Patent Publication Number: US-5528804-A

Title: Teaseling and/or fluffing machine for fabric and knitwork

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This invention relates to a teaseling and/or fluffing machine for fabric and knitwork. 
     Known teaseling and/or fluffing machines are composed essentially of one or more drums rotating with predetermined direction and speed, along their circumference there being housed a certain number of teaseling and/or Fluffing rollers. If the rollers are teaseling rollers they are embraced by cloth carrying needles extending alternately in the same direction as the fabric (with the pile) and in the opposite direction (against the pile), these rollers rotating about respective longitudinal axis shafts under independent control. The same applies to fluffing rollers, which carry an abrasive paper covering instead of cloth carrying needles. These rollers also rotate with predeterminable speed and direction. 
     The fabric to be teaseled and/or fluffed wraps about a considerable part of the drum circumference and part of the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers, the fabric being fed via an entry roller and extracted from the drum via an exit roller. These entry and exit rollers also rotate at predetermined speed, depending on the working or advancement speed of the fabric. 
     The speed of the two rollers can be different and predetermined in relation to the desired fabric tension. 
     In particular, the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers have a speed and direction of rotation predetermined on the basis of the required effects, but have a single rotary movement such as to effect on the fabric an operation of fibre extraction and abrasion only in the direction of the fabric warp; they hence perform a reduced and unbalanced action because any operation in the direction of the fabric weft is lacking. 
     This results in non-homogeneous action on the fabric surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid problems. 
     This object is attained according to the present invention by a teaseling and/or fluffing machine for fabric and knitwork comprising essentially a load-bearing structure consisting of two sidepieces supporting at least one drum which rotates about a central shaft and supports on its two lateral endpieces two series of teaseling and/or fluffing rollers of with-pile and against-pile type, these being arranged along the generatrices of the drum with those of one series rotating relative to those of the other under independent drive, a fabric to be treated passing about the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers and being fed to the machine by a driven feed roller and extracted therefrom by a driven exit roller, there also being provided brushes which interact alternately with the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers, characterised in that the with-pile and against-pile teaseling and/or fluffing rollers are provided with support means, they rotate rigidly with each other and are provided with means which cause them to undergo axial shift combined with their rotary movement, so as to achieve equalization of the action on the article both in the warp direction and in the weft direction. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The characteristics and advantages of a teaseling and/or fluffing machine according to the present invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-section through the teaseling and/or fluffing machine according to the present invention taken on the line I--I of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a teaseling and/or fluffing roller shown partly in section; and 
     FIG. 3 is a section on the line III-III of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The figures show a teaseling and/or fluffing machine for fabric and knitwork according to the present invention. 
     The teaseling and/or fluffing machine comprises essentially a load-bearing and containing structure consisting generally of two sidepieces 10, on which there is supported a drum 11 rotating about a central motorized shaft 12. The endpieces 11a, 11b of the drum 11 support two series of teaseling and/or fluffing rollers, respectively with the pile 13 and against the pile 14, arranged along generators of the drum 11. In addition, the rollers 13 and 14, for example alternate individually with each other and rotate with independent drive and direction one to the other. 
     A fabric 15 to be treated passes partially about the drum 11 and over the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers 13 and 14 and is fed by feed roller 16, but before passing onto the drum and over the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers 13 and 14 to be extracted by an exit roller 17 it passes about and is controlled by further rollers 16b and 17b. 
     The feed roller 16 and exit roller 17 are located in proximity to two groups of teaseling and/or fluffing roller cleaning brushes indicated by 19a, 20a and 19b, 20b. 
     Both the brush groups are made alternately and selectively active, the first group always on the with-pile teaseling and/or fluffing rollers 13 and the second group always on the against-pile teaseling and/or fluffing rollers 14. 
     According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the teaseling and/Or fluffing rollers of with-pile type 13 (or against-pile type 14) is supported on support means consisting of roller bearings 27 secured to the lateral endpieces 11a and 11b of the drum 11. 
     More specifically, the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers 13 or 14 are made rigid with a sleeve 28 which is inserted into the roller bearings 27. A shaft 29 passes internally through the sleeve 28 and rotates rigidly with it, the shaft 28 and sleeve 29 being rotated by an end pulley 30. The end pulley 30 interacts with a pair of transmissions connected respectively to all the with-pile rollers 13 and to all the against-pile rollers 14 so that their achieve their independent rotation. 
     Support portions 32 of the lateral endpieces 11a and 11b at which the roller bearings 27 are secured have apertures such as to enable the sleeve 28 to move axially by virtue of the provision of means determining an axial shift combined with the rotary movement, such as cam means. 
     The cam means determining the shift according to the invention are formed by providing a perimetral recess 33 in an enlarged extension 34 of one of the sleeves 28. Into the recess 33, arranged so as to be inclined to the roller axis, there is inserted a pawl 35 which is rigid with a box extension 36 of one of the supports 32 and which projects inwards. 
     The enlarged extension 34 provided with the recess 33 acts as a cam, and in cooperation with the pawl 35 causes the roller to undergo axial shift when rotated by the pulley 30 or by the respective transmission, not shown. 
     Depending on the shape of the cam and on the possible adjustment of the inclination of its recesses 33 to the roller axis, the teaseling and/or fluffing roller can undergo one or more shifts per revolution, the amplitude of the shift being predeterminable. This arrangement favours a teaseling and/or fluffing operation with more balanced action between the weft and warp, to achieve a greater fabric yield, homogeneity and strength as a result. A teaseling and/or fluffing machine according to the invention has the advantage of balancing the teaseling and/or fluffing action along the weft and warp. 
     This balanced action is achieved by the reciprocating axial shift combined with the rotary motion of the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers. In this manner, a greater treatment homogeneity, a greater covering intensity effect with lesser loss of strength of the article, and a greater yield are all achieved.