A transfer printing or decalcomania process by which a drawing and/or wordings suitably painted or printed in usual manner on a base sheet or support are transferred onto a more or less porous surface by vibrations at ultrasonic frequencies, in order to be shown evenly and well defined. The process differs clearly from those of prior art as the transfer printing does not require a heating source but only ultrasonic vibrations the frequency of which agitates the molecules of the adhesive material or the thermoplastic ink being used to form the original drawing and/or wordings and fluidifies same so that they may penetrate the pores and accomplish the transfer onto that porous surface, the return to its original state being possible in a very short cooling time.

The new process is intended to remedy the drawbacks of a possible uneven transfer printing when carried out according to the prior art, and is particularly intended to extend the application onto surfaces sensitive to heat, as well as to provide a much more economical production because of the remarkably shorter time required to carry out each operation while the results are more satisfactory.

An apparatus for continuously treating a fabric by means of vibrations comprises a first element (5) for guiding and feeding the fabric (1), a vibration source (19), an element (2; 50; 60; 70) capable of vibrating and associated with the fabric (1), a second element (6) for guiding and feeding the fabric (1), and a third guiding element (2; 50; 60; 70) which is in direct contact with the fabric (1) and is movable therewith; the third guiding element (2; 50; 60; 70) is associated with the vibration source (19) and itself forms the element (2; 50; 60; 70) capable of vibrating; it is subject to vibrations which are transmitted directly to the fabric (1). A method for treating a fabric by means of vibrations is also described.

The process of the invention is based on the use of ultrasonic energy for cleaning or washing flexible solid materials such as textile materials and is particularly appropriate for continuously cleaning large surface materials, i.e. materials in the form of web, band or sheet or discrete parts which have been extended on conveyor belts or similar transportation elements. The ultrasonic energy is applied to the materials to be washed by means of vibrating flexure plates which are placed in direct contact with the materials to be washed, the latter being immersed in a shallow liquid medium. The cleaning process may be completed with an immediate rinsing and, once the liquid has been removed, the ultrasonic energy may again be applied by contact in order to eliminate an important portion the liquid content in the washed material, thereby producing a predrying effect. The invention also relates to a device capable of implementing the process of said invention.

Bei einer Ultraschallgeberanordnung zur Ultraschallbehandlung von breit geführtem Textilgut in einem flüssigen Medium, mit mehreren in einer Reihe im Abstand voneinander angeordneten Ultraschallgebern, deren Abstrahlhörner eben ausgebildete und in einer gemeinsamen Ebene liegende Abstrahlflächen aufweisen, wird vorgeschlagen, daß die Abstrahlhörner (4a) einander benachbarter Ultraschallgeber im Bereich ihrer Stirnflächen (4b, 4c) unter Bildung eines Luftspalts (4d) geringer Breite aneinander angrenzen, wobei die Stirnflächen (4b, 4c) so ausgebildet sind, daß die Abstrahlflächen der benachbarten Abstrahlhörner (4a) einander, in zu den Abstrahlflächen paralleler und zur Längserstreckung der Ultraschallgeberanordnung senkrechter Richtung gesehen, teilweise überlappen.

Bei einem Verfahren zur Behandlung von Textilgut, insbesondere gewebter oder gewirkter Textilware, bei welchem das Textilgut in einem flüssigen Medium einer direkten Ultraschallbestrahlung unterworfen wird, indem es an der Abstrahlfläche mindestens eines Ultraschallgebers vorbeigeführt wird, wird vorgeschlagen, das Textilgut in Form eines endlosen Stranges wieder- holt durch ein von dem flüssigen Medium durchflutetes Rohr hindurchzuführen, in dessen Wandung der bzw. jeder Ultraschallgeber mit ins Rohrinnere gerichteter Abstrahlfläche eingebaut ist.

Die Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens umfaßt mindestens einen Ultraschallgeber, dessen Abstrahlfläche in dem flüssigen Medium angeordnet ist, sowie eine Transporteinrichtung zum Vorbeiführen des Textilguts an der (den) Abstrahlfläche(n) und ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der bzw. jeder Ultraschallgeber (5) in die Wandung eines von dem flüssigen Medium (2) durchfluteten, vorzugsweise im wesentlichen horizontal angeordneten Rohres (4) mit ins Rohrinnere gerichteter Abstrahlfläche (11) eingebaut ist, und daß durch die Transporteinrichtung (6,7) das Textilgut (8) in Form eines endlosen Stranges kontinuierlich durch das Rohr (4) hindurchführbar ist.