Patent GB-1434558-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for separating fabric sections
IPC: D06H7/02
Filed: 1973-07-24
Abstract: 1434558 Finishing fabrics SAMCOE HOLDING CORP 24 July 1973 35316/73 Heading D1S Apparatus for separating connected sections 11 of tubular knitted fabric 10 connected by draw threads 14 and yarn cords 15 comprises a rotatable thread-pulling mandrel 34 disposed alongside and generally parallel to the direction of motion of fabric advancing means the mandrel 34 having a tapered entry portion 36 and a thread winding portion 35 having means to engage a loop of thread 14 received by the portions 36 and draw it laterally from the fabric 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the sections 11 comprise sweater bodies comprising body portions 12 and--waistband portions 13, the portion 13 of one section being connected to the portion 12 of a subsequent section by a draw thread having a looped portion 14. At the transition from one section 11 to another some of the yarns utilized in the construction of the fabric are gathered together into a yarn cord 15. A spreader 23 for the tubular knitted fabric 10 comprises adjustably-spaced side members 24, 25 mounting sheaves 26 carrying fabricpropelling belts driven by external circumferentially grooved edge drive rolls 21 on carriages 18, 19, the carriage 19 being fixed and the carriage 18 being adjustable to different fabric widths. The upstream end of the spreader 23 is provided with a guide 28 having wire sections 28A connected by flexing spring sections 28B A lower supporting conveyor blanket 29 is driven at a speed which slightly exceeds the speed at which the fabric is conveyed along the spreader 23 by the rolls 21. The mandrel 34, Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a winding section 35 and a tapered guiding section 36. The section 35 is mounted by bearings (37), (38), Fig. 4 (not shown), on a shaft 39 mounted in cantilever fashion by bearing pillow blocks 40, 41. The section 35 and the shaft 39 are driven by a motor 45 through the belt-and-pulley systems shown so that the section 35 rotates at a higher speed than the shaft 39 and thus the section 36. The section 36 is provided with an enlarged end tip 54 forming a shoulder 55 so that, when an operator pulls the draw thread loop 14 onto the mandrel it is held momentarily from' sliding back thereoff. The section 36 has a short skirt portion 56 surrounding the upstream end of the section 35. Radially extending draw pins 57 having outer portions 58 inclined at 45‹, as shown, are provided on the section 35. As the fabric advances, the loops pass along the mandrel until one of the pins 57 snags the draw thread which is forcilbly withdrawn and wound on the section 35. The operator has previously guided the fabric 10 onto the spreader 23 so that the yarn cords 15 are aligned at the side of the tube opposite to the mandrel 34. Thus, after removal of the thread 14 the sections 11 are connected only along the far edge of the tube and a converging gap (74), Fig. 9 (not shown), is formed due to the blanket 29 moving faster than the fabric tube. Guide bars 59, . . . . , 62 ensure that the loops 14 clear the roll 21 on the carriage 19 and prevent the fabric itself being drawn towards the mandrel 34. The yarn cords 15 are severed by a cutting knife 88 mounted a carriage 83 which also carries a light source 80 and a photocell 81. The carriage 83 is adjustable with the carriage 18 according to the fabric width. A thin metal blade 89 is secured to the carriage 18 to underlie the plane of the knife 88 and is provided with a reflecting area 90. Pivoting fingers 106 pivoted to a lifting lever 108 are provided to lift the yarn cord 15 to the knife 88 which is protected by guard plates 104, 105. The lever 108 is pivoted at 109 to a crank arm 110 carried by a shaft 111 journalled in the carriage 83 and at 112 to a rocker arm 113 pivoted at 114 in a bracket 115 suspended from the carriage 83. When a gap (74) between two partially separated sections 11 passes over the area 90 the photocell 81 is activated to a "stand-by" condition and when the leading edge of the oncoming section 11 passes under the light beam the photocell 81 initiates the cutting sequence by rotating the shaft 111 and the crank arm 110 clockwise of Fig. 6 to cause the lever 108 to be moved downwardly and clockwise so that the tips 119 of the fingers 106 are pressed into contact with the upper surface of the blanket 29 and continued movement of the lever 108 is accommodated by extension of springs 118 and pivoting of the fingers 106 at 107, Fig. 7 (not shown). Continued rotation of the shaft 111 causes the pivot point 112 to move in an arc in a downward direction so that the tips 119 are advanced along the surface of the blanket 29 whilst being urged lightly thereagainst. Eventually, the fingers 106 slide under the yarn cord 15 which becomes engaged 'by stop pins 120 on those fingers which carry the cord beyond the outer edge of the rapidly rotating knife 88 to effect severing. The severed section is conveyed away at accelerated speed by the blanket 29 and, as the shaft 111 completes its one revolution, the apparatus returns to the position of Fig. 6.