Patent GB-868207-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in method and apparatus for treating fabric
IPC: D06C7/02
Filed: 1958-12-16
Abstract: 868,207. Finishing fabrics. COMPAX CORPORATION Dec. 16, 1958 [Jan. 8, 1958 (2)], No. 40527/58. Class 42 (1).  Tubular knitted fabric is set to a predetermined width by spreading it widthwise to a substantially flattened form and steaming it while spread, and is then fed from the spreader into a compressing zone in which it is decelerated to effect longitudinal shrinking. In one arrangement, Fig. 1, tubular fabric delivered by a spreader and feeder 10 passes between steamers 12, 13, through first and second compacting stations 14, 15 which are oppositely oriented with respect to the fabric surfaces, to a wind-up device 24. The speed of the winding roll 79 of device 24 is so related to that of the feeding roll 15 of compactor 14 as to provide the desired total compacting ratio. The speed of feeder 10 is adjusted to deliver fabric to compactor 14 at the desired speed and tension, and the speed of the feeding roll 21 of the second compactor is set in accordance with the desired ratio of compacting to be applied at the two stations (e.g. the first station may apply 60% or 80% of the total compacting). The speeds of the retarding rolls 16 and 22 of the two compactors are controlled automatically by tension arms 82, 86 respectively so as to provide a desired tension in the fabric proceeding to compactor 20 and wind-up device 24. In each compactor, Fig. 2, the feeding roll 15 is mounted in fixed bearing blocks 101. The retarding roll 16 is journalled in blocks 105 pivoted at 106 and is urged towards roll 15 by an air cylinder 107. The confining shoe 17 is pivoted at 116 relative to blocks 109 which are pivoted on the ends of rolls 15 and located by adjusting screws 117. Shoe 17 is urged towards roll 15 by an air cylinder 114. Rolls 15, 16 have end guard rings so that the surfaces of the rolls cannot contact each other, or shoe 17, when no fabric is present. Shoe 17 consists of a number of sections 124 having polished surfaces 125. It is heated by electric resistance elements 131, 132, Fig. 4, and includes a blade 127 of weavable material such as brass, secured by clamping blocks 128, the lower end 130 of which is pressed against the surface of roll 16. Compacting of the fabric takes place in the short zone between the bottom edge of shoe 17 and the roll nip 18. In another arrangement, Fig. 5, fabric 216 is overfed at 217 so that it is forwarded positively, but at a decreased speed and longitudinally relaxed, over an internal spreader in a spreading station 210 and a bottom steaming station 211. Hence it passes through a longitudinal compacting station 212, a steaming station 213 and a calendering station 214 to a conveyer 232 and a folding mechanism 233. The feeding roll 220 of the compactor is driven at a speed which imposes no tension on the fabric after steaming. Both roll 220 and the retarding roll 221 are knurled, the latter having the greater frictional grip on the fabric. To keep friction between shoe 222 and the fabric to a minimum, only the lower side of the fabric is steamed at station 211. The fabric passes from the compactor to calender rolls 225, 226 under minimum tension. Steam is applied at station 213 to both sides of the fabric to remove any difference of appearance imparted to the two sides of the fabric by the compactor. The upper calender roll 225 is carried by an arm 227 pivoted at 228 and adjustably supported by springs 229, 230. Specifications 649,932 and 701,792 are referred to.