GB1016022A - Improvements in the treatment of tubular fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

1,016,022. Finishing fabrics. HOSIERY & ALLIED TRADES RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. Feb. 7, 1963 [Feb.13, 1962], No. 5435/62. Heading D1S. Apparatus for shrink resistant and/or callendering treatment of knitted tubular fabric includes a stretcher frame for location inside the tubular fabric, at least two pairs of fabric feeding rollers spaced lengthwise of the frame to provide lengthwise spaced during locations for the fabric on the frame, and means co-relating the rate of drive of the rollers to the width of the fabric so that for any variation in fabric width caused by the frame there is an inversely proportional variation in the rate of drive of the pairs of rollers. As shown in Fig. 1 of Provisional drawings stretcher frame 5 is composed of spaced stretcher bars 6, 7 each having formed in their outer edges, recesses 8, 9, 10 , 8<SP>1</SP> , 9<SP>1</SP> , 10<SP>1</SP> and two pairs of links 11, 12 and 13, 14 connected to bars 6, 7 and to bridge pieces 15, 16 spring biased towards each other by spring 17 oonnected at one end to bridge piece 15 and at the other to an adjusting screw 18 connected to bridge piece 16. The biasing action of screw 17 urges the stretcher bars 6, 7 away from each other. A pair of adjusting screws 3, 4, operated by handwheels 20, 20a have oppositely screwed portions 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b with which engage nut ends 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b of side bars 22, 23 disposed exteriorly of the fabric and rotatably mounting spaced wheels 24, 25, 26, 24<SP>1</SP>, 25<SP>1</SP>, 26<SP>1</SP> which register and co-operate with the recesses in the stretcher frame bars 6, 7 and are adapted to be driven for traverse of the fabric lengthwise about the frame 5 by engagement of the wheels with the fabric in the respective arcuate recesses. The wheels are driven from a reciprocating bar 2 through links 27, 27<SP>1</SP> by suitable pawl and ratchet wheel mechanism so that the wheels are rotated in the forwarding direction by both the push and the pull motions of the reciprocating rod 2, the latter, if desired, being operated automatically by suitable drive means. With the divergence of bars 22, 23 the leverage of the different pairs of links 27, 27<SP>1</SP> is progressively less towards the narrow end of frame 5 with the result that the speed of rotation of the wheels is progressively greater towards this end. Also variation in the spacing of bars 22, 23 automatically correspondingly varies the speed of rotation of the wheels. In use widthwise stretching of a tubular fabric fed over the frame 5 is accompanied by lengthwise contraction due to the differential speeds of the wheels. Fig. 1 of complete drawings shows the stretcher frame used in conjunction with feed rollers 40, 41 and associated steam spray pipes 43, 44. Electric motor 33 drives a bar 37, which is equivalent to the reciprocating operating bar 2 referred to above through belt and pulley means 34, eccentric 35 and connecting means 36.