US3253311A

US3253311A - Apparatus for converting tubular knitted fabric to open width form

Info

Publication number: US3253311A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cohn Samuel; Catallo Frank
Original assignee: Samcoe Holding Corp
Current assignee: Samcoe Holding Corp
Priority date: 1963-07-18
Filing date: 1963-07-18
Publication date: 1966-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-31

Description

May 31, 1966 s. COHN ET AL APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC TO OPEN WIDTH FORM Filed July i8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS SAMUEL COHN FRANK C TAL O (ZW/f ATTORN S May 31, 1966 s. COHN ET AL 3,253,311

APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC TO OPEN WIDTH FORM Filed July 18, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Flo. 3

T, INVENTORS SAMUEL COHN FRANK CATALLO FlG. 4 BMM ATTORN S UnitedStates Patent O 3,253,311 APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC Tf) OPEN WIDTH FORM Samuel Cohn, New York, and Frank Catallo, Elmont,

N .Y., assignors to Samcoe Holding Corporation, Woodside, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed `luly 18, 1963, Ser. No. 296,034 1 Claim. (Cl. 26-1) The present invention relates to the handling and treating of tubular knitted fabric, and is directed more specifically to a novel method and apparatus for finishing tubular knitted fabric and then slitting and opening the fabric and presenting it in open width, distortion-free condition.

While knitted fabrics customarily are formed on circular knitting machines, such that the initial, knitted product is in tubular form, there are substantial and increasing end uses for the knitted material in so-called open width form. Generally speaking, conversion of tubular knitted fabric to open width form is accomplished by slitting the fabric tube longitudinally and laying it open. This procedure, while simple in concept, is extremely difficult to perform effectively, at least with knitted fabrics of popular weights, since the fabric is particularly susceptible to distortion under tension applied in any direction and is dimensionally unstable. Thus,

' special procedures are required to effect the slitting7 and opening of tubular knitted fabric etliciently and without undesirable distortions.

One particularly advantageous method and apparatus for slitting and opening tubular knitted fabric is described and claimed in the copending application of Samuel Cohn et al., Serial No. 103,927, filed April 18, 1961, now U.S. Patent No. 3,196,723. In the procedure illustrated in that application, the tubular fabric, presented in the form of a at tube, is slit longitudinally along the center of one fabric layer, and the slit fabric is then controllably directed through specific paths of predetermined, precisely kequal length, until the fabric is .in fully opened condition,

enabling the opening of the fabric to be accomplished without introducing distortions. The method and apparatus of the present invention, while similarly characterized by an ability to convert slit fabric to open width form while positively controlling the fabric to avoid distortion, is directed especially to the slitting of a fiat-form fabric tube along one edge, edge slitting being preferred to center slitting for some end uses of the fabric since it eliminates one of the edge areas of the tube, which tend to become undesirably creased if not carefully handled preliminary to slitting.

1n accordance with one of the specific aspects of the invention, provisions are made for receiving the initial fabricftut'be, uniformly conditioning the fabric and setting it to predetermined width by laterally distending and steaming the fabric, slitting the fabric along one edge,. i

and directing the opposite layers of the slit fabric tube horizontally in opposite directions over and around a V-shaped opening frame and directly into edge-toedge Contact with a dimensionally stable control blanket which carries .the then fully opened fabric at right angles to the direction of the incoming, unopened fabric. To particular advantage, the preconditioning of the fat'bric by spreading and steaming is carried out with the fabric travelling in a horizontal plane, after which the fabric is diverted vertically downward through a short traverse, during which it may be slit along one edge. Opposite layers of the vertically travelling slit fabric are then diverted horizontally so that one of the layers travels back in a direction opposite to that of the incoming fabric tube. This procedure accommodates a particularly compact structural arrangement since the opening frame and control blanket are in substantial part disposed in underlying relation to the spreading and steaming equipment required in the pretreatment of the incoming tubular fabric.

One of the particularly advantageous structural aspects of the present invention resides 'in the fact that the slitting facilities, opening frame and control blanket advantageously are positioned below and in partly underlying relation to the distending and steaming equipment for pretreating the incomingfabric, and the gathering (eg, wind-up or folding) facilities for the open width fabric are located off to the side, such that the equipment may, if desired, be converted quickly to a substantially conventionally operating tensionless calendering apparatus. Thus, lby passing the pretreated -material straight through the apparatus, without diverting it vertically downward past the slitting station and to the opening frame, the distended and steamed material may be tensionlessly gathered while still in tubular form. The apparatus thus is particularly well suited for the smaller manufacturing organization, particuarly prevalent in the textile industry, having part-time requirements for calendering facilities and for slitting and opening facilities.

As a further specic aspect of the invention, provisions are made for diverting the opposed layers of the slit fabric tube in opposite directions and at right angles to the direction of the incoming slit tube while maintaining the fabric reliably free of distorting tensions. To this end, the slit tubular fabric is passed between closely spaced guide rollers and directed at right angles after passing between the rollers. Of particular significance, the guide rollers are rotated in `opposite directions and in synchronism with the speed of advance of the fabric, so that the fabric is positively advanced as it is sharply diverted.

As another specific aspect of the invention, special provisions are made for directing a concentration of steam at the edge of the incoming fabric tube to be left intact, while maintaining the edge as free as possible from creasing pressures. The arrangement is such that there is sulbstantially less likelihood of the finished, open width fabric retaining an undesirable edge crease formation running along its center.

In the system of the invention, the incoming fabric tube is maintained under positive control to the greatest practicable extent, Particularly, the fabric is slit as close as practicable to the point at which the fabric is opened and positively enga-ged by the dimensionally stable control blanket. In a specific apparatus according to the invention, this is best accomplished by feeding the incoming fabric tube in a horizontal direction, while laterally distending and steaming the fabric for uniformly conditioning the fabric and setting it to predetermined, uniform width.- Thereafter, the pretreated fabric tube is diverted vertically downward for a short distance, with the slitting of the fabric advantageously taking place during the vertically downward course. Substantially immediately thereafter, the fabric layers are diverted horizontally forward and readward and about a horizontally disposed V-shaped opening frame which directly overlies the control blanket. The arrangement not only provides positive fabric contro-l throughout most of the treatment and handling, but the fabric, in addition, is so directed and controlled as to avoid undesirable drape or looseness in the fabric at any stage, which might tend to induce tensions and distortions.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a converting and finishing apparatus incorporating the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG 1;

FIG, 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4 4 of FIG. l.

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. l and 2 thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates a supply container, typically holding a supply of unfinished tubular knitted fabric, identified by the reference numeral 11. By way of general explanation, the unfinished fabric 11 is drawn from the supply container 10, passed over a guide roller 12, and then directed horizontally through a finishing stage, identified generally by the reference numeral 13 in FIG. 2, in which the-tubular knitted fabric is laterally distended and then uniformly conditioned and set to predetermined width by steaming.

After passing through the finishing stage 13, the uniformly conditioned fabric is passed over a controlled drive roller 14 and directed downward onto an opening frame. The conditioned fabric, in fiat tubular fo-rm, travels downward a short distance, during which period it is slit along one edge by a motor driven slitter 16.

Substantially immediately after slitting, the fabric is directed between small diameter, driven

guide rollers

17, 18, and the opposed layers of the fabric are directed horizontally, in opposite directions, generally over the top of a V-shaped opening frame 19, disposed with its apex substantially aligned with the intact edge of the slit fabric tube.

In accordance with the invention, the opposed layers of the slit fabric travel horizontally outward and are passed over and around the opening frame. Immediatly thereafter, the fabric is engaged by a conveyor blanket 20, travelling substantially in a horizontal plane and in a transverse direction. The arrangement is such that as the slit fabric reaches opened width form, it is engaged across its width by the conveyor blanket and carried in a transverse direction to a gathering facility, which may be a roll-up mechanism 21 or other suitable means.

As indicated in FIGS. l and 2, the opening frame advantageously lies in a horizontal plane offset below the horizontal plane in which the incoming, unfinished fabric is travelling, and a substantial portion of theopening frame underlies the incoming, unslit fabric, The design is such that the equipment occupies a practical minimum of oor space, because the space required for the assembly is less than the total space required for the finishing stage and opening frame individually. In addition, the arrangement is such that the fabric travels through minimum distances between slitting and gathering, so that the tial, the numerals 22, 23 designate opposite side elements under optimum control.

Considering the illustrated apparatus in greater detail, the numerals 22, 23 degisnate opposite side elements of a machine frame structure on which the various components are mounted. The frame also includes a cross member 24 at the entry end of the machine, from which extend a pair of supports 25 serving to mount the guide roller 12.

The finishing station 13 comprises in part a propeller spreader mechanism 26, which may advantageously be constructed in accordance with the S. Cohn et al. Patent No. 2,589,344. The spreader typically may comprise a pair of longitudinally disposed

frame elements

27, 28 disposed in predetermined spaced relation by a spreader rod 29 and arranged to be received internally of the .travelling fabric tube. Each of the spreader frame elements journals a pair of intermediate pulleys 30, 31 and front and

rear pulleys

32, 33, front and rear belts- (not specifically shown) being supported by the

pulleys

30, 32 and 31, 33, respectively. Spaced edge drive rolls 34, 34a are arranged to engage the pairs of intermediate pulleys 30, 31, through the wall of a fabric received over the spreader frame, in such a way that the spreader frame is held in a predetermined position and the intermediate pulleys are rotated to advance the front and rear belts in the desired manner. In some cases, it may be desirable to so construct the edge drive rolls 34, 34a and the intermediate pulleys 30, 31 as to cause the front and rear belts to -travel at slightly different speeds, usually such that the rearward set of belts, engaging the fabric on the entry side of the edge drive rolls, travel slightly faster than the forward set of belts, causing the fabric to be slightly overfed onto the forward or discharge side belts.

Advantageously, one of the edge drive rolls 34a is fixed to the frame element 22, while the other edge drive roll is controllably adjustable along transverse guide rods 35, 36 by means of a threaded shaft 37 operable by a hand wheel 38. The edge drive rolls are driven at a desired speed through a shaft 39 journalled in the frame elements 22, 23 and connected to a main drive motor 40 through a suitable drive arrangement including variable speed pulley means 41. The speed of the edge drive rolls, and of the propelling belts of the finishing stage 13, Iis adjusted relative to machine speed by means of a belt tension adjusting shaft 61 which extends transversely across the machine frame and is controllable by means of a threaded shaft 59 and a pair of hand Wheels 60. The hand wheels 60, like the hand wheel 38 and others to be described, are located generally in the near entry side section of the machine, for convenient access by an operator positioned to have effective observation of the functioning of the machine.

The forward or discharge end of the propeller frame extends between top and

bottom steamer boxes

42, 43 provided with transverse slots such as indicated at 44 for discharging steam toward the opposed surfaces of the advancing fabric. To confine the steam discharged to areas immediately adjacent the

steam boxes

42, 43, blowers 45, 46 are provided, arranged to discharge air streams vertically upward and through the travelling fabric tube, on opposite sides of the Steamers. The arrangement is such that the upwardly directed air streams tend to carry the residual steam upwardly, away from the fabric and machine, except in the immediate area of the

steamers

42, 43, where the steam is permitted to penetrate the fabric to achieve a desired lubrication and conditioning of its fibers.

As indicated in FIG. 3, the forward extremities 47 of the propeller frame pass over and around the drive roller 14 and extend vertically downward a predetermined dis tance. Advantageously, the forward frame sections 47 are contoured to conform closely to the surface of the drive rol-ler 14, so that the tubular knitted fabric travelling over the spreader frame is guided into contact with the surface of the roller. The roller 14, being provided with a surface covering 48 of felt or other material, is arranged to have desirable frictional gripping characteristics with the tubular knitted fabric. arranged to be driven at a predetermined machine speed through a system including pulleys 49, 50 and a belt 51 to a main drive shaft 52 connected to the drive motor 40. The arrangement is such that the spread and uniformly conditioned tubular fabric `passing over the discharge end of the spreader frame is driven across its Width at a predetermined, controlled speed by the roller 14. The machine speed is controlled by means of a variable speed pulley 62 (FIG. 2) associated with the motor 40 and adjustable by means of a hand wheel 63 at the operators control station. The hand wheel 63 operates through a chain 64 to rotate a threaded shaft 65 for shifting' the rnotor 40 transversely to increase or decrease belt tension acting on the adjustable drive pulley 62.

Disposed below the vertically projecting discharge end extremity of the fixed spreading frame member 27 is a vertically disposed, upward projection 53 of the V-shaped opening frame 19. The projection 53 extends from the apex 54 of the opening frame, from which two

frame rods

55, 56, disposed in a horizontal plane, extend in right In addition, the roller 14 is angular relation to each other. As indicated particularly in FIG l, the apex lof the opening frame is aligned with one vertically travelling edge of the fabric tube, which edge remains intact throughout the slitting and opening operation. In addition, the frame is symmetrically disposed with respect to the vertical plane in which the fabric tube travels after passing around the drive roller 14.

Although the opening frame 19 is essentially of right angular conguration, a slight amount of adjustment may be provided, if desired, to accommodate initial manufacturing tolerances and also to accommodate slight, unpredictable variations in fabric construction. The extent `of adjustment thus to be accommodated is relatively small,

since it is necessary at all times to retain the frame bars 55, 56 substantially in right angular relation to avoid undesirable distortions of the fabric during its convension from tubular to open width form.

As indicated particularly in FIG. I, the conveyor blanket directly underlies the opening frame 19, advantageously in direct contact therewith, except for the interposition of the fabric. The blanket 20 is sufficiently wide to accommodate the widest open width material intended to be handled by the machine, and half of the width of the blanket extends longitudinally underneath the finishing section 13. The blanket is trained about longitudinally disposed

rollers

66, 67 journalled in the machine frame, the roller 67 being positioned outward of the near side of the machine such that the conveyor blanket extends transversely outward from the finishing section and the opening frame, enabling at, open width fabric to be delivered at the side of the machine, as will be described.

As illustrated best in FIG. 4 and in accordance with one of t-he speci-fic aspects of the invention, the roller 66, training the conveyor blanket at the far side of the rnachine, is offset downward from the desired, horizontal plane of the blanket, and an auxiliary guide roller 68 is provided to direct the blanket upward at an angle from the roller 66 to the desired horizontal plane directly underlying the opening frame 19. The arrangement desirably is such that the conveyor blanket is spaced an inch or two (for example) below the opening frame in the immediate region of the apex 54 thereof, while being guided convergently into directly underlying relation a short distance away from the apex. This arrangement greatly facilitates threading of the leading end of a fabric section through the machine, while at the same time affording an effectively maximum control contact between the blanket 20 and the slit fabric.

The opened fabric eventually is directed from the conveyor blanket 20 into contact with a driven windup roller 69, which engages the upper surface of the fabric and causes it to be wound in a tension-free condition about a core shaft 76. The shaft 70 is loosely guided in channels 7'1, at each end, and is progressively raised as the gathering roll of slit and opened fabric increase in diameter.

Advantageously, air discharge nozzle means 72 are positioned below the path of the fabric, to direct streams of air upward and through the fabric as it is transferredfrom the control blanket'ti to the driven windup roller 69. `In view of the substantial width of the fabric when in opened form, the nozzle means 72 advantageously cornprises separate, aligned nozzles suppplied with air under pressure by separate motor driven blowers 73, as indicated in FG. 2.

The driven windup roll 60 advantageously' is coupled to the roller 67, through pulleys 74, '75 and belts 76, so that the peripheral speed of the windup roll is snychronously related to the surface speed of the conveyor blanket 20. ln turn, the speeds of the blanket and windup roll are variablerelative to the machine speed, by means of a variable speed pulley 77 driven by a belt 78 and adjustable by means of a hand w reel 7% positioned conveniently near the operators control station.

Typically, the speed of operation of the blanket 20 and windup roll 69 is substantially identical to the speed at which the incoming, unslit fabric is advanced by the driven roller 14, slight variations being required in certain instances to accommodate variations in different pieces of fabric, for example.

The near edge of the fabric tube is slit in an advantageous manner, as the tube travels downwardly from the driven roller 14 toward the opening frame 19, by means of the slitter assembly 16, which includes a motor 80 adjustably mounted for lateral movement along a transverse frame element S1 and carrying a rotating slitting knife 82 on its rotor shaft. The slitting knife 82 operates generally within a guard 83, which includes

upward projections

84, 85 received internally and externally of the fabric tube and forming guide elements for the edge of the tube, immediately in advance of the point of slitting. The internal guide element 34 projects into close relationship to the downwardly porjecting end 47 of the spreader frame so as to constitute, in effect, an extension of the guiding edge provided by the spreader frame. Typically', the slitting assembly 16 is adjustable separately from the spreader frame, but it may be coupled therewith if desired, since the slitter ultimately is aligned with the adjustable spreader frame element 26.

As indicated particularly in FIG. 4, the slitting knife is located as close as practicable to the horizontal planes j defined by the

bars

55, 56 of the opening frame, such that the slit edges of the fabric are required to travel through a minimum distance until supported and engaged by the control blanket 2?. This reduces to a practical minimum the likelihood of the cloth edges being distorted or otherwise undesirably affected prior to the rolling up or gathering of the slit, open width fabric.

In accordance with one of the significant, specific asspects of the invention, the slit edges of the fabric are diverted from a substantially vertical travel through a substantially sharp bend into the horizontal plane defined by the upper surfaces of the opening frame bars 55, 56. To this end, elongated, driven guide rollers 17, 18 (see particularly FIG. 3) are journalled in the machine frame, immediately above the frame bars 55, 56 and on opposite sides of the vertical frame projection 53 and the slitter guard 83. The opposite layers of the fabric tube, after slitting of the tu'be along one edge, are directed downward between the

guide rollers

17,18, after which the opposite layers 11a, 11b of the fabric are diverted horizontally outward over the top surfaces of the frame bars. The

guide rollers

17, 18 are of very small diameter, relative to their length (eg. 1 inch diameter, 4 ft. length), such that the fabric layers are directed sharply from the vertical to the horizontal direction, closely approximating the ideal geometry of a sharp, right angle corner.

To avoid imparting any tension or distortion to the fabric layers, as they are diverted about the guide rollers 17, 1S, the rollers are arranged to be driven at a peripheral speed equal to that of lthe principal drive roller 14, this being arranged by means of a belt 86 driven by a pulley S7 rotating with roller 14. The belt 86 is trained about a pulley 39 on one end of the guide roller 18, passed about an idler pulley 90, and then trained in a reverse direction around a pulley 91 on the end of the guide roller 17, whereby the respective guide rollers 17, 1S are driven at equal speeds but in opposite directions.

in accordance with the invention, the opposite layers of the slit fabric tube, after being diverted about the

guide rollers

17, 18, travel horizontally out to the bars -55, 56 of the opening frame, and then around and underneath the frame bars, whereupon the fabric is brought into con trol contact with and engaged'by the blanket 20. With the frame bars 55, S6 `being symmetrically disposed relative to the lfabric and related at 90 to each other, the individual longitudinal strip areas of the fabric layers travel substantially identical distances in travelling horizontally outward in opposite directions, toward and around the frame bars, and horizontally in a transverse direction to an imaginary line, disposed longitudinally of the machine, at which the fabric is in flat, open width condition. Throughout much of this travel, in which the fabric is being converted from tubular to open wid-th form, the fabric is in controlled engagement with dimensionally stable surfaces,'so that distortions of the fabric, leading to curling of the edges in the open width material, variations in the fabric width, etc., are substantially avoided.

In accordance with another specific aspect of the invention, provisions are made for minimizing the presence of an edge crease in the open width fabric. Thus, in the handling and processing of tubular knitted fabric prior to the slitting and opening, it is almost inevitable that the fabric becomes creased along its edges. The crease along the near edge of the fabric is of minor consequence in the illustrated arrangement, since the fabric is slit along that edge, causing the edge crease effectively to disappear. However, any signicant edge crease in the far or intact edge of the fabric leaves an undesired ridge in the open width fabric.

To eliminate or significantly minimize the far edge crease, the apparatus of the invention incorporates a steam deflector element 92, which is secured between the

steamer boxes

42, 43 and has active surfaces arranged to intercept vertically discharged jets of steam and deflect them inward against the edge of the fabric tube travelling over the spreader frame. As will be understood, the construction of the spreader frame involves a certain thick ness dimension (e.g., 3A inch) so that the longitudinal regions of the fabric immediately adjacent the edge crease face outwardly and typically are under some tension from the widthwise distention in the fabric. Accordingly, when the outwardly facing, distended edge crease is subjected to the inwardly deflected jets of steam, the edge crease is removed or significantly minimized. As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the active surfaces of the steam deflector 92 are in the form of a horizontally disposed V arranged with the inclined deflecting walls substantially directly above and below steam outlet openings of the

steamer boxes

42, 43, which outlet openings may be of either defined holes or portions of elongated slots, as will be understood.

Particularly in smaller processing plants, it may be expedient to use the finishing equipment of the apparatus simply for relaxing the tubular fabric lengthwise, setting it to predetermined width, and uniformly conditioning it for subsequent use in tubular form. Typically, the finishing operation may include calendering and gathering in roll or folded form. Thus, in the apparatus of the invention, in which the slitting and opening facilities are offset in a plane below the plane of the finishing station 13, provisions advantageously may be made for directing the conditioned fabric horizontally forward from the driven roll 14, to a selectively driven windup roller indicated at 95. The windup apparatus, of which the driven roll 95 is a part, may be generally of the same construction as the windup device for the open width fabric. However, it is advantageous to provide a conveyor blanket 96, which is trained about and driven by the windup roll 95, to carry the finished tubular fabric over the top of the opening frame.

When the windup 95 is utilized the vertical extensions 47 of the spreader frame are removed, either by a detachable securing arrangement or by bodily substituting an alternate spreader frame in which the vertical extensions have been omitted.

If desirable or appropriate, when using the apparatus as a finishing machine alone, suitable calendering rolls (not shown) may be provided to act upon the tubular fabric leaving the spreading frame.

The invention provides a particularly compact and efficient arrangement for slitting and opening tubular knitted fabric, in which the spreading and opening frame is offset below and partly underlies the spreading and propelling frame. The described arrangement provides that the knitted fabric travels through a minimum distance from the time it is slit until it is engaged and controlled by a moving conveyor blanket. In addition, during the conversion stage, the fabric is so guided and controlled as to prevent imposition thereon of undesirable tensions and distortions, which could result in curled edges, uneven width dimensions, misalignment of the edges in the rolled-up or otherwise gathered open width fabric, etc.

One of the particularly advantageous features of the invention resides in the mounting of the opening frame offset below the spreader and propeller frame and arranged to discharge the open width fabric in a transverse direction. This arrangement, in addition to enabling the slitting and opening facilities to be of especially compact construction, accommodates the provision of an additional windup mechanism, disposed to receive finished tubular fabric directly from the spreader frame. Thus, when desired, the uniformly spread and conditioned tubular fabric discharged from the end of the spreader frame is not directed vertically downward for slitting and opening but is directed onto the upper conveyor blanket 96, carried over'the top of the opening frame, and gathered in tubular form by the windup 95. This conversion feature is particularly attractive to the small processor, for example, having less than full time requirements for the utilization of either finishing apparatus or slitting and opening apparatus.

An additional specific but nevertheless advantageous feature of the invention resides in the provision, in a slitting and opening apparatus, of a novel arrangement for directing steam at the distended edge area of the fabric tube, during spreading and steaming of the tube prior to slitting. By causing steam to be concentrated particularly at the distended fabric edge, the edge crease, commonly present in tubular knitted fabrics, is largely removed, so that the ridge or crease in the open width fabric is minimized to the greatest practicable extent.

It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claim in determining the full scope of the invention.

We claim:

An opening frame means for converting edge-slit tubular knitted fabric to open width form, which comprises (a) a pair of frame rods mounted in intersecting rightangularly disposed relation in a horizontal plane,

(b) a guide rod extending vertically upward from the intersection of said frame rods,

(c) vertical guide means spaced from said guide rod and defining therewith a vertical plane bisecting the right angle formed by said frame rods,

(d) said guide rod and guide means being arranged to receive and guide in vertically downward travel an edge-slit tube of knitted fabric,

(e) driven guide roller elements disposed in closely spaced, parallel relation, directly above said frame rods and immediately adjacent and on opposite sides of said vertical plane,

(f) a conveyor blanket mounted directly below said frame rods,

(g) a pair of main rollers for said conveyor blanket mounted in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of said frame rods and intersecting the last-mentioned plane a substantial distance -from said frame rod intersection, and

(h) a blanket guide roller mounted to guide the blanket from a first one of said main rollers into contact with said frame rods at a predetermined relatively small distance from said frame rod intersection and to guide the blanket in a horizontal plane to the other of said main rollers.

(References on following page) 9 10 References Cited by the Examiner 3,105,283 10/ 1963 Pernick 26-54 X UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,196,723 7/ 1965 Cohn et a1 261 X 1,113,905 10/1914 Pease 26-55 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,139,612 5/1915 Weis 26--55 5 736,955 9/1932 France. 1,261,877 4/1918 W b r r. 2,619,057 11/1952 e ge DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner 3,022,694 2/ 1962 Nuss 83--169 ANDREW R. IUHASZ, ROBERT R. MACKEY, J. B.

3,104,576 9/1963 Robinson 83-169 MCGUIRE,Examners.