US2084367A - Apparatus for treating cloth - Google Patents

Description

June 22, 1937. WOODHEAD 2,084,367

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTH Filed Nov. 24, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 N INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS June 22, 1937;

H. A. 'WOODHEAD APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTH I L15? INVENTOR TORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 22, 1937. H. A. WOODHEAD V APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTH Filed Nov. 24, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTbfi fizzy E Wan/Iliad ATTORNEYS Patented June 22, 1937 PATENT (OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTH ,Henry AQWoodhead, Graniteville, S.'C. Application-November 24, 1934, Serial No. 754,576

F 15 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 674,495 filed June 6, 1933, now Patent No. 1,982,720 dated December 4, 1934, and relates to apparatus for preshrinking cloth for the purpose of substantially eliminating shrinkage in both weft and warp in subsequent laundering operations.

There have been several attempts to obtain a satisfactory process for producing a preshrunk cloth. These methods of preshrinking consisted, for example, in wetting the cloth and permitting shrinkage to take place while the cloth was hung in loops from suitable frames; in imposing a certain crinkle on one set of yarns 5 by pulling out the opposite set of yarns by means of a tentering frame or similar apparatus; or in affixing the cloth to the surface of'a relatively thick carrier blanket while the blanket is flexed .to a convex position and subsequently flexing 20 the blanket to a concave position to diminish its surface and effect a change in the superficial dimensions of the web warpwise. However, all of these various methods have entailed numerous disadvantages both in the operation of the 25 apparatus and in the characteristics imposed upon the fabric as is more fully discussed in my earlier application.

The speed of'the prior art apparatus, for example, was found to be limited thusproducing 30 preshrunk fabric at only a relatively low rate.

-Another important disadvantage of the prior art shrinking processes is that they are incapable of carrying out the steps of sizing, shrinking, and finishing in one continuous unitary operation, 35 but rather the fabric must be sized, then dried, then again moistened and shrunk, and finally, finished or set.

Among the disadvantageous imparted to the fabric has been an excessive shrinking in one direction and substantially none in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the control of the preshrinking imposed upon the material was difilcult to maintain, and incapable of producing a pre-shrunk fabric in which 45 a result, an unsatisfactory product resulted, having undesirable characteristics in that it was not uniform, or capable of retaining its proshrunk condition; e

I have found that the shrinkage resulting from laundering operations is not due solely to increased crinkle which may be induced in the warp or weft yarns but that it is also due to a physical rearrangement and readjustment of 66 the yarns and fibers due tothe mechanical characteristics.

equilibrium conditions had been obtained. As

working and reconditioning and flexing of the fabric in all directions while in its plastic condition during laundering. It is this rearrangement of the warp and weft yarns which I obtain by mechanically working the web rapidly and positively. e

My process for preshrinking is preferably car ried out after the usual preliminary steps, such as singeing, removing the warp sizing, bleaching, dyeing, printing, mercering, drying, callendering-and polishing, or other customary operations have been performed upon the web so that no subsequent operation is necessary which might impair the full advantages of the preshrunk condition attained. v

In accordance with the present invention the treated fabric is first rendered plastic by moistening it, or preferably, by passing it through a sizing solution in which a final sizing is imparted to the fabric and as a result of which the web is rendered soft and plastic in preparation for the subsequent steps of my preshrink- .ing process. The web is then stretched weftwise to approximately'the width desired in the final preshrunk fabric and then, while its surface is restrained to prevent formation of undulations therein, the web is forced by mechanical working and rearrangement of the component yarns, both warp and weft, into. a contracted and reconstituted condition of equilibrium in which it is substantially immune to further contraction and rearrangement due to the wetting and workpreshrunk condition attained by mechanical working of the web.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to overcome the disadvantages of earlier pro- .cesses and obtain a preshrunk-fabric which is capable of retaining its preshrunk condition in subsequent laundering operations.

Another object is,to provide apparatus that is relatively simple to operate and which may be readily adjusted and controlled to varyv its effect upon the web to impose a preshrunk condition thereon as circumstances may requirel' One feature of the invention resides in the provisionof an endless sectional band, comprising parallel travelling portions of the cord or the like, engaging the surface of the web for will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view in simplifled diagrammatic outline of parts of a form of my preshrinking apparatus suitable for carrying out my process;

Figure 1a is a continuation of Figure 1 and shows other parts ofThe apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view with certain parts omitted to more clearly show the driving arrangements for the apparatus illustrated in Figures l and la;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the web compressing roll and part of the companion feed roll shown in Figure la;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 in Figure 3; i

Figure 5 is a view, partly broken away, along the line 5-5 in Figure 1a;

Figure dis a fragmentary view taken along the line 6-4 in Figure 1a;

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic outline of a modified form of one part of my apparatus.

Referringv now more particularly to the drawings, there is indicated by the dotted line In the centre line of a fabric or web which it is assumed has previously been subjected to processing, such as bleaching, dyeing, printing, calendering, etc., or combinations thereof. The web is drawn from a truck or bin over an idler roll 2 into a cleaning device. In this cleaning device the fabric passes between brush rollers 3 which remove dust, lint, loose threads, etc. from the surfaces of the fabric web, this matter being carried away by a suction duct 4. From the cleaning device the web is drawn over an idler roll 5 to a sizingapparatus comprising a vat or trough 6 containing a suitable sizing solution and provided with an idler roll I and presser rolls 8, 9. The presser rolls may be driven by the main I The drive driving motor II for the apparatus. passes through suitable speed regulating mechanism such as a Reeves variator as indicated at |2 in Figure 2 and passes to the rolls by means of a chain l3 operated from the variable speed shaft II of variator l2.

In passing through the sizing solution, which may be of starch, dextrin, gums or soluble oils customarily used in' finishing operations, the web is moistened and converted 'into a plastic, soft condition so that it' may be readily worked upon in passing between a compressing roll 30, and

a feed roll 3|, Fig. 1a, to which it is directed after passing through a tensionirig frame 20 and over apparatus 40 for stretching the web weftwise. The stretching apparatus-is, preferably,

positively driven from the constant speed shaft of variator I 5 by a chain 4|. The tensioning frame 20 has fixed guide rolls 2|, 22 and anintermediate movable compensator roll 23 that acts to take upslack in the 'web, the weight of roll 23 acting to stretch all the goods to substantially the same degree so that goods of 24 and an associated endless chain 25 to which one end of the shaft of compensator roll 23 is connected. This sprocket and chain arrangement is duplicated at the other side of the tensioning frame so that lowering or raising of either end of the shaft of roll 23, as web slack accumulates or is taken 111), results in driving the chain 25 to effect a corresponding movement of the other end of roll 23. In this way the roll 23 is maintained on an even keel to assure proper guiding of theweb and obviate sidewise skewing thereof.

The shaft 26 which carries the lower sprocket wheels 24 is also provided with an additional sprocket wheel 21 acting through a chain 28 and sprocket wheel 29 to move the control member ll of the variator |2 inwardly or outwardly when roll 23 moves upwardly or downwardly, respectively, suitable mechanism being provided for converting the rotary motion imparted by chain 28 into an axial movement of the member IT. The inward or outward movement of the control member ll, in response to the movement of roll- 23 as slack is taken up or accumulates, causes relative axial movement ofthe discs l8 of the variator. This results in an increase or decrease in the effective diameter of the pulley like member formed by the discs l8 of the variator with respect to the constant speed pulley thereof in such manner that the associated belt or chain l9 drivesthe variable speed shaft M of the variator at an increased or decreased speed for speeding up or slowing down theoperation of the driven roll 9 of the sizing apparatus as web slackis taken up or accumulates. Thus, the movements as will be pointed out later. I have indicatedin Figures 1 and 2 the use of curved expander rolls 42, 43, 44, the outermost portions of the curve of each of these rolls being indicated by the reference characters 42a, 43a, and a respectively. I have indicated the web III by its center line as passing over the outer portions of the curve of these rolls. Other types of stretching devices may be used in place -of these expander rolls, such as, for example, driven or undriven belt expanders or driven edge gripping rolls acting as expanders. v

From the delivery end of stretching apparatus 40 the web passes to compressing roll 30 and feed roll 3|, Fig. 1a, around which is directed an endless band 92 that forms a working surface against which roll 30acts for compressing the web. An endless blanket 38 also directed around roll 3| and guide roll 39 supports the hand 92 in its passage from rolls 30, 3| to a set of drying cans 93 with which band 92 cooperates as will later be described. The drying cans 93 are driven from variator |2a at the same rate as roll 3| by a chain 95.

The lower roll 3| is driven from the variable a oeasev speed shaft |4a of the main variator i zaby means of a chain l3. The constant speed shaft I of variator I2, from which expander rolls d2,

43, 4d are operated, also'is driven by the variable, 1

speed shaft i4a. of variator Ma through a chain 83 so that the feed, roll Si is operated at the.

same speed as the expander rolls, thus minimizing warp tension. The main variator |2a is'similar in construction to the variator l2 described abovefand its constant speed shaft |5a is driven by motor through a chain 81. Thus, the

- basic speed of the entire apparatuslmay be regulated by adjustment of the control member l'la of main variator |2a to regulate the rate of oper ation of the variable speed shaft Ida thereof by.

motor The compressing. roll 30 shown herein, is simi-v lar. to one of the several forms described inmy earlier application and, as illustrated inFigures 3 and 4, is made up of a plurality of closely-posh tioned, thin, toothed discs 32 and intermediate spacers 33 fitted upon a shaft 34 and-pressed tightly together thereon. The spacers 33 of roll 30 are slightly smaller in diameter-than, the discs 32'and thusiprovide shallow channels between the discs. The discs 32 may be made of stainthe speeds of rolls 30, 3| to be readily varied, as

desired. As-illustrated herein, the shaft of roll 3| is provided with a gear II which actuates intermediate gearing 12 to drive agear on the shaft 34 of roll 30. The gear 10 is of the change gear type being removable to permit substitutionof' other gears. for obtaining a desired ratio between the speeds ofrolls and 3|.

I also utilize, in conjunction with compressing roll 30, a-multi-part retaining band 45,,extending from roll 30 to a roll 46, positively driven by the chain 41 at the same surface velocity as roll 3| and drier band 92 and positioned to cause the band 45 to travel parallel to band 92 and in closely spaced relation thereto so as to confine the web between it and the band 92 during the passage of the web through the compressing and, retainingzone. Referring also toF'igure 5,, the

retaining band 45 which is atleast as, wideas the web, comprises a pair of continuouscords 48, 49 made of any toughmaterial not unduly softened .by wetting and having good wearing qualities. Each cord passes a number of times,

in contiguous, parallel I portions, through the I shallow grooves between the discs -.32 of roll 3|) through corresponding aligned peripheral 4 cord cleaning device 52. Eachofthe pair of' cords also passes in a single reach aroundtensioning grooves in roll 45, and; OVELJIOIIS: 50; 5| of a devices 53, 54 individual thereto.

border that the arrangementof the pair of cords comprising band45 mayv be-clearly understood, the various,.pass ages of one of the. cords jwill be described in detail. The cord 48 for ;ex-.-

' ample, extends downwardly, infasingle reach 431;.-

i'rom the fixed idler: mu 5,5 of-its-tensioning de vice 5.3 ein tthe putermost gropve; 1. 5 thei eitleft half of roll 30.

at or near the middle of roll 30,co'rd 48 passeshand half or compressing, roll 30, into retaining contact with th e upper surface of the web and into the outermost groove at the left of roll 46. From the roll dlijco'rd 58' extends upwardly around an idler roll .56 and across'therolls 5|],

5| of cleaning device '52,'in frictional contact therewith. The rolls .50, 5! are positively driven in opposite directions and partially immersed in a. cleaning bath which is constantly changed through inlet and outlet connections 51, 58 respectively, to the. vat ,59, so that the rolls 50, 5| rubbing against the cords o'fband 45, remove lil therefrom any sizing or lint, for example, which may have been picked up by contact with the web. 5 Thus, the cords being continually'cleaned are maintained free of an accumulation of sizing, for example, that might clog the grooves or teeth of roll 30. Further, they are thus kept in an evenly moist condition and their expansion:

or contraction, therefore, minimized.

Cord 43 then travels over idler roll 60 and thence downwardly to the second groove at the left of. compressing roll 30, through the, corresponding groove in roll 46 and thence again across the cleaning rolls 50, 5|. The circuit of cord 48 around rolls 30,146 and across the cleaning device 52 is repeated as cord 48 passes through successive grooves in rolls 30and 46,

the cord progressing inwardly from'left to right until it has passed through all the groovesin the .On leaving the groove 6| through the corresponding groove in roll 46 and then upwardly in a single reach 48b to the fixedidler roll 62 of itstensioning device 53, without traversingthe web-cleaning device 52. In addition to the idler rolls 62tand 55, tensioning device 53 comprises an intermediate fixedidler roll 64 and a pair of rolls B3, 65 carriedby a member 66 provided with weights .6! which act to-takeiup slack in the cord 48. and maintain.it-sufi'iciently tionsform a relatively rigid and firm sectional band. From roll 65-.thecord 48 is again directed.-

1 over idler 55 and downwardly again at 48a to the i outermost groove at theleft of roll 30 and the full circuit is continuously repeated.

The. circuit for cord 49 is'similar to that for cord 48 except that, in its downward reach 49a 3 a from the fixed idler 68, Figure 5, of-its tensioning "device 54, itinitiates its passages through. the V grooves of roll 30 at the outermost groove in the right-hand half of the roll and progresses inwardly towards' the left and, after passing through the central groove Gla, returns in a ,smgle'reach 49b to its .tensioning devicev 54.

From the foregoing it may be seenthat. on

I passingto' the compressing roll 30, the web 1 0 is.

gripped byflthe teeth as of thehdiscs :2 of the roll that extends between the cords 48, 49 of band taut so' that-its various parallelly travelling por- 45 .which is brought into contact with the upper surface of the web. As .the web and band 45 V to the nipbetween rolls 30 and 3|, thedrier band 92 is brought into contact .with theunderside of the web so that, in passing through .the

zone of contactbetween the teeth of roll 33 and 1 the band 3|, the. web is confined ,between' the band 45 and bandQZsoas to be carried forwardly without tension thereon. .As' a result 10f the that; at which, it would be otherwise advanced 0 higher speed .of roll 30, the web, when gripped by its teeth, is carried forward at a faster rate than by,roll, 3|,- the wetted surface :of the-band s2 permitting. a slight lipp ge. 'f t w b Y 'therecn. Thus, while band 45 bearing against the web and forming a web-restraining zone with the band 92 exerts a restraining force that acts to prevent flexing or crinkling ofthe surface of the web, roll 3!) acts to force the web forward into the zone where it is confined between band 45 and bafid'92 and works the cloth to effect a mechanical readjustment of the component yarns. The teeth 35 of roll on entering the cloth pass into and between the fibres of both warp an weft yarns tending to loosen them and exert a shoving action that positions the weft yarns more closely together and acts longitudinally of the warp yarns to shove them together into a fatter or thicker state, i. e. with increased diameters, with the result that the web is contracted or compressed warpwise. Thus, while the cord band 45 and drier band 92 form a retaining zone which prevents rumpling or crinkling of the surface of the web, the teeth of roll 39 act tocompress the web warpwise by exerting a shoving action on the fibres of both the warp and weft yarns.

The two cords 48 and 49 of retaining band 45, extending in single downward reaches 48a and 49a, respectively, to grooves adjacent opposite ends of roll 39 become fully engaged therewith prior to contacting the upper surface of the web. In forming the contiguous, parallel-travelling sections 48 and 49 of the band, the cords progress inwardly toward the middle of the roll and, after making their last traverse between. rolls 30 and 4B inany one complete circuit, the respective cords leave the roll 46 from a groove near the middle thereof. ,As a result of this arrangement, the selvages ofthe web do not become waved, crinkled or otherwise marked. At all points over its surface the web is fully and completely retained and no surface undulations are allowed toform. By removing the cords 48 and 49 from contact with the web at or near the middle of the Web, no slack in the cords is present at the selvages to cause crinkli'ng or marking of the edges of the web.

The web is carried forwardly from rolls 39, 3!

between the bands 45, 92 which support and hold the web so that warpwise tension is not placed thereon and surface undulations inhibited. A plurality of spring fingers 36 carried by a transverse bar 31, Figure 6, extend beneath roll 46 between the cords of retaining band 45 and act to press the web and band 92 against a supporting roll 69. The restraining force exerted on the web it! by fingers 36 and their positions relatively to roll 46 may be regulated by providing for adjustment of bar 31 as more fully disclosed in my copending applicationSerialNo. 754,575, filed Nov. 24, 1934. The fingers extend beyond roll 46 substantially into the nip of an idler roll 96 around which a second drier band 91 is directed into engagement with the upper surface of the web so that although band in passing around roll 46 is drawn out of retaining contact with the web, the latter continues to be held against band 92 in such manner as toprevent undulations in its surface.

In passing over the heated drums 94 of drier 93 the web is supported by the bands '92, 91 and thus dried and set in its treated condition without being subject to further strain. After passing around an idler roll 98, at the end of the series of drying. cans, the bands separate and the web is carried by one of them to an oscillating device 99 which folds the finished preshrunk fabric into piles in the bin l99. Tensioning devices llll and the weft threads.

weftwise of the web. The amount of, such I02, similar to the tensioning device 20 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, are provided for the bands 92, 91, respectively, and suitable guide rolls I03 and I94 direct the bands back to the rolls 3| and 96.

The speed regulating variators through which the several parts of my apparatus are operated from motor ll permit a close regulation and control of the relative operating speeds of the'several parts so that tension on the web may be minimized in order that the preshrunk conditions attained in the several stages may not be diminished as the web passes through the apparatus,

I preferably carry out my preshrinking operations as part ofthe finishing operation upon a fabric, and although with certain conditions and types of fabric the operation may be carried out while the fabric is in a dry condition, I prefer to haveit in a. plastic condition. I fabric permits it to be more easily adaptable 'to the mechanical Working which I impose upon it for effecting a rearrangement of the component yarns and fibres to thus attain a preshrunk con- Plastizing the I dition in which the yarns are in a state of substantial equilibrium, While the fabric may be processed in a wet condition resulting from some preliminary operation, or may be made plastic by merely moistening it, I have illustrated and described my preshrinking operation as cornmencing by passage of the iabric through the through adjustment of variator i2 by an at-' tendant.

The rate of operation of the expander 49 may be varied and regulated by means of the variator l2a to take up the web from roll. 22 at substantially its rate ofdelivery by rolls 8, 9 so that.

it is not subjected to warp tension in being carried forwardly by the expander rolls 42, 43, 45.

The web after passing between the control rolls 8 and 9 may be found to have the desired width in which case it can be delivered directly to the working roll 30. If, however, the web is found to have a greater width than desired, it may be reduced weftwise by imposing a tension on it warpwise between the control rolls 8 and 9 and the working roll 30.

It is assumed herein that, asa result of being drawrr'out warpwise in previous processing operations, the weftwise dimension of the web has been decreased, as is usually the case, and. therefore, in its passage through the expander 49, I cause the web to be drawn out weftwise to approximately the width which I have found will be present in a fabric which has been properly preshrunk in two directions. The tensionof passing the web l0 through the equipment subsequent to plasticizing tends to impose a warpstrain on the web and thus tends to straighten out the warp threads and induce a crinkle in This results in a shrinkage shrinkage weftwise I can control by means of my tensioning mechanism 29. Ialso can control this weft shrinkage by varying the differential in mize the tension on .-For example, t theloss in-vewidthfin transiferrin w the: r011:-ece SErOunrr tote' abouts-10%;

bandSL-L, a

zone betweencompression 3 11: 3

I andr'the webis preferably taken up at the working zonecaiisubstantiallyits rate of delivery trom'ex 8 4111111 9 dn one' -liand, and the toothe'd compres- 4 sioztroll'flll. example; it; is pd's'sibleitb i'dril l' speed asto makeu 8' im'd il':riverand above the= normal w'a tension on' the tifebinfproces" 'si'ng" On theothei handfiI can drive' the "-rons: s: and s es a greater surface velocit'y than the roll SO andthus the web-betweefistretching-means fillfandfreniove that' portidfi-"offf wert snrinkag'ewhiehr desire? rhat i'si rsti eteh the weIt-macE the- 'desire'd width normally present in the final preshrunk materials. weft stretching should be carried out to' deliver the web to the toothed ompressipn rbn at Fthat width=-'-wl1'icl'1' have found will be {present in a asgbeenp opeflytresmunii iii we or; example; ayard oe'grey materi 1" which"had an brigirial 'wovenfwidth of 3-1 may have a -width 'of 611131 27uponj delivery-to the I plished by always suppo ting tn v is in a final -seficonditioh rormar ti and eliminating all warpwise tension- 'There'mayabe; of coursefia j rtain los s in the weftot the after its charge min the expanding-imeansrm due' *to h warp nsion thus : which be-"impo'sed upon "the material t6 pun;

it through such "-equipmenii'fii 'the latter not driveni 'l'his losscan be taken ieare or by ever stretching -widthanfamount' equal to the sub sequent loss in width ace to the' ai te'risio fabric may theov'er str'etched an 'aequivaien amount and thus a desired-widthv of the web ob-" taine'cl ion the supporting surface 'Iormed b On 3leaving= the expander lil the passes tb and: drier band -92, which-is advanced *oy-roni '31 pander Ml.

webzehters the nip between rolls!!! and 3 l ,''-the: teeth35 of roll on come into contact with the web at an angle to its surface and areforced' into the web? and pnetrate its surface. 'l'he teeth-are that they tend to operate not only upon r the individualweft yarnsbut. also actually enter'betweenthe fibres making warp :yarnsm; As? may be seen from the enlarged "view of the toothed discs 32 in- Figure 3;tlie

' traction'ofekpansi'on either warpwise or weft wise-' rs'ulting from mechanical working of the weir-in the antecedent preshrinking operations. Consequently, when delivered from the drying -cans, after being ,set and "dried therein, the vweb hasattained a preshrunk condition in which its in view or the' fact that the ion as" is travellin -iaster thah "the" web is advanced by the band 92 that extends around roll 3! there is'a'consequent shoving td'getlierof the fibres of the'warp yarns ajs' w'ell i coinpacting -operation on the weft 5 yarns= tlia ares-ripped .by the teeth;- Inasmuch sh6ving and compactingoperation is' came "unsure sectional retaining ba'ndAS Webj ag'ainst band 92on roll 3| acts v dulations in its surface, there'isa 1o adjustment and repositioning of yarns of the web, asdistinguished crinkling of the surface of the web,

e e5 is actuallycompressed-and con tijac'ted warpwis to a state approximating its optimum hiiinkcondition.

{is carried forward to the drier 7 g" band and dried band 92,

' I same speed it is delivered to the set of; dryin cans and advanced therethrough., 2

s 92 and 91. without being subon tending'to detract from the 1m essingt ough the drier, the bands 92591- al ontact'the surfaces of the drums 94 nce tliefradius between the centre of a fan eith lband is slightly greater when. n" is not in contact with-the drum, due to theconipre'ssion between the two bands is negligible sothat the web,'which i's notunder' tension, isj'fr H at point to either contract or expand a s -firs; V v 1 1 natural contraction 'or' e nsion or the web iri-passing between the two supporting and fleiring'j ands!!! and 91 and around the drying 94 may; [taken advantage of to efl'ect a y nn 0 edfpreshrinking step of my process toco pensate'for any slight over or under con-5 w coiniionentyarns are in a state of substantial equilibrium and immune-to further contraction either warpwise'or weftwise when the finished fabric is subjected to a subsequent laundering opemfipni, g I v In-Figure '7, I have shown a modification of my apparatus suitable for carrying out my preshrliikliiigtoperation. The web l0 may be deliveredi'rorn the weft stretching or expanding means indicated by the reference character 40a to the nip-between a roll 30:: and a roll Sla. The roll -3Ia esponds generally to the feed roll 31 of Flg'ureda' "d the roll 30:; is preferably a roll operation to'the'w'eb-working roll 30."

passing between-these rolls is a supp g .75; I

surface 15 preferably of a type similar in operation to the supporting surface 45 of Figure 1a so as to permit the roll 30a to operate on the web through it. This supporting surface isdriven similarly to band 45, and is carried by suitable guide rolls 16, TI, 18, one or more of which-may be positively driven. The supporting surface 15 comprises an endless cord, as more fully described in my copending application, Serial No. 674,495 filed June 6, 1933, extending in a plurality of closely spaced, parallel reachers around the rollers l6, l1, l8 and between the rolls 30a and 3! a. However, thesupporting surface IS m'ay, if desired, consist of a pair of endless cords fqrminga sectional band, such as the band45 described above in connection with Figures 1a and 3 to 6. The supporting surface 15 carries the web in contact with the roll 3|a in the zone 9. The surface 15 and the roll am,

as in my previous modification, travel at the same surface velocity and the roll 30a travels at a somewhat greater surface velocity, depending upon the typeof material being processed. Thus the cloth or web to is forced forward by the roll 30a faster than it is being carried away in the zone 9. Also processing around the roll 3la is a band 19. This band 19 against which the Web lies, may be of canvas, and supports it after its delivery from the zone 9 and carries it over a guide roll which positions the canvas band and web H1 in close contact with the drying drum 8|. The web is supported by thecanvas band 19 and held in contact with the drying drum 8| until it is set after which it is delivered from the drum and passes around the idler rolls 82, while still supported by the canvas band 19, and is delivered to an oscillating means 83 which folds it in a bin 84. The band 19 is directed around a drying drum 85 by suitable idler rolls and continues back around the roll 3la. It will be noted that by means of this arrangement the web is continuously supported at all points until it is set and delivered in a dry finished condition into the bin. There is thus no loss in the preshrunk characteristics which have been imparted to itduring its processing.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that due to the fact that the relative speeds of web delivering and take-up parts of the apparatus may be closely controlled and driven and regulated through adjustment of the several speed regulating variatcrs i2, l2a either by an attendant or, if desired, automatically in response to the movements of tension controlling rolls, the web travels through my preshrinking apparatus without tension being imposed thereon as a result of its movement, except when it is actually desired to impose tension as part of my preshrinking process as mentioned above.

In carrying out my process, as'described above,

.the web is first moistened and rendered plastic in a'fina-l sizing operation. The weft-wise dimension desired in the final preshrunk fabric is then obtained by a weft-wise stretching on the expander rolls or similar device. The web is then worked by a toothed. compressing roll to effect a warp-wise contraction of the web approximating the optimum condition of the final preshrunk fabric. In passing from the compressing and contracting stage to and through the drying cans, where it is set and dried, the web is free of tension since it is continuously supported and carried by either one or two travellingbands. In passing .through the drying cans the flexing and sliding of a drier band relatively to the web causes the web to be maintained free from adherence to the band. While not compressed agaRt the band in advancing from one drying drum to another the web is free to contract or expand naturally to a condiparatus in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art man y changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit oi the invention and, therefore, it is my intentionand desire to include all such changes and variations-within thescope of the appended claims.-

I claim:'

1. An apparatus for imposing a preshrunkcondition on a fabric web comprising; means for r wetting the web whereby it is rendered plastic;

web working means having a plurality of web-' penetrating projections for gripping and work-'- ing the web to readjust the positions of its component yarns and effect awarp-wise compression of the web; a feed roll closely adjacent said work-roll; an endless band directed about said feed roll and forming a working surface on which the web is supported and against which said working means operate in compressing the web; and means for drying and setting the web in its preshrunk condition, said band cooperating with said drying means to advance the web therethrough and continuously supporting said web in its passage from said working means to and through said drying means topreclude the impositionof warp-strain on said web for obviating diminishment of the preshrunk condition imposed on the web by said working means.

2. An apparatus for imposing a preshrunk condition on a fabric web comprising; means for wetting the web whereby it is rendered plastic; web working means having a plurality of webpenetrating projections for gripping and working the web to readjust the positions of its component yarns and effect a warp-wise compression of the web; 'a feed roll closely adjacent said work-roll; an endless band directed about said feed roll and forming a working surface on which the web is supported andagainst which and forming a workingsurface which the web .15 supported with one surface in contact therewith and against which said working means operate in compressing the-web said-band continuously supporting the web in its passage from said-working means to said drying'means; a

second hand cooperating with said drying meansto advance the web therethrulghyand means' for directing a said second band into engagement with the opposite surface ofthe web sub sequent to its delivery from said working-means,- whereby said web is continuously supported as it is advanced to and through said dryingmeans to preclude imposition of warp-strain on the web to obviate diminishment of the prcshrunk-con dition imposed on the web.

3. An apparatus for a fabr ic web y I comprising; means for wetting thewebi whc'rv by, it is rendered plastic; web working mea'ns' fabric operating "adj having a plurality of, web-penetrating projections for gripping andwo'rking the web to readjust the positions of its component yarns and effect a warp-wise compression of the web; a

feed roll means for drying and Setting the web in its pre-shrunkcondition; closely adjacent said work-roll; a band cooperating with said drying means tocontinuously support and advance' to and through said"drying means said band extending about said feed roll andforming a working surface on whi'ch-ftheweb is supported with one surface in contact therewith, and against which said working means operate in compressing theweb; a secondhand;cooperating with said drying means to advance the web therethrough; means fordirecting'said second band into engagement with the opposite surface of the web subsequent to itsfde 'livery from said working means, wherebysaidfw eb is advanced through said drying mear sfcontinuously, supported by said'bands to' preclude' imposition of 'warp-strain on the web and 'obviatedimini'shsaid grippingune'an'sjan ting the fabric, one-of porting the fabric co" sage from 'said gri fabric setting means,

5. In a fabric treating apparatus suitable for modifying the superficial dimensions of said fabric; rotating means for gripping and peneg "means through said .trating the fabric, fabric retaining means engaging opposite sides of said fabric and acting with and subsequent to said rotating means, and heated means for setting the dimensions of said fabric, one of said fabric retaining means extending continuously from said rotating means into said heated means.

'6. An apparatus for preshrinking a fabric web comprising; meansfor wetting the web whereby it is rendered plasticj web working means having a plurality of spaced rows of web-penetrating projections for gripping and working the web to readjust the positionsof its component yarns and effect a warp-wise compression of the web; a feed 'roll closely adjaent said work-roll; an endless band directed about said feed roll and forming Y a working surface on which the web is supported and against which said working means operate in compressing 'the web; a plurality of spaced members extending between the rows of webpenetrating projections on said working means into engagement with the surface of'said web and cooperating with said band to form a web confining zone in which surface undulations of the web are prevented; heated means for drying the web in its preshrunk condition; and means for directing said band into cooperative relation with 'said drying means for continuously supporting said web in its passage from said working means V to and through said drying means to preclude the imposition of warp-strain on said web for obroll.

viating diminishment of the preshrunk condition imposed on saidweb by saidworkin'g means.

" 7; In a fabric treating apparatus for modifying the superficial dimensions ofafabric; gripping means for working within the body of the fabric;

and retaining means operating immediately subsequent and adjacent to said gripping means,

operative to, prevent surface flexure of said fabric delivered from said gripping means and acting to continuously support #and confine said fabric; and heated means for'drying and setting said fabric while still retained by said retaining means.

8. An'app'aratus for treating a fabric web to impose a preshrunk condition thereon comprising;"-webfeedi ng means; web-working means positioned adjacent said feeding meansi'andprovided with 'a' plurality of web gripping projections; a pair of endless cords each having. a plurality of contiguous sections extending throughjadjadent spaces intermediate-said rows of projections on said web-working means; and means "for guiding said'cord-sect'ions for movement parallel to a each other toform an endless, sectional, webf retaining band, said cord guiding niean'sfbeing positioned adjacent said web-feeding means forcausing'said sectional band to travel parallellto and} closely adjacent said web-feeding meansfor holdingj the through su cgssivefig-rooves toward the middle of said roiis and returning from central grooves in 's'aid rolls to the grooves at opposite ends thereof so as to continuously travel between said rolls in a plurality of parallel portions extending between aligned grooves in said rolls for forming contiguous, parallelly-travelling sections of 1 said band.

10. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web; a pair of rolls each formed with a plurality of circumferentlal grooves; and an endless, travelling, sectional band associated with said rolls and engageable with a surface of said web comprising a pair of endless cords each having a plurality of portions extending in parallel relation between aligned grooves in said rolls to form contiguous,

parallelly-travelling sections of said band, the

respective cords initially entering grooves adjacent opposite ends of one of said rolls prior to engaging the surface of said web, and in'successive traverses between said-rolls for forming said band, progressing inwardly toward the middle of said rolls to finally leave said other roll from adj acent grooves at the middle of said roll to return to the outer grooves at opposite ends of said one 11. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web; a. pair of rolls each formed with a plurality of circumferential grooves; an endless, travelling, sectional band associated with said rolls and engageable with a surface of said web, said band comprising a pair of endless cords each having a plurality of portions extending in parallel relation between aligned-grooves in said rolls to form contiguous, parallelly-travelling sections of said band, the respective cords initially entering g V inwardly grooves adjacent opposite ends of one of said rolls and, in successive traverses between said rolls for forming said band, progressing inwardly toward the middle of said rolls. to finally leave said other roll from adjacent grooves at the middle of said roll to returnto the outer grooves at opposite ends of said one roll; and individual slack take-up devices engaging the respective cords in their respective passages from the grooves at the middle of said other roll to the related end grooves of said one roll.

12. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web; a pair of rolls each formed with a plurality of circumferential grooves; an endless, travelling, sectional band associated with said rolls. and engageable with a surface of said web, said band comprising endless cord having a plurality of portions extending in' parallel relation between alignedgrooves in said rolls to form contiguous, parallelly-travelling sections of said band; and

means for cleaning the component cord sections of said band while the latter is in motion. 13. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web:

a pair of rolls each formed with a plurality of.

circumferential grooves; and an endless, travelling band associated with said rolls. and engageable with a surface of said web comprising a pair of endless cords each having a plurality of portions extending in parallel relation between I aligned grooves in said rolls to form contiguous,

parallelly-travelling sections of said band; and' means for cleaning the component cords of said band while the latter is in motion, said means including a pair. of oppositely driven rolls in frictional contact with said cords.

14. In anapparatus for treating a fabric web;

a pair of rolls each formed with a plurality of circumferential grooves; an endless, travelling,

sectional band associated with said rolls and engageable with a surface of said web comprising a 1 pair of endless cords each having a plurality of portions extending in parallel relation between aligned grooves in said rolls to form contiguous, parallelly-travelling sections of said band; and

means for cleaning the component cords of said band while the latter is in motion, said means including a pair of oppositely driven rolls in frictional contact with said cords and a vat containing a constantly changed cleaning fluid in which said cleaning rolls are partially immersed.

1 15. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web; a circumferentially grooved web-working roll; a circumferentially grooved band operating roll; an endless, travelling, sectional band associated with said rolls and engageable with a surface of said web, said band comprising a pair of endless cords each having a plurality of portions extending in parallel relation between aligned grooves in said rolls, each portion of the respective cords initially entering grooves adjacent opposite ends of said working roll to pass to the corresponding-grooves in said band roll and progressing inwardly throughsuccessive grooves in said rolls toward .the middle thereof to form contiguous, parallellytravelling sections of said band, the respective cords passing from the grooves at the middle of said band roll to return to the related grooves at opposite ends of said working roll; means'on said working roll extending between the several sections of said band for gripping and working said web; and meansfor cleansing each portion of the respective cords subsequent to contacting said web in traversing aligned grooves in said rolls and prior to again contacting said web in traversing the next successive grooves in said rolls.

HENRY A. WOODHEAD.

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