GB855079A - Improvements in method and apparatus for treating textile fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

855,079. Shrinking fabrics; rollers. COMPAX CORP. Jan. 17, 1958 [Feb. 4, 1957], No. 1718/58. Classes 42 (1) and 42 (2). Apparatus for shrinking fabric, in particular knitted, tubular fabric, comprises compacting mechanism 21 consisting of a driven roller 22 having a relatively smooth surface, which feeds the fabric 11 towards the rougher surface of a second roller 23 which is rotated at a speed slower than that of the roller 22. Thus in the region 88a before the nip between the two rollers the fabric is compacted and is set to its new dimensions by passing through the nip between the rollers. The difference in the nature of the surfaces of the two rollers is particularly advantageous in the treatment of tubular fabric since it helps to prevent the two layers of fabric from sliding longitudinally of each other during treatment. The distance apart of the two rollers 22 and 23 is adjustable, and they are rotated from separate driving units 24 and 38 respectively so that their speeds of rotation can be varied independently. The feeding of the fabric to the compacting zone is assisted by a shoe 74 co-operating with the roller 22, the shoe being adjustable towards and away from the roller 22, displaceable around the circumference of the roller, and tiltable about the axis of the pivot pins 70. The fabric 11 is fed to the compacting mechanism via means 12 comprising a system of spaced rollers and bars for ensuring that the fabric reaches the compacting mechanism free from wrinkles, the rollers being driven from the unit 24 so as to operate at the same speed as the feed roller 22. Similarly, a conveyer 35, for removing the treated fabric from the compacting mechanism, is driven from the power unit 38 at the same speed as that of the roller 23. The fabric may either be compacted without being previously moistened, in which case the rollers 22 and 23 are of non-resilient material such as steel and are heated, or alternatively the fabric may be moistened, by passing through a steaming station 17 for example, in which case the rollers need not be heated. In the latter case, it is convenient to use a roller 23 having a surface construction as shown in Fig. 9. The surface comprises a layer 96 from which project fine wires 97 embedded in a layer of resilient material such as rubber. As the fabric passes through the nip between the rollers 22 and 23, the layer of resilient material is compressed to expose the ends of the wires 97 which can then grip the fabric effectively, and as the fabric emerges from the nip, the resilient material expands and strips the fabric from the wires. Although the surface of the roller 22 is smooth in comparison with that of the roller 23, it is necessary that the roller should be capable of gripping the fabric to a certain extent, and to this end its surface may be knurled and etched, or may be provided with shallow, longitudinal or helical grooves as in Figs. 7 and 8 (not shown).