Patent GB-1225056-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for handling and treating knitted fabrics
Inventor: CATALLO FRANK
IPC: D06C3/02
Filed: 1968-08-21
Abstract: 1,225,056. Finishing fabrics. FAB-CON MACHINERY DEVELOPMENT CORP. 21 Aug., 1968 [22 Aug., 1967], No. 39937/68. Headings D1L and D1S. Apparatus for tentering and setting an open width knitted fabric comprises a pair of spaced chain housings 46 mounted on support means 22, 41, 42 and arranged horizontally and movable relative to each other, adjusting means for altering the distance between the housings 46, a continuous chain 82 extending through each housing 46, means for moving the chains 82 relative to the housings 46, and gripping means 85 secured to and movable with each chain 82 to engage a corresponding edge of the fabric. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the wet, partially processed, fabric 16 passes from a hand truck 15 around rolls 20, 21 extending between supports 18, under a platform 24 and around rolls 23, 25, 26. The rolls 20, 21, 23, 25 are driven at the same peripheral speed whilst uncurling rolls 26 are driven at a slightly higher peripheral speed so as to form an overfeed for the fabric. The rolls 23, 25, 26 are mounted between supports 22 which also carry a guider 27 and fabric edge control and pinning wheels 28, 29. The main feed roll 25 comprises a central roller having a friction surface 35 and which is keyed to the roller shaft so as to be rotatable therewith and idler rolls 32 freely rotatable on the shaft so that all fabric feeding is performed by the central roller. The housing 46, Fig. 10, comprise lower and upper rail sections 47, 48 longitudinally staggered with respect to each other and are mounted on saddles 60 which are movable towards and away from the centre line of the machine by rotation of shaft 66 by a handwheel 67, Fig. 1. The shaft 66 carries sprocket wheels 73, Fig. 10, secured thereto by keys 74 for rotation therewith. A shaft 75 is parallel to the shaft 66 and carries sprocket wheels 76 freely rotatable thereon. An endless chain 77 passes around each pair of wheels 73, 76 and is pinned to the lower end of one saddle 60 and to a lug 63 on the companion saddle so that rotation of the shaft 66 moves the saddles. A short shaft 70, Fig. 4, equipped with a handwheel 71 is adapted to be coupled to the shaft 66 by a clutch 72 and has a sprocket wheel keyed thereto. A stub shaft (not shown) lies parallel to the shaft 70 and coaxial with the shaft 75 and carries a freely rotatable sprocket wheel. A chain extends around these wheels and rotation of the shaft 70 adjusts the portions of the housings at the entry end, which portions are hinged at 80, 87. The chains 82 carry tenter pins 85 to engage the edges of the fabric 16 and are reversed about vertical sprocket wheels, e.g. 86, Fig. 9, so that the pins 85, Fig. 10, project upwardly and downwardly, respectively, during movement of the chains along passages 54, 56 in the housings 46. Canted guide wheels 90, Fig. 9, are provided. The fabric is conveyed by the chains over a steamer 102, Fig. 1, through a heating unit 96, a cooling unit 97, over a second steamer 103 and is wound into a roll 100 using batcher rolls 101. The unit 96 comprises a treating compartment 115 and a blowing compartment 116 divided by apertured portions (117), 118, Figs. 3 and 4 (the former not shown). A combustible gas mixture is supplied through a device (122), Fig. 3, and an exhaust fan (121) is provided. Gas burners 124, Fig. 4, are also provided. Nozzle units 125, Fig. 7, are positioned in rows above and below the fabric. Each unit has full length discharge slots 131 which are situated close to the fabric. Four blowers, e.g. 135, are located in the compartment 11e to circulate a gaseous medium, e.g. air, through the compartment 115.