CA1300864C - Method and apparatus for compressive shrinkage of tubular knitted fabric and the like - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for compressive shrinkage of tubular knitted fabric and the likeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1300864C CA1300864C CA000579281A CA579281A CA1300864C CA 1300864 C CA1300864 C CA 1300864C CA 000579281 A CA000579281 A CA 000579281A CA 579281 A CA579281 A CA 579281A CA 1300864 C CA1300864 C CA 1300864C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fabric
- roller
- retarding
- confining
- zone
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 160
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 38
- 230000000979 retarding effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 58
- 238000002788 crimping Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 abstract description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000035611 feeding Effects 0.000 description 45
- 238000009740 moulding (composite fabrication) Methods 0.000 description 16
- 210000003414 extremity Anatomy 0.000 description 8
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 8
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000003141 lower extremity Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 244000221110 common millet Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009699 differential effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011835 investigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000001364 upper extremity Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06C—FINISHING, DRESSING, TENTERING OR STRETCHING TEXTILE FABRICS
- D06C17/00—Fulling
- D06C17/02—Fulling by rollers
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06C—FINISHING, DRESSING, TENTERING OR STRETCHING TEXTILE FABRICS
- D06C5/00—Shaping or stretching of tubular fabrics upon cores or internal frames
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06C—FINISHING, DRESSING, TENTERING OR STRETCHING TEXTILE FABRICS
- D06C21/00—Shrinking by compressing
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
Abstract
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSIVE SHRINKAGE OF TUBULAR KNITTED FABRICS AND THE LIKE Abstract of the Disclosure A method and apparatus for compressive lengthwise shrinking of tubular knitted fabrics and other materials, particularly in a single stage. Feeding and retarding rollers are separated from each other by a distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric. Zone-forming blades are projected between the rollers from opposite sides and form between them a confinement zone which extends at a large angle from the feeding roller to the retarding roller. Fabric is guided to the zone under low contact pressure by the feeding roller and is conveyed away from the zone under similarly low contact pressure by the retarding roller. At the entrance to the zone, the fabric is decelerated and compacted lengthwise without burnishing or abrasion and without crimping. Tubular and open width knitted fabrics can be compressively preshrunk in large amounts, up to 25% and more, in a single stage. Significant savings and other benefits are realized.
Description
METHOD AND APPARAT~JS ~O~ COMPRESSNE
SHRIN~GE O~ T~JBIJLAR E~NII~D ~ABRICS AND THE LIE~E
Background and Summarv of the Invention The invention is directed to improved methods and apparatus for the compressive shrinkage of fabrics. The invention is applicable to particular advantage to the treatment of tubular knitted fabrics, but is not to be considered as limited thereto, as the principles of the invention are useful to advantage in connection with the processing of open width fabrics of both knitted and non-knitted construction.
In the processing of knitted fabrics, particularly tubular knitted fabrics, one of the widely utilized and commercially successful procedures for compressive shrinkage treatment is reflected in the Eugene Cohn, et al. United States Patents No. 3,015,145, 3,015,146 and 3,0839435. These procedures ~nvolve onc or, more typically, two compressive shrinking stations, each comprising an opposed pair of rollers and a feeding and confining shoe.
lneoming fat~ric is passed between a feeding roller and a confining shoe, causin~
tlle fabric to be advanced at a predetermined speed in a relatively positive manner. The second roller, referred to as a retarding roller, forms a nip with the feeding roller, such that fabric, af~er it exits from the confining 2 0 shoc, is engaged under pressure si multaneously between ~the feed ing and retarding rollers. The retarding roller, ~hich is driven at a surface speed controllably slower than the surface speed of the feeding roller, retards thc ~, . .. . . . . . .
advance of the fabric, so that controlled lengthwise compression of the fabric takes place in a short compressive shrinking zone formed between the roller nip and the terminating edge of the fabric confining shoe. The shoe and/or roJlers desirably are heated, such that the emerging fabric retains a substantial portion, at least, of the compressive shrinkage imparted thereto in the compressive shrinkage zone.
E~en though the above described compressive shrinking techniques have been extremely successful commercially, there are certain inherent limitations thereto which result from the fact that the fabric is being acted upon simultaneously, at the same point but on opposite sides, by rollers operating at different speeds. The opposite sides of the fabric are thus necessarily treated slightly differently. In addition, the inherent slippage of at lenst the feeding roller relative to the fahric surface at the roller nip sometimes imparts an undesirable surface appearance to certain types of fabrics, such as by lightening darker shades of outerwear fabric, for example, or imparting a shine to underwear fabrics. This can be disconcerting particularly with respect to thc processing of tut ular fabrics, where the "opposite" sides of the fabric during processing are in fact the same surface of the fabric - namely the outside surface - in the finished garment.
For most appLications, the tendenc~ of a single compressive shrinking station of the above described type to have an asymmetrical effect on opposite sides of the îabric is accommodated by providing for dual station machines, ~.. . .
with one compressive shrinking station being reversely oriented with respect to the other. This provides acceptable results for some fabrics, for example, but still has shortcomings with respect to highly sensitive fabrics, such as dark shades of S outerwear fabrlcs.
In accordance with the present invention, improved equipment and techniques are provided for the mechanical compressive shrinkage of fabrics, particularly but not neces-sarily tubular knitted fabrics, which enable the many important advantages of the differential roller processing technique to be employed yet which significantly minimizes or eliminates certain inherent limitations in the existing procedures. More specifically, the method and apparatus of the invention utilize opposed feeding and retarding rollers, driven respectively at higher and lower surface speeds, for feeding and retarding fabric. However, in contrast to the equipment of the above described patented construction, the respective Eeeding and retarding rollers are separated by a distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric being processed, so that the fabric cannot be engaged simultaneously on opposite sides by the respective rollers. A fabric confining shos (entry shoe) is associated with the feeding roller, and a separate confining shoe (exit shoe) is associated with the retardlng roller. The extremities of these respective entry and exit shoes form between them a defined confinement zone.
The fabric is decelerated and longitudinally-compressed at the entrance to the zone speed, and confined and guided for a controlled dwell time during its passage through the zone.
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To particular advantage, the opposed extremities of the respective confining shoes are located substantially at the point of maximum convergence of the respective feeding and retarding rollers and are disposed at a substantial angle, such as 45 degrees, to the surface of the feeding roller. Accord-ingly, as the fabric exits the discharge end of the entry shoe, it is abruptly diverted by the leading end of the exit shoe and is guided into the confinement zone, defined between the two shoes. Upon exiting the confinement zone, the fabric is immediately contacted by the outer surface of the retarding roller, travelling at a controllably slower surface speed than the feeding roller.
Significantly, although the feeding and retarding rollers are operated at controllably different surface speeds, the rollers do not act simultaneously upon opposite surfaces of the fabric at the same point, so that it is not necessary for the roller surfaces to have any significant slippage with respect to the fabric surfaces. As a result, it is possible under the present invention to impart the high degree of mechanical compressive shrinkage, required by many knitted fabrics, in a single station machine.
To advantage, fabric passing through the confinement zone is confined under only minimum pressures, in the thickness direction. This is accomplished by providing for a precision, on-the-fly adjustment mechanism for movably positioning one of the shoes, preferably the entry shoe, for limited 4~
~ . , motion about a pivot axis. This accommodates variation in the thickness of the confining zone during normal opera-tions of the apparatus~ The confining pressures acting on the fabric in the zone are maintained at a level sufficient to avoid crimping of the longitudinally compressed fabric, but typically not significantly greater than that.
In one of its particularly preferred embodiments, apparatus of the invention has substantial compatibility, structurally, with the equipment heretofore marketed under the above mentioned United States patents No. 3,015,145, No. 3,015,146, and No. 3,083,435, and with respect to which there is a substantial installed base of equipment. The apparatus of the invention is capable of being incorporated by a relatively simple retrofit into the existing installed equipment, utilizing much of the existing mechanism, resulting in significant upgrading in performance of the equipment for at least certain types of fabrics.
For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following description of a preferred embodiment and to the accompanying drawings.
Description of the Drawin~s Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete range incorporating the compressive shrinkage apparatus of the invention, intended particularly ~or the mechanical com-pressive shrinkage of tubular knitted fabric.
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Fig. 2 is a highly enlarged, cross sectional view of the compressive shrinkage station of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing the respective feeding and retarding rollers and the-respective entry and exit confining shoes.
~ig. 3 is a representational side elevational view of a portion of 5the appQratus of Fig. 1, showing particularly structural details of the compressive shrinkage station.
Flg. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing portions of the entry and exit confining shoes and details of the mounting means for the exit con fining shoe.
10Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational vie~ sho~ing details of the exit and entry confining shoes.
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a simplified schematic representation of a drive control 15system for the apparatus of Fig. 1.
Description of a Preferred Embodiment ~ Referring now to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1, the reference : : -6-.,, ~, .. ..
' ' : , numeral 10 designates in a general way a processing range for treating tubular knitted fabric. Unprocessed ~abric 11 from a supply source (not shown) such as a pallet or truck, is passed upwardly over a rotatable bow 12, which spreads ; 5 the fabric to a generally flat, two layer form. The fabric is then passed under a first tension bar 13 and over a second tension bar 14. The tension bars 13, 14 are sepa-rated by spacers 15, and are mounted on frame members 16 for controlled rotational positioning. The tension bars serve to apply a very light tension to the fabric, suffi-cient to flatten and control it, but typically insufficient to elongate it to any significant degree.
In the illustrated range~ fabric is directed around a guide roller 17 (Fig. 7), over a driven, variable speed 1~ control roller 17a, around a floating dancer roll 17b and then through a series of flattening rolls 20. The control roller 17a provides the means for drawing the unprocessed fabric 11 over the bow 12 and through the tension bars 13, 14. The speed of the roller 17a is controlled by the dancer roll 17b with reference to the operating speed of other components of the range, as will be further ex-plained.
Downstream of the control roller 17a is a-propeller-spreader station, generally designated by the numeral 18. By way of example but not of limitation, the propeller-spreader apparatus may be of the type illustrated in the Frezza United States Patent No. 4,103,402.
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The spreader apparatus includes an internal spreader frame (not shown) which is received internally of the fabric tube. The spreader frame is supported horizontally by means of grooved edge drive rolls 19, which are adjustable laterally S to the width of the spreader frame and which are driven externally by the machine motive system. The spreader frame assembly, which is in itself well known and widely utilized in the trade, extends from a series of flattening rolls 20, at its upstream extremity, through a pair of steam boxes 21, 22 on the downstream side of the edge drive rolls 19, substantially to the entry or feeding roll (to be described~ of a compressive shrinkage station 23.
In accordance with known techniques, the incoming fabric may be slightly overfed onto the downstream section of the spreader frame (i.e., downstream of the edge drive rolls 19) so as to be effectively relaxed in a lengthwise direction and set to a predetermined, uniform width. In this condition, the fabric is subjected to steam when passing between the steam boxes 21, 22, which serves to moisten and lubricate the fibers of the material and accommodate relaxation and adjustment of the stitches, in preparation for the primary compressive shrinkage treatment.
Immediately upon discharge from the spreader frame section 18, the fabric enters the compressive shrinkage station 23 where, in the manner to be more fully described, it is compressed in a lengthwise direction in a .
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~3~8i4 controllable amount which typically is a function of the inherent residual shrinkage of the incoming fabric. In the case of tubular knitted fabrics, this may well be on the order of 15-25%, for example. The longitudinally com-pressed fabric, now designated by the reference number 24,is advanced to a gathering station 25 which, in the illus-trated range, is a roll-up mechanism. By way of example, the roll-up apparatus may be of the general type shown in the Eugene Cohn et al. U.S. Patent No. 3,606,186 and/or the Samuel Cohn et al. U.S. Patent No. 2,736,098. The fabric, passing to the roll-up device 25, is kept under minimum tension, sufficient only for adequate control of the fabric during the winding of the roll 26.
Alternatively, the fabric may be directed to a folder apparatus such as, for example, of the type disclosed in the Frezza U.S. Patent No. 4,053,151.
The drive mechanisms for the range of Fig. 1 are illustrated schematically in Fig. 7. Individually speed controlled drive arrangements are provided for the gather-ing station 25, the compressive shrinkage station 23, thespreader-propeller station 18 and the entry roll 17a.
These may be irl the form of individually controllable variable speed motors for each of these major sections of the range, or the system may be driven by a primary, speed controllable drive motor 31 in conjunction with variable speed mechanical ~ - .. . ..
~3~ 36~
drives for effecting desired speed control. Typically, one of the stations, such as the compressive shrinkage station 23, is a "master" station, driven by a motor 31 and with respect to which the operating speeds of the other stations are automatically slaved. For example, the driven entry roller 17a, the edge drive rolls 19, and the wind up device 25 are respectively driven from the master drive motor 31 through adjustable variable speed mechanisms 17c, 19a and 25a. The variable speed mechanism 17c is controlled by the dancer roll 17b, so as to maintain a constant fabric supply to the prope~ler-spreader apparatus 18. Under the described arrangement, if the compressive shrinkage station 23 were increased in speed 10%, the speeds of all stations of the range automatically would increase by an equivalent amount. If the speed of the roll-up station 25 were changed, on the other hand, it would be increased or decreased relative to the speed of the compressive shrinkage station 23, and the other stations would be unaffected. These techniques are, of course, well known in the art.
~ith reference now to Figs. 2-7, illustrating details of the novel compressive shrinkage station of the invcntion, the apparatus includes a sl;eletal frame structure 27 (Fig. 3) on which are mounted bearing supports 28, at opposite sides of the machine, carrying bearing blocks 29. rhe bearing blocks 2g rotatably journal a feeding roller 30. In the illustrated arrangement, the feeding roller 30 may be mounted on a fixed axis on the machine frame 27 for controlled rotation by means of a variable speed master drive 31 (Fig. 7).
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Cooperating with the feeding roller 30 is a retarding roller 32.
This is journalled on opposite sides by means of bearing blocks 33 carried by opposite side members 34 of a pivot frame, mounted in the machine frame 2~ for pivoting about the axis of a drive shaft 35. The frame members 34 are connected to the rod ends 36 of fluid actuators 37 anchored at 38 in each side of the machine frame. Desirably, the fluid actuators 37 are one-way actuators, being spring urged to extend the actuating rods 36 toward the left in Fig. 3 and being actuatsble~ under regulated fluid pressure to retract the actuator rods and thereby draw the retarding roller 32 toward the feeding roller 30.
A variable speed mechanical drive 39 (Fig. 7), operated from the master drive 31, serves to drive the retarding roller 32 at a controllably lesser surface speed than the surface speed of the feeding roller 30. The drive 39 may operate a sprocket 40 (Fig. 3) and through a chain or belt 41 a further sprocket 42 mounted on the shaft 35 about which the roller mounting frame 3~ is pivoted. A further chain or belt drive (not iUustrated) connccts tne shaft 35 to thc retarding roller 32, enabling the retarding roller to be control~bly driven in any pivoted position of the frame 34.
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention, the feed roller 30 may have an overall diameter of approximately five inches.
The roller is of hollow construction, having a relstively he~vy outer steel cylindrical wall 43 of approximately one and one quarter inches in thickness.
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Desirably, this is roughened on the exterior surface for enhanced gripping of the incoming fabric ll. The feed roller cooperates with a confining shoe assembly 44, hereinafter referred to as the shoe, which comprises a main shoe body 45 and a zone-forming blade 45. The shoe body 45 and blade 46 form, in effect, a single shoe assembly provided with smooth cylindrical inner surface portions 47, 48. These cylindrical surface portions are of just slight-; ly larger diameter than that of the feeding roller 30 (e.g., about 0.04 inch on a five inch nominal roll diame-ter), and the center of the cylindrical surface 47-48 may be located slightly offset (to the right in Fig. 2) from the center of the roller, providing a gradually tapered confining slot 49 for guiding and confining the incoming ~abric 11 over a substantial arcuate portion of the feed roller 30 (i.e. about 90 degrees) to the discharge end of the shoe assembly.
To particular advantage, the mounting arrangement for the entry shoe assembly 44 may be substantially in accor-dance with the Edmund A. Diggle, Jr. U.S. Patent No. 3,973,303. That mechanism includes a pair of upwardly extending brackets 50 mounted for limited rotation on the end shafts 51 of the feed roller 30. These brackets are connected by way of a swivel coupler 52 to a vertically adjustable rod 53 controllably positionable by the machine operator, as through a hand wheel 54 (see Fig. 1). With limited verti-cal adjustment of the rods 53, the supports 50 may be caused to pivot slightly in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 51, providing a high ,~ ,, ' ~ ' '" ' ' ~ ~ .
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precision adjustment of the position of the entry shoe.
L-shaped brackets 55 are pivotally mounted at axis 56 on the upwardly projecting brackets 50, and are controllably pivotable relative to the upstanding brackets by means of S single-acting air cylinders 57 at each side. When deactivated,the actuators 57 are spring urged in a retracting direction, to pivot the L-shaped supports 55 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. Under regulated air pressure, the operating rods 58 of the actuators are extended, pivoting the supports 55 in a counterclockwise direction.
Mounted on the supports 55 by means of a pivot bearing 59 at each end, is the entry shoe assembly 44. The shoe assembly includes tilt adjustment lugs 60 at each side, which project through windows 61 in the support members 55, being adjustably positioned within such windows by means o* adjusting bolts 62, 63.
To understand the operation of the mounting bracket assembly for the entry shoe, assume that the shoe assembly 44 is in an initial position as shown in Fig. 2. By adjusting the bolts 62, 63, the entire shoe assembly 44 may be tilted about the axis of the pivot bearing 59 as necessary to adjust the configuration of the gradually converging confinement space 49.
The entire assembly may be pivoted circumferentially about the axis of the feed roller 30~ by vertical ad~ustment of the ~2~ shafts 53, causing the uprlght brackets ~` , ,,;, . , ~
50 to pivot about the roller shaft. This provides for a fine adjustment of the positioning of the lower extremity of the feeding shoe assembly and thus the thickness of the confinement zone. Bodily retraction of the entire feeding shoe assembly from the region of the roller nip, between the feeding and retarding rollers 30, 32 is accomplished by deactivating the air actuators 57, pivoting the L-shaped supports 55 clockwise about the axis 56. This may be done to open up the working area of the compressive shrinking station, to facilitate initial threading of a length of fabric into the machine.
Si~nificantly to the invention, the zone-forming blade 46 does not taper gradually to a fine point, as is the case in the existing mechanical compressive shrinkage equipment of the type described in the before mentioned Eugene Cohn et al. United States Patents No. 3,015,145, No. 3,145,146, and No. 3,083,435. Rather, the zone-forming blade has a substantial thickness at its lower extremity. In a typical machine, for the processing of a wide range of tubular knitted fabrics in widths of up to fifty inches, the blade thickness at its extremity may be approximately 0.12 inch.
Also significantly, the bottom surface 66 of the zone-form-ing blade extends downward and away from the surface of the feed roller 32 at a relatively abrupt angle, in the illus-trated apparatus at a nominal angle of about 45 degrees.This angled surface 66 forms one side of a confinement zone, as will be more fully described.
The zone-forming blade 46 typically is secured to the body 45 of the entry shoe by means of a plurality of bolts 67, spaced across the width ~3~ 86~
of the blade (see Figs. 5 and 6). The shoe body 45 itself may comprise a plurality of shoe segments, individually adjustable with respect to a mounting beam 68, to enable precision final adjustment of the zone-forming blade 46.
Mounted directly below the entry shoe 44 is an exit shoe assembly 69 comprising a shoe body 70 and a zone-forming blade 71. The blade 71, as the blade 46, is formed with front and back arcuate surfaces 72, 73 confronting surface portions ~; of the respective feeding and retarding rollers 30, 32. At least the back arcuate surface 73 approximately conforms to the surface contours of the retarding roller 32 over an arc of, say, 15-20, so as to form a gradually divergent exit path 89 for fabric being conveyed by the retarding roller. For example, the surface 73 may have a radius of about 2.5 inches, for cooperation with a retarding roller 32 having an outside diameter of approximately 4.92 inches, with the center of radius of the surface 73 being located slightly to the left of the roll axis, as viewed in ~ig. 2, to provide for the slightly divergent contours of the exit path, which are somewhat exaggerated in Fig. 2.
As is evident in Figs. 2 and 6, the configuration of the upper end of the zone-forming blade 71 is complementary to the lower configuration of the upper blade 46. The thlckness of the blade extremity 74 is substantially identical (i.e. approximately 0.12 inch in the example), and the upper : zone-forming surface 75 is disposed at the same angle as the surface 66.
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In the illustrated machine, adapted particularly for retrofit installation, precision mounting of the retarding shoe assembly 69 is provided by means of a large, heavy angle member 76, which is rigidly secured at each end to mounting brackets 77. - The angle members may be provided with welded caps 78 at each end, which are secured to the brackets 77 by bolts 78a~ The body portion 70 of the retarding shoe is rigidly welded to the upper leg 79 of the angle member, as shown in Fig. 6~ and is provided with a recess 80 for the reception of the zone-forming blade 71. Precision adjustment of the blade is achieved by providing a large plurality of mounting bolts 81, received in vertically elongated slots 82 in the blade member. A plurality of adjusting bolts 83 extend upwardly through the shoe body 70 to engage the bottom surface of the blade 71. In a typical fifty inch machine, the tightening bolts 81 may be spaced apart approximately 2.6 inches, for example, while the vertical adjustment bolts 83 may be spaced about 5.2 inches apart. one for each pair of tightening bolts. This arrangement enables a high degree of precision to be achieved in alignment of the lower zone-forming blade 71 with rcspect to the upper zone-forming blade 46, for precision definition of the treating zone, de fined by the respective upper and lou er blade surfaces 66, 75.
In the illustrated apparatus, the angle bar assembly is pivoted on the machine frame 27 by ~ shaft 84 carried by the machine frame by means of a mounting block 85 at each side, which is an integral part of bearing support 28. This is a convenient mounting, as the shaft 84 and block 85 are , i .
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already provided on the existing installed base of commercial m~chines and can be used conveniently for retrofit of such machines to incorporate the improvements of the present invention.
The location of the pivot shaft 84, with respect to the distributed weight <~ the angle member 76 and mounting braclcets 77 is such that the assembly tends to pivot b~ gravity in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.
6, tending to pivot the lower zone-forming blade 71 toward the feeding roller 30. This movement is adjustably limited to maintain a predetermined minimum sp~cing between the front arcuate surface 72 of the blade and the surface of the feeding roller 30. Such adjustment may be provided by the use of shims (not shown) at the end extremities of the feed roller to limit closing movement of the blade 71, or by means such as adjusting bolts 86 engageable with the mounting brackets 77, as shown in Fig. 6. Desirably, pivoting movement of the blade mounting in the opposite or counterclockwise direction 1~ may be urlrestricted within limits to facilitate s!learing the machine. For this purpose, the outer ends o~ the bracket 77 may be provided with elongated slots 87 in which are received limiting pins 87a. Pivoting action of the bracket 77 is free within the limits of the elongated slot 87, subject to the positioning of the &djusting bolts 86 andlor limiting shims, and also, of course, limited W the prcsencc of the retarding roller 32.
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For the initial setup of the equipment, the zone-forming blades 46, ~1 are positioned such that their angular surface extremities 66, 75 are locatedsubstantiaLly at the point of maximum convergence of the rollers, i.e.
substantially on a plane including both roller axes. The acutely angled tip 88 S of the lo~Ner blade 71 is spaced very close to, but not in contact with the outer surface of the feeding roller 30. By adjustment of the vertical rods 53, the upper blade 46 is positioned with respect to the lower blade such that the zone-forming surfaces 66, ~5 are spaced slightly apart and may be slightly divergent. The arcuate surface 48 of the upper blade 46 is spaced slightly from the surface of the feeding roller, and this may be assured by the provisionof shims or spacing rings at the end extremities of the feeding roller, or by other limit adjustments, as will be appreciated. The upper nuid actuators 57 are charged with air under limited pressure typically in the range of slightlv above zero up to about five psi, acting on pistons of about twenty square inches. The closing force available from the actuators 57, in an example fiftv inch machine, is thus desirably about 200 pounds or less, which results in an applied force Or a few pounds per lineal inch.
Unprocessed fabric 11, in nat form and at uniform width, enters the confined passage 49 and is advanced therethrough under very limited con~lning pressure, by reason of the roughened surface of the feeding roller.
The fabric, either in two-l~yer form in the case of tubular Icnitted fabric, or in a single layer in the case of other fabrics, is advanced through the passage 49 at the surface speed of the feed roller 30.
Upon reaching the lower ex11emity of the arcuate surface 48, the fsbric is abruptly diverted b~ the blade surface 75 into a confinement zone formed between the surfaces Ç6, 75, which may be divergently related by a small amount (e.g.~ less than 19.
Fabric traverses the confinement zone, which in the jllustrated apparatus may have 8 length of about 0.1~ inch, until it engages the outer surface of the retarding roller 32. Thereupon it is abruptly diverted into the confined passage 8g formed between the arcuate con~ming surface 73 of the exit shoe assembly and the outer surface of the retarding roller. When the fabric enters the upper extremity of the confined retarding passage 89, it immediately assumes the surface speed of the retarding roller 32, which is controlled, by the variable speed mechanism 39, to be variably slower than the surface speed of the feeding roller 30, perhap.s by as much as 15-25% in the case of some fabrics, less perhaps with others, according to the requirements of 8 particular f~bric construction. Under steady state conditions,the cliange in spced to the fabric, from tl~e feeding speed to the retsrding speed, occurs principally at the entrance to the confinement zone defined by thc surf~ces 66, 75. Immediately thereafter, the f~bric h~s ~ prede~ermined dweU time in the conrlnement zone, during which it is exposed to heat and confinement.
In the process of the invesltion, it is desired to operate with minimum confining pressure in the thickness direction in the confinement zone.
, However, a complete absence of confining pressure and/or too little confining pressure can cause fabric to take on a "creped" appearance, rather than a smooth but compressively shrunk condition. Initially, therefore, the thickness of the confinement zone is adjùsted (by the handwheel 54 and rods 53) to be slightly greater than optimum, to induce some degree of creping, and the condition of the processed fabric is observed. As long as any creping is observed, the thickness of the confinement zone is gradually decreased by manipulation of the handwheel until the creping just disappears.
In the illustrated apparatus, the surface of the retarding roll is formed with a layer 91 of elastomeric material, which typic~lly may be about one quarter inch thick. It may, however, be formed o metal with a roughened surface. The retarding roll is drawn toward the confining surface 73 with a limited amount of pressure, exerted by the fluid actuators 37, unde~ controlled pressure via a variable pressure regulator 92. The net applied force need be sufficient only to establish efective frictional contact with the fabric discharged from the confinement zone so as to achieve positive gripping action on the fabric. Experience indicates that minimal contact pressul~es are-r~quiredfor this purpose, as in the case of the contact pressures necessary with respectto the feeding shoe assembly with respect to the feeding roller. If necessary or desirable, adjustable limit stops (not shown) may be provided to limit the closing movement of the retardlng roller toward the confining surface 73 of the lower blade. In a normal operating configuration, the feeding and retarding rolls are separated by a distance just sl~ghtly greater than the thickness of ~ ,;:, ! " . . , ' ' .~
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' the zone-forming blades 46, 71, as is evident in Fig. 2.
In the processing of most fabrics, the incoming fabric is relatively warm and moist from the application of steam at the steam boxes 20, 21. In addition, means advanta-geously are provided for heating of at least the feedingroller 30 and the feeding shoe assem~ly 44. In accordance with features of the existing, prior equipment, the entry shoe assembly 44 ma~ advantageously be heated by means of an electric heater associated with the shoe body 45. The feeding roller 30 is heated internally by means of steam or heated oil, for example. Desirably, provisions are made for controlling the heating media to provide for different temperatures between the feeding roller 30 and the feeding shoe assembly 44.
Remarkable and surprising results have been achieved with the method and apparatus of the invention. Among other things, fabrics that heretofore were compressively treated in two stations can now be treated in a slngle station, and even more effectively than heretofore. In this respect, while there exist in the prior art types of equipment that process tubular knitted ~abric in a single station, most such machines and processes known to the applicant are very limited in their capacity to impart preshrinkage control. The method an~ apparatus of the ~5 heretofore known Eugene Cohn et al. United States patents No. 3,015,145, No. 3,015,146, and No. 3,083,435 have been outstandingly unique in their ability to impart high degrees of compressive shrinkage, i.e., 25% and above. In such cases, however, it has been appropriat~e to utilize two station machines in an effort to equalize . , .
opposite side surface appearance, and even then, there have been limitations with respect to certain types of sensitive farics. With the present method and apparatus, by contrast, it is possible to impart 25% and more compressive shrinkage in a single station machine, with a highly acceptable level of opposite side surface appearance. This represents a remarkable advance over procedures now available to the industry.
A verg significant aspect of the invention, of course, is the fact that an angular confinement zone separates the respective feeding and retarding rollers by a short distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric. As a result, the feeding and retarding rolls do not simultaneously contact the fabric at the same point on opposite sides with surfaces travelling at different speeds. Nor is the fabric subjected to wrenching reversals of direction during the compressive shrinkage procedure. The fabric is advanced through the feeding zone with a minimum of confining pressure and abrasion, passes through the confining zone with virtually symmetrical conditions on its opposite surf~ces, flnd is engaged thereafter in a retarding zone in which thereis effectively no slippage of the fabric even t!~ough it is confined by minimurnpressures.
A_ The lack of slippage of the fabric ~gainst the feeding and retarding 2 0 rollers in the procedure of the invention is evidenced by the fact that the retained compressive shrinkage bears a direct and close relationship to the speed differential between the respective roUers. In other words, a roller speed differential of 25% results in processed fabric having an imparted compressive shrinkage of 25~6 in normal operations.
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Another surprising and highly beneficial result of the new methad and apparatus is derived from the fact that the finished, compressively shrunk fabric typica y is of the sam~ thickness after treatment as before. On a conventional two station compactor, the treated fabric may be 15% to 25%
thinner in some cases, because of the necessity to compress the fabric substantially in the thickness direction during processing. With the procedure and apparatus of ffie present invention, the fabric is ~eated very gently throughout, as eYidenced by the greater ~inished thickness. This enables significantly superior results to be deriYed in the treatment of sensitive fabrics, for example.
The method and apparatus of the invention are uniquely well suited for processing of tubular knitted fabrics in a single station machine, because there is a minimum of differential action between opposite surfaces of the fabric being processed in two-layer form. There is thus an absolute minimum of opportunity for two~idedness to occur in the fabric. Although it is of course necessary in the apparatus of the invention for fabric to slide alon~
the confining surfaces of the feeding and retarding shoes, it is possible with the apparatus of the present invention tn maintain contact pressures at extre mely low levels, so th~t even sensitivc fabrics are processed deLicately and with minimum degradation of the finished appearance sought by the customer.
An included henefit of being ~ble to process fabric in a single station and using low cont~ct pressures is significantly lower power ~3~
requirements. The floor-space occupied by the equipment is also significantly reduced by elimination of need for a second state of compressive shrinkage.
In the specifically illustrated apparatus, the com-; 5 pressive treatment zone is disposed at an angle of 45 to the adjacent roller surfaces. The maximum and minimum limits of such angle have not been fully determined, although it is believed are the basis of investigations that the angle should not be less than about 30 nor more than about 60~ with respect to the adjacent surface of the feed roller.
The method and apparatus of the invention are of course applicable to fabrics other than tubular knitted fabrics, and would be applicable to open width knitted ~abrics, for example, various compressible gauze materials and the like. The method and apparatus of the invention are also suitable for so-called "wet compacting", wher~ fabric is dyed or otherwise treated with a processing liquid, extracted to a level of 75% - 80%
moisture, for example, and then subjected to compressive shrinkage treatment. With some prior art apparatus, this has been difficult because the relatively high pressures required to be applied to the fahric resulted in unwanted extraction of liquids at the compressive shrinkage treatment station. With the process and apparatus of the present invention, the unusually low contact pressures required to carry out the 2~ process greatly minimize or eliminate altogether unwanted extraction of treating liquid during the compressive treatment phase.
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It shou:ld be understood9 of course, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosureu Accordingly, reference should be made to the fo~lowing appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.
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SHRIN~GE O~ T~JBIJLAR E~NII~D ~ABRICS AND THE LIE~E
Background and Summarv of the Invention The invention is directed to improved methods and apparatus for the compressive shrinkage of fabrics. The invention is applicable to particular advantage to the treatment of tubular knitted fabrics, but is not to be considered as limited thereto, as the principles of the invention are useful to advantage in connection with the processing of open width fabrics of both knitted and non-knitted construction.
In the processing of knitted fabrics, particularly tubular knitted fabrics, one of the widely utilized and commercially successful procedures for compressive shrinkage treatment is reflected in the Eugene Cohn, et al. United States Patents No. 3,015,145, 3,015,146 and 3,0839435. These procedures ~nvolve onc or, more typically, two compressive shrinking stations, each comprising an opposed pair of rollers and a feeding and confining shoe.
lneoming fat~ric is passed between a feeding roller and a confining shoe, causin~
tlle fabric to be advanced at a predetermined speed in a relatively positive manner. The second roller, referred to as a retarding roller, forms a nip with the feeding roller, such that fabric, af~er it exits from the confining 2 0 shoc, is engaged under pressure si multaneously between ~the feed ing and retarding rollers. The retarding roller, ~hich is driven at a surface speed controllably slower than the surface speed of the feeding roller, retards thc ~, . .. . . . . . .
advance of the fabric, so that controlled lengthwise compression of the fabric takes place in a short compressive shrinking zone formed between the roller nip and the terminating edge of the fabric confining shoe. The shoe and/or roJlers desirably are heated, such that the emerging fabric retains a substantial portion, at least, of the compressive shrinkage imparted thereto in the compressive shrinkage zone.
E~en though the above described compressive shrinking techniques have been extremely successful commercially, there are certain inherent limitations thereto which result from the fact that the fabric is being acted upon simultaneously, at the same point but on opposite sides, by rollers operating at different speeds. The opposite sides of the fabric are thus necessarily treated slightly differently. In addition, the inherent slippage of at lenst the feeding roller relative to the fahric surface at the roller nip sometimes imparts an undesirable surface appearance to certain types of fabrics, such as by lightening darker shades of outerwear fabric, for example, or imparting a shine to underwear fabrics. This can be disconcerting particularly with respect to thc processing of tut ular fabrics, where the "opposite" sides of the fabric during processing are in fact the same surface of the fabric - namely the outside surface - in the finished garment.
For most appLications, the tendenc~ of a single compressive shrinking station of the above described type to have an asymmetrical effect on opposite sides of the îabric is accommodated by providing for dual station machines, ~.. . .
with one compressive shrinking station being reversely oriented with respect to the other. This provides acceptable results for some fabrics, for example, but still has shortcomings with respect to highly sensitive fabrics, such as dark shades of S outerwear fabrlcs.
In accordance with the present invention, improved equipment and techniques are provided for the mechanical compressive shrinkage of fabrics, particularly but not neces-sarily tubular knitted fabrics, which enable the many important advantages of the differential roller processing technique to be employed yet which significantly minimizes or eliminates certain inherent limitations in the existing procedures. More specifically, the method and apparatus of the invention utilize opposed feeding and retarding rollers, driven respectively at higher and lower surface speeds, for feeding and retarding fabric. However, in contrast to the equipment of the above described patented construction, the respective Eeeding and retarding rollers are separated by a distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric being processed, so that the fabric cannot be engaged simultaneously on opposite sides by the respective rollers. A fabric confining shos (entry shoe) is associated with the feeding roller, and a separate confining shoe (exit shoe) is associated with the retardlng roller. The extremities of these respective entry and exit shoes form between them a defined confinement zone.
The fabric is decelerated and longitudinally-compressed at the entrance to the zone speed, and confined and guided for a controlled dwell time during its passage through the zone.
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To particular advantage, the opposed extremities of the respective confining shoes are located substantially at the point of maximum convergence of the respective feeding and retarding rollers and are disposed at a substantial angle, such as 45 degrees, to the surface of the feeding roller. Accord-ingly, as the fabric exits the discharge end of the entry shoe, it is abruptly diverted by the leading end of the exit shoe and is guided into the confinement zone, defined between the two shoes. Upon exiting the confinement zone, the fabric is immediately contacted by the outer surface of the retarding roller, travelling at a controllably slower surface speed than the feeding roller.
Significantly, although the feeding and retarding rollers are operated at controllably different surface speeds, the rollers do not act simultaneously upon opposite surfaces of the fabric at the same point, so that it is not necessary for the roller surfaces to have any significant slippage with respect to the fabric surfaces. As a result, it is possible under the present invention to impart the high degree of mechanical compressive shrinkage, required by many knitted fabrics, in a single station machine.
To advantage, fabric passing through the confinement zone is confined under only minimum pressures, in the thickness direction. This is accomplished by providing for a precision, on-the-fly adjustment mechanism for movably positioning one of the shoes, preferably the entry shoe, for limited 4~
~ . , motion about a pivot axis. This accommodates variation in the thickness of the confining zone during normal opera-tions of the apparatus~ The confining pressures acting on the fabric in the zone are maintained at a level sufficient to avoid crimping of the longitudinally compressed fabric, but typically not significantly greater than that.
In one of its particularly preferred embodiments, apparatus of the invention has substantial compatibility, structurally, with the equipment heretofore marketed under the above mentioned United States patents No. 3,015,145, No. 3,015,146, and No. 3,083,435, and with respect to which there is a substantial installed base of equipment. The apparatus of the invention is capable of being incorporated by a relatively simple retrofit into the existing installed equipment, utilizing much of the existing mechanism, resulting in significant upgrading in performance of the equipment for at least certain types of fabrics.
For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following description of a preferred embodiment and to the accompanying drawings.
Description of the Drawin~s Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete range incorporating the compressive shrinkage apparatus of the invention, intended particularly ~or the mechanical com-pressive shrinkage of tubular knitted fabric.
1~
Fig. 2 is a highly enlarged, cross sectional view of the compressive shrinkage station of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing the respective feeding and retarding rollers and the-respective entry and exit confining shoes.
~ig. 3 is a representational side elevational view of a portion of 5the appQratus of Fig. 1, showing particularly structural details of the compressive shrinkage station.
Flg. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing portions of the entry and exit confining shoes and details of the mounting means for the exit con fining shoe.
10Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational vie~ sho~ing details of the exit and entry confining shoes.
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a simplified schematic representation of a drive control 15system for the apparatus of Fig. 1.
Description of a Preferred Embodiment ~ Referring now to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1, the reference : : -6-.,, ~, .. ..
' ' : , numeral 10 designates in a general way a processing range for treating tubular knitted fabric. Unprocessed ~abric 11 from a supply source (not shown) such as a pallet or truck, is passed upwardly over a rotatable bow 12, which spreads ; 5 the fabric to a generally flat, two layer form. The fabric is then passed under a first tension bar 13 and over a second tension bar 14. The tension bars 13, 14 are sepa-rated by spacers 15, and are mounted on frame members 16 for controlled rotational positioning. The tension bars serve to apply a very light tension to the fabric, suffi-cient to flatten and control it, but typically insufficient to elongate it to any significant degree.
In the illustrated range~ fabric is directed around a guide roller 17 (Fig. 7), over a driven, variable speed 1~ control roller 17a, around a floating dancer roll 17b and then through a series of flattening rolls 20. The control roller 17a provides the means for drawing the unprocessed fabric 11 over the bow 12 and through the tension bars 13, 14. The speed of the roller 17a is controlled by the dancer roll 17b with reference to the operating speed of other components of the range, as will be further ex-plained.
Downstream of the control roller 17a is a-propeller-spreader station, generally designated by the numeral 18. By way of example but not of limitation, the propeller-spreader apparatus may be of the type illustrated in the Frezza United States Patent No. 4,103,402.
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The spreader apparatus includes an internal spreader frame (not shown) which is received internally of the fabric tube. The spreader frame is supported horizontally by means of grooved edge drive rolls 19, which are adjustable laterally S to the width of the spreader frame and which are driven externally by the machine motive system. The spreader frame assembly, which is in itself well known and widely utilized in the trade, extends from a series of flattening rolls 20, at its upstream extremity, through a pair of steam boxes 21, 22 on the downstream side of the edge drive rolls 19, substantially to the entry or feeding roll (to be described~ of a compressive shrinkage station 23.
In accordance with known techniques, the incoming fabric may be slightly overfed onto the downstream section of the spreader frame (i.e., downstream of the edge drive rolls 19) so as to be effectively relaxed in a lengthwise direction and set to a predetermined, uniform width. In this condition, the fabric is subjected to steam when passing between the steam boxes 21, 22, which serves to moisten and lubricate the fibers of the material and accommodate relaxation and adjustment of the stitches, in preparation for the primary compressive shrinkage treatment.
Immediately upon discharge from the spreader frame section 18, the fabric enters the compressive shrinkage station 23 where, in the manner to be more fully described, it is compressed in a lengthwise direction in a .
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~3~8i4 controllable amount which typically is a function of the inherent residual shrinkage of the incoming fabric. In the case of tubular knitted fabrics, this may well be on the order of 15-25%, for example. The longitudinally com-pressed fabric, now designated by the reference number 24,is advanced to a gathering station 25 which, in the illus-trated range, is a roll-up mechanism. By way of example, the roll-up apparatus may be of the general type shown in the Eugene Cohn et al. U.S. Patent No. 3,606,186 and/or the Samuel Cohn et al. U.S. Patent No. 2,736,098. The fabric, passing to the roll-up device 25, is kept under minimum tension, sufficient only for adequate control of the fabric during the winding of the roll 26.
Alternatively, the fabric may be directed to a folder apparatus such as, for example, of the type disclosed in the Frezza U.S. Patent No. 4,053,151.
The drive mechanisms for the range of Fig. 1 are illustrated schematically in Fig. 7. Individually speed controlled drive arrangements are provided for the gather-ing station 25, the compressive shrinkage station 23, thespreader-propeller station 18 and the entry roll 17a.
These may be irl the form of individually controllable variable speed motors for each of these major sections of the range, or the system may be driven by a primary, speed controllable drive motor 31 in conjunction with variable speed mechanical ~ - .. . ..
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drives for effecting desired speed control. Typically, one of the stations, such as the compressive shrinkage station 23, is a "master" station, driven by a motor 31 and with respect to which the operating speeds of the other stations are automatically slaved. For example, the driven entry roller 17a, the edge drive rolls 19, and the wind up device 25 are respectively driven from the master drive motor 31 through adjustable variable speed mechanisms 17c, 19a and 25a. The variable speed mechanism 17c is controlled by the dancer roll 17b, so as to maintain a constant fabric supply to the prope~ler-spreader apparatus 18. Under the described arrangement, if the compressive shrinkage station 23 were increased in speed 10%, the speeds of all stations of the range automatically would increase by an equivalent amount. If the speed of the roll-up station 25 were changed, on the other hand, it would be increased or decreased relative to the speed of the compressive shrinkage station 23, and the other stations would be unaffected. These techniques are, of course, well known in the art.
~ith reference now to Figs. 2-7, illustrating details of the novel compressive shrinkage station of the invcntion, the apparatus includes a sl;eletal frame structure 27 (Fig. 3) on which are mounted bearing supports 28, at opposite sides of the machine, carrying bearing blocks 29. rhe bearing blocks 2g rotatably journal a feeding roller 30. In the illustrated arrangement, the feeding roller 30 may be mounted on a fixed axis on the machine frame 27 for controlled rotation by means of a variable speed master drive 31 (Fig. 7).
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Cooperating with the feeding roller 30 is a retarding roller 32.
This is journalled on opposite sides by means of bearing blocks 33 carried by opposite side members 34 of a pivot frame, mounted in the machine frame 2~ for pivoting about the axis of a drive shaft 35. The frame members 34 are connected to the rod ends 36 of fluid actuators 37 anchored at 38 in each side of the machine frame. Desirably, the fluid actuators 37 are one-way actuators, being spring urged to extend the actuating rods 36 toward the left in Fig. 3 and being actuatsble~ under regulated fluid pressure to retract the actuator rods and thereby draw the retarding roller 32 toward the feeding roller 30.
A variable speed mechanical drive 39 (Fig. 7), operated from the master drive 31, serves to drive the retarding roller 32 at a controllably lesser surface speed than the surface speed of the feeding roller 30. The drive 39 may operate a sprocket 40 (Fig. 3) and through a chain or belt 41 a further sprocket 42 mounted on the shaft 35 about which the roller mounting frame 3~ is pivoted. A further chain or belt drive (not iUustrated) connccts tne shaft 35 to thc retarding roller 32, enabling the retarding roller to be control~bly driven in any pivoted position of the frame 34.
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention, the feed roller 30 may have an overall diameter of approximately five inches.
The roller is of hollow construction, having a relstively he~vy outer steel cylindrical wall 43 of approximately one and one quarter inches in thickness.
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Desirably, this is roughened on the exterior surface for enhanced gripping of the incoming fabric ll. The feed roller cooperates with a confining shoe assembly 44, hereinafter referred to as the shoe, which comprises a main shoe body 45 and a zone-forming blade 45. The shoe body 45 and blade 46 form, in effect, a single shoe assembly provided with smooth cylindrical inner surface portions 47, 48. These cylindrical surface portions are of just slight-; ly larger diameter than that of the feeding roller 30 (e.g., about 0.04 inch on a five inch nominal roll diame-ter), and the center of the cylindrical surface 47-48 may be located slightly offset (to the right in Fig. 2) from the center of the roller, providing a gradually tapered confining slot 49 for guiding and confining the incoming ~abric 11 over a substantial arcuate portion of the feed roller 30 (i.e. about 90 degrees) to the discharge end of the shoe assembly.
To particular advantage, the mounting arrangement for the entry shoe assembly 44 may be substantially in accor-dance with the Edmund A. Diggle, Jr. U.S. Patent No. 3,973,303. That mechanism includes a pair of upwardly extending brackets 50 mounted for limited rotation on the end shafts 51 of the feed roller 30. These brackets are connected by way of a swivel coupler 52 to a vertically adjustable rod 53 controllably positionable by the machine operator, as through a hand wheel 54 (see Fig. 1). With limited verti-cal adjustment of the rods 53, the supports 50 may be caused to pivot slightly in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 51, providing a high ,~ ,, ' ~ ' '" ' ' ~ ~ .
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precision adjustment of the position of the entry shoe.
L-shaped brackets 55 are pivotally mounted at axis 56 on the upwardly projecting brackets 50, and are controllably pivotable relative to the upstanding brackets by means of S single-acting air cylinders 57 at each side. When deactivated,the actuators 57 are spring urged in a retracting direction, to pivot the L-shaped supports 55 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. Under regulated air pressure, the operating rods 58 of the actuators are extended, pivoting the supports 55 in a counterclockwise direction.
Mounted on the supports 55 by means of a pivot bearing 59 at each end, is the entry shoe assembly 44. The shoe assembly includes tilt adjustment lugs 60 at each side, which project through windows 61 in the support members 55, being adjustably positioned within such windows by means o* adjusting bolts 62, 63.
To understand the operation of the mounting bracket assembly for the entry shoe, assume that the shoe assembly 44 is in an initial position as shown in Fig. 2. By adjusting the bolts 62, 63, the entire shoe assembly 44 may be tilted about the axis of the pivot bearing 59 as necessary to adjust the configuration of the gradually converging confinement space 49.
The entire assembly may be pivoted circumferentially about the axis of the feed roller 30~ by vertical ad~ustment of the ~2~ shafts 53, causing the uprlght brackets ~` , ,,;, . , ~
50 to pivot about the roller shaft. This provides for a fine adjustment of the positioning of the lower extremity of the feeding shoe assembly and thus the thickness of the confinement zone. Bodily retraction of the entire feeding shoe assembly from the region of the roller nip, between the feeding and retarding rollers 30, 32 is accomplished by deactivating the air actuators 57, pivoting the L-shaped supports 55 clockwise about the axis 56. This may be done to open up the working area of the compressive shrinking station, to facilitate initial threading of a length of fabric into the machine.
Si~nificantly to the invention, the zone-forming blade 46 does not taper gradually to a fine point, as is the case in the existing mechanical compressive shrinkage equipment of the type described in the before mentioned Eugene Cohn et al. United States Patents No. 3,015,145, No. 3,145,146, and No. 3,083,435. Rather, the zone-forming blade has a substantial thickness at its lower extremity. In a typical machine, for the processing of a wide range of tubular knitted fabrics in widths of up to fifty inches, the blade thickness at its extremity may be approximately 0.12 inch.
Also significantly, the bottom surface 66 of the zone-form-ing blade extends downward and away from the surface of the feed roller 32 at a relatively abrupt angle, in the illus-trated apparatus at a nominal angle of about 45 degrees.This angled surface 66 forms one side of a confinement zone, as will be more fully described.
The zone-forming blade 46 typically is secured to the body 45 of the entry shoe by means of a plurality of bolts 67, spaced across the width ~3~ 86~
of the blade (see Figs. 5 and 6). The shoe body 45 itself may comprise a plurality of shoe segments, individually adjustable with respect to a mounting beam 68, to enable precision final adjustment of the zone-forming blade 46.
Mounted directly below the entry shoe 44 is an exit shoe assembly 69 comprising a shoe body 70 and a zone-forming blade 71. The blade 71, as the blade 46, is formed with front and back arcuate surfaces 72, 73 confronting surface portions ~; of the respective feeding and retarding rollers 30, 32. At least the back arcuate surface 73 approximately conforms to the surface contours of the retarding roller 32 over an arc of, say, 15-20, so as to form a gradually divergent exit path 89 for fabric being conveyed by the retarding roller. For example, the surface 73 may have a radius of about 2.5 inches, for cooperation with a retarding roller 32 having an outside diameter of approximately 4.92 inches, with the center of radius of the surface 73 being located slightly to the left of the roll axis, as viewed in ~ig. 2, to provide for the slightly divergent contours of the exit path, which are somewhat exaggerated in Fig. 2.
As is evident in Figs. 2 and 6, the configuration of the upper end of the zone-forming blade 71 is complementary to the lower configuration of the upper blade 46. The thlckness of the blade extremity 74 is substantially identical (i.e. approximately 0.12 inch in the example), and the upper : zone-forming surface 75 is disposed at the same angle as the surface 66.
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In the illustrated machine, adapted particularly for retrofit installation, precision mounting of the retarding shoe assembly 69 is provided by means of a large, heavy angle member 76, which is rigidly secured at each end to mounting brackets 77. - The angle members may be provided with welded caps 78 at each end, which are secured to the brackets 77 by bolts 78a~ The body portion 70 of the retarding shoe is rigidly welded to the upper leg 79 of the angle member, as shown in Fig. 6~ and is provided with a recess 80 for the reception of the zone-forming blade 71. Precision adjustment of the blade is achieved by providing a large plurality of mounting bolts 81, received in vertically elongated slots 82 in the blade member. A plurality of adjusting bolts 83 extend upwardly through the shoe body 70 to engage the bottom surface of the blade 71. In a typical fifty inch machine, the tightening bolts 81 may be spaced apart approximately 2.6 inches, for example, while the vertical adjustment bolts 83 may be spaced about 5.2 inches apart. one for each pair of tightening bolts. This arrangement enables a high degree of precision to be achieved in alignment of the lower zone-forming blade 71 with rcspect to the upper zone-forming blade 46, for precision definition of the treating zone, de fined by the respective upper and lou er blade surfaces 66, 75.
In the illustrated apparatus, the angle bar assembly is pivoted on the machine frame 27 by ~ shaft 84 carried by the machine frame by means of a mounting block 85 at each side, which is an integral part of bearing support 28. This is a convenient mounting, as the shaft 84 and block 85 are , i .
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already provided on the existing installed base of commercial m~chines and can be used conveniently for retrofit of such machines to incorporate the improvements of the present invention.
The location of the pivot shaft 84, with respect to the distributed weight <~ the angle member 76 and mounting braclcets 77 is such that the assembly tends to pivot b~ gravity in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.
6, tending to pivot the lower zone-forming blade 71 toward the feeding roller 30. This movement is adjustably limited to maintain a predetermined minimum sp~cing between the front arcuate surface 72 of the blade and the surface of the feeding roller 30. Such adjustment may be provided by the use of shims (not shown) at the end extremities of the feed roller to limit closing movement of the blade 71, or by means such as adjusting bolts 86 engageable with the mounting brackets 77, as shown in Fig. 6. Desirably, pivoting movement of the blade mounting in the opposite or counterclockwise direction 1~ may be urlrestricted within limits to facilitate s!learing the machine. For this purpose, the outer ends o~ the bracket 77 may be provided with elongated slots 87 in which are received limiting pins 87a. Pivoting action of the bracket 77 is free within the limits of the elongated slot 87, subject to the positioning of the &djusting bolts 86 andlor limiting shims, and also, of course, limited W the prcsencc of the retarding roller 32.
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For the initial setup of the equipment, the zone-forming blades 46, ~1 are positioned such that their angular surface extremities 66, 75 are locatedsubstantiaLly at the point of maximum convergence of the rollers, i.e.
substantially on a plane including both roller axes. The acutely angled tip 88 S of the lo~Ner blade 71 is spaced very close to, but not in contact with the outer surface of the feeding roller 30. By adjustment of the vertical rods 53, the upper blade 46 is positioned with respect to the lower blade such that the zone-forming surfaces 66, ~5 are spaced slightly apart and may be slightly divergent. The arcuate surface 48 of the upper blade 46 is spaced slightly from the surface of the feeding roller, and this may be assured by the provisionof shims or spacing rings at the end extremities of the feeding roller, or by other limit adjustments, as will be appreciated. The upper nuid actuators 57 are charged with air under limited pressure typically in the range of slightlv above zero up to about five psi, acting on pistons of about twenty square inches. The closing force available from the actuators 57, in an example fiftv inch machine, is thus desirably about 200 pounds or less, which results in an applied force Or a few pounds per lineal inch.
Unprocessed fabric 11, in nat form and at uniform width, enters the confined passage 49 and is advanced therethrough under very limited con~lning pressure, by reason of the roughened surface of the feeding roller.
The fabric, either in two-l~yer form in the case of tubular Icnitted fabric, or in a single layer in the case of other fabrics, is advanced through the passage 49 at the surface speed of the feed roller 30.
Upon reaching the lower ex11emity of the arcuate surface 48, the fsbric is abruptly diverted b~ the blade surface 75 into a confinement zone formed between the surfaces Ç6, 75, which may be divergently related by a small amount (e.g.~ less than 19.
Fabric traverses the confinement zone, which in the jllustrated apparatus may have 8 length of about 0.1~ inch, until it engages the outer surface of the retarding roller 32. Thereupon it is abruptly diverted into the confined passage 8g formed between the arcuate con~ming surface 73 of the exit shoe assembly and the outer surface of the retarding roller. When the fabric enters the upper extremity of the confined retarding passage 89, it immediately assumes the surface speed of the retarding roller 32, which is controlled, by the variable speed mechanism 39, to be variably slower than the surface speed of the feeding roller 30, perhap.s by as much as 15-25% in the case of some fabrics, less perhaps with others, according to the requirements of 8 particular f~bric construction. Under steady state conditions,the cliange in spced to the fabric, from tl~e feeding speed to the retsrding speed, occurs principally at the entrance to the confinement zone defined by thc surf~ces 66, 75. Immediately thereafter, the f~bric h~s ~ prede~ermined dweU time in the conrlnement zone, during which it is exposed to heat and confinement.
In the process of the invesltion, it is desired to operate with minimum confining pressure in the thickness direction in the confinement zone.
, However, a complete absence of confining pressure and/or too little confining pressure can cause fabric to take on a "creped" appearance, rather than a smooth but compressively shrunk condition. Initially, therefore, the thickness of the confinement zone is adjùsted (by the handwheel 54 and rods 53) to be slightly greater than optimum, to induce some degree of creping, and the condition of the processed fabric is observed. As long as any creping is observed, the thickness of the confinement zone is gradually decreased by manipulation of the handwheel until the creping just disappears.
In the illustrated apparatus, the surface of the retarding roll is formed with a layer 91 of elastomeric material, which typic~lly may be about one quarter inch thick. It may, however, be formed o metal with a roughened surface. The retarding roll is drawn toward the confining surface 73 with a limited amount of pressure, exerted by the fluid actuators 37, unde~ controlled pressure via a variable pressure regulator 92. The net applied force need be sufficient only to establish efective frictional contact with the fabric discharged from the confinement zone so as to achieve positive gripping action on the fabric. Experience indicates that minimal contact pressul~es are-r~quiredfor this purpose, as in the case of the contact pressures necessary with respectto the feeding shoe assembly with respect to the feeding roller. If necessary or desirable, adjustable limit stops (not shown) may be provided to limit the closing movement of the retardlng roller toward the confining surface 73 of the lower blade. In a normal operating configuration, the feeding and retarding rolls are separated by a distance just sl~ghtly greater than the thickness of ~ ,;:, ! " . . , ' ' .~
, ' '' , ' " , .
' the zone-forming blades 46, 71, as is evident in Fig. 2.
In the processing of most fabrics, the incoming fabric is relatively warm and moist from the application of steam at the steam boxes 20, 21. In addition, means advanta-geously are provided for heating of at least the feedingroller 30 and the feeding shoe assem~ly 44. In accordance with features of the existing, prior equipment, the entry shoe assembly 44 ma~ advantageously be heated by means of an electric heater associated with the shoe body 45. The feeding roller 30 is heated internally by means of steam or heated oil, for example. Desirably, provisions are made for controlling the heating media to provide for different temperatures between the feeding roller 30 and the feeding shoe assembly 44.
Remarkable and surprising results have been achieved with the method and apparatus of the invention. Among other things, fabrics that heretofore were compressively treated in two stations can now be treated in a slngle station, and even more effectively than heretofore. In this respect, while there exist in the prior art types of equipment that process tubular knitted ~abric in a single station, most such machines and processes known to the applicant are very limited in their capacity to impart preshrinkage control. The method an~ apparatus of the ~5 heretofore known Eugene Cohn et al. United States patents No. 3,015,145, No. 3,015,146, and No. 3,083,435 have been outstandingly unique in their ability to impart high degrees of compressive shrinkage, i.e., 25% and above. In such cases, however, it has been appropriat~e to utilize two station machines in an effort to equalize . , .
opposite side surface appearance, and even then, there have been limitations with respect to certain types of sensitive farics. With the present method and apparatus, by contrast, it is possible to impart 25% and more compressive shrinkage in a single station machine, with a highly acceptable level of opposite side surface appearance. This represents a remarkable advance over procedures now available to the industry.
A verg significant aspect of the invention, of course, is the fact that an angular confinement zone separates the respective feeding and retarding rollers by a short distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric. As a result, the feeding and retarding rolls do not simultaneously contact the fabric at the same point on opposite sides with surfaces travelling at different speeds. Nor is the fabric subjected to wrenching reversals of direction during the compressive shrinkage procedure. The fabric is advanced through the feeding zone with a minimum of confining pressure and abrasion, passes through the confining zone with virtually symmetrical conditions on its opposite surf~ces, flnd is engaged thereafter in a retarding zone in which thereis effectively no slippage of the fabric even t!~ough it is confined by minimurnpressures.
A_ The lack of slippage of the fabric ~gainst the feeding and retarding 2 0 rollers in the procedure of the invention is evidenced by the fact that the retained compressive shrinkage bears a direct and close relationship to the speed differential between the respective roUers. In other words, a roller speed differential of 25% results in processed fabric having an imparted compressive shrinkage of 25~6 in normal operations.
,... . . . .
' . ' -. ' . ' ' ' - ' - -' - '' ' .
Another surprising and highly beneficial result of the new methad and apparatus is derived from the fact that the finished, compressively shrunk fabric typica y is of the sam~ thickness after treatment as before. On a conventional two station compactor, the treated fabric may be 15% to 25%
thinner in some cases, because of the necessity to compress the fabric substantially in the thickness direction during processing. With the procedure and apparatus of ffie present invention, the fabric is ~eated very gently throughout, as eYidenced by the greater ~inished thickness. This enables significantly superior results to be deriYed in the treatment of sensitive fabrics, for example.
The method and apparatus of the invention are uniquely well suited for processing of tubular knitted fabrics in a single station machine, because there is a minimum of differential action between opposite surfaces of the fabric being processed in two-layer form. There is thus an absolute minimum of opportunity for two~idedness to occur in the fabric. Although it is of course necessary in the apparatus of the invention for fabric to slide alon~
the confining surfaces of the feeding and retarding shoes, it is possible with the apparatus of the present invention tn maintain contact pressures at extre mely low levels, so th~t even sensitivc fabrics are processed deLicately and with minimum degradation of the finished appearance sought by the customer.
An included henefit of being ~ble to process fabric in a single station and using low cont~ct pressures is significantly lower power ~3~
requirements. The floor-space occupied by the equipment is also significantly reduced by elimination of need for a second state of compressive shrinkage.
In the specifically illustrated apparatus, the com-; 5 pressive treatment zone is disposed at an angle of 45 to the adjacent roller surfaces. The maximum and minimum limits of such angle have not been fully determined, although it is believed are the basis of investigations that the angle should not be less than about 30 nor more than about 60~ with respect to the adjacent surface of the feed roller.
The method and apparatus of the invention are of course applicable to fabrics other than tubular knitted fabrics, and would be applicable to open width knitted ~abrics, for example, various compressible gauze materials and the like. The method and apparatus of the invention are also suitable for so-called "wet compacting", wher~ fabric is dyed or otherwise treated with a processing liquid, extracted to a level of 75% - 80%
moisture, for example, and then subjected to compressive shrinkage treatment. With some prior art apparatus, this has been difficult because the relatively high pressures required to be applied to the fahric resulted in unwanted extraction of liquids at the compressive shrinkage treatment station. With the process and apparatus of the present invention, the unusually low contact pressures required to carry out the 2~ process greatly minimize or eliminate altogether unwanted extraction of treating liquid during the compressive treatment phase.
, .:,, ,: h~ ' ' '' ' ' ,~ ~', '. ,. '~
., ' 13~
It shou:ld be understood9 of course, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosureu Accordingly, reference should be made to the fo~lowing appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.
... :~, . ., q~
Claims (22)
1. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus for knitted fabrics and the like comprising (a) a fabric feeding roller, (b) an entry-side fabric confining shoe generally conform-ing to a surface portion of said feeding roller and defin-ing therewith a confined entry path for the controlled advancement of fabric by said feeding roller, (c) means for adjustably relatively positioning said entry-side confining shoe and fabric feeding roller to bear with limited controlled pressure upon fabric confined in said entry path, (d) a fabric retarding roller mounted for rotation closely adjacent and parallel to said feeding roller, (e) the axes of said feeding and retarding rollers defining a reference plane passing through the region at which said feeding and retarding rollers most closely approach each other, (f) said rollers, at said reference plane, being spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the thickness of said fabric, (g) an exit-side confining shoe conforming to a surface portion of said retarding roller and defining therewith an exit path for the controlled discharge of fabric by said retarding roller, (h) means for adjustably relatively positioning said exit-side confining shoe and said retarding roller to bear with limited controlled pressure upon fabric confined in said exit path, (i) said confining shoes having blade-like extensions projecting toward each other and into the space between said rollers and meeting in the general region of the plane containing the axes of said rollers, (j) means comprising confronting surfaces of said blade-like extensions engaging opposite surfaces of said fabric and forming a confinement zone for the confined and con-trolled passage of said fabric during its transit from said entry path to said exit path, and (k) means for controllably and resiliently urging said blade-like extensions toward each other to controllably confine said fabric during its transit from said entry path to said exit path.
2. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 1, further characterized by (a) said confinement zone being disposed at an angle of about 30 to 60 degrees to said plane.
3. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 2, further characterized by (a) one of said confining shoes being mounted for limited pivoting movement about the axis of its cooperating roller whereby the thickness of said confinement zone may be controllably increased or decreased.
4. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 1, further characterized by (a) said means for adjustably relatively positioning said confining shoes and said rollers comprising fluid actuator means and adjustable pressure regulating means therefor.
5. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 1, further characterized by (a) said means for controllably and adjustably urging said blade-like extensions relatively toward each other compris-ing air actuator means and adjustable pressure regulator means, whereby the fabric in said confinement zone is main-tained under sufficient pressure in the thickness direction to avoid crimping of said fabric during passage thereof through said zone.
6. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 1, further characterized by (a) separate and independently controllable means being provided for heating said feeding roller and said entry-side confining shoe.
7. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 1, further characterized by (a) said feeding roller being of metal construction and having a roughened outer surface for effectively positive gripping of said fabric.
8. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 7, further characterized by (a) said retarding roller having a resilient outer surface.
9. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus for knitted fabrics and the like comprising (a) a fabric feeding roller, (b) an entry-side fabric confining shoe generally conform-ing to a surface portion of said feeding roller and defin-ing therewith a confined entry path for the controlled advancement of fabric in a substantially positive manner by said feeding roller, (c) means for adjustably relatively positioning said entry-side confining shoe and fabric feeding roller to bear with limited controlled yieldable pressure upon fabric confined in said entry path, (d) a fabric retarding roller mounted for rotation closely adjacent and parallel to said feeding roller, (e) the axes of said feeding and retarding rollers defining a reference plane passing through the region at which said feeding and retarding rollers most closely approach each other, (f) said rollers being separated from each other at said reference plane by a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the fabric being treated, whereby said fabric is not contacted on both sides simultaneously by both of said rollers, (g) an exit-side confining shoe conforming to a surface portion of said retarding roller and defining therewith an exit path for the controlled discharge of fabric in a substantially positive manner by said retarding roller, (h) means for adjustably relatively positioning said exit-side confining shoe and said retarding roller to bear with limited controlled yieldable pressure upon fabric confined in said exit path, (i) said confining shoes having blade-like extensions projecting into the space between said rollers and meeting in the general region of the plane containing the axes of said rollers, and (j) means comprising confronting upper and lower end surfaces of said blade-like extensions engaging opposite surfaces of the fabric and forming a confinement zone for the confined and controlled passage of said fabric during its transit from said entry path to said exit path, and (k) resilient, controllably adjustable fluid actuator means urging said blade-like extensions toward each other to maintain fabric, transiting between said entry and exit paths under limited controlled pressure in the thickness direction to prevent creping of said fabric in said con-finement zone.
10. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 9, further characterized by (a) said compressive shrinkage zone being disposed at such an angle to said plane that said fabric is caused to be redirected abruptly through an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees.
11. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 10, further characterized by (a) at least one of said confining shoes being mounted for limited pivoting movement generally about the axis of its cooperating roller for controlling the thickness of said confinement zone.
12. Compressive pre-shrinking apparatus according to Claim 9, further characterized by (a) said feeding roller being of metal construction and having a roughened outer surface for effectively positive gripping of said fabric, and (b) said retarding roller having a resilient outer surface.
13. Apparatus according to Claim 1, further characterized by (a) air actuator means for controllably and yieldably urging said entry-side confining shoe toward the surface of said feeding roller, and (b) second fluid actuator means for controllably urging said retarding roller toward said exit side confining shoe.
14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, further characterized by (a) said retarding roller having a resilient surface.
15. A single station process for imparting lengthwise com-pressive shrinkage to tubular knitted fabrics and the like, which comprises (a) delivering the fabric in flat form and in moist condition, (b) defining an arcuate entry path for said fabric, by means of a feeding roller and an arcuately contoured confining shoe, (c) advancing the fabric through said entry path in a controlled manner by contacting one surface of said fabric with said feeding roller while closely confining the opposite surface of the fabric, under limited controlled pressure, by said confining shoe, (d) yieldably urging said confining shoe toward said feeding roller under low pneumatic pressure during feeding of said fabric, (e) defining a short confinement zone for said fabric by means of opposed surfaces of said confining shoe and an exit shoe, (f) said confinement zone being of short length, in the order of a small fraction of an inch, while being of greater length than the thickness of the fabric, (g) the entry end of said zone being positioned closely adjacent the surface of said feeding roller and being disposed at angle to the exit end of said entry path of between 30 and 60 degrees, (h) causing the fabric to be abruptly diverted from said entry path out of contact with said feeding roller and into said confinement zone and to travel through said confine-ment zone under limited confining pressure, (i) adjustably controlling the confinement pressure in said zone by positioning said confining shoe with respect to said exit shoe such that the confinement pressure is not substantially greater than necessary to avoid creping of the fabric, (j) defining an arcuate exit path for said fabric, offset from said entry path, by means of a retarding roller and an arcuately contoured surface of said exit shoe, (k) the entry end of said arcuate exit path being joined with the exit end of said confinement path and being disposed at a sharp angle thereto, (l) yieldably confining said fabric in said exit path by urging said retarding roller toward said exit shoe under controlled fluid pressure, (m) causing said feeding and retarding rollers to be controllably driven in such manner that the surface speed of the feeding roller is controllably greater than the surface speed of the retarding roller.
16 The process of Claim 15, further characterized by (a) imparting heat to said fabric during said advancing operation, (b) said heat being imparted controllably and form opposite sides of the fabric.
17. The process of Claim 15, further characterized by (a) said fabric being guided through said confinement zone at an angle of about 45° to the adjacent surface of the feeding roller and for a distance of about 0.17 inch.
18. The process of Claim 17, further characterized by (a) said fabric comprising a tubular knitted fabric, (b) said tubular knitted fabric being delivered by being laterally distended to predetermined uniform width and, while held at such width, steamed.
19. The process of Claim 15, further characterized by (a) initially providing insufficient confining pressure on said fabric in said confinement zone to prevent creping of the fabric, (b) gradually increasing said confinement pressure until said creping is prevented, and (c) maintaining said confinement pressure substantially at, but not substantially greater than, the level at which said creping is prevented.
20. The process of Claim 15, further characterized by (a) said fabric being confined in said confinement zone by opposed confinement surfaces, of said shoes which contact opposite surfaces of the fabric, (b) said opposite surfaces of said fabric moving at the same relative speed with respect to the confinement surface with which they are in contact.
21. The process of Claim 20, further characterized by (a) said confinement surfaces being maintained substantial-ly stationary during processing of said fabric.
22. The process of Claim 21, further characterized by (a) said opposed confinement surfaces being restrained against separation by controlled, limited fluid pressure, whereby said confinement surfaces may be separated by predetermined separating force to accommodate the passage through said confinement zone of inclusions of increased thickness.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10795387A | 1987-10-13 | 1987-10-13 | |
| US107,953 | 1987-10-13 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1300864C true CA1300864C (en) | 1992-05-19 |
Family
ID=22319376
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000579281A Expired - Lifetime CA1300864C (en) | 1987-10-13 | 1988-10-04 | Method and apparatus for compressive shrinkage of tubular knitted fabric and the like |
Country Status (19)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0311897B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH01221568A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR910002513B1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1029863C (en) |
| AR (1) | AR241814A1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE70863T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU599840B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8805226A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1300864C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3867201D1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2028233T3 (en) |
| GR (1) | GR3003817T3 (en) |
| HU (1) | HU209698B (en) |
| IL (1) | IL87941A (en) |
| MX (1) | MX170281B (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ226509A (en) |
| PL (1) | PL158705B1 (en) |
| TR (1) | TR23556A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA887560B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6047452A (en) * | 1998-01-23 | 2000-04-11 | Caruso; Frank | Cylindrical belt finishing machine for knit fabric |
| IT201700108694A1 (en) * | 2017-09-28 | 2019-03-28 | Ferraro Spa | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF COMPACTION FOR FABRICS |
| CN112281389B (en) * | 2020-10-12 | 2022-05-17 | 浙江瑞格机械科技有限公司 | Intelligent high-speed open-width knitting preshrinking combination machine and processing technology thereof |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2706933C3 (en) * | 1977-02-18 | 1979-12-13 | Andre Dipl.-Ing. 7513 Stutensee Lafeber | Device for handling flat or thread-like material between rollers |
| US4363161A (en) * | 1979-11-16 | 1982-12-14 | Frank Catallo | Method and apparatus for the compressive treatment of fabric |
| US4689862A (en) * | 1986-04-25 | 1987-09-01 | Frank Catallo | Method and apparatus for the compressive treatment of fabric |
-
1988
- 1988-10-04 CA CA000579281A patent/CA1300864C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-06 DE DE8888116535T patent/DE3867201D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-06 AT AT88116535T patent/ATE70863T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-10-06 IL IL87941A patent/IL87941A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-10-06 ES ES198888116535T patent/ES2028233T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-06 EP EP88116535A patent/EP0311897B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-07 ZA ZA887560A patent/ZA887560B/en unknown
- 1988-10-10 NZ NZ226509A patent/NZ226509A/en unknown
- 1988-10-10 MX MX013351A patent/MX170281B/en unknown
- 1988-10-11 AR AR88312159A patent/AR241814A1/en active
- 1988-10-11 BR BR888805226A patent/BR8805226A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-10-12 JP JP63256885A patent/JPH01221568A/en active Granted
- 1988-10-12 KR KR1019880013320A patent/KR910002513B1/en not_active Expired
- 1988-10-13 PL PL1988275260A patent/PL158705B1/en unknown
- 1988-10-13 AU AU23740/88A patent/AU599840B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1988-10-13 HU HU885282A patent/HU209698B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-10-13 TR TR710/88A patent/TR23556A/en unknown
- 1988-10-13 CN CN88107003A patent/CN1029863C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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1992
- 1992-02-17 GR GR920400239T patent/GR3003817T3/el unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CN1029863C (en) | 1995-09-27 |
| DE3867201D1 (en) | 1992-02-06 |
| IL87941A0 (en) | 1989-03-31 |
| ZA887560B (en) | 1990-01-31 |
| GR3003817T3 (en) | 1993-03-16 |
| TR23556A (en) | 1990-03-23 |
| KR910002513B1 (en) | 1991-04-23 |
| EP0311897A1 (en) | 1989-04-19 |
| MX170281B (en) | 1993-08-13 |
| HUH3507A (en) | 1990-12-28 |
| IL87941A (en) | 1992-02-16 |
| NZ226509A (en) | 1991-02-26 |
| EP0311897B1 (en) | 1991-12-27 |
| JPH01221568A (en) | 1989-09-05 |
| BR8805226A (en) | 1989-05-23 |
| ATE70863T1 (en) | 1992-01-15 |
| PL158705B1 (en) | 1992-09-30 |
| PL275260A1 (en) | 1989-06-12 |
| AU599840B2 (en) | 1990-07-26 |
| CN1032559A (en) | 1989-04-26 |
| ES2028233T3 (en) | 1992-07-01 |
| KR890006901A (en) | 1989-06-16 |
| HU209698B (en) | 1994-10-28 |
| AU2374088A (en) | 1989-04-13 |
| AR241814A1 (en) | 1992-12-30 |
| JPH0316417B2 (en) | 1991-03-05 |
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