work respectively. When the up-and-down stirring mechanism have finished its work, the slide rail 26 returns to the original height, such that the rack 53 of the movable car holder 52 on the slide rail 26 engages with the gear wheel 61 at the bottom of the sealed chamber 2 exactly.
[0046] The control device 7 in the embodiment is connected to the vacuum device, the plasma treatment device and the stirring mechanism, respectively. After the support frame supporting the garment 1 is in the sealed chamber 2, the control device 7 firstly turns on the vacuum device. After the necessary vacuum degree is achieved, the control device turns on the working gas feed device for feeding the working gas. Then the control device 7 turns on the power supply of electrode plates 41 which implement the plasma treatment after being powered up. During the treatment, the control device 7 turns on the stirring mechanism again, the garment supporting frame 51 moves in the sealed chamber 2. After the treatment, the control device turns off the power supply of the stirring mechanism and the electrode plates 41.
[0047] The vacuum mechanism in the embodiment includes at least one main pump connected to the sealed chamber 2 with a 8.times.10.sup.-1 Pa vacuum degree, at least one preliminary pump connected to the main pump with a 2.times.10.sup.2 Pa vacuum degree, and a pneumatic control valve arranged between the sealed chamber 2 and the main pump. The plasma treatment demands high vacuum environment, so that the preliminary pump and the main pump are required to vacuumize the sealed chamber 2 in two stages so that the necessary vacuum degree can be achieved. In the present embodiment, an environment vacuum degree lower than 8.times.10.sup.-1 Pa vacuum degree is required. At first, the pneumatic control valve is switched on. Then the preliminary pump is switched on to vacuumize preliminarily. When the vacuum degree of the preliminary vacuumizing achieves 2.times.10.sup.2 Pa, the main pump is switched on to vacuumize mainly for obtaining a vacuum degree of 8.times.10.sup.-1 Pa. Then the pneumatic control valve is turned off, and the vacuum degree in the sealed chamber 2 is maintained. After the plasma treatment in the sealed chamber 2, the pressure inside the sealed chamber 2 can also be released by the pneumatic control valve. In order to increase the vacuumizing power and shorten vacuumizing time, multiple preliminary pumps interconnected to each other are adopted to implement the preliminary vacuumizing simultaneously. Multiple main pumps interconnected to each other are adopted to implement the main vacuumizing simultaneously. Wherein, one of the multiple main pumps is connected to the sealed chamber 2.
[0048] In the embodiment, the garment plasma treatment apparatus includes a first sealed chamber 21, a second sealed chamber 22 and a control device 7 for controlling the first sealed chamber 21 and the second sealed chamber 22 to work alternately. The first sealed chamber 21 and the second sealed chamber 22 are connected to the vacuum device respectively. The plasma treatment of the garment 1 in each sealed chamber 2 comprises several steps, which are supporting the garments 1 on the garment supporting frame 51, vacuumizing by the vacuum device, powering up the electrode plates 41 for plasma treatment, releasing the pressure of the sealed chamber 2 after the treatment. Each step needs a certain treatment time. When the first sealed chamber 21 is vacuumizing, the treatment of the second sealed chamber 22 is in the preparative phase, in which phase the garment 1 is supported on the garment supporting frame 51. During the plasma treatment after the vacuumizing in the first sealed chamber 21, the second sealed chamber 22 can be ready to be vacuumized as well. During the pressure release after the plasma treatment in the first sealed chamber 21, the second chamber 22 implements the plasma treatment. In such a way, the first sealed chamber 21 and the second sealed chamber 22 work alternately, thus shortening the processing time, speeding up the treatment of garments 1 and improving the efficiency of production.
[0049] The first sealed chamber 21 and the second sealed chamber 22 can be connected to two separate vacuum devices respectively. However, both sealed chamber 2 can also be connected together to a same vacuum device. The vacuum device in the embodiment comprises a first main pump 33, a second main pump 34, a first preliminary pump 31 and a second preliminary pump. The first main pump 33 is connected to the first sealed chamber 21, and the second main pump 34 is connected to the second sealed chamber 22. The first main pump 33 is in communication with the second main pump 34 through pipelines. The first preliminary pump 31 and the second preliminary pump 32 are simultaneously connected to the first main pump 33 and the second main pump 34 via connected pipelines. A first pneumatic control valve 35 is provided between the first sealed chamber 21 and the first main pump 33, a second pneumatic control valve 36 is provided between the second sealed chamber 22 and the second main pump 34. When the first pneumatic control valve 35 is switched on and the second pneumatic control valve 36 is switched off, both of the first preliminary pump 31 and the second preliminary pump 32 are switched on to vacuumize the first sealed chamber 21 preliminarily. Once the vacuum degree of the preliminary vacuumizing achieves 2.times.10.sup.2 Pa, the first main pump 33 and the second main pump 34 are switched on to vacuumize mainly, such that the vacuum degree achieves 8.times.10.sup.-1 Pa. Therefore, the two preliminary pumps and two main pumps works at the same time, respectively, so as to vacuumize the first sealed chamber 21 or the second sealed chamber 22, and shorten the vacuumizing time.
[0050] A visible window is provided on the sealed door in the embodiment, so that the glow of the plasma treatment within the sealed chamber 2 can be observed through the visual window. Accordingly, the process of the plasma treatment can be understood and grasped. A pressure meter 8 is provided in the sealed chamber 2 in the embodiment for measuring the real-time vacuum degree.
[0051] The working gas in the present application is air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon or the mixed gas of the argon and organic gas, wherein the organic gas is organosilanes, hydrofluoroalkanes, organophosphorus compounds or gasified alkenes. According to functions the garment 1 requires, different working gases are adopted in the garment plasma treatment apparatus of the present application. For example, if the garment 1 requires an anti-pilling function, then air, oxygen, nitrogen or argon can be adopted (argon is most preferable). If the garment 1 requires a hydrophobic function, then a mixed gas of the gasified organosilanes and argon can be adopted, whose ratio is 5:1. If the garment 1 requires hydrophobic and oil repellency functions, then a mixed gas of the gasified hydrofluoroalkanes and argon can be adopted. If the garment 1 requires a fire resistance function, then a mixed gas of the gasified organophosphorus compounds and argon can be adopted. If the garment 1 requires an anti-static function, a mixed gas of the gasified alkenes and argon can be adopted.
[0052] Now detailed description of the treatment steps of the garment plasma treatment apparatus for anti-pilling in the embodiment is as follows.
[0053] 1) Eleven plate electrode plates 41 are provided in the first sealed chamber 21. A garment supporting frame 51 is arranged between every adjacent electrode plates 4, respectively, so that there are ten garment supporting frames 51. Each garment supporting frame 51 can support two garments 1 simultaneously, so that twenty garments 1 can be treated once in the first sealed chamber 21. The bottom ends of the ten garment supporting frames 51 are connected to the same movable car holder 52.
[0054] 2) The movable car holder 52 and the garment supporting frames 51 supporting the garments 1 are pushed into the first sealed chamber 21, such that the rack 53 on the movable car holder 52 engages with the gear wheel 61 at the bottom of the first sealed chamber 21. The first sealed door 3 is closed, then the first pneumatic control valve 35 of the first sealed chamber 21 is switched on, and the second pneumatic control valve 36 of the second sealed chamber 22 is switched off.
[0055] 3) The first preliminary pump 31 and the second preliminary pump 32 are switched on by the control device 7. When the vacuum degree of the first sealed chamber 21 achieves 2.times.10.sup.2 Pa, the first preliminary pump 31 and the second preliminary pump 32 are turned off by the control device 7, then the first main pump 33 and the second main pump 34 are switched on by the control device 7. When the vacuum degree of the first sealed chamber 21 achieves 8.times.10.sup.-1 Pa, the first pneumatic control valve 35, the first main pump 33 and the second main pump 34 are turned off.
[0056] Meanwhile, the treatment of the second sealed chamber 22 is in the preparative phase. The structure of the second sealed chamber 22 is same as that of the first sealed chamber 21. Another batch of garments 1 is supported on the garment supporting frame 51 of the second sealed chamber 22.
[0057] 4) Argon is fed into the first sealed chamber 21 by the working gas feed device of the first sealed chamber 21. After that, the vacuum degree achieves about 10 Pa.
[0058] 5) The back-and-forth stirring mechanism and the up-and-down stirring mechanism are switched on by the control device for moving the movable car holder 52 back-and-forth or up-and-down along the direction parallel to the direction of electrode plates 41. The control device 7 controls two stirring mechanism to work for 10s each time, respectively.
[0059] 6) The electrode plates 41 is powered up by the control device 7, and its current is adjusted to 20A-30A. The glow of the plasma treatment can be observed within the sealed chamber 2 through the visual window. At the same time, the treatment time is controlled to 10 minutes, combining with the thickness of garments 1.
[0060] Meanwhile, the garment supporting frame 51 and the movable car holder 52 of the second sealed chamber 22 are pushed into the second sealed chamber 21. The second sealed door 24 is closed, and the second pneumatic control valve 36 is switched on. Then the first preliminary pump 31 and the second preliminary pump 32 are switched on by the control device 7. When the vacuum degree in the second sealed chamber 22 is about 2.times.10.sup.2 Pa, the first preliminary pump 31 and the second preliminary pump 32 are turned off by the control device 7, then the first main pump 33 and the second main pump 34 are switched on by the control device 7. When the vacuum degree in the second sealed chamber 22 is about 8.times.10.sup.-1 Pa, the second pneumatic control valve 36, the first main pump 33 and the second main pump 34 are turned off.
[0061] 7) The electrode plate 41 is powered off, the back-and-forth stirring mechanism and the up-and-down stirring mechanism are turned off by the control device 7. The first pneumatic control valve 35 in the first sealed chamber 21 is switched on, via which the pressure in the sealed chamber 21 is released. After the pressure is released, the sealed door of the first sealed chamber 21 is opened, the movable car holder 52 and the garment supporting frame 51 are pushed out of the first sealed chamber 21. The treated garments 1 are taken off from the garment supporting frame 51.
[0062] Meanwhile, the second sealed chamber 22 is fed with working gas, the stirring mechanism is switched on and the electrode plate 41 is powered up, then the garments 1 in the second sealed chamber 22 are plasma treated.
[0063] As the garment 1 made from knitted fabric of animal wool (wool, for example) has a layer of scale structure on its fabric structure protein fiber surface, which scale structure results in the pilling of the garments 1. After the plasma treatment according to the above steps, the pilling grade of garment 1 has been significantly improved, and the luster, color and strength of the fabric are not affected. Two sealed chambers 2 in the embodiment plasma treat the garments 1 alternately. Each sealed chamber 2 treats twenty garments 1 at one time, such that the production efficiency of plasma treatment for the garment 1 is greatly improved.
[0064] The garment plasma treatment apparatus in the present application is suitable for various textile material garments 1, including the natural fiber, hybrid fiber, knitted or woven synthetic fiber.
[0065] Above detailed description of the present application is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, however, the present application is not limit to the above specific implementation, which is just schematic, rather than restrictive. One skilled in the art can also make many improvements with the enlightenment of the present application under the circumstance not the purposes and the protecting scope demanded by claims, and these improvements should be included within the scope of the present application.
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