Patent Description:
More particularly, the invention relates to a fabric treatment of the type moving the fabric in an alternating manner between at least consecutive accumulation stations, capable of regulating - in a fully automatic manner and without the intervention of the operator - the accumulation of fabric, in a fabric finishing treatment process both of the width and rope type, deposited in a containment tank before the necessary reversal of motion.

As known, there are machines for the continuous treatment of the fabric by means of a process which must necessarily occur by reversing the motion thereof in one direction and in the other. An example of this kind of machines is described in <CIT>.

This alternation of motion or otherwise called reciprocation may be required and necessary both on the width fabric treatments and on rope fabric treatments, both on dry fabric treatment processes and on wet fabric treatment processes.

The continuous finishing performed on machines that provide for the advancement of the fabric with interruption pauses due to the reciprocating motion thereof, offers the possibility to obtain very high processing effect results and consequently a higher productivity due to the prolonged permanence of the fabric inside the machine. Probably in this case the fabric, deposited with an accumulation in a chute or containment tank, travels through a finishing and ennobling treatment system, is deposited in the opposite chute (or tank) forming a further accumulation before returning back and depositing in the first chute and vice versa, then passing through the treatment system or device several times before finally exiting from the finishing machine.

The machine entry and exit speed will be much lower than the reversal speed between one chute and the other so as to be able to perform the intensity of the correct processing effect inside the finishing system or device.

The fabric pulling means between the first and second chute may be mechanical or pneumatic.

The aforementioned pulling means moves the fabric alternately in one direction and in the other and, precisely due to the alternating reversal system, it perfectly fits into a continuous as well as discontinuous processing system.

Basically, this type of machines of the continuous cycle type comprises at least two tanks (or containment chutes) arranged in series and connected with the treatment system by said path. An accumulation of fabric which is transferred back and forth between them between the same at a speed greater than the speed for introducing and removing from the machine is advantageously formed in these tanks.

It clearly cannot be ruled out that the machine is configured to operate in a discontinuous cycle. A chemical treatment bath can be provided inside the tanks so as to obtain a wet finishing effect on the fabric. Otherwise, the machine can operate by treating the dry or wet fabric with the aim of drying and the relative dry treatment.

In some cases the consent for the reversal of the motion of the fabric in the treatment chamber between one tank and the other is given by a dancer cylinder, either height-wise of the width fabric or limited height-wise for the rope fabric, which - moving at the end of the accumulation - activates the device for reversing the pulling of the fabric, caused both mechanically and pneumatically.

With this system, the fabric is under strong tension in order to move and actuate the dancer, with ensuing problems regarding the dimensional stability of the fabric.

In other cases, the consent for the reversal of the motion of the fabric in the treatment chamber between one tank and the other is given by a load cell device installed in both tanks. The load cell reads and records the weight of the tank plus the weight of the fabric that must remain in the tank as the last accumulation before the reversal, giving the consent for the reversal only and immediately upon reaching the set and recorded value.

With this system, the fabric is never under tension when the motion is reversed to perform the reversal, obviously provided that the weight of the fabric - determined by the length of the layers present at the end of the accumulation on the tank - is always constant. During the finishing (so-called dry-finishing) processing with drying, the fabric in this type of machine changes from a wet state to a dry state and has some recesses which vary in percentage from one type to the other, therefore, the weight/length ratio of layers deposited in the tank can vary more or less constantly during the treatment time, making the system unreliable due to the fact that the reversal can occur either with the fabric already under tension or with too much fabric still deposited in the tank. The system therefore becomes reliable only with the continuous intervention of the operator who has to constantly supervise and vary the weight parameters of the load cell in relation to the accumulation of layers of fabric necessary for the good operation and thus prevent the reversal from occurring with the fabric stretched or vice versa with too much fabric still deposited in the tank.

The object of the present invention is to solve the problems relating to the accumulations of fabric in the accumulation tanks of fabric treatment machines of the width and rope type by means of alternating movement.

In particular, an important object of the present invention is to provide a fabric accumulation management apparatus in accumulation stations of fabric treatment machines of the type moving fabric alternately between at least consecutive accumulation stations, and a treatment machine with said apparatus, which allows to prevent problems relating to tension on the fabric being processed at the moment of the reversal of the movement.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a fabric accumulation management apparatus in accumulation stations of fabric treatment machines of the type moving fabric alternately between at least consecutive accumulation stations, and a treatment machine with said apparatus, which allows to reduce the monitoring intervention by the personnel.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a fabric accumulation management apparatus in accumulation stations of fabric treatment machines of the type moving fabric alternately between at least consecutive accumulation stations, and a treatment machine with said apparatus, which allows to avoid an excessive accumulation in the accumulation tanks.

Last but not least, an object of the present invention is to provide a fabric accumulation management apparatus in accumulation stations of fabric treatment machines of the type moving fabric alternately between at least consecutive accumulation stations, and a treatment machine with said apparatus, which allows the constant and predetermined automatic self-adjustment of the fabric accumulation in the tanks.

These and other objects, which will be more apparent hereinafter, are achieved with a fabric treatment machine, comprising.

According to the invention, said electronic program is adapted to increase said limit threshold for the amount of fabric in the station by a predetermined value if, upon the detection of an amount of fabric below said limit threshold by said device for evaluating the amount of fabric, said device for detecting the tension of said fabric is adapted to verify a critical tensional state for said fabric.

A critical tensional state of the fabric is defined as a value of a parameter indicating an evaluation of the tensional state, which is not acceptable to the machine. For example, if the tensional state evaluation sensor simply evaluates the presence or absence of the tension on the fabric, such parameter indicating the evaluation of the presence of tension is of the Boolean "true" or false" (yes/no) type. Alternatively, for example if the parameter associated with the evaluation of the tensional state is a measurable amount (such as a pressure, a strength, a length, etc., such as for example the pressure measurement of a sensor pressed by the fabric, or even a measurement of the displacement of the fabric from a given position), or possibly a measured quantity rendered dimensionless, the term "critical" is used to indicate a limit value of this quantity, adapted to indicate an open range of values not acceptable to the machine.

Preferably, said apparatus is adapted to store the number of events in which said evaluation device detects an amount of fabric in the station below a limit threshold, or the number of reversals associated with the decrease of fabric in the related station; if said apparatus detects a predetermined consecutive number of said events, said electronic program modifying said limit threshold of the amount of fabric in the station, decreasing it by a predetermined value.

Basically, the control of the accumulations of fabric on the accumulation stations at the inlet and at the outlet suitably occurs by means of devices for evaluating the amount of fabric for example weight gauges, such as for example load cells, which - through suitable setting - determine when the accumulation stations are empty and thus the apparatus reverses the motion of the fabric; if the control values of the load cells are not adjusted with the correct value, two situations can occur: either too much accumulation of fabric remains on the accumulation stations or the fabric becomes tensioned; the tension sensor device, for example of the mechanically actuated type, allows to detect whether the fabric is tensioned and - in this case - the control value of the load cell of the accumulation station in question is increased automatically; if the tension sensor device intervenes again at the next reversal, the control value of the load cell will be increased again, and so on, until the tension sensor device ceases to intervene; this allows to prevent the fabric from being tensioned. However, at the same time there could be too much accumulation of fabric in the accumulation station; in order to overcome this, after a certain number of successful fabric transport reversals, i.e. without the intervention of the tension sensor device, the control value of the load cell is decreased; after the same number of successful reversals, the control value of the cell will be decreased again. All the above until the tension sensor device is called into action again and thus the control value of the load cell is increased again.

With this system, the control values of the load cells are self-adjusted so as not to have excessive accumulations of fabric on the accumulation stations and this allows to prevent the fabric from being stretched hence becoming tensioned.

Preferably, the modification of said limit threshold of the amount of fabric station occurs for equal incremental or decremental values.

Suitably, the apparatus is preferably associated with an accumulation tank in which the fabric is accumulated.

Preferably, the accumulation tank is pivoted according to a horizontal axis, allowing the tilting of the tank.

Preferably, the device for evaluating the amount of fabric in an accumulation station comprises at least one load cell connected to said accumulation tank, preferably by means of a connecting member.

Preferably, the load cell is arranged above said accumulation tank, fixed to a support structure and connected to said tank by means of a connecting member, such as for example a rope or a rod, so that said load cell is adapted to act in traction, or said load cell is arranged below said accumulation tank, fixed to a support structure and connected to said tank by means of a connecting member, so that said load cell is adapted to act in compression.

Preferably, the device for detecting the tension of said fabric comprises a movable abutment, constrained to a support structure and adapted to move from an inoperative position to an activated position and vice versa, and a sensor element adapted to identify the movement of said movable abutment from said inoperative position.

Preferably, the movable abutment has a constraint for hinging to said support structure to rotate between an inoperative position and an activated position.

Preferably, the sensor element comprises two components magnetically associated with each other, a first component fixed with respect to said support structure, and a second component integrally joined with said movable abutment, said two components forming a switch of an electrical circuit; so that the movement of said movable abutment between said two positions generates an opening/closing of the switch, with consequent variation of the signal in said circuit.

According to preferred embodiments, the movable abutment comprises an oscillating tubular body, hinged to said support structure in which the rope-wound fabric being treated is adapted to slide.

According to other preferred embodiments, the movable abutment has an extension transversal to the advancement direction of the fabric arranged width-wise and it has a length, or a front for abutment with said fabric equal to or greater than the width of the fabric arranged width-wise; preferably said movable abutment is in the form of a bar.

Preferably, the machine according to one or more of the preferred embodiments illustrated above, is adapted to control the accumulated amount in an accumulation station by means of the following steps:.

Preferably, each said accumulation station of the machine comprises a first outward passage for the fabric and a second opposite outward passage, said passages being at a greater height with respect to said tank; between said first passage and said second passage, there being a zone for the abutment of the fabric when the accumulation of fabric in said tank due to the movement of the fabric from said tank toward said movement path ends, so that said fabric rises from the tank until it touches said abutment zone, becoming tensioned.

Preferably, said movable abutment of said device for detecting the tension of said fabric is present in the abutment zone.

According to preferred embodiments, the device for the alternating movement of the fabric is of the pneumatic type.

Preferably, the movement path comprises a pneumatic tunnel, wherein the fabric is adapted to move pushed by an air flow.

Preferably, the device for the alternating movement of the fabric comprises at least one air flow ejector inside said tunnel with at least one air direction component parallel to the fabric movement direction, said ejector being provided with a reverser of the direction of the air component parallel to the fabric movement direction.

Preferably, the ejector is arranged on the upper part of said tunnel, or on the lower part of said tunnel or there are two said ejectors arranged on the lower and upper part of said tunnel.

According to preferred embodiments, the device for the alternating movement of the fabric is of the mechanical type.

Preferably, the device for alternating movement of the fabric comprises a rotating cylinder on which said fabric being treated is partially wound, adapted to rotate alternately in one direction and in the opposite direction, on command, to pull said fabric along said path.

Preferably, there are only two said accumulation stations, an initial station and a subsequent final accumulation station.

According to preferred embodiments, in the treatment machine there are a said initial station, a said final accumulation station and between them a plurality of successive accumulation stations, between each said accumulation station there being a said movement path and a said movement device, preferably each accumulation station comprising a said fabric accumulation management apparatus.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method for controlling the amount of accumulation in an accumulation station of a fabric treatment machine with at least two accumulation stations and means for the alternating movement of the fabric between said stations, said method providing for:.

The invention will be clearer from the description and the attached drawings, which illustrate embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting examples of the invention. More particularly, the in the drawings:.

With reference to the previously mentioned figures, a fabric treatment machine of the type moving fabric alternately between at least two consecutive accumulation stations is generally indicated in its entirety with reference number <NUM>.

This fabric treatment machine <NUM> comprises two fabric accumulation stations in succession, respectively an initial accumulation station 11A in which the fabric T is adapted to enter from outside the machine, for example from a layer collection zone <NUM>, with a first speed V1, and a final accumulation station 11B from which the fabric T is adapted to exit toward the outside of the machine, such as for example a layer collection zone <NUM>, with the same first speed V1.

Provided for between such initial and final accumulation stations 11A and 11B is a movement path <NUM> in which the fabric T is adapted to travel to go from one station to the other and vice versa.

Present along the path <NUM> is a device <NUM> for the alternating movement of the fabric T between the two accumulation stations 11A and 11B. In particular, the movement of the fabric occurs with a second movement speed V2 greater than the first speed V1, so as to alternately accumulate the fabric on the two accumulation stations.

<FIG> shows the diagram of a possible embodiment of an alternating movement device, here indicated with <NUM>. In such example, the device <NUM> is of the pneumatic type and the fabric is moved (arrow f1) width-wise, i.e. stretched in a transverse direction and continuously in the machine <NUM>. More in particular, the alternating movement device <NUM> is of the known type and it comprises a pneumatic tunnel <NUM>, in which the fabric is adapted to move pushed by the air flow f2. For example, such pneumatic alternating movement device comprises, on the top and on the floor of the tunnel <NUM>, two ejectors <NUM> of air flow (generated by fans 151A) which have a concordant air direction component parallel to the fabric movement direction f1.

Each ejector <NUM> is provided with a reverser of the direction of the air component parallel to the fabric movement direction. For example, each ejector <NUM> has a common section ending with two ejection channels <NUM> oriented in a discordant manner, and the flow reverser is obtained by a flap <NUM> movable between two positions such to alternately close one ejection channel or the subsequent one.

<FIG> shows the diagram of another example of an alternating movement device, here indicated with <NUM>. In such example, the device <NUM> is of the pneumatic type and the fabric is moved (arrow f1) rope-wise, i.e. rolled over along a movement direction and continuously in the machine <NUM>. More in particular, the alternating movement device <NUM> is of the known type and it comprises a pneumatic tunnel <NUM>, in which the fabric is adapted to move pushed by the air flow f2. For example, such pneumatic alternating movement device comprises, on the top and on the floor of the tunnel <NUM>, an ejector <NUM> of air flow (generated by a fan 251A) of the venturi type which has an air direction component parallel to the fabric movement direction f1.

The ejector <NUM> is provided with a reverser of the direction of the air component parallel to the fabric movement direction. For example, the ejector <NUM> has a common section ending with two ejection channels <NUM> oriented in a discordant manner, and the flow reverser is obtained by a flap <NUM> movable between two positions such to alternately close one ejection channel or the subsequent one.

<FIG> shows the diagram of another example of an alternating movement device, here indicated with <NUM>. In such example, the device <NUM> is of the mechanical type and the fabric T can be moved (arrow f3) rope-wise or width-wise along the movement path <NUM>. For example, such mechanical alternating movement device <NUM>, comprises a rotating cylinder <NUM> on which said fabric being treated is partially wound, adapted to rotate alternately in one direction and in the opposite direction, on command, to pull said fabric along said path at speed V2.

See <FIG>, referring to a generic accumulation station <NUM> with apparatus according to the invention, which can be found in all the illustrated treatment machines.

Such accumulation station <NUM> comprises an accumulation tank <NUM> in which the fabric T is accumulated
For example, the accumulation tank <NUM> is pivoted in 20A to a support structure <NUM>, according to a horizontal axis, allowing the tilting of the tank.

Obviously, there is an electronic control unit, indicated in its entirety with <NUM>.

Such accumulation station comprises a first outward passage <NUM> for the fabric and a second opposite outward passage <NUM> for the fabric. Such passages <NUM> and <NUM> are at a greater height with respect to the accumulation tank <NUM>. Between the first passage <NUM> and the second passage <NUM> there is a zone <NUM> for the abutment of the fabric when the accumulation in the tank <NUM> due to the movement of the fabric from the tank toward the movement path ends, so that the fabric rises from the tank until it interacts with the abutment zone <NUM>, becoming tensioned.

Each accumulation station <NUM> comprises a fabric accumulation management apparatus in the respective station, indicated in its entirety with <NUM>.

Such management apparatus <NUM> comprises a device <NUM> for evaluating the amount of fabric T comprised in the relative station, hence, when the evaluation device detects an amount of fabric in the respective station below a limit threshold L, there is generated a command which is sent to the electronic control unit <NUM>, which commands the reversal of the motion (regarding the second speed V2) of exit of the fabric from such station.

For example, the device <NUM> for evaluating the amount of fabric evaluates the weight of the fabric and it comprises, for example, a load cell <NUM> connected to the accumulation tank <NUM>.

In the figures, the load cell <NUM> is arranged above the accumulation tank <NUM>, fixed to the support structure <NUM> and connected to the tank by means of a connecting member <NUM>, such as for example a rope or a rod, hence, the load cell is adapted to act in traction.

Alternatively, the load cell <NUM> can be arranged under the accumulation tank <NUM>, fixed to the support structure <NUM> and connected to the tank by means of a connecting member, so that the load cell is adapted to act in compression.

Suitably, the fabric accumulation management apparatus <NUM> also comprises a device for detecting the tension of the fabric T, indicated in its entirety with <NUM>. For example, such tension sensor device is adapted to simply verify whether there is tension or not, or to provide a yes/no value (there is voltage/there is no voltage), as better explained hereinafter.

In addition, an electronic program <NUM> is associated with the management apparatus <NUM> and it is configured for, or it is adapted to modify the value of the limit threshold L of the weight of the fabric in the tank <NUM> based on the tensional state of the fabric detected by the tension sensor device <NUM>.

At the time of detection of an amount of fabric below the limit threshold L by the device <NUM> for evaluating the amount of fabric in the tank, should the device <NUM> for detecting the tension of the fabric T detect a critical tensional state for the fabric in the station, the electronic program <NUM> modifies the limit threshold L of the amount of fabric in the station, increasing it by a predetermined value dL.

Suitably, the fabric accumulation management apparatus <NUM> is adapted to store the number of events K in which the evaluation device <NUM> detects an amount of fabric in the station below the limit threshold L, i.e. the number of reversals associated with the decrease of fabric ain the related station.

Should the fabric accumulation management apparatus <NUM> detect a predetermined consecutive number of such events, for example a number comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, and more preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, for example equal to <NUM>, the electronic program <NUM> modifies the limit threshold L of an amount of fabric in the station, decreasing it by a predetermined value dL.

For example, the incremental and decremental values dL of the limit threshold L may be equal.

<FIG> shows a flow chart explaining the operation of the fabric accumulation management apparatus in the accumulation station according to the invention.

From the accumulation station in question, the fabric is moved at speed V2 toward the adjacent station.

The electronic program initializes a counter function K equal to <NUM> (block <NUM>).

The value C of the amount of fabric in the tank of the accumulation station, in the specific example the value of the load cell, is read i.e. the weight of the fabric accumulated in the tank of the station is read. Similarly, the indication H of fabric tension in the accumulation station is read by means of the tension sensor device (block <NUM>).

The value C of the amount of fabric in the accumulation station is verified (block <NUM>). If C is greater than a limit threshold L, it means that there is still fabric in the accumulation station and thus the fabric continues to be moved by the alternating movement device toward the adjacent station, at speed V2 (line <NUM>) and the amount of fabric and the tension of the fabric in the station continue to be evaluated (again at block <NUM>).

If C is below the limit threshold L, this means that the fabric in the accumulation station has excessively decreased and there is the risk of it becoming tensioned (Line <NUM>).

The value of the fabric tension is verified (block <NUM>). If H is different from <NUM>, that is there is a signal indicating tension on the fabric in the accumulation station, this means that accumulation of fabric accumulated in the station was insufficient, for example due to the shrinkage of the fabric. Thus, the electronic program increases the limit threshold L by a predetermined value dL (block <NUM>), so that the limit threshold is higher at the next detection, preventing the fabric from becoming tensioned. Therefore, the reversal of the motion of the fabric is controlled (block <NUM>) and the system is returned (line <NUM>) to the beginning of block <NUM>, i.e. the reading of the amount of fabric and of the tension.

If H is equal to <NUM>, i.e. there is no tension on the fabric in the accumulation station (Line <NUM>), a reversal command is sent to the alternating movement device.

It is clear that the reversal occurred because the load cell detected the presence of fabric below a limit value. However, it may happen that the fabric be still in excessive amount. To avoid this, a counter function K (block <NUM>) initialized at <NUM> at the start of the cycle is established. After the tension-free reversal provided for in block <NUM>, the counter K is increased by one unit (block <NUM>), i.e. K indicates the number of successful fabric transport reversal events, i.e. without the intervention of the tension sensor device.

Then the value of K is evaluated (block <NUM>). If K is less than a given number of events (line <NUM>), for example <NUM>, the system is returned back to the beginning of block <NUM>, i.e. the reading of the amount of fabric and of tension.

If K is equal to a given number of events (line <NUM>), for example <NUM>, the electronic program decreases the value of the limit threshold L by a predetermined value dL (block <NUM>). This allows to limit the possibility of too much accumulation of fabric in the accumulation station. The system is then returned to the start of block <NUM>, i.e. the value of counter K is returned to <NUM> and the cycle for reading the amount of fabric and of tension restarts again.

In summary, the accumulations of fabric in the accumulation stations at the inlet and at the outlet are controlled by means of devices for evaluating the amount of fabric, for example weight gauges such as for example load cells, which - through suitable setting - determine when the accumulation stations are empty and therefore the apparatus reverses the motion of the fabric.

If the control values of the load cells are not adjusted to the correct value, two situations may occur: either too much accumulation of fabric remains in the accumulation stations or the fabric becomes tensioned.

By means of a tension sensor device, for example of a mechanically actuated type, it is detected whether the fabric is tensioned and, in this case, the control value of the load cell of the accumulation station in question is increased automatically.

If the tension sensor device intervenes again at the next reversal, the control value of the load cell is increased and so on, until the tension sensor device ceases to intervene.

This allows to prevent the fabric from becoming tensioned. At the same time, however, there may be too much accumulation of fabric in the accumulation station.

To overcome this, after a given number of successful fabric transport reversals, i.e. without the intervention of the tension sensor device, the control value of the load cell is decreased.

After the same number of succesful reversals, the control value of the cell will be decreased again. All the above until the tension sensor device is called into action again and thus the control value of the load cell is increased again.

For example, the fabric tension sensor device comprises a movable abutment <NUM>, defined in the abutment zone <NUM>, constrained to the support structure and adapted to move from an inoperative position A, to an activated position B, and vice versa, due to the thrust of the fabric T when, once the accumulated amount finishes, it rises from the tank to move toward the adjacent station (see the fabric in broken lines in the various figures) and a sensor element <NUM> adapted to identify the movement of the movable abutment <NUM> from the inoperative position A, and therefore to obtain a binary signal.

For example, the movable abutment <NUM> has a constraint <NUM> for hinging to the support structure to rotate between the inoperative position A and the activated position B, as shown in the examples of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>.

Preferably, as shown in the examples of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the sensor element <NUM> comprises two components magnetically associated with each other, a first component <NUM> fixed with respect to the support structure <NUM> and a second component <NUM> integrally joined with the movable abutment <NUM>.

These two components form a switch of an electrical circuit, so that the movement of the movable abutment <NUM> between the two positions A and B generates an opening/closing of the switch, with consequent variation of the signal in the circuit, with indication of the presence or absence of tension (yes/no) on the fabric T.

<FIG> show the case of a portion of a rope treatment machine, in which the movable abutment <NUM> comprises an oscillating tubular body <NUM>, hinged to the support structure above the accumulation tank, and within which the rope-wound fabric being treated is adapted to slide. The first component <NUM> of the sensor element <NUM> is fixed with respect to the support structure and the second component <NUM> is fixed at the top of the oscillating tubular body <NUM>, so that the oscillation Y of the latter opens and closes the electrical circuit, signalling whether the fabric is under tension or not. In this case, the alternating movement device is for example <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In the stations there may be a grid <NUM> in front of the movement path, against which it is adapted to impact the fabric in order to carry out a treatment.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the case of a portion of a width fabric treatment machine, in which the movable abutment <NUM> is in the form of a bar <NUM> which provides for an extension transversal to the advancement direction of the fabric arranged width-wise and it has a length, i.e. a front for abutment with the fabric T equal to or greater than the width of the fabric arranged width-wise. In the stations there may be a grid <NUM> in front of the movement path, against which it is adapted to impact the fabric in order to carry out a treatment.

In particular, the bar <NUM> has - at its ends - two brackets <NUM> hinged - in the centreline X - to the support structure <NUM> and also hinged - at ends thereof opposite to the bar <NUM> - to respective connecting rods <NUM> in turn hinged to respective levers <NUM>, also pivoted to the support structure, in a higher position with respect to the pivoting point of the brackets <NUM>.

The rotary movement Y of the bar <NUM> caused by the wide fabric T drives the levers <NUM> in rotation by means of the connecting rods <NUM>. Springs <NUM> return the levers and therefore the bar to position once the fabric has stopped pushing the bar. In this case, the first component <NUM> of the sensor element <NUM> is fixed with respect to the support structure and the second component <NUM> is fixed on one of the levers <NUM>.

The treatment machines that use, in the accumulation stations, the fabric accumulation management apparatus according to the invention, may vary widely. For example, they can treat width or rope fabric, or treat wet or dry fabric. Treatment liquid (water or other) may be present in the accumulation tanks.

The treatment can be of the finishing type, drying type using hot air, fabric washing type, etc..

Washing water can be made to flow through the oscillating tubular bodies <NUM>.

In general, a treatment machine using accumulation stations and the fabric accumulation management apparatus according to the invention must have a fabric input station with the speed V1 and a fabric exit station with the same speed V1.

In some embodiments, such treatment machines can be provided with only two accumulation stations. In other embodiments, several accumulation stations may be present. In particular, machine modules will be provided, for example, consisting of two accumulation stations, a first station and a second station, present between which is alternating movement path, and entering into and exiting from the module, the fabric is moved with the speed V1 of the machine input and output. Obviously, the accumulation stations of each module can be provided with the accumulation management apparatus.

Generally, the treatment machine according to the invention operates as described below. Assuming that the machine has only two accumulation stations, i.e. an initial station and a final station, as in <FIG>. With the machine not running, the continuous fabric (wide or rope) is inserted through the machine, depositing an accumulation (in the form of layers) of fabric in the tank of the initial station and/or in the final station.

The machine is started. The fabric enters - from the outside of the machine - into the initial station at speed V1 and it is deposited in the tank of such station. From the same tank, the fabric is moved, by the alternating movement device, at speed V2 (V1 < V2) toward the final accumulation station, depositing in the tank of such station, from which it is in any case removed toward the outside of the machine again at speed V1. It is clear that in this step, given that V1 < V2, in the initial station the fabric leaves the station at a higher than it enters. On the contrary, more fabric enters the final station than it exits, thus accumulating. When the accumulation management apparatus in the initial accumulation station detects that the fabric is not present at a sufficient amount, it commands the alternating movement device to reverse the motion of the fabric. The detection logic is as described above. At this point, the fabric moves from the final accumulation station toward the initial accumulation station at speed V2. Therefore, the fabric accumulates in the initial station, while the fabric decreases in the final station until the accumulation management apparatus in such station detects that the fabric is present at a sufficient amount, commanding the reversal again.

In the case of a machine with several stations, this is basically formed by two-station machine modules such as the one described, in which - between modules arranged side by side in succession - the fabric exits from a module at speed V1 and enters the subsequent module again at speed V1, while inside the module - between the two accumulation stations - the fabric is moved alternately forward/backward at speed V2. Hence, in the machine the fabric enters at speed V1 and exits at speed V1.

It is clear that the above description represents only possible non-limiting embodiments of the invention, which can vary in terms of shapes and arrangements without departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. The possible presence of reference numbers in the attached claims has the sole purpose of facilitating the intelligibility thereof in the light of the preceding description and of the attached drawing, without limiting he scope of protection thereof in any manner whatsoever.

Claim 1:
Fabric treatment machine, comprising
- two or more fabric accumulation stations (11A, 11B) in succession, among which an initial accumulation station (11A) wherein the fabric (T) is adapted to enter from the outside of the machine, with a first speed (V1), and a final accumulation station (11B) from which the fabric is adapted to exit toward the outside of the machine, with the same said first speed (V1),
- a movement path (<NUM>) between said accumulation stations (11A,11B) wherein the fabric (T) is adapted to travel,
- a device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for the alternating movement of the fabric (T) between two consecutive accumulation stations (11A, 11B), along said path (<NUM>), with a second movement speed (V2) greater than said first speed (V1) so as to alternately accumulate fabric (T) on said two consecutive accumulation stations (11A,11B),
- an electronic unit (<NUM>) for controlling the machine,
- for each of at least two consecutive accumulation stations (11A, 11B), an apparatus (<NUM>) for managing the accumulation of fabric (T) in the accumulation station, comprising
- a device (<NUM>) for evaluating the amount of fabric (T) comprised in the relative station, so that, when said evaluation device (<NUM>) detects an amount of fabric (T) in the station below a limit threshold, a command is generated for reversing the movement of the fabric (T) exiting from said station,
- a device (<NUM>) for detecting the tension of said fabric (T), therefore, when said evaluation device (<NUM>) detects an amount of fabric (T) in the station below a limit threshold, the device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for the alternating movement of the fabric is commanded to reverse the motion of the fabric (T) along said path (<NUM>),
characterized in that an electronic program (<NUM>) adapted to modify the value of said limit threshold based on said tensional state of the fabric (T) detected by said device for detecting the tension (<NUM>) is associated with said management apparatus (<NUM>), and
wherein said electronic program (<NUM>) is adapted to increase said limit threshold for the amount of fabric (T) in the station by a predetermined value if, upon the detection of an amount of fabric (T) below said limit threshold by said device for evaluating the amount of fabric (<NUM>), said device (<NUM>) for detecting the tension of said fabric verifies a critical tensional state for said fabric.