US2385402A - Apparatus for spreading tubular fabrics - Google Patents

Description

S. CaN ET AL APPARATUS FOR SPREADINO TUBULAR AERICS Original Filed Dec. 13, 1941 Patented Sept. 25, 1945 APPARATUS FOR SPREADIN G TUBULAR FABRICS Samuel Cohn and Joseph Cohn, New York, and Jules G. Walter, Ridgewood, N. Y.

Original application December 13, 1941, Serial No. i 422,844, now Patent No. 2,339,151, dated January 11, 1944.

Divided and this application January 121, 1944, Serial No. 517,888

l fied form of engagement of thesupport rolls with Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for spreading traveling tubular fabric and is particularly applicable for use with tubular knitted or woven fabrics which because of their structure are readily distorted.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient floating spreader structure. A further object is to provide;a spreader designed to reduce transverse and longitudinal tensions in the traveling fabric to such an extent that the fabric may be drawn over the spreader 1 without localized distortion at the edges.

A- further object is to eliminate fabric propelling means such as edge propellers or driven rolls engaging the fabric intermediate the edges.

A further object is to provide a floating spreader capable of laterally distending tubular fabrics beyond their normal widths without longitudinal tension or deflection of the transverse 4 courses of the material. i

Our improved `spreader is intended primarily for use at those stages in the finishing processes when it is desired to spread the fabric in flat form with only such lateral tension on the material as is incident to the spreading operation.

Our spreader may also be employed to distend, flatten and guide fabric preliminary to a pressing or Wet or dry finishing operation.

By using belts at the marginal edges of the spreader longitudinal tension on the fabric is reduced, permitting shrinkage of the fabric and preserving the transverse alinement of the cloth as it travels over the spreader.

The fabric may be spread laterally to widths exceeding the normal width of the fabric, particularly when the fabric is Wet. This is advantageous in increasing the` spread of the fabric in that this normal width is not exceeded where there is a frictional drag at the edge portions such as exists on a conventional spreader. At the same time our improved spreader maintains the relationship between the. center and edge portions of the fabric as it travels over the spreader, and whatever relationship this is at the entrance is maintained .throughout the spreading action.

Our invention is illustrated in the appended .drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of one side of a spreader embodying our invention and supported at opposite edges by idle rolls; l

Figs. 2 and '3 are similar views of modified forms of spreaders; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modithe side frames.

'I'he spreader illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a pair of generally parallel side frames 26, 21 on each side connected to the ends 29 of the dead bar 32 and having tapered inwardly bowed ex tremities 30 to facilitate drawing the fabric on to the spreader,

iFig. 1 illustrates one side of the spreader consisting of a pair of heads 23 disposed on opposite'sides of the apparatus and adjustably connected by means of vsleeves 24 and stud 25 to provides. unitary structure variable in width. Rods 28; 21 extend from heads 23 and support frame blocks 28, 23 at opposite ends of the spreader.

Feed bow 30 is attached to forward frame block 23 which also supports an adjustable cross rod 3| connected to a similar frame block on the opposite side of the spreader.

Belt 33 passes around pulleys 34, 35 mounted i respectively in the forward and rear frame blocks and over a pair of pulleys 36, 31 supported on head 23. Intermediate pulleys 38, 39 are, provided to prevent inward deflection of the belt when in use.

The side edges 52 (Fig. 3) of pulleys 36, 3l are convex and fit into a corresponding concave edge i 53 of support roll 40. Shaft 4| of support roll;

31 convex and that of the1 support roll 40 confl cave, the convexity and concavity may be reversed or any desired configuration may be em'- ployed to provide an interfltting of the roll edges sumcient to secure the desired support for the spreader. l

Roll 40 is not driven but it is rotatably mounted on shaft 4I and will turn if sufficient pressure exists between the roll and belt 33 or overlying fabric. uw

Figs. 2 and 3 show further modifications of the spreader. In Fig. 2 the bea u is located ot only one side of the support roll and passes around only one of the pair of pulleys 36, 31 mounted in head 23. Fig. 3 illustrates another arrangement in which two belts 42, 43 are employed in lieu of the single belt shown in Fig. l. 4

With an edge support of the type illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the spreader is held against longitudinal movement and does not tend to be drawn into the nip of succeeding pressing rolls (not shown). It is accordingly possible to dispense with the dead bar if desired.

As, illustrated in Fig. 4 rolls 56', 51 may be positioned on the spreader frames 2' out of contact with the roll 40. In this case th'e edge of the spreader frame 2f is formed to fit into the contour of roll 40 with the belt 22' running in grooves in the frame and the roll.

The belts may be of various materials and contours, depending upon the design and conditions of use, and for instance, may be made of rubber or rubber with fiber core, leather, plain or'impregnated fabric, chain or spiral wire spring; and may be round or V-shaped. They may be arranged in various ways, depending upon th'e nature of the fabric and the type of treatment desired.

While the embodiment of our spreader illustrated in the figures has parallel side frames, it should be understood that other forms are also suitable. For example, the spreader frames may be angularly disposed by varying the relative lengths of the cross rods 3l and 32 so that the fabric is gradually distended to the predetermined width' as it travels over the spreader.

In operation the fabric is drawn by the pressing rolls and first passes over the inclined outer extremities 30 which serve to expand the fabric gradually until it attains its desired or predetermined width. Once so expanded the fabric edges come into contact with the edge belts. Such belts, by tending to move with the fabricl reduce frictional drag at the edges thus tending to reduce and minimize the longitudinal tension and also maintain the material against distortion of the transverse wales as it passes over the spreader. Just prior to entering the nip of the pressing rolls the fabric moves across the dead bar 32 which serves to position and guide the fabric entering the rolls and also prevents the spreader from being drawn therebetween.'

The side rolls 40 will have their supporting shafts transversely adjustable to position them to correspond to each transverse adjustment of the spreader and maintain the contours of the rolls and spreader accurately conforming to support the spreader while at the Sametime `permitting easy passing of the fabric between the rolls and the spreader surfaces.

Our improved spreader is economical to manufacture because it is not necessary to provide means for driving the edge belts or support rolls.` The freedom from edge friction reduces the drag and correspondingly minimizes the longitudinal pull required to move the fabric. 'I'h'is elimination of the longitudinal tension permits a wider lateral spreading of the fabric considerably beyond the width to which it could be spread otherwise. y

This application is a division of our Patent No. 2,339,151 granted January 11, 1944.

We claim:

1. In a system for spreading and flattening a traveling tubular fabric adapted to pass said fabric to transverse driven rolls engaging and drawing the fabric in flattened fo'rm between them, the combination of la floating spreader within the tubular fabric and drawn thereby into the nip of said driven rolls, said spreader comprising a transverse dead bar at said rolls and side frames connected to said dead bar and carrying freely rotatable pulleys with idle belt means running lengthwise along said side frames and contacting the fabric at the edges and moving therewith to a point adjacent said driven rolls so as to spread the fabric and deliver. it to said rolls without substantial frictional dragat the spread area and supporting side rolls f having grooved peripheries engaging the fabric and pressing it against said belt means and acting to support said floating spreader.

2. A system as set forth in clai'm l in which' the belthineans at each side runs in .a continuous loop'along the side frame and is engaged intermediate its ends by the supporting idlenroll.

3. A `system as set forth in claim l in which the belt means forms a loop running from the entrance end of the spreader to the supporting idler side roll, the remainder of the spreader between the supporting side roll and the transverse rolls being belt-free. c

4. A system as set forth in claim l in which the belt means is formed by two separate continuous belts along each side frame, said belt loops having adjacent ends contacting the supporting side roll.

5aA system as set forth in claim 1 in which,

there are separate belts on each side of the frame and idler belt pulleys on the spreader frame preceding and following the supporting idler side rolls and spaced from said rolls to permit the belt o n each side to run inward toward the spreader frame in contact with said side rolls and between said idler pulleys.

SAMUEL COHN. JOSEPH COHN. JULES G. WALTER.

Images