CA1110840A - Method and apparatus for heat-treating tubular knit fabrics - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for heat-treating tubular knit fabricsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1110840A CA1110840A CA339,808A CA339808A CA1110840A CA 1110840 A CA1110840 A CA 1110840A CA 339808 A CA339808 A CA 339808A CA 1110840 A CA1110840 A CA 1110840A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fabric
- drive means
- station
- edge
- tubular form
- 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
Links
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 95
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 10
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 13
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000153 supplemental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920002994 synthetic fiber Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000012209 synthetic fiber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 206010037660 Pyrexia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003779 heat-resistant material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000314 lubricant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000015654 memory Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004758 synthetic textile Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000002268 wool Anatomy 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
- D06C5/00—Shaping or stretching of tubular fabrics upon cores or internal frames
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The invention covers a method and apparatus for sub-jecting a knitted tubular fabric to a dry high temperature in order to reorient the knitted stitch geometry of the fabric while maintaining a predetermined width of the fab-ric under a controlled longitudinal tension condition and allowing the fabric to set while maintaining the controlled longitudinal tension condition. The method involves moving a knitted tubualar fabric over a spreader to spread the fabric into a flattened tubular form of a predeter-mined width while at the same time imparting a lateral tension to the fabric. The inside edges of the form are engaged by a first edge drive to move the form over the spreader towards an edge drive transfer station while maintaining the predetermined width. At that station, the first drive is replaced by a second edge drive while still maintaining the predetermined width. The speed of the first drive is regulated with respect to the second drive in order to control longitudinal tension in the form while engaged by the second drive. The form is then moved by the second drive through a dry heat treat-ing station while maintaining the predetermined width and tension to alter the knitted stitch geometry and remove lateral tension therefrom. The fabric is then removed and allowed to cool and set while engaged by the second drive.
The invention covers a method and apparatus for sub-jecting a knitted tubular fabric to a dry high temperature in order to reorient the knitted stitch geometry of the fabric while maintaining a predetermined width of the fab-ric under a controlled longitudinal tension condition and allowing the fabric to set while maintaining the controlled longitudinal tension condition. The method involves moving a knitted tubualar fabric over a spreader to spread the fabric into a flattened tubular form of a predeter-mined width while at the same time imparting a lateral tension to the fabric. The inside edges of the form are engaged by a first edge drive to move the form over the spreader towards an edge drive transfer station while maintaining the predetermined width. At that station, the first drive is replaced by a second edge drive while still maintaining the predetermined width. The speed of the first drive is regulated with respect to the second drive in order to control longitudinal tension in the form while engaged by the second drive. The form is then moved by the second drive through a dry heat treat-ing station while maintaining the predetermined width and tension to alter the knitted stitch geometry and remove lateral tension therefrom. The fabric is then removed and allowed to cool and set while engaged by the second drive.
Description
--1-- ( I
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention concerns a method and apparatus for subjecting 5 a knitted tubular fabric to a dry high temperature in order to reorient the knitted stitch geometry of the fabric while maintaining a predetermined width of the fabric under a controlled longitudinal tension condition and allowing the fabric to set while maintaining the controlled 10 longitudinaltension condition.
BACKGROUND ART
Heretofore knitted tubular fabrics made of natural fibers such as cotton, wool or silk have been heat treated with steam in order to reorient and set the knitted stitch geometry of the fabric in an attempt to provide for a balanced control of shrinkage in both the longitudinal and lateral dimensions. This has been accomplished by spreading the knitted tubular fabric over a spreader 20 frame while at the same time reducing or eliminating tension in the length direction and subjecting the fabric to a steam treatment. The natural fibers being hydro-scopic absorb moisture from the steam where the moisture then acts as a lubricant to allow the knitted stitches 25 to sllp relative to each other. This slippage in turn alters the knit geometry so as to neutralize or balance tension forces in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the fabric so that the fabric may be subsequently cut into garment segments of a desired size and material 30 yield.
Steam treatment is not applicable for altering the stitch geometry of knitted fabrics made from synthetic fibers, blends of synthetic and natural fibers or from fibers treated with thermo setting resins and where any -- , ~
34~
_ ( -2-1 alteration is permanent enough for the fabric to be trans-ported from the steam treatment station to a cutting table where the fabric is cut into garment segments. This is because fabrics made from synthetic fibers or resin 5 treated fibers have memories that may be altered only by subjecting the fibers to temperatures near to that at which the fibers were f3rmed or near to that which the resins become reactive which temperatures are usually on the order of 300-400F. and well above the temperature 10 of steam at atmospheric pressure.
Apparatus has been utilized in the past to transport synthetic knitted tubular fabrics through a dry high temperature heat treating station in an attempt to alter stitch geometry but no means was provided in such apparatus for holding the tubular fabric out to a desired or pre-determined width in the heat treatment zone. Instead the fabric was pre-spread and steamed before entry into the high temperature zone with the purpose of providing a temporary set in the fabric while the temperature of its fibers wasincreased to the plastic state in the high temperature zone. However in such instances the fabric almost always contracted in width because there were no means provided for holding the width and usually the fabric grew in length because of the longitudinal tensions imparted to the fabric by pulling it through the heat treatment station. Other attempts have been made to treat syn-thetic fabrics by holding the width by pulling a knitted tube of fabric over a stationary wire frame but no means have been provided to control length and width tension 30or fabric geometry while it is being subjected to the high temperature treatment, and fabric treated by such machines is usually distorted and leaned out.
Further the use of wet steam alone in order to impart a ( -3-1 set to knitted fabrics having a brushed surface has been unsuccessful. This is because the steam kills the nap on such fabrics prior to setting in that it reduces formation of static electricity which causes the nap to rise.
It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a method and apparatus for applying a dry high tempera-ture heat to a knitted tubular fabric while at the same time maintaining a predetermined width in such fabric and maintaining a relaxed or reduced longitudinal tension in the fabric. Such method and apparatus will allow the stitch geometry of fabrics made from snythetic fibers, blends of synthetic and natural fibers or fibers treated with thermo setting resins to significantly alter and to set so that a balanc~ shrinkage control of the fabric is maintained in both lateral and longitudinal directions and so that the fabric may maintain predetermined sizes after being cut into garment segments.
It is a further object of my invention to provide ~4~r~
a method and apparatus for treating knitted brush-type fabrics with heat wherein the nap of the fabrics will not be reduced by the particular heat treatment utilized.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Broadly the method of my invention comprises the steps of moving a knitted tubular fabric over a spreader means to spread the fabric into a flattened tubular form of a predetermined width while at the same time imparting a lateral tension to the fabric. The inside edges of the flattened tubular form are engaged by a first edge drive means to move the flattened tubular form over the spreader means towards an edge drive transfer station while maintaining the predetermined width. At the edge drive transfer station, the first drive means is removed from engagement with the tubular form and re-placed by a second edge drive means while still maintaining the predetermined width. The speed of the first drive means is regulated with respect to the second drive means in order 5 to control longitudinal tension in the flattened tubular form while it is engaged by the second drive means. The tubular form is then moved by the second drive means through a dry temperature heat treating station while maintaining the predetermined width and control of longitudinal tension 10 to the form in the heat treating station to cause the knitted stitch geometry to alter and remove lateral tension therefrom. The fabric is then removed from the heat treatment station and allowed to cool and set while engaaed by the second drive means. The fabric if desired may be treated with steam prior to passing through the heat treatment station in order to provide a temporary set while being subjected to the dry heat treatment.
The apparatus of my invention comprises broadly a spreader 20 means for spreading a knitted tubular form to a flattened form of predetermined width. A first drive means is provided for engaging the inside edges of the flattened tubular form to move the form over the spreader means to give the predetermined width and which results in a lateral tension being imparted to the form. A drive transfer station is provided for transferring engagement of the first edge drive means to a second edge drive means while maintaining the predetermined width of the tubular form. Means for varying the speed of the second drive means with respect to the first drive means is provided so that the speed of the fabric moved by the first drive means may be regulated with respect to the fabric engaged by the ~
second drive means to control longitudinal tension. The second drive means e~tends through aheat treating station in which a dry heat preferably in excess of 300F. may be applied to the fabric to alter the stitch geometry of the fabric and to remove the lateral tension. A cooling station is provided through which the second drive means extends wherein the fabric may cool to impart a permanent set to the altered 5 stitch geometry.
Preferably the first and second edge drive means each comprise a driven endless belt for engaging an inside edge of the flattened tubular form and wherein the belt 10 of the second drive means extending through the heat treatment station comprises a heat resisting material.
Further the apparatus may include an air cooler at the cooling station for directing a blast of cooling air onto the tubular form to expedite setting of the modified stitch geometry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DR~WINGS
Figure l is a side view of the device constructed 20 according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a broken plan view of the device of Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2 illustrating a spreader means and an edge drive means;
25 E~igure 4 is an enlarged side view of Figure 2 taken along lines 4-4;
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of Figure 3 taken along lines 5-5;
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 3 taken 30 alng lines 6-6;
Figure 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view of Figure 3 taken along lines 7-7; and Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 2 taken along lines 8-8.
BEST MODE FOR CAP~RYING OUT THE I~IENTION
Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a machine 1 for heat treating knitted tubular fabrics where the apparatus has an entry station 10, a spreader-control 5 station 20, an edge drive transfer station 60, a heat treating station 70, a cooling station ~0 and a batcher station 90.
The entry station 10 comprises a frame 11 supporting a 10 supply roll 12 of a knitted tubular fabric. A tubular web W is drawn from the roll 12 and extends over upper idler rolls 13 and 14 and passes over tension rods 15 and thence over idler rolls 16. The web W then passes over a spreader means 21 which extends into the interior of the 15 tubular fabric to spread the fabric to a predetermined width and at the same time to impart a lateral tension to the tubular web W.
The spreader-control station 20 including the 20 spreader means 21 is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 3 as comprising in part a smooth bow portion 22 adapted to engage the inside edges of a tube of fabric to spread the same into a flattened tubular form of a desired width. The bow portion 22 is connected to spreader 25 side frames 23 which extend through a major portion of the length of the machine 1 from ahead of the spreader-control station 20 through and including the cooling station 80.
Frames 23 serve to support two first edge drive means 24 and two second edge drive means 25 to move the web 30 W of the tu~ular fabric through the machine and where each of the edge drive mear.s is adapted to engage an inside edge of the flattened tubular form.
As shown in Figure 3, each first edge drive means 24 35 comprises an endless belt 24' which passes over a front ! -7- ( I
1 idler pulley 26, a rear driven pulley 27, a plurality of supplemental idler pulleys 28 and a moveable tension adjusting pulley 29 where all of the pulleys are rotatably carried by frame 23. In addition the belt passes over 5 a frustoconical idler wheel 30 carried by frame 23 which, through the medium of the web W as shown in Figure 7, is supported by the rubber covered rolls 31 mounted on shafts 32. Rolls 31 thus serve to freely support the forward end of the spreader means within the tubular form of 10 fabric.
The spreader-control station 20 may, but not necessarily, also include an upper control roll 35 and a lower control roll 36 adapted to be respectively driven in opposite directions by a variable speed drive not shown. Rolls 35 and 36 are adjustable by means illustrated in my Patent No. 3,973,305 whereby the clearance between the rolls may be varied. Further shafts 32 upon which the rubber covered feed rolls are mounted may be driven by a variable 20 speed drive not shown. By varying the relative speed of the control rolls and the rubber feed rolls 31, the control station may be used as a straightening calendar for finishing transversely striped or patterned circular knit fabrics in the manner disclosed and described in 25 my Patent No. 3,973,305.
An abutment roll assembly 45 as more fully illustrated in Figure 4 is mounted onto the spreader frame 23 and includes rolls 46 rotatably mounted with respect to the 30 spreader frame 23 and over which the web W passes such that the web is interposed between the rolls 4~ ardthe control rolls 35 and 36. The abutment rolls thus serve to position the spreader means longitudinally in the machine 1 and prevent the spreader means from being pulled through the machine when fabric is run through the machine.
1 Referring to Figures 3 and 5-8, the second edge drive means 25 like the first edge drive means 24 is adapted to engage each inside edge of a flattened tubular form and comprises an endless belt 50 which passes over a 5 forward idler pulley 51, supplemental idler pulleys 52 and a rear driven pulley 53. The belt 50 comprises a heat resistant material and preferably a stainless steel belt which may withstand the high temperatures generated at the heat treating station.
An edge drive transfer station 60 by which driving engagement of the first drive means with respect to the tubular form is transferred to the second drive means is illustrated in detail in Figures 5 and 6. As shown the rear driven pulley 27 of the first edge drive means comprises a center portion 61 fixedly mounted on shaft 62 and over which belt 24' extends. Also fixedly mounted to the shaft 62 are outer portions 63 each of which has a convex end surface 64. The convex end surfaces 64 of por-20 tions 63 are complementary to concave surface 65 ofa driven edge drive member 66 as shown in Figure 6.
As drive member 66 engages the outer edge of the ~eb W, it will transfer driving force through the web *o the outer portiors63 and in turn to the center portion 61 25 and onto the drive belt 24' to provide the driving force necessary to pull the web over the spreader means 21 and cause the web to be stretched to a predetermined width. Further, because of the engagement between the concave surfaces 65 and convex surfaces 64, the driven 30member 66 will provide a vertical support for the rear driven pulley 27 and the associated spreader frame 23.
As an alternative construction, the first drive means could comprise the rear driven puLley 27 alone and where the bow portion 22 would be extended to the transfer station. In - :
1 such a construction, the pulley 27 driven by the drive roll 66 would engage the inside edges of the tubular fabric to act as an edge drive means and to provide sufficient force to move the tubular form over the spreader to the transfer 5 station and to control the feed of the tubular form with respect to the second edge drive means.
The forward idler pulley 51 of the second edge drive means 25 is mounted on a shaft 54. Also mounted on shaft 10 54 are sections 55 which are freely rotatable with respect to pulley 51 and which have convex outer surfaces 56.
Surfaces 56 act with concave surface 65 through the web W
to provide a vertical support to the spreader frame in the same manner as with the first edge drive means.
Driven member 66 is connected by means of a variable speed control 67 and belt 68 to a drive motor 69 of the machine such that the speed control provides means for regulating the speed of the first edge drive means.
The rear pulley 53 of the second edge drive means has a convex outer surface 57 which is complementary to a concave surface 58 of a drive pulley 59 such that the drive pulley will provide a vertical support for the idler pulley 53 and the associated spreader 23. Driving force for the second edge drive means to move the tubular form from the edye drive transfer station is thus provided by the drive pulley 59 through the web W onto the driven pulley 53 and thence to the belt 50 which engages the inside edges of the tubular form. Drive pulley 59 is connected to a variable speed control unit 85 in turn connected to the main drive motor 69 of the machine by belt 86.
The heat treating station 70 comprises a housing 71 having a plurality Gf dry high temperature heaters 72 therein ;~L~J
1, -10- ~ I
1 positioned beneath and above the fabric which may heat fabric passing through the heat treating station in excess of 300~. Preferably the heaters are infra-red heaters but could be of another type, for example gas heaters. The 5 number of heaters required is in part determined by the speed of the fabric moving through the heat treating station with more heaters needed as faster speeds than at lower speeds since the fabric temperature must be raised to high temperatures in less time than when moving at slower speeds.
The heating station may also include an air knife blower unit 73 which circulates air lengthwise of the tubular form in the heat treating station when the machine is stopped to prevent overheating of the fabric. In addition an exhaust 15 housing 74 is provided to remove smoke generated in the heat treating station.
Cooling station 80 includes air coolers 81 for blowing cooling air on to both sides of the tubular form of fabric 20 in order to assist and expedite setting. If the cooling station is sufficiently long and the speed of movement of the fabric sufficiently slow, the coolers 81 may be dispensed with as the fabric would cool enough to set prior to batching.
The batching station 90 includes conventional driven draw rolls 91 and 92 for moving fabric from the cooling station and a driven wind-up roll 93 where the treated fabric is wound.
In some instances it may be desirable to steam treat the tubular fabric prior to entry in the heat treating station.
.s shown in Figure 1 a steam unit 75 may be provided for this purpose.
!
As shown in Figure 2, the spreader frames extend from a position prior to the control station 20 to a position after the cooling station 80. This length of the spreader allows the tubular form of fabric to be shaped to the pre-determined width by the bow 22 and this width is maintainedthroughout passage of the fabric throùgh the machine, and particularly through the heat treating station where the stitch geometry is altered to relieve lateral tension and in the cooling station where the reoriented fibers are set. The vertical support required for a spreader of such length is provided in at least two positions by the edge drive transfer station construction utilizing the concave driven member 66 and the edge drive construction of the second edge drive means utilizing the concave driven pulley 58.
In addition support may be provided by the rubber covered rolls 31 of the control station but it is to be understood that the control station and its components are not neces-sary parts of my invention.
The operation of the machine is as follows. As the tubular web W is pulled over the bow 22 by the first edge drive means 24, the tubular web is shaped to a flattened tubular form with the belts 24' engaging both inside edges of the form. The spreading of the tubular form imparts a lateral tension to the form. The flattened form is moved to the edge drive transfer means by the belts 24' where the outer edge of the form is engaged by the drive pulley 66 and moved over to the parts 55 of the second edge drive means. The speed of the first edge drive means is usually set greater than that of the second edge drive means such that the tubular form bunches up on the second edge drive means to form traverse or laterally extending pleats P as shown in Figure 2. This bunching up relaxes the fabric in the longitudinal direction to reduce and control longitudinal tension. The bunched up tubular form is then carried into the a~i~
_ -12-1 heat treating station by the second edge drive means where the stitch orientation of the fabric is altered by the heat and where lateral tension is relieved or balanced with respect to the longitudinal tension. In some instances, 5 however, it may be desirable to impart longitudinal tension into the fabric while it is treated. In such event the speed of the first drive means would then be set lower than that of the second drive means such that the fabric moving to the transfer means is underfed with respect to the fabric moving 10 from the transfer means.
The second edge drive then moves the tubular form to the cooling station where the fibers of the reoriented stitches are allowed to set. The tubular form is then pulled from the second edge drive means by the draw rolls 91 and 92 of the batcher station and by the winding up movement of the wind-up roll 93.
It is seen that the machine 1 provides a support to the 20 tubular form through means of the second edge drive means both in the heat treating station and in the cooling station to insure that the lateral and longitudinal tensions of the fabric will be balanced and that the fabric when cooled will retain their balanced condition.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention concerns a method and apparatus for subjecting 5 a knitted tubular fabric to a dry high temperature in order to reorient the knitted stitch geometry of the fabric while maintaining a predetermined width of the fabric under a controlled longitudinal tension condition and allowing the fabric to set while maintaining the controlled 10 longitudinaltension condition.
BACKGROUND ART
Heretofore knitted tubular fabrics made of natural fibers such as cotton, wool or silk have been heat treated with steam in order to reorient and set the knitted stitch geometry of the fabric in an attempt to provide for a balanced control of shrinkage in both the longitudinal and lateral dimensions. This has been accomplished by spreading the knitted tubular fabric over a spreader 20 frame while at the same time reducing or eliminating tension in the length direction and subjecting the fabric to a steam treatment. The natural fibers being hydro-scopic absorb moisture from the steam where the moisture then acts as a lubricant to allow the knitted stitches 25 to sllp relative to each other. This slippage in turn alters the knit geometry so as to neutralize or balance tension forces in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the fabric so that the fabric may be subsequently cut into garment segments of a desired size and material 30 yield.
Steam treatment is not applicable for altering the stitch geometry of knitted fabrics made from synthetic fibers, blends of synthetic and natural fibers or from fibers treated with thermo setting resins and where any -- , ~
34~
_ ( -2-1 alteration is permanent enough for the fabric to be trans-ported from the steam treatment station to a cutting table where the fabric is cut into garment segments. This is because fabrics made from synthetic fibers or resin 5 treated fibers have memories that may be altered only by subjecting the fibers to temperatures near to that at which the fibers were f3rmed or near to that which the resins become reactive which temperatures are usually on the order of 300-400F. and well above the temperature 10 of steam at atmospheric pressure.
Apparatus has been utilized in the past to transport synthetic knitted tubular fabrics through a dry high temperature heat treating station in an attempt to alter stitch geometry but no means was provided in such apparatus for holding the tubular fabric out to a desired or pre-determined width in the heat treatment zone. Instead the fabric was pre-spread and steamed before entry into the high temperature zone with the purpose of providing a temporary set in the fabric while the temperature of its fibers wasincreased to the plastic state in the high temperature zone. However in such instances the fabric almost always contracted in width because there were no means provided for holding the width and usually the fabric grew in length because of the longitudinal tensions imparted to the fabric by pulling it through the heat treatment station. Other attempts have been made to treat syn-thetic fabrics by holding the width by pulling a knitted tube of fabric over a stationary wire frame but no means have been provided to control length and width tension 30or fabric geometry while it is being subjected to the high temperature treatment, and fabric treated by such machines is usually distorted and leaned out.
Further the use of wet steam alone in order to impart a ( -3-1 set to knitted fabrics having a brushed surface has been unsuccessful. This is because the steam kills the nap on such fabrics prior to setting in that it reduces formation of static electricity which causes the nap to rise.
It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a method and apparatus for applying a dry high tempera-ture heat to a knitted tubular fabric while at the same time maintaining a predetermined width in such fabric and maintaining a relaxed or reduced longitudinal tension in the fabric. Such method and apparatus will allow the stitch geometry of fabrics made from snythetic fibers, blends of synthetic and natural fibers or fibers treated with thermo setting resins to significantly alter and to set so that a balanc~ shrinkage control of the fabric is maintained in both lateral and longitudinal directions and so that the fabric may maintain predetermined sizes after being cut into garment segments.
It is a further object of my invention to provide ~4~r~
a method and apparatus for treating knitted brush-type fabrics with heat wherein the nap of the fabrics will not be reduced by the particular heat treatment utilized.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Broadly the method of my invention comprises the steps of moving a knitted tubular fabric over a spreader means to spread the fabric into a flattened tubular form of a predetermined width while at the same time imparting a lateral tension to the fabric. The inside edges of the flattened tubular form are engaged by a first edge drive means to move the flattened tubular form over the spreader means towards an edge drive transfer station while maintaining the predetermined width. At the edge drive transfer station, the first drive means is removed from engagement with the tubular form and re-placed by a second edge drive means while still maintaining the predetermined width. The speed of the first drive means is regulated with respect to the second drive means in order 5 to control longitudinal tension in the flattened tubular form while it is engaged by the second drive means. The tubular form is then moved by the second drive means through a dry temperature heat treating station while maintaining the predetermined width and control of longitudinal tension 10 to the form in the heat treating station to cause the knitted stitch geometry to alter and remove lateral tension therefrom. The fabric is then removed from the heat treatment station and allowed to cool and set while engaaed by the second drive means. The fabric if desired may be treated with steam prior to passing through the heat treatment station in order to provide a temporary set while being subjected to the dry heat treatment.
The apparatus of my invention comprises broadly a spreader 20 means for spreading a knitted tubular form to a flattened form of predetermined width. A first drive means is provided for engaging the inside edges of the flattened tubular form to move the form over the spreader means to give the predetermined width and which results in a lateral tension being imparted to the form. A drive transfer station is provided for transferring engagement of the first edge drive means to a second edge drive means while maintaining the predetermined width of the tubular form. Means for varying the speed of the second drive means with respect to the first drive means is provided so that the speed of the fabric moved by the first drive means may be regulated with respect to the fabric engaged by the ~
second drive means to control longitudinal tension. The second drive means e~tends through aheat treating station in which a dry heat preferably in excess of 300F. may be applied to the fabric to alter the stitch geometry of the fabric and to remove the lateral tension. A cooling station is provided through which the second drive means extends wherein the fabric may cool to impart a permanent set to the altered 5 stitch geometry.
Preferably the first and second edge drive means each comprise a driven endless belt for engaging an inside edge of the flattened tubular form and wherein the belt 10 of the second drive means extending through the heat treatment station comprises a heat resisting material.
Further the apparatus may include an air cooler at the cooling station for directing a blast of cooling air onto the tubular form to expedite setting of the modified stitch geometry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DR~WINGS
Figure l is a side view of the device constructed 20 according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a broken plan view of the device of Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2 illustrating a spreader means and an edge drive means;
25 E~igure 4 is an enlarged side view of Figure 2 taken along lines 4-4;
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of Figure 3 taken along lines 5-5;
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 3 taken 30 alng lines 6-6;
Figure 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view of Figure 3 taken along lines 7-7; and Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 2 taken along lines 8-8.
BEST MODE FOR CAP~RYING OUT THE I~IENTION
Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a machine 1 for heat treating knitted tubular fabrics where the apparatus has an entry station 10, a spreader-control 5 station 20, an edge drive transfer station 60, a heat treating station 70, a cooling station ~0 and a batcher station 90.
The entry station 10 comprises a frame 11 supporting a 10 supply roll 12 of a knitted tubular fabric. A tubular web W is drawn from the roll 12 and extends over upper idler rolls 13 and 14 and passes over tension rods 15 and thence over idler rolls 16. The web W then passes over a spreader means 21 which extends into the interior of the 15 tubular fabric to spread the fabric to a predetermined width and at the same time to impart a lateral tension to the tubular web W.
The spreader-control station 20 including the 20 spreader means 21 is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 3 as comprising in part a smooth bow portion 22 adapted to engage the inside edges of a tube of fabric to spread the same into a flattened tubular form of a desired width. The bow portion 22 is connected to spreader 25 side frames 23 which extend through a major portion of the length of the machine 1 from ahead of the spreader-control station 20 through and including the cooling station 80.
Frames 23 serve to support two first edge drive means 24 and two second edge drive means 25 to move the web 30 W of the tu~ular fabric through the machine and where each of the edge drive mear.s is adapted to engage an inside edge of the flattened tubular form.
As shown in Figure 3, each first edge drive means 24 35 comprises an endless belt 24' which passes over a front ! -7- ( I
1 idler pulley 26, a rear driven pulley 27, a plurality of supplemental idler pulleys 28 and a moveable tension adjusting pulley 29 where all of the pulleys are rotatably carried by frame 23. In addition the belt passes over 5 a frustoconical idler wheel 30 carried by frame 23 which, through the medium of the web W as shown in Figure 7, is supported by the rubber covered rolls 31 mounted on shafts 32. Rolls 31 thus serve to freely support the forward end of the spreader means within the tubular form of 10 fabric.
The spreader-control station 20 may, but not necessarily, also include an upper control roll 35 and a lower control roll 36 adapted to be respectively driven in opposite directions by a variable speed drive not shown. Rolls 35 and 36 are adjustable by means illustrated in my Patent No. 3,973,305 whereby the clearance between the rolls may be varied. Further shafts 32 upon which the rubber covered feed rolls are mounted may be driven by a variable 20 speed drive not shown. By varying the relative speed of the control rolls and the rubber feed rolls 31, the control station may be used as a straightening calendar for finishing transversely striped or patterned circular knit fabrics in the manner disclosed and described in 25 my Patent No. 3,973,305.
An abutment roll assembly 45 as more fully illustrated in Figure 4 is mounted onto the spreader frame 23 and includes rolls 46 rotatably mounted with respect to the 30 spreader frame 23 and over which the web W passes such that the web is interposed between the rolls 4~ ardthe control rolls 35 and 36. The abutment rolls thus serve to position the spreader means longitudinally in the machine 1 and prevent the spreader means from being pulled through the machine when fabric is run through the machine.
1 Referring to Figures 3 and 5-8, the second edge drive means 25 like the first edge drive means 24 is adapted to engage each inside edge of a flattened tubular form and comprises an endless belt 50 which passes over a 5 forward idler pulley 51, supplemental idler pulleys 52 and a rear driven pulley 53. The belt 50 comprises a heat resistant material and preferably a stainless steel belt which may withstand the high temperatures generated at the heat treating station.
An edge drive transfer station 60 by which driving engagement of the first drive means with respect to the tubular form is transferred to the second drive means is illustrated in detail in Figures 5 and 6. As shown the rear driven pulley 27 of the first edge drive means comprises a center portion 61 fixedly mounted on shaft 62 and over which belt 24' extends. Also fixedly mounted to the shaft 62 are outer portions 63 each of which has a convex end surface 64. The convex end surfaces 64 of por-20 tions 63 are complementary to concave surface 65 ofa driven edge drive member 66 as shown in Figure 6.
As drive member 66 engages the outer edge of the ~eb W, it will transfer driving force through the web *o the outer portiors63 and in turn to the center portion 61 25 and onto the drive belt 24' to provide the driving force necessary to pull the web over the spreader means 21 and cause the web to be stretched to a predetermined width. Further, because of the engagement between the concave surfaces 65 and convex surfaces 64, the driven 30member 66 will provide a vertical support for the rear driven pulley 27 and the associated spreader frame 23.
As an alternative construction, the first drive means could comprise the rear driven puLley 27 alone and where the bow portion 22 would be extended to the transfer station. In - :
1 such a construction, the pulley 27 driven by the drive roll 66 would engage the inside edges of the tubular fabric to act as an edge drive means and to provide sufficient force to move the tubular form over the spreader to the transfer 5 station and to control the feed of the tubular form with respect to the second edge drive means.
The forward idler pulley 51 of the second edge drive means 25 is mounted on a shaft 54. Also mounted on shaft 10 54 are sections 55 which are freely rotatable with respect to pulley 51 and which have convex outer surfaces 56.
Surfaces 56 act with concave surface 65 through the web W
to provide a vertical support to the spreader frame in the same manner as with the first edge drive means.
Driven member 66 is connected by means of a variable speed control 67 and belt 68 to a drive motor 69 of the machine such that the speed control provides means for regulating the speed of the first edge drive means.
The rear pulley 53 of the second edge drive means has a convex outer surface 57 which is complementary to a concave surface 58 of a drive pulley 59 such that the drive pulley will provide a vertical support for the idler pulley 53 and the associated spreader 23. Driving force for the second edge drive means to move the tubular form from the edye drive transfer station is thus provided by the drive pulley 59 through the web W onto the driven pulley 53 and thence to the belt 50 which engages the inside edges of the tubular form. Drive pulley 59 is connected to a variable speed control unit 85 in turn connected to the main drive motor 69 of the machine by belt 86.
The heat treating station 70 comprises a housing 71 having a plurality Gf dry high temperature heaters 72 therein ;~L~J
1, -10- ~ I
1 positioned beneath and above the fabric which may heat fabric passing through the heat treating station in excess of 300~. Preferably the heaters are infra-red heaters but could be of another type, for example gas heaters. The 5 number of heaters required is in part determined by the speed of the fabric moving through the heat treating station with more heaters needed as faster speeds than at lower speeds since the fabric temperature must be raised to high temperatures in less time than when moving at slower speeds.
The heating station may also include an air knife blower unit 73 which circulates air lengthwise of the tubular form in the heat treating station when the machine is stopped to prevent overheating of the fabric. In addition an exhaust 15 housing 74 is provided to remove smoke generated in the heat treating station.
Cooling station 80 includes air coolers 81 for blowing cooling air on to both sides of the tubular form of fabric 20 in order to assist and expedite setting. If the cooling station is sufficiently long and the speed of movement of the fabric sufficiently slow, the coolers 81 may be dispensed with as the fabric would cool enough to set prior to batching.
The batching station 90 includes conventional driven draw rolls 91 and 92 for moving fabric from the cooling station and a driven wind-up roll 93 where the treated fabric is wound.
In some instances it may be desirable to steam treat the tubular fabric prior to entry in the heat treating station.
.s shown in Figure 1 a steam unit 75 may be provided for this purpose.
!
As shown in Figure 2, the spreader frames extend from a position prior to the control station 20 to a position after the cooling station 80. This length of the spreader allows the tubular form of fabric to be shaped to the pre-determined width by the bow 22 and this width is maintainedthroughout passage of the fabric throùgh the machine, and particularly through the heat treating station where the stitch geometry is altered to relieve lateral tension and in the cooling station where the reoriented fibers are set. The vertical support required for a spreader of such length is provided in at least two positions by the edge drive transfer station construction utilizing the concave driven member 66 and the edge drive construction of the second edge drive means utilizing the concave driven pulley 58.
In addition support may be provided by the rubber covered rolls 31 of the control station but it is to be understood that the control station and its components are not neces-sary parts of my invention.
The operation of the machine is as follows. As the tubular web W is pulled over the bow 22 by the first edge drive means 24, the tubular web is shaped to a flattened tubular form with the belts 24' engaging both inside edges of the form. The spreading of the tubular form imparts a lateral tension to the form. The flattened form is moved to the edge drive transfer means by the belts 24' where the outer edge of the form is engaged by the drive pulley 66 and moved over to the parts 55 of the second edge drive means. The speed of the first edge drive means is usually set greater than that of the second edge drive means such that the tubular form bunches up on the second edge drive means to form traverse or laterally extending pleats P as shown in Figure 2. This bunching up relaxes the fabric in the longitudinal direction to reduce and control longitudinal tension. The bunched up tubular form is then carried into the a~i~
_ -12-1 heat treating station by the second edge drive means where the stitch orientation of the fabric is altered by the heat and where lateral tension is relieved or balanced with respect to the longitudinal tension. In some instances, 5 however, it may be desirable to impart longitudinal tension into the fabric while it is treated. In such event the speed of the first drive means would then be set lower than that of the second drive means such that the fabric moving to the transfer means is underfed with respect to the fabric moving 10 from the transfer means.
The second edge drive then moves the tubular form to the cooling station where the fibers of the reoriented stitches are allowed to set. The tubular form is then pulled from the second edge drive means by the draw rolls 91 and 92 of the batcher station and by the winding up movement of the wind-up roll 93.
It is seen that the machine 1 provides a support to the 20 tubular form through means of the second edge drive means both in the heat treating station and in the cooling station to insure that the lateral and longitudinal tensions of the fabric will be balanced and that the fabric when cooled will retain their balanced condition.
Claims (8)
1. A method of treating a knitted tubular fabric to impart a permanent set thereto comprising the steps of:
a) moving the tubular fabric over a spreader means to spread it into a flattened tubular form of a predetermined width and to impart a lateral tension thereto;
b) engaging the inside edges of the flattened tubular form by a first edge drive means to move said flattened tubular form from said spreader means towards an edge drive transfer station while maintaining said predetermined lateral width;
c) removing the first edge drive means from engagement with the flattened tubular form at said edge drive transfer station and engaging the inside edges of the flattened tubular form by a second edge drive means while maintaining said predetermined lateral width;
d) controllably moving said flattened tubular form from said first edge drive means to said second edge drive means at said edge drive transfer station to control longitudinal tension in said flattened tubular form while engaged by the second edge drive means;
e) moving the flattened tubular form by said second edge drive means from said edge drive transfer station through a dry high temperature heat treating station while maintaining said predetermined width and while maintaining control of the longitudinal tension; and f) applying dry heat in excess of 300°F to said tubular fabric while it passes through said heat treating station to modify the knitted stitch geometry.
a) moving the tubular fabric over a spreader means to spread it into a flattened tubular form of a predetermined width and to impart a lateral tension thereto;
b) engaging the inside edges of the flattened tubular form by a first edge drive means to move said flattened tubular form from said spreader means towards an edge drive transfer station while maintaining said predetermined lateral width;
c) removing the first edge drive means from engagement with the flattened tubular form at said edge drive transfer station and engaging the inside edges of the flattened tubular form by a second edge drive means while maintaining said predetermined lateral width;
d) controllably moving said flattened tubular form from said first edge drive means to said second edge drive means at said edge drive transfer station to control longitudinal tension in said flattened tubular form while engaged by the second edge drive means;
e) moving the flattened tubular form by said second edge drive means from said edge drive transfer station through a dry high temperature heat treating station while maintaining said predetermined width and while maintaining control of the longitudinal tension; and f) applying dry heat in excess of 300°F to said tubular fabric while it passes through said heat treating station to modify the knitted stitch geometry.
2. A method of treating a knitted tubular fabric according to Claim 1 including the additional step of g) treating said fabric with steam prior to passing through said heat treating station.
3. Apparatus for heat treating a knitted tubular fabric to impart a permanent set thereto comprising a spreader means for spreading knitted tubular fabric into a flattened tubular form, a first drive means for engaging the inside edges of the flattened tubular form to move the fabric over the spreader means to impart a predetermined width and lateral tension to the form, a second drive means for engaging the inside edges of the flattened tubular form while maintaining its predetermined width, an edge drive transfer means for transferring engagement of the flattened tubular form from said first drive means to said second drive means, means for varying the speed of said second drive means with respect to the speed of said first drive means whereby the rate of feed of the flattened tubular form moved towards said transfer means is varied with respect to the rate of feed of said form from the transfer means to control the longitudinal tension in said form while it is engaged by said second drive means, and a heating station through which the second edge drive means extends including means for applying a dry heat in excess of 300°F to said fabric to modify stitch geometry.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 including in addition a steam treating unit through which the first edge drive means extends.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said first and second edge drive means each comprise a driven endless belt for engaging an inside edge of the flattened tubular form.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the belt of the second edge drive means comprises a metal heat resisting material.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said means for applying heat is of a capacity to heat the fabric in excess of 300°F.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 3 having in addition a cooling station through which the second edge drive means extends including an air cooler for directing cooling air onto fabric passing from said heating station to facilitate a permanent set in the fabric.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US96092878A | 1978-11-15 | 1978-11-15 | |
| US960,928 | 1978-11-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1110840A true CA1110840A (en) | 1981-10-20 |
Family
ID=25503827
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA339,808A Expired CA1110840A (en) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-11-14 | Method and apparatus for heat-treating tubular knit fabrics |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS55500912A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1110840A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2953321A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2441677A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2048974B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1119486B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1980001084A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3235555A1 (en) * | 1982-09-25 | 1984-03-29 | Fleißner GmbH & Co, Maschinenfabrik, 6073 Egelsbach | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FREEING THE SHRINKAGE OF TUBULAR TEXTILE MATERIAL |
| US4484369A (en) * | 1983-04-29 | 1984-11-27 | Samcoe Holding Corporation | Method for drying tubular knitted fabric |
| CH667479A5 (en) * | 1985-06-05 | 1988-10-14 | Santex Ag | WIDE RACK FOR HOSE GOODS. |
| DE19739834C1 (en) * | 1997-09-11 | 1998-10-08 | Scs Gmbh | Stretch fabric finishing |
| IT1312318B1 (en) | 1999-05-25 | 2002-04-15 | Sperotto Rimar Spa | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THERMAL FASTENING OF A TUBULAR INFORMATION KNITTED FABRIC. |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2228001A (en) * | 1938-04-05 | 1941-01-07 | Samcoe Holding Corp | Tubular fabric treating system |
| US3762003A (en) * | 1972-01-24 | 1973-10-02 | Semcoe Holding Corp | Apparatus for distending and heat-treating tubular knitted fabric |
| JPS4936988A (en) * | 1972-08-25 | 1974-04-05 | ||
| US3875624A (en) * | 1973-04-05 | 1975-04-08 | Samcoe Holding Corp | Edge drive control means for tubular fabric calendering systems |
| FR2236049A1 (en) * | 1973-07-05 | 1975-01-31 | Samcoe Holding Corp | Tubular fabric spreader unit - has lattice of rods to hold material as it passes through thermal treatment |
| US3962003A (en) * | 1973-11-08 | 1976-06-08 | Xerox Corporation | Method of forming magnetic brush support member |
| US3973305A (en) * | 1975-02-03 | 1976-08-10 | Frank Catallo | Apparatus for conditioning and calendering circular knit tubular fabrics |
-
1979
- 1979-11-14 DE DE792953321A patent/DE2953321A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1979-11-14 FR FR7928114A patent/FR2441677A1/en active Granted
- 1979-11-14 GB GB8022036A patent/GB2048974B/en not_active Expired
- 1979-11-14 WO PCT/US1979/000977 patent/WO1980001084A1/en unknown
- 1979-11-14 JP JP50210279A patent/JPS55500912A/ja active Pending
- 1979-11-14 CA CA339,808A patent/CA1110840A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-11-15 IT IT69214/79A patent/IT1119486B/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2441677B1 (en) | 1984-09-14 |
| FR2441677A1 (en) | 1980-06-13 |
| WO1980001084A1 (en) | 1980-05-29 |
| IT1119486B (en) | 1986-03-10 |
| GB2048974A (en) | 1980-12-17 |
| IT7969214A0 (en) | 1979-11-15 |
| GB2048974B (en) | 1982-12-01 |
| JPS55500912A (en) | 1980-11-06 |
| DE2953321A1 (en) | 1980-11-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry | ||
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Effective date: 19981020 |