Patent GB-1294878-A (GB)
IPC: D06C5/00
Filed: 1969-10-24
Abstract: 1294878 Finishing fabrics; textile apparatus E I ARONOFF 24 Oct 1969 [6 June 1969] 52278/69 Headings D1S and D1L Apparatus for treating a tubular fabric comprises a device 12, Fig. 4, for opening a continuous length of wet tubular fabric F which has been stretched into rope form and stored in a container 26; an internal stretcher 16 for the fabric comprises endless belts 156, 158, 160, Fig. 6, adapted to contact the inner surfaces of the fabric and means for driving the belts 160 at a speed slower than that of the belts 156, 158; means 14 for feeding the fabric F by gravity to the stretcher 16, substantially free of longitudinal tension; and means 18, 20 for taking off the fabric F from the stretcher and advancing it to a subsequent finishing treatment in the absence of lateral and longitudinal tension. The device 12, Figs. 8 and 10, comprises a pair of freely rotatable rollers 32 mounted to define a gap therebetween and a floating bracket 34 located in this gap and within the fabric F and comprising rollers 36 to cooperate with the rollers 32. A rod 38 hangs from the bracket 34 and carries a lower bracket 42 having thereon wheels 44 and a pair of pivoted arms 46 also carrying wheels 48. The arms 46 are pivoted to struts 50 pivoted to a freelyrotatable threaded collar 52. A ring spreader 56, Fig. 4, may be used in combination with the device 12 to give the fabric an initial lateral stretching. The fabric F passes over a driven feed roller 14 comprising a large cylindrical member 58 having a soft fabric covering and under a compensating roller 62 from part of a compensating device including a counterbalanced frame 64 provided with adjustable counterweights 70. The roller 62 is responsive to a change in longitudinal tension in the fabric F and actuates a clutch (not shown) connected to the roller 14 to speed up or slow down this roller. The fabric passes over an idler roller 72, is deflected into a vertical plane by a roller 76 and passes over positioning means prior to passing over the stretcher 16. The positioning means, Fig. 11, for maintaining the alignment of a pattern on the fabric comprises a pair of parallel rods 88 defining a gap through which the fabric passes and journalled in bearing blocks 92, 94. Wheels 90 mounted on the rods 88 travel in curved guide tracks 84, 86. The blocks 92, 94 are connected by links 98, 100 to a control bar 96 pivoted to a shaft 102. Movement of a manual lever (112), Fig. 13 (not shown), rotates the shaft 102 and causes the wheels 90 to run in the tracks 84, 86 so that the rods 88 turn the advancing flattened fabric to correct any spirality in the pattern thereof. The stretcher 16, Figs. 5 and 6, comprises two divergent side elements 136, 138 each having three endless belts 156, 158, 160 mounted thereon on idler pulleys to contact the inner surfaces of the fabric. These belts are driven by contact with drive wheels 132, 134 positioned externally of the fabric and mounted on transmission boxes 128, 130 slidable on guide rods 120, 122 mounted on a dual thread screw 124 rotatable by a hand wheel to adjust the width of the stretcher. The size of the pulleys is such that each belt 160 travels at a speed lower than that of the belts 156, 158. The fabric is pulled down off the stretcher 16 by take-up rolls 18, Fig. 4, and is laid on a conveyor belt 20 to carry it to a subsequent finishing treatment.