Patent GB-1404908-A (GB)
Title: Roller fulling machines
IPC: D06C17/02
Filed: 1973-06-12
Abstract: 1404908 Fulling fabrics F CASSE 12 June 1973 [10 July 1972] 27976/73 Heading D1S A multi-roller fulling machine comprising at least one pair of rollers 1, 2 disposed in facing relation and movable with respect to each other and defining therebetween a fabric pinching gap is characterised in that the roller 1 undergoes a movement which varies both the width of the gap and the relative position of the rollers in a direction different from that of the variation in the width of the gap. As shown in Fig 1, the axis X-X of the roller 1 is made to rotate about a fixed axis Y-Y so as to describe a cylinder therearound. The roller 1, Fig 2, comprises a stainless steel tube of axis X-X freely rotatable eccentrically on a crankshaft 7 having an axis Y-Y. Cylindrical bearing portions 8, 9 of the shaft 7 are mounted inside rolling bearings 10, 11 bearing, respectively, on a member 12 mounted on a frame 13 and directly on the frame 13. The part 16 of the. shaft 7, comprising a cylinder having an axis Z-Z, between bearing portions 14, 15 constitutes a counterweight. The shaft 7 is driven through a gear 17 and the roller 1 is rotated at a lower speed through a deformable coupling 18 comprising plates 19, 21, constituting, respectively, end flanges of the roller 1 and the member 12, and an annular movable plate 23. Two pairs of identical links 25 are located on each side of the plate 23 and are journalled in four bores 24 in the plate 23 and two bores 20, 22 in each plate 19, 21. A gear 30 is carried on an extension 29 of the member 12. A fulling machine, Fig 4, comprises a vessel 32 in which upper and lower rollers 1a.... If and 2a .... 2f, respectively, are mounted. On one, side of the vessel, a gearbox (33), Fig 5 (not shown), is mounted and transmits to the rollers a continuous movement of rotation through the gears 30 and, on the other side, a gearbox (34) which transmits solely to the upper, rollers the oscillatory movements. The first roller pair 1a, 2a merely rotate. The rollers and all parts of the machine which come into contact with the fabric or the fulling bath are made of stainless steel. Each roller is constituted by a centre tube (37), Fig 5 (not shown), having five drums (38) mounted thereon to permit fulling simultaneously five fabrics. Each drum (38) comprises two circular rings (39) welded to the tube (37) and connected by a tubular portion (40) having recessed patterned outer surfaces. The tube (37a) of the rollers 2a .... 2f is filled with a solid steel cylinder to act as an anvil on which the fabric bears. The bearings of the rollers 2a .... 2f are acted on by springs 53, Fig 4, bearing on a cross-member 54. Two links 57, 58 are pivoted on pins 55, 56 carried on each memlber 54 and are pivoted to two levers 59, 60 pivotable about shafts 61, 62. The shaft 61 interconnects the two outer levers 59 and the shaft 62 is carried by a fixed support 63. A rod 64 connects the levers 59, 60 to maintain the member 54 horizontal. A rod 65 is pivoted to the pin 56 and to a fixed pin 66. The movable end of the rod 65 drives the member 54 substantially vertically. A lever 68 is secured to the shaft 61 and has a pivoted nut 69 threaded onto a lead screw 70. Rotation of the screw 70 by a wheel 71 shifts the member 54 vertically through the levers. 59, 60 and the rods 57, 58. Alternatively, the screw 70 may be replaced by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. Members 74 have perforations in vertical alignment with the gaps between the upper rollers and through which a fulling or washing liquid is circulated by a pump. The speeds of rotation of the rollers 2a .... 2f are variable gradually from the input to the output of the machine and may decrease or increase so as to cram or stretch, respectively, the fabric. There is a slight difference in speed between the lower rollers and the upper rollers. The drive for the rotation and oscillation of the fulling rollers is described, Fig. 5 (not shown).