GB495785A - Improvements in method of and machine for treating knitted tubular fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0495785/IV/1> <PICT:0495785/IV/2> <PICT:0495785/IV/3> Knitted tubular fabric is treated with liquids, e.g. washed, dyed, &c., dried, and finished in a continuous length in three successive machines A, B, C, Figs. 2, 3, 5, 7, the speed of the motor 51, Fig. 4, of the drier B being controlled by a rheostat 64 and a jockey pulley 65 according to the tension of the fabric between the machines A, B, the speed of the motor 52 of the finishing machine C being controlled by a rheostat 85 and a series of jockey pulleys 86 according to the tension of the fabric between the machines B, C, and the speed of the feed rollers 25, 26 within the drier being further controlled by the tension of the separate lengths of fabric in the drier. Successive lengths of fabric M are joined together and when such a joint lifts the top calender roll 46 of the finishing machine C a spring 215, Fig. 7, pulls down a lever 210 and closes electric contacts 220, 221 which through a rheostat 60 controls the output of the main generator 94 to slow down the whole plant. After the joint has been removed by a cutter 103 which may be of the typ described in U.S.A. Specification 1,745,476, the full take-up roll 2 is pushed up the guides 105 and an empty one 107 dropped into position. The leading end of the fabric is then lapped round the new take-up roll and the plant put at full speed again. The material M, from the container 1, Fig. 5, passes over an expander 5 consisting of upper and lower cross rollers 205, and U-shaped flat frames 209, 210, the expander being held in position by rollers 206, <PICT:0495785/IV/4> <PICT:0495785/IV/5> 207 which also serve for feeding the fabric. Alternative types of flat expanders are shown in Fig. 15, and Figs. 10, 11, the latter being adjustable in width and fitted with idle rollers 258, which co-operate with driven rollers 259 to position the expander and feed the fabric. The fabric in flat form is passed under a roll 7, Fig. 5, and through, say, water in a trough 8, then between squeze rolls 9, 10. Next it passes under a roll 13 and through, say, some chemical treating liquid in a trough 14, then through squeeze rolls 15. The water &c. is fed by pumps 109, 115 to the troughs 8, 14 whence it runs to troughs 112, 17 and returns to tanks 108, 114. The pumps also force the water &c. to spray means 11, 16 discharging on to the upper squeeze rolls 9, 15. The fabric next passes round the jockey pulley 65 controlling the speed of the drier B and enters the drier at the top right hand p corner, Fig. 2, leaving at the bottom between rolls 23 which serve as seals to the drying chamber. The fabric next passes through the jockey pulley device 86 connected with the rheostat 65 for controlling the speed of the motor 52 driving the finisher C. on to the finisher. Here it is again expanded by a device which may be similar to that used in the apparatus A, is then steamed from above and below by jets from cross steam pipes 196, and is finally calendered between rolls 46. As shown, the fabric is also steamed immediately before being expanded in the finisher. The <PICT:0495785/IV/6> <PICT:0495785/IV/7> <PICT:0495785/IV/8> relative speeds of the expander rolls 79, the calender rolls 46 and the take-up roll 49 of apparatus C, also the relative speeds of the feed-rolls 205 and the squeeze rolls 9, 10 and 15 of apparatus A are determined by change-gearing. The rollers 25, 26, 131 may be fabric covered, the covering being held in a groove by a ring 166, Fig. 9 at one end, and turned into a recess in the other end of the roller and held therein by a radially expanding spring 169. Specification 334,197, [Class 15(i)], also is referred to.