GB1324434A - Tenter apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1324434 Finishing fabrics D PERNICK 5 Oct 1970 47282/70 Heading D1S Apparatus for spreading a length of loosely draped fabric F comprises two sets of oppositely disposed tenterhooks 20 for impaling thereon opposed portions of the fabric F and control means for rotating the angular orientation of each set of tenterhooks as they are caused to diverge so that each portion remains impaled on the tenter-hooks of a set as the divergence of the two sets spreads the fabric into substantially flat-form. As shown, tenter pins 20 are supported on plates 21 mounted on carriers 28 each pivoted by a pin 30 between two spaced arms 27 on a bracket 24 comprising a link of a tenter chain 13, 14. Coil springs 31 bias the carriers 28 to pivot downwardly to the position of Fig. 5, this downward movement being limited by the cooperation of surfaces 32, 33 on the arms 27 and the carrier 28. The carriers 28 are locked in the position of Fig. 6 by the cooperation of feet 35 on levers 29 pivoted to the arms 27 with notches 34 on the carriers 28. Springs 36 urge the levers 29 downwardly. Upon upward rotation of the carriers 28, the feet 35 are engaged by surfaces 37 on the carriers 28 to cam the levers 29 in the upward direction. The carriers 28 are moved from the orientation of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6 by the engagement of arms 40 thereon with a cam plate 38 shaped as shown in Fig. 3. The spacing between the chains 13, 14 is adjustable by a handwheel 54 arranged for simultaneous operation of threaded shafts 52, 53. A tubular knited fabric F, Fig. 5, is draped loosely over spaced V-belts 16, Fig. 1, and is fed thereby onto guide bars 17, 18, Fig. 5. A cutting knife 12 driven at high speed slits the fabric longitudinally. Immediately in advance of the bars 17, 18 the fabric is engaged by opposed tenter pins 20 on chains 13, 14. Preferably, the conveyors 16 are driven at a slightly higher speed than the chains 13, 14 to overfeed the fabric. As the chains advance, the carriers 28 are gradually pivoted through 90‹ to the position of Fig. 6 by the plate 38 and are locked by the levers 29. The chains 14, 15 diverger until the fabric is held in open width form and then continue parallel along sections 13a, 14a in which the fabric is steamed by a box 41 and cooled by an air nozzle 42. As the carriers 28 approach the discharge end of the chains 13, 14, the levers 29 are displaced by cams 47 engaging arms 46 so that the carriers 28 pivot back to their original positions. The fabric is de-pinned and passes over guide rollers to be wound into a roll at a station 15.