GB1333640A - Spreader-propeller apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1333640 Finishing fabrics SAMCOE HOLDING CORP 21 Dec 1971 [24 Dec 1970] 59473/71 Heading D1S Apparatus for finishing tubular knitted fabric 13 comprises an internal spreader 14 having opposed pairs of propeller rolls 35, 36 having frictional driving contact with external edge drive rolls 23, 24, the working surface area of either the rolls 35, 36 or the rolls 23, 24 having a multi-pointed surface characteristic. The incoming fabric 13 passes sinuously around rollers 12, over the spreader 14 and is discharged between rollers 16, 17. If the fabric 13 is dry, steaming may be associated with the spreading. The rolls 23, 24 are mounted on carriages 20, 21 adjustable along guide rods 18, 19 and are drivable by a splined shaft (not shown). The rolls or pulleys 35, 36 together with idler pulleys 34, 37, 38, are mounted on sections 25, 26 connected by telescopically adjustable rods 27, 28. Belts 39, 40 extend around the pulleys 34, 35 and 36, 38 respectively. The downstream extremity 33 of the spreader is disposed near the bight between the rolls 16, 17. At the upstream end, the spreader is supported on rollers 42 carried by brackets 44 extending from the carriages 20, 21. Upper confining rollers 43 are supported by brackets 45 mounted on the brackets 44. Either by adjustment of the brackets 44 relative to the carriages 20, 21 or by adjustment of the rollers 42 on their brackets 44, or both, the spreader is set so that the downstream end is below the upstream end and the axes of the rolls 35, 36 are slightly skewed relative to the axes of the rolls 23, 24, Fig. 4. Preferably, the rolls 23, 24, 35, 36 are formed of a hard nylon moulded about a metal hub. The rolls 35, 36 have angular recesses therein to receive the belts 39, 40. The rolls 23, 24 have outer portions formed of a hard moulded polyurethane. One or other of the rollers 23, 24 or the rollers 35, 36 may be formed with a multi-pointed surface pattern 50, Fig. 6, comprising pyramid-like projections provided by machining grooves 51, 52 in the roll surface. Plates 29, 30 forming the sections 25, 26 are surfaced with a low friction material, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene which may be in the form of particles impregnated into an aluminium oxide coating on aluminium plates.