GB1482832A - Apparatus and method for heat setting circular knit fabric discharged from knitting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1482832 Finishing fabrics; knitting machines H M ROUTH AND O H ALLEN 11 Sept 1975 37349/75 Headings D1C and D1S A circular knit article, e.g. a hosiery garment, is heat set upon discharge from the knitting instrumentalities of a circular knitting machine 10 by apparatus comprising an article-receiving chamber with an inlet and an outlet having closures 54, 56, respectively, means 34 for applying heat to the article within the chamber, means for conveying the article from the machine 10 to the chamber and from the chamber after heat setting, means controlled by the machine 10 for urging the article in a direct path of travel in the conveying means, and means for selectively controlling the opening and closing of the closures 54, 56. The knit articles are sequentially discharged from the machine 10, having a pattern drum 12, and are transferred by an air blast in timed sequence with the discharge through tubes 14, 16 into a heat assembly 18 for a prescribed period and are subsequently removed through a tube 20 to a container (not shown). The assembly 18 comprises a glasslined brass tube 22, Fig. 2, having small openings 24 and encompassed by an aluminium tube 26 having polytetrafluoroethylene end plates 27. An outer housing 28 is provided and an additional tubular member 32 may be provided. A heating unit 34 is mounted adjacent the tube 26 and is controlled by a thermostat 38, e.g. to a temperature of 190-250‹F. Water is directed onto the inner surface of the tube 26 by a jet 40 and steam or vapour passes through the openings 24. Excess steam escapes through a conduit 42 normally closed by a cap 44. Air blast jets 46, 48, 50, 52, or suction control the movement of the article. Doors 54, 56 close the housing 28 and each is movable about a pin 58, Fig. 3, by a cylinder 60 so that an opening 68 is aligned or misaligned with the tubes 16, 20, 22. In operation, the flow of air through the jets 46, 48, 50, 52, the injection of water into the tube 22 and the opening and closing of the doors 54, 56 are controlled by cams on an extension 70, Figs. 1, 5 and 6 (the latter two not shown) of the pattern drum 12. Prior to the completion of knitting of an article the door 54 is opened and the door 56 closed (and, upon discharge of an article from the machine 10, the air jets are actuated to feed the article into the tube 22. The door 54 is closed and water is supplied through the jet 40, the amount of water being controlled by a timer (80), Fig. 6 (not shown). Prior to completion of the second article, the doors 54, 56 are opened and the first article is removed by the air blasts. Both doors 54, 56 are closed and the cycle is repeated.