A method of and means for scouring wool by the solvent degreasing process

摘要

PICT:0763657/III/1 PICT:0763657/III/2 Raw wool is scoured by spraying a high volume of wool-wax solvent at a high pressure on to a swab of wool carried by a perforated conveyer so as to have mechanical as well as solvent action, and subsequently spraying a high volume of water at a high pressure on to the wool, still carried by a conveyer. To prevent undue movement of the wool on the conveyers the latter are highly porous, preferably with at least 20 apertures per linear inch. In a suitable plant, a primary conveyer 6, a secondary conveyer 7, crush rolls 8-11, feed conveyers 12, 13 and an intermediate conveyer 14 are all mounted in a casing 5, the conveyers 6, 7 travelling about rollers 15, 16, 17 respectively. Wool is fed into the plant through a shoot 19 on to the conveyer 6, where it is sprayed with solvent from a primary jet header 21 and a secondary jet header 22. The wool is then fed through the crush rolls 8, 9 and, by means of conveyer 14, then delivered to the conveyer 7, where it is sprayed with water from similar jet headers 21, 22. From the crush rolls 10, 11 the wool is finally delivered on a conveyer 20 for drying. The jet headers are similar and each comprises end members and side members with longitudinal supports 25, Fig. 3, and bottom plates 26, 27 secured to the end and side members in spaced arrangement to form slots 34 therebetween. A cover 30 with inlet 31 and baffle 32 is also provided. Deflectors 29 fixed to the bottom plates or secured to adjustable transverse rods 33 are also preferably provided. As shown, an inclined jet of liquid alternates with a direct jet. The liquid from each header, after drainage to collector 37 for sludge removal, may be recirculated to the same header. Australian Specification 140,734 is referred to.