GB1217993A - A process and apparatus for converting tubular knitted fabrics into open width form - Google Patents

Abstract

1,217,993. Finishing fabrics. SAMCOE HOLDING CORP. 11 March, 1969, No. 12836/69. Heading D1S. In a process of converting a tubular knitted fabric into an edge-gummed open-width fabric by spreading, steaming, gumming, slitting, opening and gathering the fabric, the fabric, in flat tubular form, is engaged internally by opposed side edges substantially continuously from the beginning of the spreading stage to the slitting stage; the fabric is drivingly engaged by its internal edges from regions immediately downstream of the spreading stage and extending to the slitting stage and is thereby conveyed continuously to the slitting stage; the fabric is engaged by its internal edges in the spreading stage and is maintained while in this stage free of driving pressures on its external edges; and the edges of the fabric are conveyed at a different speed in the spreading stage than in the subsequent stages. The knitted tubular fabric F, Fig. 3, passes through a set of straightening rollers 10 and passes over an elongate frame 11 comprising spreading and processing sections 12, 13 each including a pair of belts 14, 15, respectively, Fig. 4, to engage the internal edges of the fabric. The frame 11 is supported at its forward end by a structure 16, Fig. 3, which includes means for driving the belts 15 at a point downstream of a slitter knife. The belts 14 are driven only by the fabric passing thereover. The frame 11 is guided by width-adjustable edge rolls 17, Fig. 4, which do not have any driving or pressure engagement with the fabric but are grooved to engage pulleys 18, 19 about which the belts 14, 15 are trained. The fabric is fed over the stage 12 by rollers 20, 21 having a high friction surface, e.g. felt, and which are driven in synchronism with the rolls 17 by a motor (not shown) via a chain and sprocket gearing at a peripheral speed higher than the speed of the belts 15 to over feed the fabric to the stage 13. The fabric 11 may be additionally supported by a roller 35, Fig. 3, supporting a roller assembly 36 within the fabric. The belts 15 carry the fabric between steam boxes 37 to relax or set the fabric. An air blower nozzle 38 is provided to prevent steam from condensing on the rolls 17, 20, 21. A similar nozzle (not shown) may be provided on the downstream side of the boxes 37. The fabric passes under a wheel 39 which applies a narrow strip of gum to the longitudinal centre line of the upper surface of the fabric. If the gum is an aqueous solution or suspension, the fabric is passed through a heating chamber 41 to drive off moisture or, if the gum is a hotmelt or thermoplastic composition, the chamber 41 need not be operated or may be omitted. The gummed fabric is severed by a knife 42 along the centre line of the gummed strip. The fabric passes between rollers 43, is spread and opened by a device 44 as described in Specification No. 940,612, passes onto a conveyor 47 and passes to a wind-up 49 or a folder.