GB733377A - Improvements relating to plant for drying or like treatment of garments - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0733377/IV (c)/1> <PICT:0733377/IV (c)/2> A treating plant for textile or knitted articles comprises carrying forms for the articles to be treated which are passed by means of a pneumatically driven conveyer into and out of a treating chamber. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a machine for use in finishing knitted garments which are passed in sequence through the machine and subjected to the action of steam and then hot air. The garments are mounted on forms 2, 3 and 4 which are carried by a conveyer comprising an endless chain 1 which is moved in steps so that a form passes first into a steam chamber having a casing 17 and doors 16, and then into a drying chamber 27. The conveyer chain 1 passes round a rotary table 5 which is driven by a chain 13 so that when a form moves into the steam chamber the chamber is sealed by doors 16 which have felt inserts 18 pressing against the inner surface of casing 17. When steam valve 24 is opened steam passes from distributer 21 upwards through the chamber 17 over the form-mounted garment. The garment next passes into drying chamber 27 into which air is forced by blower 29 and <PICT:0733377/IV (c)/3> heated by element 31 which is transversed by steam from line 23. The garment finally passes into the position shown at 2 where it is removed from the form and a further garment to be treated is put into place. The impulsion of the driving chain 13 is carried out pneumatically from a main compressed air motor 33 (Fig. 3). Compressed air is forced via a reversing valve 45 alternately into the two sides of piston 39 which thus moves alternately to left and right and thus imparts a stepped movement to chain 13 by means of a driving pawl 38. Each of the outlets from reversing valve 45 contains a needle valve 51 which enables the rate of travel of piston head 46 to be adjusted and thus the speed and period of dwell of chain 13 to be controlled. The distance of travel of piston 39 in either direction is controlled by limit switches in the form of change-over valves 54, 55. A cam 61, Fig. 3, controls the supply of compressed air to assembly 68 and 69 so that when the garment to be treated is correctly situated in the steam treating chamber the spring loaded cam 72 enters a notch 74 in rotary table 5 to hold it stationary and the steam valve 77 is opened to let steam into the treatment chamber.