Patent GB-744794-A (GB)
Title: Machine and process for shrinking and finishing woven textile fabrics
IPC: D06C21/00
Filed: 1953-08-12
Abstract: 744,794. Finishing fabrics. CLUETT PEABODY & CO., Inc. Aug. 12, 1953 [March 18, 1953], No. 22201/53. Class 42 (1). A woven fabric web is shrunk and finished by (a) moistening it while feeding it at a selected speed; (b) stretching it laterally to a selected width; (c) over-shrinking it lengthwise by compressive shrinkage between a smooth, heated surface and an elastic rubber surface; (d) " flashing-off " considerable moisture from the shrunk web in the form of steam; and (e) continuously stretching the over-shrunk web lengthwise a sufficient extent to leave the web with the desired shrinkage properties. By appropriately relating the speeds of feed of the web at stages (a) and (e), the amount of final shrinkage imparted to the web can be accurately controlled. As shown, Fig. 1, fabric web 1 is drawn over tensioning and straightening devices by driven feed rollers 4, 5; it then passes through a moistening apparatus 12, where it is moistened by water from a spray 32, and around a heated drum 34 which spreads the moisture through the fabric. The web is then stretched laterally to the desired width on a clip-tenter 39, Fig. 2, and passes directly into a compressive shrinking apparatus 43. In the latter, the web is shrunk between a smooth, heated drum 44 and a thick endless belt 61 made of soft rubber with a hardness of about 30 to 35 Shore. The intake roll 48 of the shrinking apparatus is adjustable towards drum 44, to control the amount of shrinkage, by means of adjusting screws 54 operated by a hand wheel 60. Belt 61 is cooled by water sprays 64, 65, spray water being removed by wringer rollers 66, 67. After shrinking, the web is then dried on a can drier or, as shown, a Palmer calender 70, Fig. 3, and then passes over idler rollers 85, 86 to be folded down into a cart 88 by a folder 87. A main driving shaft 104 drives further shafts 97, 92. Rollers 4, 5 are driven from shaft 104 through a variable-speed gear box 103; drum 44 is driven by fixed gearing from shaft 92 ; and the calender drum 71 is driven through a variable-speed gear box 93 from shaft 92. In operation, gear box 103 is set so that rolls 4, 5 feed the web at a rate greater than that at which it leaves drum 44 by an amount greater than the desired final shrinkage of the web, so that the web is over-shrunk by an amount which need not be known; gear box 93 is set to operate the calender 70 at a speed which will stretch the over-shrunk web so that the desired final shrinkage is imparted. The fabric may be tested before treatment to determine the potential shrinkage on washing; the speeds of the apparatus parts can then be set to leave the fabric with zero residual potential shrinkage or with any desired amount of residual shrinkage or over-shrinkage. Drum 44 is heated to a temperature above the boiling point of water; when the fabric web leaves the drum a considerable amount of moisture " flashes off " in the form of steam and the web entering the drier is partly dried so that the smooth surface appearance imparted by the shrinker is largely retained. Specifications 370,814, 372,803, 378,230, 389,686, 400,950, 415,239 and 461,258 are referred to.