Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus for lowering and folding fabric at the same amount knitted and unloaded by a circular knitting machine delivers a fabric continuously knitted by the circular knitting machine and temporarily holds and in a buffer transient storing apparatus which divides the fabric into three zone fabric lengths and delivers later Through the buffer transient storing apparatus the three zone fabric lengths can complement with each other mechanically so that the fabric above the reciprocal moving of the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars can be maintained at a constant tension, and the fabric knitted continuously by the circular knitting machine can be lowered at an equal amount and folded on a fabric loading board.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to lower and fold fabric continuously and particularly to a method and apparatus to mechanically lower and fold fabric concurrently at the same amount knitted by a circular knitting machine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional fabric folding machines adopted for use with circular knitting machines now on the market can be divided into half-width fabric folding machines and full-width fabric folding machines according to the fabric folding width. On a full-width fabric folding machine, the fabric folding machine is located in a circular knitting machine which continuously knits and produce fabric, the fabric folding machine concurrently folds the lowering fabric at a maximum width. On the other hand a half-width fabric folding machine folds the fabric at a width one half of the full-width fabric folding machine. 
     The half-width fabric folding machine has drawbacks in use. After the fabric is knitted by the circular knitting machine, it has to be treated in a dyeing process. A dyeing tank usually can hold a fixed amount of fabric in the dyeing process. The fabric has a head and a tail that are connected to reach the fixed amount of quantity before being loaded into the dyeing tank to do dyeing process. Due to the half-width fabric folding machine provides a batch of fabric only one half of the full-width fabric folding machine, after the dyeing process is finished the head and tail portions of the fabric that are not evenly dyed have to be cut off. This results in a greater amount of waste. Reducing the waste can reduce the material cost. Hence the main stream of the market of the fabric folding machine for circular knitting machines is the full-width fabric folding machine that can fold the fabric at the maximum full-width. 
     However, the conventional full-width fabric folding machine still has its share of problems. Refer to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  for the conventional fabric folding machine in operating conditions. As shown in  FIG. 1A , when a circular knitting machine continuously knits a fabric  7 , if the fabric  7  does not sag naturally below a fabric spreading roller set  2  and above a fabric folding bar set  5 , the fabric below the fabric folding bar set  5  increases gradually at the same amount knitted continuously by the circular knitting machine. If the driving wheel  3  rotates continuously clockwise to drive a chain  4  to move the fabric folding bar set  5  horizontally rightwards, the fabric folding bar set  5  flatly spreads the increased fabric  7  beneath thereof on a fabric loading board  6  same as the mount knitted by the circular knitting machine. If the driving wheel  3  continuously rotates clockwise to drive the conveying chain  4  to move the fabric folding bar set  5  horizontally rightwards, the fabric folding bar set  5  can flatly spread the increased fabric beneath thereof same as that knitted continuously by the circular knitting machine on the fabric loading board  6 . However, after the fabric folding bar set  5  has moved horizontally rightwards, the fabric  7  below the fabric spreading roller set  2  and above the fabric folding bar set  5  has two problematic conditions, first the fabric folding bar set  5  has to be incorporated with an automatic faster fabric conveying means (such as a programmable controlled motor to generate faster rotation) to deliver the fabric faster below the fabric folding bar set  5 . But such an approach often creates another problem as shown in  FIG. 1B  in which the fabric  7  laid on the fabric spreading board is creased. On the other hand, if the fabric folding bar set  5  does not automatically convey the fabric faster, the fabric originally hung below the fabric spreading roller set  2  and above the fabric folding bar set  5  sags as shown in  FIG. 1B . When the fabric folding bar set  5  moves horizontally the sagged fabric hinders its movement and could cause machine jam. To overcome the problems shown in  FIG. 1B , a preferable approach is to move the fabric folding bar set  5  rapidly beneath the fabric spreading roller set  2  where the fabric  7  is delivered before it is knitted by the circular knitting machine, and the fabric  7  which is originally located below the fabric spreading roller set  2  and above the fabric folding bar set  5  also has to be conveyed at the same time beneath the fabric folding bar set  5  to be flatly spread on the fabric loading board  6 . Then machine jam can be prevented when the fabric folding bar set  5  moves horizontally. While the aforesaid approach seems advisable in principle, in practice no physical technique is yet available to move the fabric folding bar set  5  rapidly beneath the fabric  7  delivered by the fabric spreading roller set  2  before the circular knitting machine actually knits the fabric  7 . 
     In short, the conventional half-width and full-width fabric folding machines still have problems in practice, notably: 
     1. The half-width fabric folding machine provides fabric only one half of the full-width fabric folding machine. After the dyeing process the head and tail ends of the fabric  7  have to be cut off that creates a lot of scraps. Waste of manpower and material occurs. 
     2. The conventional full-width fabric folding machine cannot flatly spread the fabric without generating creases during the return movement of fabric folding. The creases are difficult to flatten after being compressed by the weight of the fabric laid on the upper side. 
     3. During the return movement of fabric folding of the conventional full-width fabric folding machine the fabric above the fabric folding bar set  5  easily sags before lowering and folding due to inadequate tension of the transverse fabric  7 . This hinders the horizontal return path of the fabric folding bar set  5  and could cause machine jam. 
     All the problems mentioned above related to the half-width and full-width fabric folding machines are still existed in the industry pending to be resolved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid problems of the conventional half-width and full-width fabric folding machines and the fabric folding methods thereof by providing a method and apparatus to increase tension to maintain flat of the transverse fabric before fabric lowering and move the transverse fabric mechanically in a repetitive transient storing and feeding approach so that the fabric is lowered and folded in full-width at an amount same as knitted and unloaded by a circular knitting machine. 
     To achieve the foregoing object the present invention provides a method and apparatus to lower and fold fabric at an amount same as knitted and unloaded by a circular knitting machine. The method includes: providing a fabric spreading roller set in a circular knitting machine below fabric knitted continuously by the circular knitting machine that rotates synchronously with a needle cylinder of the circular knitting machine in the same direction and has spinning power to move the fabric downwards; winding the fabric knitted continuously by the circular knitting machine through the fabric spreading roller set to flatten the fabric and winding out from the fabric spreading roller set at one side; providing two horizontal fabric folding rails below the fabric spreading roller set perpendicular thereof that have respectively a horizontal track; providing a first fabric extending bar at the fabric winding out side of the fabric spreading roller set that is hinged on an outer side of the track in a straddle manner in parallel with the fabric spreading roller set; winding the fabric delivered from the fabric spreading roller set on the first fabric extending bar which winds out the fabric at a lower side in a direction opposite to the winding in direction; providing a tension balance moving bar on the track in a straddle manner at the fabric winding out side of the first fabric extending bar that is parallel with the fabric spreading roller set and movable horizontally and reciprocally on the track; winding the fabric released from the first fabric extending bar on the tension balance moving bar and winding out the fabric at a lower side thereof opposite to the winding in direction so that the first fabric extending bar and the tension balance moving bar are spaced from each other at a distance of a first zone fabric length; providing a first chain holding spot fastened to another outer side of track of the fabric folding rail at one side same as the fabric winding out side of the first fabric extending bar; providing a chain with one end held on the first chain holding spot and another end winding on a side end of the tension balance moving bar and winding out at a lower side in a direction opposite to the winding in direction so that the first chain holding spot and the tension balance moving bar are spaced from each other to form a first zone chain length; providing a second fabric extending bar at the fabric winding out side of the tension balance moving bar that is hinged on the outer side of the track in a straddle manner parallel with the fabric spreading roller set; winding the fabric released from the tension balance moving bar on the second fabric extending bar and winding out the fabric at a lower side opposite to the winding in direction so that the tension balance moving bar and the second fabric extending bar are spaced from each other at a second zone fabric length; providing a chain turning axle hinged on the outer side of the track at the chain winding out side of the tension balance moving bar; winding the chain released from the tension balance moving bar on the chain turning axle and winding out at a lower side opposite to the winding in direction so that the tension balance moving bar and the chain turning axle are spaced from each other at a second zone chain length; providing a fabric level moving and lowering means on the track that is movable reciprocally and horizontally and hinged by a forward turning fabric folding bar and a reverse turning fabric folding bar in a straddle manner that are parallel with each other and parallel with the fabric spreading roller set and movable reciprocally and horizontally on the fabric folding rails between the second fabric extending bar and the chain turning axle and have spinning power; winding the fabric released from the second fabric extending bar between the forward turning fabric folding bar and the reverse turning fabric folding bar and lowering the fabric below and between the forward turning fabric folding bar and the reverse turning fabric folding bar at an amount same as the continuously knitted amount of the circular knitting machine and the second fabric extending bar being spaced from the interval of the forward turning fabric folding bar and the reverse turning fabric folding bar to form a third zone fabric length; providing a second chain holding spot on the fabric level moving and lowering means; fastening the chain winding out from the chain turning axle to the second chain holding spot so that the chain turning axle and the second chain holding spot are spaced from each other at a third zone chain length; providing a fabric loading board in the circular knitting machine below the fabric level moving and lowering means at a width at least same as the fabric width and at a length at least same as the reciprocal moving distance of the forward turning fabric folding bar and the reverse turning fabric folding bar while the fabric level moving and lowering means is moving horizontally and reciprocally, and the fabric loading board and the fabric spreading roller set rotating synchronously in the same direction; moving the fabric level moving and lowering means horizontally and reciprocally between the second fabric extending bar and the chain turning axle while the fabric is delivered and lowered below the interval of the forward turning fabric folding bar and the reverse turning fabric folding bar at the same amount knitted continuously by the circular knitting machine, the fabric decreasing an amount at the third zone fabric length equal to the sum of fabric increasing amount of the first zone fabric length and the second zone fabric length, and the fabric increasing same amount at the first zone fabric length and at the second zone fabric length, and the fabric decreasing an amount at the third zone fabric length equal to an increasing amount of the third zone chain length, and also equal to the sum decreasing amount of the first and second zones chain length; on the other hand, the fabric also increasing an amount at the third zone fabric length equal to the sum of fabric decreasing amount of the first zone fabric length and the second zone fabric length, and the fabric decreasing same amount at the first zone fabric length and the second zone fabric length, and the fabric increasing an amount at the third zone fabric length equal to a decreasing amount of the third zone chain length, and also equal to the sum of increasing amount of the first and second zones chain length; moving the tension balance moving bar and the fabric level moving and lowering means reciprocally and horizontally between the tracks concurrently opposite to each other such that the fabric above the fabric level moving and lowering means maintains a constant tension while moving reciprocally and horizontally and the an equal amount of the fabric is lowered and folded on the fabric loading board. 
     The invention also provides a buffer transient storing apparatus in the foregoing method. The buffer transient storing apparatus has a transmission link with a variable direction and variable speed wheel box driven by spinning power of a needle cylinder of the circular knitting machine. The variable direction and variable speed wheel box has two ends directing upwards to pivotally couple with the fabric spreading roller set to provide the spinning power so that the fabric spreading roller set is rotated synchronously with the needle cylinder in the same direction. The fabric spreading roller set is located horizontally in the circular knitting machine below the fabric knitted by the circular knitting machine. The variable direction and variable speed wheel box has a fabric loading board fastened thereon. The buffer transient storing apparatus includes: two corresponding fabric folding rails fastened to a lower side of two ends of the fabric spreading roller set hinged on an upper extension of the variable direction and variable speed wheel box and located horizontally in the circular knitting machine above the fabric loading board perpendicular to the fabric spreading roller set and having respectively a horizontal track corresponding to each other, a first fabric extending bar parallel with the fabric spreading roller set with two ends hinged on an outer side of the two tracks, a tension balance moving bar movable reciprocally and horizontally on the tracks parallel with the fabric spreading roller set and with two ends straddled the tracks, a second fabric extending bar parallel with the fabric spreading roller set with two ends hinged on another outer side of the two tracks at the same side of the first fabric extending bar, two first chain holding spots fastened to other outer sides of the tracks, two chain turning axles hinged on the outer side of the tracks same as the first chain holding spots, two fabric level moving and lowering means located on the twp fabric folding rails movable reciprocally and horizontally between the second fabric extending bar and the chain turning axles, and a forward turning fabric folding bar and a reverse turning fabric folding bar that are hinged on the fabric level moving and lowering means in a straddle manner parallel with each other horizontally and also parallel with the fabric spreading roller set and having spinning power. The two fabric level moving and lowering means have respectively a second chain holding spot, two chains each having one end fastened to the first chain holding spot and another end winding about a side end of the tension balance moving bar and the chain turning axle in a reverse manner to fasten to the two second chain holding spots. 
     The invention further provides a full-width fabric folding machine adopted the aforesaid buffer transient storing apparatus. The full-width fabric folding machine includes a variable direction and variable speed wheel box driven by spinning power of a needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine. The variable direction and variable speed wheel box is located at the bottom of the circular knitting machine to rotate synchronously with the needle cylinder in the same direction, and has two ends with a first side board and a second side board located thereon directing upwards to be bridged by a fabric loading board. The full-width fabric folding machine further has a fabric spreading roller set hinged on the first and second side boards below the fabric knitted by the circular knitting machine and above the fabric loading board to form a transmission link with the variable direction and variable speed wheel box, a driving means hinged on the second side board to form a transmission link with the fabric spreading roller set, and a buffer transient storing apparatus located between the fabric spreading roller set and the fabric loading board. The buffer transient storing apparatus has two fabric folding rails fastened to the first and second side boards. The driving means forms a transmission link with the fabric level moving and lowering means located on the fabric folding rails on the second side board. 
     Compared to the methods and techniques of lowering and folding fabric adopted by the conventional half-width and full-width fabric folding machines, the foregoing method provided by the invention has many advantages, notably: 
     1. The invention is a full-width fabric folding machine with maximum fabric holding capacity, and produces minimum scraps after fabric dyeing compared with the half-width fabric folding machine. Hence it can reduce labor and material costs. 
     2. The full-width fabric folding machine of the invention can move the transverse fabric repeatedly for transient storing and delivering and also maintain flat tension for the transverse fabric during the fabric folding return cycle. Thus the amount of the fabric being lowered is same as knitted and unloaded by the circular knitting machine. The fabric being lowered is flat and the problem of machine jam can be prevented. As a result, the circular knitting machine has improved knitting efficiency. 
     3. The full-width fabric folding machine of the invention performs fabric lowering at the same amount as the fabric unloading from the circular knitting machine through a mechanical approach without relying on programmable controllers. Thus its production cost is lower and earth resource waste also can be reduced. 
     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are plane views of a conventional full-width fabric folding machine in fabric folding operations. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the full-width fabric folding machine of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the full-width fabric folding machine of the invention according to  FIG. 2  viewing from the bottom. 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary enlarged view according to  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 5A through 5D  are schematic views of the buffer transient storing apparatus of the invention in consecutive operating conditions. 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary exploded view of the fabric level moving and lowering means according to  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary plane view of the fabric spreading roller set of the invention in a transmission link condition. 
         FIG. 8  is a plane view of the driving means of the invention in a transmission link condition. 
         FIGS. 9A through 9E  are fragmentary schematic views of the driving means according to  FIG. 8  in consecutive operating conditions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the present invention provides a full-width fabric folding machine  10  which is located at the bottom in the interior of a circular knitting machine and rotates synchronously with a needle cylinder of the circular knitting machine in the same direction, and has a variable direction and variable speed wheel box  20  driven by the spinning power of the needle cylinder through a transmission link. The variable direction and variable speed wheel box  20  has a first side board  21  and a second side board  22  extended upwards from two ends thereof. The first and second side boards  21  and  22  are bridged by a fabric loading board  23  above the variable direction and variable speed wheel box  20 . The two side boards  21  and  22  also are horizontally hinged between them by two ends of a fabric spreading roller set  40  below a fabric  60  knitted by the circular knitting machine and above the fabric loading board  23 . Also referring to  FIG. 7 , the fabric spreading roller set  40  includes a main fabric spreading roller  41 , a first driven roller  42  at one side of the main fabric spreading roller  41  rotating synchronously in a reverse direction against the main fabric spreading roller  41  and a second driven roller  43  at another side of the main fabric spreading roller  41  rotating synchronously in the reverse direction against the main fabric spreading roller  41 . The main fabric spreading roller  41  is driven by the spinning power of the variable direction and variable speed wheel box  20  through another transmission link. 
     The full-width fabric folding machine  10  of the invention further has a buffer transient storing apparatus  50  located between the fabric spreading roller set  40  and the fabric loading board  23 . Also referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 A and  6 , the buffer transient storing apparatus  50  includes two corresponding fabric folding rails  51  which are fixedly fastened to the first and second side boards  21  and  22  extended upwards from the variable direction and variable speed wheel box  20 , and below two ends of the fabric spreading roller set  40  and above the fabric loading board  23  in a horizontal manner and perpendicular to the fabric spreading roller set  40 . The two fabric folding rails  51  have respectively a horizontal track  514  corresponding to each other, a first fabric extending bar  54  parallel with the fabric spreading roller set  40  with two ends hinged on an outer side of the two tracks  514 , a tension balance moving bar  53  movable reciprocally and horizontally on the tracks  514  in parallel with the fabric spreading roller set  40  with two ends straddling the tracks  514 , a second fabric extending bar  55  parallel with the fabric spreading roller set  40  with two ends hinged on the outer side of the two tracks  514  same as the first fabric extending bar  54 , two first chain holding spots  511  fastened to another outer side of the tracks  514 , two chain turning axles  512  corresponding to each other and hinged on the outer side of the tracks  514  same as the first chain holding spot  511 , two fabric level moving and lowering means  52  located on the two fabric folding rails  51  and movable reciprocally and horizontally between the second fabric extending bar  55  and the chain turning axles  512 , and a forward turning fabric folding bar  521  and a reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  that are hinged in a straddle manner on the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  parallel with each other horizontally and equipped with spinning power. The forward turning fabric folding bar  521  and reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  are parallel with the fabric spreading roller set  40 . The two fabric level moving and lowering means  52  further have respectively a second chain holding spot  527 , two chains  70  each having one end fastened to the first chain holding spot  511  and another end winding about a side end of the tension balance moving bar  53  and the chain turning axle  512  in a reverse manner to fasten to the two second chain holding spots  527 . Each of the two fabric folding rails  51  further has a gear rack  513  fastened to an upper side of the track  514 . The gear rack  513  is formed at a length less that the interval of the second fabric extending bar  55  and the chain turning axle  512 . The forward turning fabric folding bar  521  has two ends fastened respectively to a first one-way gear  523  and a forward turning gear  525 . The reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  also has two ends fastened respectively to a second one-way gear  524  and a reverse turning gear  526 . The first and second one-way gears  523  and  524  are at one end of the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  of the same side to engage with the gear rack  513  at the same side, and the forward turning gear  525  and reverse turning gear  526  at the other end are engaged with each other. 
     The full-width fabric folding machine  10  of the invention further has a driving means  30  hinged on the second side board  22  to form a transmission link with the fabric spreading roller set  40 . Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9B , the driving means  30  includes a cam driving wheel  31  hinged on the second side board  22  and engaged with the main fabric spreading roller  41  to transmit rotation synchronously in the reverse direction, and a cam driven wheel  32  hinged on the outer side of the second side board  22  to form a transmission link with the cam driving wheel  31  to rotate synchronously in the same direction. The cam driving wheel  31  and the cam driven wheel  32  are coupled through a linking chain  311  to form the transmission link. The linking chain  311  may be a belt, chain or gears. The driving means  30  further has a cam  33  hinged on the outer side of the second side board  22  and fastened to the cam driven wheel  32  to rotate synchronously in the same direction. The cam  33  has a cam track  331  consisting of two symmetrical and indented arched paths. There is also an actuation wheel  34  hinged on the outer side of the second board  22  with an actuation member  341  fastened thereon and held in a protrusive manner in the cam track  331  and movable along the path of the cam track  331  to swing the actuation wheel  34  in an oscillation manner. There is also a transmission wheel  35  hinged on the outer side of the second board  22  to form a transmission link with the actuation wheel  34  to swing thereof synchronously in the reverse direction. There is further an oscillation arm  36  with one end located at an inner side of the second side board  22  to fasten to the transmission wheel  35  and another end hinged on a triple-axis lever  37 . The triple-axis lever  37  has one end hinged on the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  and another end hinged on a slider  371  at the inner side of the second side board  22 . There is a slide track  38  to allow the slider  371  to slide on a straight line. The slide track  38  is vertically located on the inner side of the second side board  22 . The transmission wheel  35  is connected to a transmission shaft  352  to transmit movement concurrently in the same direction. The transmission wheel  35  and the transmission shaft  352  are bridged by a transmission linking chain  351  to link transmission therebetween. The transmission linking chain  351  may be a belt, a chain or gears. The transmission shaft  352  can transmit movement concurrently in the same direction to the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  located on the first side board  21 . 
     When the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  is moved the forward turning fabric folding bar  512  and the reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  rotate continuously and synchronously in opposite directions. To further elaborate such operation, referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , as previously discussed, the gear rack  513  is fastened to the upper side of the track  514 . The forward turning fabric folding bar  521  has the two ends fastened respectively to the first one-way gear  523  and the forward turning gear  525 . The reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  also has the two ends fastened respectively to the second one-way gear  524  and the reverse turning gear  526 . The first and second one-way gears  523  and  524  are coupled respectively with a one-way bearing with a shaft driven by forces of different directions to rotate (such a technique is known in the art, thus detailed drawings and discussion are omitted herein). Hence the first one-way gear  523  and the second one-way gear  524  at the same side of the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  are positioned in a front and rear manner to engage with the gear rack  513 . Thus when the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  is moved rightwards the one-way bearing shaft coupled with the first one-way gear  523  is not driven and idled, while the another one-way bearing shaft coupled with the second one-way gear  524  is driven. Hence the second one-way gear  524  is engaged with the gear rack  513  to generate rotation to drive the reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  to rotate concurrently counterclockwise, while the first one-way gear  523  is engaged with the gear rack  513  but not engaged with the second one-way gear  524 , hence even though the first one-way gear  523  rotates counterclockwise due to the gear rack  513 , its one-way bearing shaft is not being driven and becomes idled so that the forward turning fabric folding bar  521  fastened to the one-way bearing shaft also is not driven and is idled. However, because the forward turning fabric folding bar  521  and the reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  still have the forward turning gear  525  and reverse turning gear  526  engaged on the same side, when the reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  rotates counterclockwise the reverse turning gear  526  also rotates concurrently counterclockwise, and the engaged forward turning gear  525  is driven to rotate concurrently clockwise to drive the forward turning fabric folding bar  521  to rotate concurrently clockwise. On the other hand, when the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  is moved leftwards the another one-way bearing shaft coupled with the second one-way gear  524  is not driven and is idled, while the one-way bearing shaft coupled with the first one-way gear  523  is driven. Hence the first one-way gear  523  is engaged with the gear rack  513  to generate rotation to drive the forward turning fabric folding bar  521  to rotate concurrently clockwise, while the second one-way gear  524  is engaged with the gear rack  513  but not engaged with the first one-way gear  523 , hence even though the second one-way gear  524  rotates clockwise due to the gear rack  513 , its one-way bearing shaft is not being driven and becomes idled so that the reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  fastened to the one-way bearing shaft also is not driven and is idled. However, because the forward turning fabric folding bar  521  and the reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  still have the forward turning gear  525  and reverse turning gear  526  engaged on the same side, when the forward turning fabric folding bar  521  rotates clockwise the forward turning gear  525  also rotates concurrently clockwise, and the engaged reverse turning gear  526  is driven to rotate concurrently counterclockwise to drive the reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  to rotate concurrently counterclockwise. 
     Refer to  FIGS. 5A through 5D  for the buffer transient storing apparatus of the invention in consecutive operating conditions. The fabric spreading roller set  40  is horizontally located below the fabric  60  knitted by the circular knitting machine. The fabric spreading roller set  40  has a main fabric spreading roller  41 , a first driven roller  42  at one side of the main fabric spreading roller  41  to be driven to rotate concurrently in the opposite direction and a second driven roller  43  at another side of the main fabric spreading roller  41  to be driven to rotate concurrently in the opposite direction. As shown in the drawings, the fabric  60  knitted by the circular knitting machine is wound between the main fabric spreading roller  41  and the first driven roller  42  to another side of the main fabric spreading roller  41  and winding out from the second driven roller  43 . The fabric  60  wound on the fabric spreading roller set  40  is flattened and winds out from the right hand side thereof. The fabric  60  winding out from the fabric spreading roller set  40  further winds on the first fabric extending bar  54  hinged on the fabric folding rails  51  below the fabric spreading roller set  40  and winds out at the lower side to the left side direction. The fabric  60  winding out from the first extending bar  54  winds again on the tension balance moving bar  53  straddled the tracks  514  and winds out at the lower side to the right direction so that the first fabric extending bar  54  and the tension balance moving bar  53  are spaced from each other at a distance of a first zone fabric length X 1 . The fabric  60  winding out from the tension balance moving bar  53  further winds on the second fabric extending bar  55  hinged on the fabric folding rails  51  at the right side of the tension balance moving bar  53  and winds out at the lower side in the left direction so that the tension balance moving bar  53  and the second fabric extending bar  55  are spaced from each other to form a second zone fabric length X 2 . The fabric  60  winding out from the second fabric extending bar  55  further winds on the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  which moves reciprocally and horizontally on the tracks  514 . As the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  has the forward turning fabric folding bar  521  and reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  hinged horizontally thereon and equipped with spinning power, the fabric  60  winding out from the second fabric extending bar  55  winds between the forward turning fabric folding bar  521  and reverse turning fabric folding bar  522  and is lowered beneath between the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  at an amount same as continuously knitted by the circular knitting machine, and the second fabric extending bar  55  and the interval of the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  are spaced to form a third zone fabric length X 3 . The fabric held in the buffer transient storing apparatus  50  has a total length X which is the sum of the first zone fabric length X 1  and the second zone fabric length X 2  and the third zone fabric length X 3 , namely, X=X 1 +X 2 +X 3 . In addition, the fabric level moving and lower means  52  has a second chain holding spot  527 . The chain  70  has one end fastened to the second chain holding spot  527  and another end winding leftwards on the chain turning axle  512  hinged on the outer side of the track  514  and winding out from the upper side in the right direction. The second chain holding spot  527  and the chain turning axle  512  are spaced from each other to form a third zone chain length Y 3 . The chain  70  winding out from the chain turning axle  512  winds on a side end of the tension balance moving bar  53  and winds out from the upper side in the left direction. The chain turning axle  512  and the tension balance moving bar  53  are spaced from each other to form a second china zone length Y 2 . The chain  70  winding out from the tension balance moving bar  514  winds on the first chain holding spot  511  fastened to the track  514  to be anchored. The tension balance moving bar  53  and the first chain holding spot  511  are spaced from each other to form a first zone chain length Y 1 . The chain has a total length Y equal to the sum of the first zone chain length Y 1  and the second zone chain length Y 2  and the third zone chain length Y 3 , namely, Y=Y 1 +Y 2 +Y 3 . Referring to  FIG. 5A , when the circular knitting machine continuously knits and lowers the fabric  60 , the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  starts moving horizontally rightwards. As the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  drives the tension balance moving bar  53  horizontally on the tracks  514  through the chain  70 , the tension balance moving bar  53  starts moving leftwards. Referring to  FIG. 5B , while the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  moves horizontally rightwards, the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  lower the fabric through the gear rack  513  at an amount same as the knitted and unloaded fabric of the circular knitting machine. Hence the length of the fabric continuously knitted and unloaded by the circular knitting machine is equal to the horizontal moving distance of the fabric level moving and lowering means  52 , namely same as the length of the fabric lowering amount from the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522 . For example, given L 1  for the fabric unloading length knitted continuously by the circular knitting machine as shown from  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5B , the rightward horizontal moving distance of the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  from  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5B  also is L 1 . Due to the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  are engaged with the gear rack  513 , the fabric lowering amount of the level moving and lowering means  52  also is equal to L 1 . The fabric length L 1  unloaded by the circular knitting machine is equal to the fabric lowering length L 1  from between the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  that is laid flatly on the fabric loading board  23 . The level moving and lowering means  52  moves horizontally rightwards at the distance L 1 , meanwhile the tension balance moving bar  53  of the buffer transient storing apparatus  50  moves concurrently and horizontally leftwards, as a result, the first zone fabric length X 1  increases one half of L 1  (namely L 1 / 2 ), plus the second zone fabric length X 2  adding one half of L 1  (namely L 1 / 2 ) to be absorbed and held temporarily. Namely, when the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  moves horizontally rightwards between the second fabric extending bar  55  and the chain turning axle  512 , the third zone fabric length X 3  reduces the fabric length L 1  equal to the increased fabric length L 1 / 2  of the first zone fabric length X 1  plus the increased fabric length L 1 / 2  of the second zone fabric length X 2 . The increased fabric length L 1 / 2  of the first zone fabric length X 1  also is equal to the increased length L 1 / 2  of the second zone fabric length X 2 . The third zone fabric length X 3  reduces the length L 1  equal to the increased length L 1  of the third zone chain length L 1 , and also equals to the reduced length L 1 / 2  of the first zone chain length Y 1  plus the reduced length L 1 / 2  of the second zone chain length Y 2 . When the circular knitting machine continuously knits and unloads the fabric at a length L 2  as shown from  FIG. 5B  to  FIG. 5C , the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  also moves rightwards horizontal at the distance L 2  as shown from  FIG. 5B  to  FIG. 5C . Due to the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  are engaged with the gear rack  513 , the fabric lowering amount of the level moving and lowering means  52  also is equal to L 2 . The fabric length L 2  unloaded by the circular knitting machine is equal to the fabric lowering length L 2  from between the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  that is laid flatly on the fabric loading board  23 . The level moving and lowering means  52  moves horizontally rightwards at the distance L 2 , meanwhile the tension balance moving bar  53  of the buffer transient storing apparatus  50  moves concurrently and horizontally leftwards, as a result, the first zone fabric length X 1  increases one half of L 2  (namely L 2 / 2 ), plus the second zone fabric length X 2  also adding one half of L 2  (namely L 2 / 2 ) to be absorbed and held temporarily. Namely, when the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  moves horizontally rightwards between the second fabric extending bar  55  and the chain turning axle  512 , the third zone fabric length X 3  reduces fabric length L 2  equal to the increased fabric length L 2 / 2  of the first zone fabric length X 1  plus the increased fabric length L 2 / 2  of the second zone fabric length X 2 . The increased fabric length L 2 / 2  of the first zone fabric length X 1  is equal to the increased length L 2 / 2  of the second zone fabric length X 2 , and the reduced fabric length L 2  of the third zone fabric length X 3  is equal to the increased length L 2  of the third zone chain length Y 3 , and also equals to the reduced length L 2 / 2  of the first zone chain length Y 1  plus the reduced length L 2 / 2  of the second zone chain length Y 2 . When the circular knitting machine continuously knits and unloads the fabric at a length L 3  as shown from  FIG. 5C  to  FIG. 5D , the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  also moves rightwards horizontal at the distance L 3 . Due to the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  are engaged with the gear rack  513 , the fabric lowering amount of the level moving and lowering means  52  also is equal to L 3 . The fabric length L 3  unloaded by the circular knitting machine is equal to the fabric lowering length L 3  from between the forward and reverse turning fabric folding bars  521  and  522  that is laid flatly on the fabric loading board  23 , and overlapped with the length L 2  shown in  FIG. 5C . The level moving and lowering means  52  moves horizontally leftwards at the distance L 3 , meanwhile the tension balance moving bar  53  of the buffer transient storing apparatus  50  moves concurrently and horizontally rightwards, as a result, the first zone fabric length X 1  reduces one half of L 3  (namely L 3 / 2 ), and the second zone fabric length X 2  also reduces one half of L 3  (namely L 3 / 2 ) that are replenished by the fabric  60  held in the buffer transient storing apparatus  50 . Namely, when the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  moves horizontally rightwards between the second fabric extending bar  55  and the chain turning axle  512 , the fabric increasing length L 3  of the third zone fabric length X 3  is equal to the reduced fabric length L 3 / 2  of the first zone fabric length X 1  plus the reduced fabric length L 3 / 2  of the second zone fabric length X 2 . The reduced fabric length L 3 / 2  of the first zone fabric length X 1  is equal to the reduced length L 3 / 2  of the second zone fabric length X 2 , and the increased length L 3  of the third zone fabric length X 3  is equal to the reduced length L 3  of the third zone chain length Y 3 , and also equals to the increased length L 3 / 2  of the first zone chain length Y 1  plus the increased length L 3 / 2  of the second zone chain length Y 2 . Thus while the level moving and lowering means  52  moves continuously reciprocally and horizontally the fabric  60  held in the buffer transient storing apparatus  50  above maintains a constant tension without sagging or impact the moving path of the level moving and lowering means  52 . The level moving and lowering means  52  also can lower the fabric at an amount same as the unloading fabric continuously knitted by the circular knitting machine, and the fabric is folded and stacked onto the fabric loading board  23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the fabric spreading roller set  40  includes a main fabric spreading roller  41 , a first driven roller  42  at one side of the main fabric spreading roller  41  to rotate concurrently in the opposite direction and a second driven roller  43  at another side of the main fabric spreading roller  41  to rotate concurrently in the opposite direction. The variable direction and variable speed wheel box  20  transmits motion to the main fabric spreading roller  41  through the first side board  21  to continuously generate spinning power counterclockwise. Refer to  FIGS. 8 and 9A  through  9 E for driving means  30  of the invention in a transmission link and consecutive operating conditions. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the driving means  30  has a cam driving wheel  31  hinged on the second side board  22  engaged with the main fabric spreading roller  41  to be driven to rotate concurrently clockwise. The cam driving wheel  31  rotating clockwise drives the cam driven wheel  32  at the lower side to rotate clockwise concurrently. Due to the cam driven wheel  32  is fastened to a cam  33 , they rotate concurrently clockwise. Referring to  FIG. 9A , the cam  33  has a cam track  331  consisting of two symmetrical indented arched paths. The second side board  22  has an actuation wheel  34  hinged on the outer side thereof that has a jutting actuation member  341  held in the cam track  331 . When the cam  33  rotates continuously clockwise the actuation member  341  is directed by the cam track  331  to turn clockwise, meanwhile the transmission wheel  35  hinged on the outer side of the second side board  22  is driven by the actuation wheel  34  to turn counterclockwise. The oscillation arm  36  fastened to the transmission wheel  35  oscillates clockwise as shown in  FIG. 9B , and the oscillation arm  36  has a triple-axis lever  37  hinged thereon that has one end hinged on the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  to move it horizontally rightwards and another end fastened to a slider  371  to slide up and down on the sliding track  38  formed on an inner side of the second side board  22 . Meanwhile, the cam  33  rotates continuously clockwise, and the actuation member  341  also is directed by the cam track  331  so that the actuation wheel  34  continuously turns clockwise, and the transmission wheel  35  is driven by the actuation wheel  34  to turn continuously counterclockwise. The oscillation arm  36  also oscillates continuously counterclockwise as shown in  FIG. 9C . The fabric level moving and lowering means  52  hinged on one end of the tripe-axis lever  37  also continuously moves horizontally rightwards. When the oscillation arm  36  oscillates to move the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  beyond the slide track  38 , the slider  371  at another end of the triple-axis lever  37  starts sliding upwards on the slide track  38 , meanwhile the cam  33  continuously turns clockwise, and the actuation member  341  is directed by the cam track  331  to make the actuation wheel  34  to turn continuously clockwise. When the cam  33  continuously turns clockwise, the actuation member  341  is directed by the cam track  331  to arrive the junction of the two indented arched paths as shown in  FIG. 9D . The actuation wheel  34  starts turning counterclockwise, and the transmission wheel  35  also is driven by the actuation wheel  34  to start turning clockwise, and the oscillation arm  36  also oscillates clockwise as shown in  FIG. 9E . The fabric level moving and lowering means  52  hinged on the one end of triple-axis lever  37  starts moving horizontally leftwards, and the slider  371  at another end of the triple-axis lever  37  starts sliding downwards on the slide track  38 . Thus the cam  33  turns continuously clockwise and the oscillation arm  36  also oscillates in a non-stop cycle as shown in  FIGS. 9A through 9E . The fabric level moving and lowering means  52  also is driven to move constantly in a reciprocal and horizontal fashion, and the slider  371  slides constantly up and down on the slide track  38 . As a result, the fabric level moving and lowering means  52  can be moved reciprocally and horizontally. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3