GB1368303A - Method of and apparatus for increasing webs - Google Patents

Abstract

1368303 Creasing fabrics A MEYER 14 Dec 1971 [14 Dec 1970] 57961/71 Heading D1S A continuous process for producing random creases in a flexible web comprises feeding the web in a spread-out condition to a treatment zone, gathering the web longitudinally and transversely in said zone, and subsequently spreading out the web-again. A leather-like grain is thus produced. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the web 2 is engaged by disc-like members 17 fixed to rotating shafts 16. The discs 17 are staggered horizontally and preferably vertically, half of shafts 16 being mounted on an upper frame and the remainder on a lower frame. The separation being adjustable. Alternate shafts rotate in opposite directions. The discs may be circular, oval, polygonal (preferably with rounded corners) or a tube bent into an oval shape. Each portion of the web is thus caused to follow a horizontally and vertically sinusoidal path. To avoid overtensioning the web 2 it is gathered together laterally by discs 22 of zone 20, the number of discs 22 and the depth of their engagement with the web increasing in the web feed direction (Fig. 3, not shown). The web may be treated with hot air or steam before, during and/or after passage through treatment zone 12. A drier and/or cooler may follow zone 12. The web may be fed into the apparatus by means of a leader fabric or cloth or between a pair of endless belts or cloths, which may pass through the apparatus. In the embodiment of Fig. 7 steam or a liquid suspension is applied to web 2 by nozzles 26. Heat is then applied by rods 28 or by hot air. The creasing treatment is effected by rotating members 17, whose shafts 16 are carried by arms of at least one pair of crosses 23 which are themselves rotated in opposite directions by shafts 32. By reversing the direction of rotation the web can be run backwards and forwards. In a further embodiment (Figs. 1 arid 2, not shown) the web is fed downwardly between forks (6) mounted in a' staggered vertical array alternatively to the left and right of. the web, each fork being carried on a lever (7) and being swung by its lever from a position at the longitudinal edge of the web to its midpoint, thus repeatedly gathering portions of the web into a skein. The levers are moved by a crank (9) mounted on a vertical shaft driven by a variable speed motor. The random distribution of creases is enhanced by using forks with wedge-shaped recesses or corrugated prongs and/or by a cam action on the forks to cause adjacent pairs of forks to move vertically towards one another whilst in the vicinity of their innermost positions.