Method for treating fibers by subjecting them to high frequency electric fields

Claim 2

Process of treating fibers which comprises the step of subjecting them to the action of a high frequency electromagnetic field characterized by the fact that the fibers to be treated are placed in a resonator connected through a transmission line to a high frequency generator which generates electrical power at a frequency substantially equal to the resonant frequency of said resonator.

Claim 3

Process as claimed in claim 1 in which said resonator comprises a coupling for matching its impedance to that of the generator and the transmission line.

Claim 4

Process of subjecting fibers to a high frequency electromagnetic field, which process comprises the stepss of: locating said fibers within the radially outer portion of an elongated cavity resonator, supplying high frequency electrical current from a generator to said resonator through a flexible coaxial transmission line and through coupling means which matches the impedance of said resonator to that of said generator and transmission line, the frequency of said current beinG less than the natural resonant frequency of a cavity having the volume of the cavity in said resonator, causing said energy to create an electrical field within said resonator which is concentrated in said radially outer portion thereof, and utilizing inductance means within said resonator to reduce its actual resonant frequency to that of the current supplied by said generator.

Claim 5

Process of subjecting fibers to a high frequency electromagnetic field, which process comprises the stepss of: locating said fibers within the radially outer portion of an elongated cavity resonator, supplying high frequency electrical current from a generator to said resonator through a flexible coaxial transmission line and through coupling means which matches the impedance of said resonator to that of said generator and transmission line, the frequency of said current beinG less than the natural resonant frequency of a cavity having the volume of the cavity in said resonator, causing said energy to create an electrical field within said resonator which is concentrated in said radially outer portion thereof, and utilizing inductance means within said resonator to reduce its actual resonant frequency to that of the current supplied by said generator.

Claim 6

Process as claimed in claim 3 in which said frequency lies between 10 and 2,000 megacycles.

Claim 7

Process as claimed in claim 3 which comprises the step of rolling up said fibers on a cylinder to be positioned inside the resonator.

Claim 8

Process as claimed in claim 3 according to which a material having a dielectric constant and a dielectric loss factor which increase with temperature is placed inside the resonator to insure automatic adaptation of the resonant frequency of the resonator as the fiber dries.

Claim 9

Process as claimed in claim 3 in which said fibers are hair and are impregnated with a composition having a chemical effect thereon before being subjected to said field.

Claim 10

Process as claimed in claim 3 in which said fibers are hair and are impregnated with a composition containing constituents which react with each other before being subjected to said field.

Claim 11

Process as claimed in claim 3 in which said fibers are hair and are moistened with water at the beginning of the treatment and said treatment is continued until the hair is dry.

Claim 12

Process as claimed in claim 3 in which said fibers are hair and are impregnated with a setting lotion, and said treatment is continued until the hair is dry.