US3188837A - Machine for continuous finishing of textile material - Google Patents

Description

n 1965 LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OF TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1965 LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OF TEXTILE MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1963 June 15, 1965 LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL3,188:837

- MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OF TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1965 LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OF TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-fpfheet 4 June 1965 LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OF TEXTILE MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 15, 1963 United States Patent 3,188,837 MACHINE FOR CGNTINUOUS FINEHRNG 0F TEXTILE MATERHAL Leon-Herbert von Ondarza, Monchen-Gladbach, and

Gustav Beckers, Rheydt, Germany, assignors to A.

Monforts Maschiuenfahrilr, Monchen-Gladbach, Germany, a German firm Filed Aug. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 302,235 Claims. (Cl. 68-8) 7 Our invention relates to a continuously operating machine for the heat treatment or other processing of Webs or arrays of textile material, for example woven and knitted fabrics, felts, non-woven materials such as arrays of warp and the like. Employed for such heat treatment or other finishing processes is preferably steam or hot air with or without addition of gaseous, liquid or finely distributed solid chemicals.

In one of its specific, though not exclusive aspects our invention relates to steaming or decatizing machines.

It is an object of our invention to provide textile finishing machinery of the above-mentioned type that permits operating at a much higher travelling speed of the material being processed than heretofore reliably applicable.

Another object of our invention is to aiford an automatic or full-automatic operation of such machines and to permit designing a single machine of this type for such a large output as to take care of a production heretofore requiring several machines, particularly for decatizing operations.

Still another object of our invention is to combine an increased production per unit time with a high degree of processing, for example decatizing, uniformity without imposing exacting demands with respect to skill or attention upon the attending personnel.

To achieve these objects, as well as the more specific objects and advantages set forth hereinafter, we provide,

, according to our invention, two perforated processing cylinders upon each of which the textile material to be processed in wound for a certain length and thereafter unwound in intermittent operation, the unwinding of material from each cylinder taking place while the other cylinder is being driven for winding-up operation so that the performance of the two cylinders is complementary and results in a continuous or substantially continuous travel of the material as it is being processed, the steam or air or other processing medium being blown or sucked through the perforations of the cylinders and through the material wound upon them. We preferably provide the machine with endless cover webs of suitable cloth mate- I rial, for example thick cotton cloth, covering the material on one or both sides. These cover webs pass through the machine along a given endless path but are sufficiently longer than the path defined by suitable rollers or other guide means, so as to permit the web-covered material to be folded as it is being placed into winding-up relation toone cylinder and subsequently into winding-up relation to the second cylinder.

According to still another feature of our invention the devices for attaching the web-covered material to the respective cylinders comprise a fold-forming edge that extends parallel to the cylinder axis and is temporarily displaced toward a cylinder, thus forming a fold and placing it into contact with the cylinder then rotating in the winding up direction. The machine further comprises gripper and holding means which then cause the web-covered fold of material to be wound upon the cylinder; and we further connect the various machine components with control equipment for performing the necessary switching and reversing operations in the required sequence. Preferably the same control system serves to operate the drives for the cylinders and other components as well as for admitting the processing medium to the cylinders.

According to further features of our invention, the above-mentioned control system comprises pulse transmitters for causing the machine to operate automatically. Such pulse transmitters, generally known for textile fabrieating machines, may be of mechanical, electrical, hydraulical, optical or mixed types.

Further features of our invention will be described presently with reference to decatizing machines. Such a machine according to the invention comprises the following essential components:

(a) At least two decatizing cylinders or drums. Each pair of such cylinders is journalled for rotation about respective stationary axes within a steam box, and each cylinder is selectively rotatable in one or the other direction, or the appertaining drive is used only for driving the drum in one direction, whereas the reverse rotation is imparted to the drum only by the pull of the travelling Web-covered material while the drive runs idle or is sub jected to braking.

(b) Each of the two decatizing cylinders is provided with a fold-forming advancing device which passes the web-covered material to the decatizing cylinder.

(c) A gripper and holding device is provided at each decatizing cylinder which seizes the web-covered material from the advancing device and holds it until a fold turn is wound upon the cylinder.

(d) Control devices for the cylinder drives, for actuation of the above-mentioned advancing devices, grippers and holding devices, and if desired also for controlling the steam and air valves.

(e) One or more driven cooling cylinders which are contacted by the material after it leaves the decatizing portion of the machine proper.

For securing a particularly good decatizing action, it is preferable to pass the textile material between two cover webs through the machine. For this purpose, the machine according to the invention is provided with two, preferably endless, cover webs. Since the length of each endless web is larger than the length of the path defined by the appertaining guide means of the machine, two storage areas or devices for the respective web-s are provided. The mate rial to be decatized is accompanied by the two cover webs from the point where the material enters into the machine up to the point where it enters into the cooling zone, or if desired the webs also pass with the material through the cooling zone. The webs are seized and held together with the textile material by the above-mentioned advancing devices, grippers and holding devices.

During decatizing, the textile material is wound upon the cylinders and thereafter unwound therefrom while remaining located between the two cover webs; a similar winding system, employing several beams, being known as such for the wet processing of textile materials, for example for dyeing, bleaching and sizing.

When employing two cover webs in a machine according to the invention, the one advancing device in action at a time, causes its folder edge to move tangentially toward the decatizing cylinder and thus advances the threelayer assembly of the web-covered material against the cylinder. The advancing edge then forms a fold with the result that the winding on the decatizing drum is started with six layers.

This starting end of the winding is pressed against the decatizing drum by the above-mentioned gripper, whereafter the advancing device with the fold-forming edge returns to its inactive position. The above-mentioned holding device then keeps thesix layers against the cylinder periphery so that it is entrained until the cylinder has completed a full rotation. Thereafter the gripper and rotating cylinder continues the winding operation.

7 holding devices are removed from the cylinder, and the When thewinding thus produced has reached a given;

adjustable thickness, determined 'for example by means of a thickness sensor, the control system performs a v switching operation which starts the driveol? the second cylinder in the winding-up direction and simultaneously switches the first drum to idling or, if desired, to braking,

whereafter the thickness sensor is switched oil or rendered L r a r r r .10 Now the second advancing device is shifted toward the i ineffective.

second decatizing cylinder so that the folder edge again places a sixlayer fold against the cylinder. Thereafter the same operation is repeated as described above'with reference to the first cylinden; Assoon as the told is seized by the gripper, the advancing device is automati V cally withdrawn to, inactive position.

- As the second decatizing drum is rotating in the winddrum is completely unwound, an automatically operating 7 switching device uncouples the second drum from its drive or disconnects the second drive. This operation is. preferably initiated by means of a photoelectric cell which 4. i a' steaming zone 1 and a cooling zone 2. The steaming zone is'located between box-shaped sheet-metal structures 3, 4 thatjointly form a housing in which two decatizing cylinders and 6 are rotatable in stationary bearings.

The cooling zone 2 is open to the ambient atmosphere for good venting of the cooling air. Located near the bottom and top of the cooling'zone are respective horizontal'members 3b and 4bof preferably perforated sheet metahwire mesh'or metal grating; The two cylinders 5 and 6 are perforated over their entire periphery and equipped 'with hollow shafts 5b and 617 respectively through which the processing medium, such as steam, is

i supplied to the interior of the cylinders in order to issue from the perforations and through the textile material wound upon the cylinders. A larger cylinder 7, likewise perforated and provided with a hollow shaft 7b, is rotatably mounted in stationary bearings within the cooling zone and supplied with cooling air during thebperation -of the machine. 7 Y p vices for securing to. the respective rollers the material.

1 The two decatizihg cylinders 5 and 6cooperate with de to be wound upon them. These devices comprise two pusher members 8 and 9,-(FlGSu1 to.6). The pusher member b'has a fold-forming edge along the top of a responds to the end of the winding coming from the first cylinder and which acts upon electromechanical or other electrical devices to eifect the switching just mentioned.

Thereafter the above-described operating cycle is re-.

peated as many times as may be needed for completely processing the textile material.

The necessary decatizingtime can be preset by'correspending choice or" a greater or smaller travel speed as determined by the rotating speed of thedecatizing cylinders, or by providing a second or more cylinder pairs with the appertaining auxiliary components describedl1 above.

lowed by cooling of the textile material; the invention this is'preterably done by means of one As mentioned, the decatizirig" operationproperis f0l-' According to ridge. piece '81 (FIG. .5) which extends parallel to the axis of the. cylinder 5 and is mounted on two lateral leg 'portionsdz by means of wliichthe' pusher member 8 is guided on'the stationary machine structure on a guideway '(shown by broken 'linesiat'85 inFIG. 1) tangential to thedrum 5. One of the legs 32 of pusher member S is driven by means of a gear 83 (FIG; 6) meshing with a screw thread of leg 32 and also meshing with a worm :84 connected with a drive m-otor MS (FIGS/6, '7) :When the drivemotor M3 is operated in'one running direction, the pusher member 8 movesfrom its inactive position according to FIG.

cylinder 5.; a

j The'pusher member 9 for the cylinder 6 is analogously provided with a fold-forming edge on a transverse bridge piece'y9l that, extends parallel to the axis of cylinder 6 and is mounted between laterallegs 92 (FIGS). When the pusher member 9is driven from the appertaining m0- Y tor M9 through; connecting gears 93, 94, the bridge piece In this case the cover webs are guided into respective web storage spaces when the textile material enters into the ccoling'zone; whereafter the stored webs passback to the decatizing cylinders. However, if desired, both or selectively only the upper or the lower cover web can be passed through the cooling cylinders before returning them to the web st'or-' g age spaces.

The above-mentioned and further objects, advantages.

and features of our invention, said'features'bein'g setforth with particularity in the claims annexed hereto, will be apparentfrom, and will be described in, the" following with reference to an embodiment of an automatic decatizor more perforated cooling cylinders traversed by air. 91 moves upward in a tangential, direction toward the The textilematerial can be cooled without contact with" the above mentioned cover webs.

cylinderqo until the motor M9 is reversed to return the pusher member 9 tojthe inactive position show-nin FIG..5;

The two decatizing cylinders 5 and :6 are further pro vided with V respective-gripper devices 21 and 2 2, and with respective groups of holder segments 23 and 24 (FIGS. 1 to 6). l

V The gripper device 21' is essentially an endless elastic belt "trainedrabout two'rollers whose respective axes ar spaced ,8. fixed distance from each other, the entire 'belt assembly; being. rotatable about the axis 211 (FIG. 6) of enact the tworollersc Movement of the gripper device 21 about the pivot .axis 211' iscontr-olled by a hydraulic driveD-Zl which comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a piston spring-biased'in the downward direction to normally hold the gripper device 21away'from the cylinder 5.

' FIG. 1 is a schematic and partlyfsectionalside elevation.ofthemachine; v a I V FIGSQZ, 3 and 4'show schematically components of V the same machine in-three dilfe'rent operating conditions respectively. e a

FIG. Sis-laschematit: front view of the machine, seen from the entering side of the. material to be processed,f 4

various machine parts being omitted.

,FIG. 6 is anexplanatory diagram representingthc drive and control components of .the machine;'and

"D22 under control by an electrically operable valve V2 2.

FIG. 7 is a schematic 'circuitdiagram' interconnecting the control components of the/machine as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated machine comprises An electrically controlledfvalve V21 FIGS. 6, '7) permits applying hydraulic pressure-to thereby move the gripper device 21 upward and place the endless beltin contact with the cylinder 5. As a result, when the pusher member Shas advanced textile material againstthe drum,the

beltof the gripper-device 21 will force the material against the cylinder 5 so that the material is entrained, by the cyl- 1 inder and wound about it. i

The gripper device 22 for cylinder 6 is of the same dc sign, the corresponding.endless belt assembly being mov- The holder segmentsZS an'd'24. are elongated'troughshaped structures which extend over the entire axial length .ofeach cylinder. Theholder segments Z3'and 24 are dis- 5 downward in a tangential direction; to

tributed about the periphery of each drum. Normally they are in inactive position away from the adjacent cylinder. As shown in FIG. 6, representing only one of the segments 23 and 24 for each cylinder, the segments are driven by hydraulic drives D23, D24 under control by respective electrically controlled valves V23 and V24. The hydraulic drives are designed and operative in the same manner as described above with reference to the hydraulic actuator D21.

The performance of the above-described groups of devices for attaching the textile material to the respective 'decatizing drums is controlled by sensing means exemplitied in the illustrated embodiment by thickness feelers 28, .38 (FIGS. 1, 6, 7) which respond electrically when the amout of textile material wound upon a decatizing cylinder has reached a predetermined thickness, and also by photocells 29, 3% with appertaining light sources 2%, 39b (FIGS. 1, 6).

It will be understood that the above-described worm gears for displacing the pusher members 8 and 9 can be substituted by a rack on each pusher member and a spur gear meshing with the rack, or by any other suitable mechanism for displacing the pusher member; and it will also be understood that in lieu of the hydraulic drives for the gripper devices and holder segments any other suitable drives, for example reversible electric gear motors, may be used.

The fabric or other textile material to be decatized is illustrated by a dot-and-dash line and denoted by 14. It

enters into the machine at the left (FIG. 1) between guide rollers 15b, 15c and passes between two endless cover webs 16 and 17 whose endless path within the machinery is determined by a number of guide rollers including roller 15b or .150. The length of each endless cover web is greater than the travel path determined by the guide rollers in order to permit the web to be folded and wound in the manner described hereinafter. The excess length of web material is collected in respective storage spaces 12 and 13 which are located on top of the above-mentioned support members 311 and 4b below and above the cooling cylinder '7.

'Starting from the entrance gap 15 of the machine located between two guide rollers 15b and 15c, the textile material 14- is covered on both sides by the respective I cover webs 1-6 and 17 at least up to the entrance point of the cooling zone 2. After termination of the cooling operation, the textile material is carried out of the machine by the lower cover web 16 or, if desired, by a separate endless conveyor belt, in order to be laid off, or o be wound upon a take-up roller.

The decatizing process in the illustrated machine according to the invention takes place as follows.

The oncoming textile material is placed in front of the entrance gap 15 upon the lower cover sheet 16 coming from the storage space 12. it is then seized by the up er cover web 17 entering from above into the steaming zone. At this stage the We cover webs are wound upon the lower decatizing cylinder 5 up to a given thickness detemined by the selected position of the thickness feel-er 38, this thickness being preferably so chosen that the storage spaces 12 and 13 contain only a slight additional length of cover-web material. When the machine is put into operation, the thickness feeler 38 is automatically disconnected or render-ed inactive. (FIG. 1 does not represent the just described initiation of the operation by introducing the textile material 14 into the entrance gap 15 but relates to a subsequent stage of operation in which the material has already passed into the machine.)

After the material 14- is seized by the two cover webs 16 and 17 the drive of the upper decatizing cylinder 6 is switched on, the lower decatizing cylinder 5 is set for idling and is preferably braked to prevent a too rapid unwinding. At the beginning of rotation of cylinder 5, the pusher member 9 is shoved tangentially upward against the perforated peripheral surface of the upper cylinder 6. The fold-forming edge takes the textile material and the two cover sheets along and thus forms a tight fold 18 (FIG. 1) due to the doubling of the layers consisting of the material 14 and the two cover sheets 16 and 17. Consequently, the fold reaching the cylinder 6 consists of six layers.

The creased starting portion is seized by the gripper device 22 which, as mentioned, consists preferably of an endless elastic belt and is displaceable toward the cylinder 6 either by pivoting motion as described above or by parallel displacement. The pusher member 9 is then automatically returned to the starting position. The holder segments 24, now pressing against the drum take care that the assembly of material, consisting of six layers, remains in contact with, and entrained by, the cylinder 6 until the cylinder has completed a full rotation and becomes capable of continuing the winding operation without the assistance of the holder segments. The gripper device 22 and the holder segments 24 are then lifted off the cylinder. The cylinder 6 continues the winding operation until the cover webs 16 and 17 are completely unwound from the cylinder 5, this condition being shown in FIG. 2.

Now the lower photocell 3% is no longer obscured by the material but illuminated from the light source 3%. This causes the two cylinders 5 and 6 to reverse their respective directions of rotation and the pusher member 8 to be displaced downwardly against the lower cylinder 5. This is illustrated in FIG. 3. Simultaneously the gripper device 21 and the holder segments 23 are placed against the lower cylinder 5.

Now the web-covered material is wound onto the lower cylinder 5 in the same manner as described above with reference to the upper cylinder 6. During this winding operation, as well as durling the preceding winding opera tion on the upper cylinder 6, steam passes through the perforated cylinders and the material. The decatizing operation while the material is being wound upon the cylinder 5 and unwound off the cylinder 6 continues until the upper cylinder 6 is empty. At this moment the upper photocell 29 becomes illuminated from its light source 2% and responds, thus causing the upper cylinder 6 to again commence a winding-up operation during which the web-covered material is being unwound from the lower cylinder 5. These operations are periodically repeated.

During the above-described winding and unwinding operations, changing continually between the two docatizing cylinders, a new length of textile material 14 is continuously drawn into the machine through the entrance gap 15. Due to the fact that the turn located inward on one cylinder will form the outward turn on the other cylinder, the textile material 14 is uniformly decat-ized on its entire length without any stoppage and in full-automatic performance.

The textile material, after having thus passed once over both cylinders, enters into the cooling zone and is guided about the cooling cylinder 7 before it leaves the machine. The cooling operation can be performed with or without cover webs. schematically indicated in FIG. 1 are four different modes of thus using the machine:

(a) Full lines: The textile material 14 as well as the two cover sheets 16 and 17 are passed about the cooling cylinder 7. All three layers are traversed by the cooling air supplied through the perforated cooling cylinder. The lower cover web 16 serves as a carrier belt for passing the processed material to the lay-off position at the outlet end of the machine.

(b) Broken line 25: The upper cover web 17, after passing through the steaming zone 1, is passed directly to the storage space 13. Consequently, only the'tex-tile material 14 and the lower web 16 are subjected to cooling. in this mode of operation, too, the web 16 serves as a carrier belt for the processed material leaving the machine.

' Dotted line 26: The lower coverwcbld, after contacting the cooling cylinder. 7 along a small portion of the periphery, is lifted oii" the cylinder. and passed through" guide rollers27 to the storage space '12. The

upper cover web 17 remains on'the' cooling cylinder together with the textile material 14 and is'only thereafter passed to the storage space 13.

' (d) Lines 25-and 26: If fastest'possible cooling of V the processed material 1 4 is desired',-the upper cover web 17 is guided along line 25 and the lower web 16 along line 26 to the respective storagcs so that neither web is subjected to-cooling.

When operating in accordance with modes (c) and,

(d) it is preferable to provide a carrier belt from the.

cooling cylinder 7 to the terminal roller 3d at which the :processed material 14 leaves the machine.

As mentioned above, the. gripper devices 21', 2 2 and scribed are preferably mounted in a control cabinet (not shown).

The drive motor M for the decatizing cylinder 5 and the drives and. actuators MS, V21, V33 of the accessory devices for this cylinder are vanalogously controlled by a main contactor 41* and a reversing contactor 53 under control by the'upper thickness feeler andthe lower photocell. 39. These control'components are preferably mountedin another-cabinet (not shown). The measuring wheel36 is shown connected with a contact mechanism through aciutch 362. normally spring-biased to open position and controllableto close by means of an electrolrnag'net 361;, The contact mechanism comprises a cam 363 driven tromthe measuring wheel Flo-when the clutch 362 is closed and acting upon two normally open conmasses and 366 to temporarily close the contacts when 1 the mechanism has performeda single full revolution the holder segments 23, 24 are Withdrawn from the appertaining decatizing cylinder after one fullturn of a winding is completed.- For controlling 1 the gripper and holder devices automatically, some means rnust" be providedtoi' initiate the return.motion when a full turn is completed.

Ifdesired, a timing switch can be used for this purpose.

Thiswouldrequire setting the timing switch to 'a different timing period whenever the travel speed of the material in the machine is changed' It is preferable, therefore, to I provide a pulse transmitter which adapts itself: to any changes in travel speed of the material, as is the case with the measuring wheel shown at 36 in FIG. 1.. The measuring wheel engages the material and operates a counter and switch mechanism adjustedto the length of. textile material that corresponds to a single full turn of the cylinder 5on6. The measuring wheel 36 can be mounted at any desired location of the'rnachine where the wheel is 'en gageable with the textile material 14, or it may also be mounted for engagement With-01160]? the cover'webs 16,

.17. The measuring wheel :or the mechanism controlled thereby is initiated under. control by one of the thickness feelers 28, 38 or one of the photocells 29, 39. After the:

above-mentioned length of material has passed by the measuring mechanism causes the drive of the pusher. 7

members 8, 9 and the dri've for'the auxiliary components 22 to 24 to be switched to return motion so that they are] lifted away from the respective rollers.w The measuringwheel 36 need be provided at only one locationyin the j machine, for example near the entering'gap as shown in PEG. 1 and preferably in the vicinity of one of the side 7 walls of theframe structure. v y

An example of an electric control system for obtaining the above-described coactive performanceof the'machine' or any other number of adjustedrevolutions corresponding to a given length of material 14 measuredjby the measuring wheel as explained in' the foregoing;

if he system of FIG. '7 is further shown equipped-with steam admittance valves SV5 andSVd which are assumed to be spring-biased to closed position and are'elcctromagnetically opened under control by the V respective switches S5 and S6 to then pass steam through the hollow shafts into the respective decatizin" cylinders 5 and d. The switches S5 and 13 mayclosetogether with the main switch MS. 7 I l a l As will be understood from the followingwhenever the drive motor M6 is inoperation to rotate the cylinder 6, the

motor for cylinder 5 is deenergized and can idle. For

subjecting the cylinder .5 to suidcientfrictional braking to prevent overrunning, an electrically actuated brakeBS is provided whose brake-applying electromagnet is energizcd as long as the main contactor' itl applies energizing current :to the motor Mil Analogously, the motor M6 for cylinder 6 is provided with a magnetically controlled brake B6 which is' energized under control by the contactor 4i as'long as the motor M5 is energized.

FIG. 7 alsoishows two normally open pushbutton con- ;tacts 8M5 and SMof that permit operating the respective 'IHO'EC-IS MSandMdaswell as the appertaining accessory assemblies for short intervals oftirne, independently of the automatic control performance still to :be described, for

the purpose of preparing or adjusting the machinery.

The functioning of themachinery in accordance with the control system of .FIG.'7 is as follows.

Assume that the textile material 14 is inserted between the two covcrwebs as described above with reference to components is shown in FIG. 7, the diagram of 1 18.6. serving to assist in identifying thevarious drives and electric actuators of the system.

'1 he terminals T of the system are connected to a: suits I able source of. electric power which is supplied through a main switch MS. This main switch preferably consists of a 'contactor that can be closed and opened by means.

of push-buttons located at various places of the machinery.

but not illustrated in the diagram. 'It will also be understood that conventional protective devices, such asfover load switches interlock connections between'relays. and. contactors, are also omitted becauseconventional and not essential to machinery according to the invention proper.

The motor M7 for driving the cooling cylinder 7 (FIGS.

6, 1) is connected 'tothe power supply through. a control switch S7; Tlds motormaybe switched on and; kept 7 running in the same direction as long as the machine is in 1 operative condition. The drive motor M6 for the deoatizing cylinder 6 and-the motor M9- and the electric actuators V22 and V2 4 of the devices associated with cylinder 6 are energized from the power supply'under control by 'a' main contactor and a reversin g contactor 5% under control by the upper photocell 29 and the lower thickness feelen 38. The twocontactors and the appertaining amplifier, .4211 relay and other circuit components still tolbe de- FIG; land that the machine, is ready to be started. .Then the main switch MS is to be closed. At this stage the two pusher members 8 and 9 are in the'inac'tive positions located on respectively opposite sides oftthe travel path of the web-covered material. Consequently, the upper photocell29 is illuminated from the lightsource Ziib (FIG; 6). The photocell 29 (FIG; 7) responds and energizesthrough an amplifier 14201, a 'relay421 which closes its'contact 422,

and thereby energizes the coil 4M ofcontactor it). The contactorthencloses its maincontacts W2, 4% thus applying power to the motor M6 and, through the main j contacts 562, 5030i c'ontactor 56, also to't he drive motor 1M? of the pusher member Qand thevalve actuators V22 and V2410f the. gripper device and bolder sectors for cylinder 6; If a brake switch in'the circuit of thebralte actuator B5 is closed, the brakeffor'the drive motor M5,

' now deenergized, is'also set'in'operation.' -The'contactor 40 also closes a self-holding Contact 434 and, with some 3 62 due. to the fact that its magnet is now energized amass?- 9. through contacts 402 and 44B and contact 507 of inactive contactor t).

As soon as the measuring wheel 36 has measured a length of textile material 14 corresponding to a full winding turn of the fold now running onto the cylinder 6, the contact 365 is closed and energizes the coil Sill. of the reversing contactor 58 which now opens its contacts 562, 5G3 and closes contacts 594, 5955, thereby reversing the polarity or phase of the current applied to components M9, V22, V24. These drives and actuators now run in the reverse direction and withdraw the pusher member 9, the gripper device 22 and the holding segments 24 from the drum 6. If brake B5 was active, it remains active because its magnet does not respond to polarity or phase reversal. When the components 9, 22 and 2% have reached the original inactive position, the appertaining drives and actuators may be kept running it suitable slip clutches are provided, or the circuits may be equipped with limit switches that deenergize the individual drive and actuator circuits. At the start of the foldforming and winding operation at cylinder 6, namely when contactor 49 picks up, the steam valve 8V6 is closed by the opening of contact 416. But the decatizing operation on cylinder 6 commences as soon as the first turn of material is wound upon cylinder 6, because then the steam valve 8V6 is opened in the circuit of contacts 566 and 416. If desired, the steam valve 8V6 may also be connected parallel to the motor M6 so that it commences to admit steam at the moment the cylinder 6 starts rotating.

As soon as the measuring-wheel mechanism has issued the above-described control pulse by temporary closing of contact 365, this contact mechanism is rendered inactive by the opening of contact 567 in contactor 56 which deenergizes the clutch magnet 361. Consequently, the motor M6 continues rotating the cylinder 6 and the decatizing operation continues until the lower cylinder 5 runs empty. When this happens, the lower photocell 3% becomes illuminated from its light source 39b (FIG. 6) and energizes, through an amplifier 4212, a relay 425 which closes its contact 426 and thereby completes an energizing circuit for the coil 411 of the contactor 41. The relay 425 also opens a contact 427 in the self-holding circuit of contactor 40 and thereby causes this contactor to drop off. Consequently, motor M6 for cylinder 6 is now stopped, and the brake B5 for motor M5 is released.

As soon as contactor 41 picks up, it closes a selfholding circuit 414 and opens another contact 417 in the self-holding circuit of contactor 49, thus preventing reenergization of motor M6 and its associated components as long as the motor M5 is energized. The main contacts 412, 413 now energize the motor M5 and cause the contact mechanism of the measuring wheel 36 to perform another run upon whose termination the contact 366 energizes the coil 501 of the reversing contactor 51. In this manner, the components M8, V21, V23, SVS and B6 are operated in the same manner as described above for the corresponding accessory devices of cylinder 6. It will be understood that the circuit of coil 411 for contactor 41 includes in series the contacts 407 to 423 in the same manner as the circuit of coil 401 includes the series connection of contacts 416 and 427, thus preventing the motor M5 and the associated components to be energized through contactor 41 as long as the contactor 46 for motor M6 has picked up.

The control circuit of steam valve SVS is understood to extend serially through the contacts 407 and 423 of contactor 4t) and relay 421 respectively, so that the ad- 1% by opening of the main switch MS. It will be understood that automatic opening of switch MS can be provided for in the event that no further material 14 is supplied, this being effected conventionally by photoelectric control, for example.

As explained, it is not necessary to reverse the energizing current for motors M5 and M6. These motors are intermittently switched to run in a given direction and thereafter remain deenergized, to be unwound by the pull exerted from the other, driven cylinder through the webcovered material. The idling cylinder is then subjected to sufficient braking to have the textile material and cover webs remain in contact therewith. The decatizing operation is continued during unwinding operation.

It will be understood that the above-described control system is presented by way of example and that a great variety of modifications as to electrical components and circuitry can readily be made.

A processing machine according to the invention, particularly when used for decatizing and related finishing purposes, is superior to the known machines of this general type in various respects. Of particular significance is the possibility of a fully continuous operation afforded by virtue of the fact that multi-layer windings are placed upon the decatizing cylinders at a considerably greater travel speed of the material than heretofore applicable. In contrast thereto, the known decatizing machines require prolonged periods of standstill for a relatively large number of cylinders to receive single-layer windings in order; to attain the required decatizing period of time.

Machines according to the invention are particularly well suitable for continuously operating finishing plants as desired in modern textile manufacture. A single decatizing machine of this type can take care of the entire production of a cloth producing mill heretofore requiring a number of individual decatizing machines. In addition, the decatizing or shrinkage effect achieved in a machine according to the invention, is reliably and uniformly good because each cylinder receives several winding layers and these layers are firmly pressed against each other.

The invention further affords a considerable saving with respect to energy consumption and reduction of working time, particularly on account of the fully automatic performance obtainable. The use of the abovementioned sensors or pulse transmitters, such as photoelectric cells, for automatically switching the various machine components, including the cylinder drives, the fold-forming pusher members, the gripper and holding devices, and the cooling cylinder, secures a highly uniform steaming or other finishing effect without imposing any exacting demands upon the skill or attention of the attending personnel. For such performance it is essential that the switching operations be properly sequenced so that the continuous passage of the material to be processed is nowhere disturbed or interrupted within the machine. Such a reliability of control can readily be secured with electrical means as described above, although hydraulic or other control devices known for fabricating machinery in general are likewise applicable.

Machines according to the invention are applicable also for condensing, polymerizing, impregnating, dyeing and other finishing operations of various textiles. For the finishing processes just mentioned, the operation is in most cases performed without cover webs. Suitable as processing media are particularly hot air, if desired with an addition of chemicals or other gaseous or liquid media which may be added, for example, by spraying or injection into the flow of air or steam supplied to the perforated drums.

When using a machine according to the invention for the condensing of synthetic resinous plastics in textile materials, it is preferable to place a bath-containing vessel in front or the machine entrance gap,'the vessel being 7 provided with the liquid synthetic material. The web of grease-r material being processed. This has the advantage that the bath of synthetic plastic, since it need not contain a catalyst, remains applicable fora much longer period or" time than with the known condensation processes.

. Upon a study of this disclosure'it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that era invention permits of various modifications beyond those particularly illustrated and described herein without departing from the essential features o f our invention and within the scope of the claims annexed herctd' We claim: 7 Z i v i 1. A machine for finishing textile materials, comprising two cylinders spaced from each other and rotatable-about lectivestatidnary axes, said cylinders being perforated an tl an; pieces-nag mecliurri through the perforations, drive means connected to said respective cylinders and adapted fdr al= ternatcly rotatingone and then the other of said respective cylinders in the winding-up sense while each time the remaining cylinder is rotatable in the unwinding sense,

means defininga feed path for textile material to be processed, two devices for attaching the material to the one of said cylinders that rotates in the winding-up sense at a time, said devices comprising two pusher members having respective fold forming edges parallel to said respective cylinder axes and normally located on opposite sides respectively of said path, said members being alternately movable toward, said path and toward said I respective cylinders for passing each time a fold of the material'onto said one cylinder. V r a Z: A machine for fini'shing textile materials, comprising two cylinders s'pae'd from each other and rotatable about.

rcspective stationary axes, said cylinders being perforated on the cylindrical surface and having means for passing processing medium through the perforations, drive means connected to said respective cylindersand adapted for al- V I ternately rotating one and then the other of said respective cylinders in the winding up. sense while each time there r ca surrae and having means for passing as W . essed, two devices for attaching the material to the one of 'said cylinders that rotates in the windg-up sense at a time,

each of said devices comprising a normally inactive foldforming member movable toward said one cylinder from the opposite side of the material to thereby move a fold of the material toward the cylinder, and each of said de- 'vices further comprising normally inactive gripper means movable toward said cylinder for gripping the fold and normally inactive holding means movable toward said cylinder for holding the folded material against the cylinder peripheral surface until'a turn of material is wound upon the cylinder; each or said cylinders having drive means and each of saiddevices having actuator means; and a control system connected to said' drive means and actuator means and having sequencing means for operating said drive means and actuator means in a given periodic sequence.

r 4. a machine according to claim 3,said control systern comprising reversing switch means in controlling connectidn' with said actuator means, switch means connected to said drive rrians for controlling the latter for winding 6. In a'machine according sensing means responsive'to given winding condtions of the material for monitoring said control system.

5.- In a machine according to claim 3, said fold-forming member comprising a blade member having a fold-formnigedge parallel to the axes of said cylinders, and guide means extending in a substantially tangential direction of one of said respective cylinders, said blade member being displaceable in said guide means toward and away. from said onelcylinder, and the respective guide means of said two blade inembers forming respective displacement guide ways'intersecting'each other. 7 I

i to claim 3, said gripper means comprising an endless flexible belt displaceable radially'toward and from said one cylinder for pressing thetextile' material against thecylinder when the belt is displaced toward the cylinder 7.111s machine according to'claiin 3, said holding means for each of said cylinders comprising a plurality of trough-shaped segments peripherally distributed about said ahead of said cylinders, two devices for attaching the .webcovered material to the one of'saidcylinders that rotates in the winding-up sense at'a time, said devices comprising two pusher members having respective fold-forming edges parallel to said respective cylinder axes 'and normally located on opposite sides of saidfced path near said point, said members being alternately movable toward said path away'thcretrom.

cylinder-and movable radially against said-cylinder and 8. A machine according to claim3, comprising controllable valve means connected with said respective cylinders for admitting processing medium thereto, said valve means means connected to said cylinders for supplying hot decatizing medium, and a cooling 'zone located behind said cylinders, said feedpath extcnding from said cylinders through said cooling zone for cooling the material dec- 10. Ina machine according to claim 9, said cooling zone comprising a rotatably driven cooling cylinder havand said respective cylinders for passing each time a Webcovered fold of the material onto said onecyl indcr. 1

3. A machine for finishing textile materials,'comprising two cylindersspaced from each other and rotatable about respective stationary axes, said cylinders being perforated.

connected to said respective cylinders and adapted for al-,

ternately rotating one and then the other of said respective.

cylinders in the winding-up sense while each time the remaining cylinder is rotatable in the unwinding sense, means defining a feed path for textile materialto be proc- 'Ecterences Cited by the Examiner a VVUNITEDSTATES PATENTS 994,075 5/11 Gessncr es s 2,670,622 3/54 Dourdeville 68-8 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A MACHINE FOR FINISHING TEXTILE MATERIAL, COMPRISNG TWO CYLINDERS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND ROTATABLE ABOUT RESPECTIVE STATIONARY AXES, SAID CYLINDERS BEING PERFORATED ON THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AND HAVING MEANS FOR PASSING PROCESSING MEDIUM THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS, DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDERS AND ADAPTED FOR ALTERNATELY ROTATING ONE AND THEN THE OTHER OF SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDERS IN THE WINDING-UP SENSE WHILE EACH TIME THE REMAINING CYLINDER IS ROTATABLE IN THE UNWINDING SENSE, MEANS DEFINING A FEED PATH FOR TEXTILE MATERIAL TO BE PROCESSED, TWO DEVICES FOR ATTACHING THE MATERIAL TO THE ONE OF SAID CYLINDERS THAT ROTATES IN THE WINDING-UP SENSE AT A TIME, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING TWO PUSHER MEMBERS HAVING RESPECTIVE FOLD-FORMING EDGES PARALLEL TO SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDER AXES AND NORMALLY LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES RESPECTIVELY OF SAID PATH, SAID MEMBERS BEING ALTERNATELY MOVABLE TOWARD SAID PATH, AND TOWARD SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDERS FOR PASSING EACH TIME A FOLD OF THE MATERIAL ONTO SAID ONE CYLINDER.

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