Patent GB-1219601-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in knitted fabric spreaders
Inventor: COHN EUGENE
IPC: D06C3/02
Filed: 1968-01-04
Abstract: 1,219,601. Finishing fabrics. SAMCOE HOLDING CORP. 4 Jan., 1968 [25 Jan., 1967], No. 696/68. Heading D1S. A spreader, Fig. 8, for open-width knitted fabric comprises support frames 101, 102 outwardly diverging from the entry of the spreader to the exit thereof and a plurality of roller assemblies 100 rotatably journalled between the frames 101, 102 for supporting the fabric on its passage through the spreader, each roller assembly 100 having edge portions for gripping the fabric edges as it is passed from one roller assembly 100 to the next on rotation thereof so that the fabric is gradually distended to a predetermined width. The rollers 100 are positioned so that the fabric passes sinuously therearound, Fig. 9 (not shown). The frames 101, 102 are pivotally mounted about pins 103 to allow the spacing therebetween at the entry end of the spreader to be adjusted by sliding along a bar 109. Each roller assembly 100 includes a roller having telescopic sections 120, 121 to adjust the length thereof. The edge portions of each assembly comprise short cylindrical end sections 127, Fig. 12, coupled to each end of the respective roller by universal joints 125. The periphery of each section 127 has a fabric gripping surface 135, e.g. a strip of card clothing. Sensing units 160, 161 are positioned to sense the fabric edges immediately before they are gripped by the surfaces 135 adjacent the entry end of the spreader. Each unit 160, 161, Fig. 14, comprises vertical light sources 162, 163 and corresponding photocell receptors 164, 165 mounted on rotatably adjustable platforms 166, 167. Movement of the fabric edge causes electrical signals to be sent to motor 118, 119 to rotate either or both of screw shafts 115, 116 to cause the forward ends of either or both of the frames 101, 102 to slide along the bar 109. A "whistle jet" air tube 168 is provided adjacent each unit 160, 161 and has an air discharge opening 171 in the form of an inclined notch to uncurl the fabric edges. In a modification, Fig. 15 (not shown), pairs of light sources (175) and photocell receptors (176) are disposed at an angle to the plane of the incoming fabric to bring the line of edge sensing as close as possible to the first gripping surface (135). The rollers 100 are driven by a chain and sprocket drive at each end thereof, Fig. 11 (not shown), and, preferably, are driven at different speeds so that the fabric edges are advanced at progressively reduced surface speeds from the entry to the exit of the spreader to accommodate lengthwise shortening of the fabric. The spreader 26 forms part of a fabric treating system, Fig. 1. As shown, an open width knitted fabric 11 passes from a container 10 through an optional guiding system 12, around an idler roll 13, around a flattening roll 14, through a second guiding system 15 to decurl the fabric edges and through a paddler 16 containing, for example, a "permanent press" resin and comprising three rollers 17, 18, 19. The fabric passes about a speed controlled roller 24, through the spreader 26, over a roller 28 having a felt or rubber surface to strip the fabric from the last roller of the spreader 26 and about an input roller 29 for a fabric drying and/or curing apparatus 30. Preferably the fabric is overfed from the padder 16 to the spreader 26 and from the spreader 26 to the apparatus 30. The system 12 Fig. 2 comprises spaced air nozzle units 31, 32 each including a flow nozzle 33 and an air blower 34 driven by a motor 35 and which are mounted on brackets 36 slidable on a horizontal bar 37. The units 31, 32 are independently adjustable by threaded shafts 40, 41 controlled by hand wheels 42, 43. Similarly, the system 15, Fig. 4, comprises air nozzle units 44 incliuding a nozzle 45 and a blower 46 driven by a motor 47 and which are mounted by slide brackets 48, Fig. 1, on a frame 49. The units 44 are adjustable by shafts. Each flow nozzle comprises a pair of discharge elements 51, 52 straddling the edge margins of the fabric 11, joining to form a common chamber 53 and formed with an outlet to direct air transversely outward over the surface of the fabric to uncurl the edge thereof and fully extend the fabric. An edge sensing device for the system 15 comprises a mercury switch assembly 61 mounted on the unit 44 and including a mercury contact bulb 62 carried by a shaft 63 freely rotatable through an arc sufficient to make and break the switch contacts of the bulb 62. The shaft 63 carries edge sensing fingers 64 displaceable by the fabric edge 65. The assembly 61 controls the speed of the respective blower motor in response to the position of the fabric edges to centre the fabric. After passing through the system 15, but prior to passing through the padder 16, the fabric 11 passes over and under flattening bars 70, 71, Fig. 6, to apply a light tension thereto and over "whistle jet" air tubes 72, 73, 74 adjustable relative to the fabric edges and which are provided with air outlet openings to direct high velocity air streams transversely outwards towards the fabric edges, Fig. 7 (not shown). The fabric passes over a bar 76, over a herringbone smoothing bar 78 having its upper surface 79 provided with closely spaced divergent grooves (80), (81), Fig. 7 (not shown), over "whistle jet" air tubes 84, 85 and onto the roll 17 of the padder 16. The fabric may be steamed by a box 82. If the apparatus is used for the treatment of a tubular knitted fabric, the fabric passes over an internal stretcher 5, Fig. 1, e.g. as described in Specification 701,792, supported by bars 76, 77, Fig. 6, immediately in front of the padder 16, and by-passes the spreader 26 to travel along a path T, Fig. 1.