Patent GB-1154712-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the Treatment of Tubular Fabric
Inventor: STAFFORD ALEC WALTER
IPC: D06C15/00
Filed: 1965-10-27
Abstract: 1,154,712. Finishing fabrics; layering fabrics. HOSIERY & ALLIED TRADES RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. 27 Oct., 1966 [27 Oct., 1965], No. 45406/65. Heading D1S. Apparatus for shrink resistant and/or calendering treatment of knitted tubular fabric F comprises a stretcher frame 5 for location inside the fabric F; at least two pairs of fabric feeding rollers 24, 24<SP>1</SP>, 25, 25<SP>1</SP>, 26, 26<SP>1</SP> spaced lengthwise of the frame 5 to provide lengthwise spaced driving locations for the fabric F; means co-relating the rate of drive of the rollers to the width of the fabric F so that for any variation in the fabric width caused by the frame 5 there is an inversely proportional variation in the rate of drive of the pairs of rollers; rotary drive means to drive the rollers; variable speed drive transmitting means to transmit the drive from the rotary drive means to the rollers; and a variable control device which is operable upon widthwise adjustment of the rollers to effect the required adjustment of the variable drive transmitting means. The frame 5, Fig. 3, comprises spaced bars 6, 7 connected to bridge pieces 15, 16 by links 11, 12, 13, 14. The pieces 15, 16 are interconnected by a tension spring disposed in a telescopic link 17 and acting to bias the bars 6, 7 away from each other. Between spaced arcuate recesses 8, 9, 10, 8<SP>1</SP>, 9<SP>1</SP>, 10<SP>1</SP>. The outer edge portions 19, 19<SP>1</SP> of the bars 6 7 incline towards the inner edges 19a, 19a<SP>1</SP> thereof towards the wide end of the frame to provide unrestrained passage for the fabric. Friction reducing rollers 20 are provided on the edges 19, 19<SP>1</SP>. Flanges on wheels 24, 25, 26, 24<SP>1</SP>, 25<SP>1</SP>, 26<SP>1</SP> overlap margins of the recesses 8, 9, 10, 8<SP>1</SP>, 9<SP>1</SP>, 10<SP>1</SP>, respectively, to support the frame and drive the fabric. The wheels 24, 25, 26 and 24<SP>1</SP>.25<SP>1</SP>,261 are mounted on bars 22, 23, respectively, having screw nuts 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b at the ends thereof mounted on adjustable lead screws 3, 4 having oppositely threaded portions 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and which are turned by handles 21, 21a, Fig. 1. Crossed diagonal bars 23a, 23b, adjustable in length by screw means 23c, interconnect the bars 22, 23. The pivotal connecting point between the bars 22, 23 is displaceable. between positions P, P<SP>1</SP>to adjust the rate of drive of the wheels 24, 25, 26, 24<SP>1</SP>, 25<SP>1</SP>, 26<SP>1</SP>. The wheels 24, 24<SP>1</SP> are driven from a motor M, Fig. 2, through variable pulleys 71, 72 and a belt 73, adjustable by a hand wheel 74, Fig. 1, a spindle. 75, worm. connections 76, 77 and universal drive spindles 78, 79. The wheels 26, 26<SP>1</SP> are driven at a slower speed from the spindle 75 through a flexible drive 80, a variable speed positive drive hydraulic unit 81, a flexible drive 82, a spindle 83, worm connections 84, 85 and universal spindles 86, 87. The wheels 25, 25<SP>1</SP> are driven from a differential gear unit 88 driven in part from the spindle 75 and in part from the spindle 83 to provide a mean speed imparted through spindles 89, 90 to worm connections 91, 92 to drive universal spindles 93, 94. The unit 81 is adjustable to alter the speeds of the wheels in predetermined relation to widthwise adjustments thereof. Take-off rollers 95, 96 are provided and the roller 95 is driven through flexible drives 97, 98 and a reduction gear box 99 from a spindle 100 having spaced clutches 101, 102 associated therewith. The clutch 101 is driven through a flexible drive 103 and a variable speed unit 104 connected to the flexible drive 80. The unit 104 is adjustable by a knob 105, Fig. 1, to correlate the speed of the rollers 95, 96 to the input speed of the fabric. The roller 96 is movable towards and away from the roller 95 by a lever 96a, Fig. 1. Calender rollers 106, 107, Fig. 2, are provided. The roller 107 is driven through the flexible drive 97 and the roller 106 is movable towards and away from the roller 107 by a hand lever 106a, Fig. 1, the rollers 106, 107 being open during a widthwise stretching process and closed for a calendering process. For calendering, the wheels 24, 25, 26 are nearly parallel to the wheels 24<SP>1</SP>, 25<SP>1</SP>, 26<SP>1</SP>. The flexible drive 98 comprises a wheel 109 and a spindle 110 having crank arms 111, 112 connected by links 113, 114 to a pivoted member 115 to layer the fabric as it is taken off. The motion transmitting control device is connected to the pivotal point between the bars 23a, 23b and comprises a telescopic link 120, Fig. 5, connected to a spindle 122 which is connected to a slotted link 126 connected to a pivoted adjusting arm 127 of the unit 81. A triangular plate 128 is pivoted at 129 to a bracket 124 mounting the spindle 122 and at 130 to the link 126 and is angularly adjustable by a knob 133, Fig. 1, as allowed by a slot 131 and a pin 132. In operation, for equal increments of widthwise adjustments of the wheels non-uniform movement of the pivotal point between the positions P and P<SP>1</SP> is translated into uniform angular adjustments of the arm 127 through the device of Fig. 5. The plate 128 is adjusted about the pivot 129 so that -an appropriate relationship between the lever 126 and the pivot 130 is set up in accordance with the Poisson ratio, i.e. the ratio of length contraction to width extension, of the particular fabric to be treated. Steam may be applied to the fabric prior to its passing the wheels 24, 24<SP>1</SP> to lubricate the fabric and after its passing the wheels 26, 26<SP>1</SP> to dampen the fabric prior to ironing.