US3561306A

US3561306A - Method and apparatus for treating tubular fabrics

Info

Publication number: US3561306A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward I Aronoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-12-29
Filing date: 1968-01-04
Publication date: 1971-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-09
Also published as: CA921231A

Abstract

A rotary slitting knife mounted on a telescopically adjustable table for slitting tubular fabrics in combination with a fabric opening frame of three-dimensional triangular configuration. An uncurler device at the discharge of the opening frame including a pair of continuous belts extending transversely at each edge of the opened web of tubular fabric and in functional engagement therewith, and in combination with air nozzles pointed outwardly and in the direction of the edge of the fabric and a pair of driven rollers for rolling up the fabric.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 3,561,306

[72] lnventor Edward l Aronoff [56] References Cit d :9 3 St Laurent Quebec UNITED STATES PATENTS all a 3,105,283 /1963 Pemlck... 26/54x $55 $233 2 3,142,107 7/1964 Wittig 26/54 Named 1971 3,196,723 7/1965 Cohnetal... 83/175x [32] Dec'2;1967 3,253,311 5/1966 061166161... 83/175X [33] Y 3,268,142 8/1966 Macomson;.... 26/54X 31] 008880 3,401,584 9/1968 C0hnelal...... 83/18X 3,431,665 3/1969 Weir 26/54X Primary Examiner-William S. Lawson Attorney-Alan Swabey ABSTRACT: A rotary slitting knife mounted on a telescopically adjustable table for slitting tubular fabrics in combina- [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING tion with a fabric opening frame of three-dimensional triangu- TUBUPAR FABRKES lar configuration. An uncurler device at the discharge of the 20 Clams 15 Drawmg opening frame including a pair of continuous belts extending [52] U.S. Cl. 83/18, transversely at each edge of the opened web of tubular fabric 83/23, 83/98, 83/175; 255 /55 and in functional engagement therewith, and in combination [51] Int. CL B26d 7/14 with air nozzles pointed outwardly and in the direction of the Field of Search 175, 98; 26/1, 54, fabric.

83/ l 8, 23, edge of the fabric and a pair of driven rollers for rolling up the PATENTEDVFEB 9 SHEET 2 BF 5 lNl/ENTOR Edward I. ARONDFF ATTORNEY/ PATENTEU FEB seen Y sum 3 OF 5 INVENTOR Edward I. ARONOFF ATTORNE Y/ PATENTEUFEB 9191; 3561.306

SHEET 4 []F 5 INVENTOR Edward L ARONDFI ATTORNE Y/ PATENTEU rm 9 I97! SHEET 5 0F 5 INVEI TOR Edward AFONOFF A TTURNh y/ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TUBULAR FABRICS The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating tubular fabrics and particularly to an apparatus for slitting a tubular fabric. opening it into a web and then rolling it in web form.

In the manufacture of knitted goods, it is often considered preferable to treat the fabric, i.e. for shrinkage, dyeing and conditioning, in the form of an elongated sleeve or what is known as tubular fabrics. However, after the tubular fabric has been treated, it is then required to open the tubular fabric into a flat web so that it can be ready for the cutting and garment-forming operations.

In the light of the particular characteristics of knitted fabrics, many problems arise when this operation is attempted. There are known methods for opening such fabrics, such as Canadian Patent 674,683, Pernick, which shows a slitter and an inverted triangular frame for opening the slitted fabric. Many problems still remain unsolved in handling the fabric in this operation while using-the above-mentioned apparatus. For instance, distortion of the fabric and especially striped fabric still occurs at the slitting stage. As the opened web of fabric comes off the opening frame, the edges of the freshly cut fabric tend to curl and they can get folded on the roll.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantages.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for removing the completed rolls of fabric without breaking the continuity of the fabric as it is being ad vanced.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of opening a tubular fabric comprising the steps of advancing the tubular fabric in a flattened condition slitting one edge of the fabric while maintaining transverse tension as it is being slit, opening the fabric into a flattened web, flattening out the edges as the web' is advancing, rolling the fabric on a cone maintaining the edges of the web flat as it is fed to the roll.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention for carrying out the above method includes an apparatus for opening flattened tubular fabric which exhibits a pair of opposed fold edges, a supporting surface for supporting the flat tened tubular fabric in a substantially horizontal plane, means for advancing the fabric across the surface, means for cutting one fold edge of the flattened fabric, means for retaining substantial transverse tension on the fabric as it is being cut and means for advancing the fabric longitudinally across the supporting surface as it is being cut.

Further, the apparatus can include an apparatus for opening a flattened tubular fabric having a pair of opposed folded edges with one of the fold edges being slit and presenting two free edges, means for advancing and supporting a length of said fabric, means beneath the advancing means forming a point for engaging an inner side of the fabric at the unslitted fold edge, said means including a pair of diverging legs extending downwardly at an angle equal to or less than 90, the legs defining a plane parallel to the axis of direction of movement of said advancing means for opening the fabric into an opened web.

Furthermore, for maintaining the edges of the so-formed web of fabric, the invention can include means for advancing a web of fabric to a calender roll, means for flattening out the edges of the web and means between the flattening means and the roll for maintaining the edges in a flattened condition.

Finally, for rolling up the fabric, the invention can have an apparatus for rolling a web of fabric comprising means being driven for rolling a fabric on a core, means for retaining the core and the fabric being rolled in contact with said driven means, means for delivering the core and rolled fabric from the drivenmeans and means for simultaneously feeding a new core to the driven means as the said core and rolled fabric is being delivered.

Having thus generally described the invention, the same will now be described in more detail and reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is atop plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of one portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of another portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2; b

FIG. 7a is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken along the lines 7a-7a in FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of another portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section taken along line 9-9 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the guiding and drive arrangement for the detail in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross section taken along line 11-11 of FIG.. 9;

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross section taken longitudinally of the path of travel of the web of fabric through a part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 7;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of still another portion of the apparatus; and

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the apparatus is shown generally on the outlet side of the steam box 20. The apparatus includes a. slitting table 22, an opening frame 24, the uncurler apparatus 26 and the fabric rolling apparatus 28. The fabric 18 which is in a flattened tubular form as it comes out the steam box 20 whereby one fold edge thereof is slit at the slittingtable 22 is open to a web on the opening frame 24. The newly cut edges of the web of fabric 18 which tend to curl inwardly areflattened out by the uncurler apparatus 26 and then the web is wound on the rolling device 28.

The slitting table 22, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, includes an upstanding frame 32 on which is mounted a fixed table portion 34. The fixed table 34 includes downwardly extending flanges 35 which are at an acute angle with the table 34 to form V-shaped comers. A telescopic table portion 36, which has a similar configuration to the fixed table 34, slides within the table 34 and is supported by the inwardly extending flanges 35. On the lower part of the frame, a screw-threaded spindle 38 having a rotary handle 39 is joumaled in brackets 42. Parallel guide rods 40 are also provided on either side of the spindle 38. A mounting bracket 44 is slidingly mounted on the guide rods 40 and is threaded to receive the threaded spindle 38. By turning the handle 39, the mounting bracket 44 is caused to advance or to recede transversely of the direction of the travel of the fabric 18.

The mounting bracket 44 is also connected to the end of the telescopic table portion 36 so that as the bracket 44 is advanced on the guide rods 40 the telescopic table portion 36 will also be advanced.

A motor 46 is also mounted on a mounting bracket 44 and mounts a rotary disc knife 48 in a horizontal plane adjacent.

knife 48. A knife cover 50 is also mounted to the bracket 44 side of the other fold edge of the fabric 18 opposite the disc knife 48. This provides a transverse tension in the fabric as the fabric is being cut.

As the tubular fabric 18 is cut, it is taken up on a conveyor belt 56 to the opening apparatus 24. The conveyor 56 includes a conveyor belt frame 52 on which is mounted rollers 54. A conveyor belt 56, preferably made of canvas, is made to travel over the rollers 54. A roller 58 is also provided as shown in FIG. 3 to press the tubular fabric against the conveyor belt 56 at a point where it might tend to lift.

As the fabric 18 comes over the top of opening frame 24, it is removed from conveyor belt 56 by means of a take off roller 60 and in its still folded position, the tubular fabric 18 descends by gravity through guide rods 62. In between the guide rods 62, a pair of opening rods 68 converge to form a corner 66 (rear apex). This comer 66 is adapted to coincide with the inner side of the remaining fold edge of the slit tubular fabric 18. The slit tubular fabric 18 is forced open as it passes under the opening rods 68. The converging corner 66 of the rods 68 can be connected to the front apex bracket 64 of the opening frame 24. This is not shown in the drawings.

The front part of the frame 24 includes downwardly extending front frame members 70 which are attached at the top to the front apex bracket 64. The front frame members extend downwardly to the floor and the opening rods 68 diverge downwardly and are connected to the bottom thereof. A suppt rt platform 72 which is in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the opening rods 68 is mounted on a frame 77 slightly spaced from the plane of the opening rod 68. The supporting platform 72 is provided with an illuminating box and window 74. As shown in FIG. 7a, the illuminating box 74 can include neon tubes 75 which direct rays of light through the glass in the supporting platform 72 through the web of fabric which is passing over so that an inspection can be carried out.

The web of fabric 18 leaves the opening frame 24 and travels under rollers 76 and over opposed spiral roller 78 which tends to keep the fabric in a stretched web condition.

The uncurler apparatus 26 and the fabric rolling apparatus 28 are both mounted on the side frame members 80. In the uncurler section 26, driving

spindle guide rods

82 and 86 extend in close proximity to each other between the

frame members

80 and 80a. A threaded spindle 84, having a rotating handle 85, is also provided between the side frame members 80 and 8011.

Of course, since this part of the apparatus is symmetrical, only one side thereof will be described and any reference to the other side of the apparatus will be raised by the subscript "a".

The gear box 88 is mounted on the driving spindle 82, threaded spindle 84 and guide rods 86 for transversal movement with respect to the direction of travel of the fabric 18. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, the gear box 88 mounts an upstanding arm 90 which can be made out of two spaced-apart parallel plates 89 and 91 subtending pulleys 92, 93 and 94. A horizontally extending arm 96 is provided at the top of the vertically extending arm 90 and is made up of two

parallel plates

97 and 98 which subtend the pulley 95 as well as the pulley 94. The horizontal arm 96 extends transversely over the edge of the web ofthe fabric 18 as shown in FIG. 9.

The horizontal arm 96 is mounted to the vertical arm 90 for slight adjustment with respect to the angle relative thereto. An adjustment screw 99 is provided on the arm 96 and abuts against adjustment protrusion 100 on the arm 90. Also a locking nut 101 is provided for securing the horizontal arm 96 in a relative position to the vertical arm 90.

A soft endless cord or rope 102 extends over the

pulleys

92, 93, 94, and 95 as shown in FIG. 9. Also, an air line 104 is mounted about the horizontal arm 96 and includes an air nozzle 106 which is pointed outwardly in the direction of the edge of the fabric 18. It is also noted that the pulley 95 includes an adjustment bracket 110 which is adapted to tighten or slaken the cord 102.

The vertically extending arm 90 is connected to the gear box 88 as shown in FIG. 11. A shaft 112 extends outwardly of the gear box 88 and mounts a gear 114 which meshes with a driven gear in the gear box 88 which is connected to the drive supplied by the drive spindle 82. The shaft 112 communicates the drive to the pulley 92 which is fixed thereon and causes the rope 102 to travel about the

pulleys

92, 93, 94 and 95. The gear box 88 is further provided with a collar 118 which defines an annular slot 120. The vertical arm includes a female collar 119 which fits over the collar 118 and has an adjustment screw 122 which is adapted to fit in the annular groove 120. Also, it should be noted that the shaft 112 is mounted in a bearing sleeve 116.

In this way, the vertical arm 90 can pivot about the shaft 112 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9.

In the fabric rolling apparatus 28, two cylindrical drums and 132 extend between the side frame members 80 and are driven. Two

side support members

134, 134a are provided on either end of the

cylindrical drums

130 and 132 and each mounts a pivoting angle member 136 which is pivoted about the pivot pin 138 through the offset journal 139 on the angle member 136. The angle member 136 can pivot between a vertically extending position in a plane extending between the

cylindrical drums

130 and 132 and a second position which is horizontal as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 14. The angle member 136 is provided with a flange 144. A flange 142 also cooperates with the angle member 136 to form a guide channel when the angle member 136 is in a vertical position. The flange 142 is integral with the side support 134. At the end of the angle member 136 is provided a flanged depression 146.

The angle member 136 is also provided with an extension which extends past the offsetjoumal 139 and is attached to a cord 151 which in turn is connected to a piston of a cylinder and piston arrangement 152. The cord 151 passes over the pulley mounted in bracket 148 on the side of the frame 80.

Also mounted to the side frame support member 134 is a feed channel 154 which is bent at 156. The feed channel 154 includes upper flange 158 and lower flange 160. The lower flange 160 has an end curvature near the drum 130 which is similar to the drum and which provides a guide path for the cores to be fed. The feed channel 154 is provided with an opening 162 at the opposite end thereof and with a restriction 168 which is provided with a small pivoting door 169, a spring 170 and a spring adjustment screw'171. This restriction 168 is provided just past the bend 156 in the feed channel 154.

A locking tooth 164 is also provided near the opening 162 and is adapted to move between an obstruction position in the feed channel and a clear position by means of a connecting rod 166 which connects the locking tooth 164 to the extension 140. In operation of the rolling apparatus 28, the core 172a would be present withing the angle member 136 and would be driven between the

cylindrical drums

130, 132. The web of fabric 18 is fed to the core 172a and since it is always in contact with the driven

drums

130, 132, it is rolled on this core. As the radius of the roll gets larger, the core 172a gets further and further away from the

drums

130 and 132 and moves up the angle member 136.

To review the operation of the apparatus, the tubular knitted fabric 18 which has been treated, comes out of a dry steam box 20 and as it comes out the steam box 20, it has two opposed edge folds. The edge fold is slit at the slitting table 22. As explained before, the disc knife 48 is rotated by the motor 46 and cuts the edge of the fabric. The finger 49 enables the disc knife 48 to cut the fabric by retaining the edge of the fabric against the knife 48.

While the fabric travels across the slitting table 22, the wire frame 51 can be used which extends within the fabric from the open side of the fabric to abut against the closed edge of the fabric to provide tension transversely across the fabric as it is being slit.

Of course, the knife 48 will also be moved by moving this support bracket 44 and therefore the knife 48 will always be at the same relative spacing from the extension table 36.

The driven conveyor 56 then takes up the slit fabric which is retained in a folded condition and moves it upwardly over the opening frame 24. As explained before, the fabric then travels down through the guide rods 62 and over the corner 66 and the two open sides of the fabric then open while the fabric goes under opening rods 68. The fabric comes off the opening frame under roll 76 in the form of an open web.

As the web 18 travels over the uncurling apparatus, the freshly cut edges tend to curl inwardly. However, the soft rope or cord 102, which is driven by the driven pulley 92, forces the edges to flex outwardly in view of the direction of the travel of the cord 102 as it passes over the edge of the fabric 18. Furthermore, in order to maintain the edges in an uncurled condition just before it is rolled, an air nozzle 106 is provided which blows air towards the edges of the uncurled fabric as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

When the roll is completed, the operator pulls it back upon itself and the angle members 136 are forced into the horizontal position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 14. The completed roll is then pushed out to the flanged depression 146 and the fabric is cut. In the meantime, an auxiliary core l72b is retained in the feed channel 154 by the locking tooth 164. As the angle member 136 is pivoted downwardly, the extension 140 pushes the connecting rod 166 to pivot the locking tooth 164 to clear the core 172!) which, by gravity, moves down the feed channel 154 and is slowed down by the restriction device 168 and lands between the driven

cylindrical drums

130 and 132 to take up the web of fabric 18 which is continuously being fed. The previously wound roll is then removed from the flanged depressions 146 and under the air pressure in the cylinder 152, the cord 151 pulls the extension 140 to spring the angle members 136 back into a vertical position.

lclaim:

1. A method of opening a tubular fabric comprising the steps of:

advancing the tubular fabric in a flattened condition;

slitting one fold of the flattened tubular fabric;

maintaining transverse tension as it is being slit;

, opening the fabric into a web;

maintaining the edges of said web in a flattened condition;

and

continuously rolling said web of fabric by imparting rolling movement to the fabric in the rolling zone and a rolling core is fed to the rolling zone with the web of fabric and the fabric is made to roll on the core.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the edges are maintained in a flattened condition by continuously applying a frictional force to the edge of the fabric in a direction laterally of the path of travel of the advancing fabric and outwards thereof.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the edges are also maintained in a flattened condition by blowing air under pressure outwardly towards the edges of the fabric.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein as the roll on the core is completed the'core and rolled fabric is removed from the rolling zone and the fabricis cut and anothercore is simultaneously fed to the rolling zone with the continuously advancing web of fabric.

5. An apparatusfor opening a continuous tubular fabric which has been flattened in subsequent treatment and includes a pair of opposed fold edges, a flat supporting surface for supporting the flattened tubular fabric in a substantially horizontal plane, means for advancing the fabric across the supporting surface, means for cutting one fold edge of the flattened fabric, and a stretching frame projecting inwardly from the cut fold edge downstream of the cutting means and contacting the inner opposite fold edge at a point opposite the cutting means for retaining substantial transverse tension on the fabric as it is being cut.

6. An apparatus for opening a continuous tubular fabric which has been flattened in subsequent treatment and includes a pair of opposed fold edges, a flat supporting surface for supporting the flattened tubular fabric in a substantial horizontal plane, the flat supporting surface comprises a table having a fixed, smooth top surface and an extension surface telescopically operable with the fixed surface, means for ad vancing the fabric across the supporting surface, means for cutting one fold edge of the flattened fabric, and means for retaining substantial transverse tension on the fabric as it is being cut.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the extension is adjustably movable with respect to the fixed surface to effectively widen the surface of the table and a rotary cutting means is provided at one edge of the extension table and is adapted to be adjustably moved therewith.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the extension surface and the cutting means are mounted on a bracket which is adapted for adjustable lateral movement with respect to the path of travel of the fabric.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the cutting means comprises a rotary disc which is substantially in a horizontal plane coincident with the plane of the flattened tubular fabric and includes a finger in close proximity with the rotary disc blade for engaging the fold edge of the tubular fabric and pressing it against the disc.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for maintaining substantial transverse tension on the fabric as it is being cut is a wire frame extending inwardly of the tubular fabric on one side of the rotary cutting means and abuts against the inner side of the fold edge from opposite the cutting means.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for advancing the fabric across the supporting table includes a pair of driven rollers at the discharge end of the supporting surface.

a 12. An apparatus for opening a flattened tubular fabric which has a pair of opposed edges with one of the fold edges being slit and presenting two free edges means for advancing and supporting a length of said fabric, means beneath the advancing means forming a point for engaging an inner side of the fabric at the unslitted fold edge, said means including a pair of diverging legs extending downwardly at an angle of divergence equal to or less than the legs defining a plane parallel to the axis of direction of movement of the advancing fabric.

- 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for advancing and supporting a length of fabric is an endless conveyor belt.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein means are provided below the advancing means forming a guide slot adapted to guide the slitted fabric to the opening frame.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the means forming a point for engaging the inner side of the fabric at the unslitted fold edge includes a pair of diverging legs supported by a forward triangular frame which is substantially vertical.

16. In an apparatus for opening a tubular fabric, means being provided for advancing the fabric after it has been opened into a web, an endless continuous cord wherein the contact run thereof moves in a direction transverse and outward from the advancing fabric, for flattening the edges of the web as it is advancing the means for maintaining the edges in a flattened condition after the edges have been flattened.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the endless cord is a circular cross section and is run about pulleys subtended in a mounting frame adjacent the edge of the fabric.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the frame includessa pair of upstanding parallel plates subtending beltmounting pulleys wherein one of the pulleys is connected to driving means, and a horizontally extending arm extending from the top of said vertically extending plates wherein the horizontally extending arm includes an end pulley about which the belt is run.

for maintaining the edges in a flattened condition after they have been flattened include air nozzles mounted over the web of fabric with the nozzles directed outwardly of the web and air pressure supply means for supplying air under pressure through the nozzles towards the edges of the web of fabric.

Claims

1. A method of opening a tubular fabric comprising the steps of: advancing the tubular fabric in a flattened condition; slitting one fold of the flattened tubular fabric; maintaining transverse tension as it is being slit; opening the fabric into a web; maintaining the edges of said web in a flattened condition; and continUously rolling said web of fabric by imparting rolling movement to the fabric in the rolling zone and a rolling core is fed to the rolling zone with the web of fabric and the fabric is made to roll on the core.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein as the roll on the core is completed the core and rolled fabric is removed from the rolling zone and the fabric is cut and another core is simultaneously fed to the rolling zone with the continuously advancing web of fabric.

5. An apparatus for opening a continuous tubular fabric which has been flattened in subsequent treatment and includes a pair of opposed fold edges, a flat supporting surface for supporting the flattened tubular fabric in a substantially horizontal plane, means for advancing the fabric across the supporting surface, means for cutting one fold edge of the flattened fabric, and a stretching frame projecting inwardly from the cut fold edge downstream of the cutting means and contacting the inner opposite fold edge at a point opposite the cutting means for retaining substantial transverse tension on the fabric as it is being cut.

6. An apparatus for opening a continuous tubular fabric which has been flattened in subsequent treatment and includes a pair of opposed fold edges, a flat supporting surface for supporting the flattened tubular fabric in a substantial horizontal plane, the flat supporting surface comprises a table having a fixed, smooth top surface and an extension surface telescopically operable with the fixed surface, means for advancing the fabric across the supporting surface, means for cutting one fold edge of the flattened fabric, and means for retaining substantial transverse tension on the fabric as it is being cut.

12. An apparatus for opening a flattened tubular fabric which has a pair of opposed edges with one of the fold edges being slit and presenting two free edges, means for advancing and supporting a length of said fabric, means beneath the advancing means forming a point for engaging an inner side of the fabric at the unslitted fold edge, said means including a pair of diverging legs extending downwardly at an angle of divergence equal to or less than 90*, the legs defining a plane parallel to the axis oF direction of movement of the advancing fabric.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for advancing and supporting a length of fabric is an endless conveyor belt.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the frame includes a pair of upstanding parallel plates subtending belt-mounting pulleys wherein one of the pulleys is connected to driving means, and a horizontally extending arm extending from the top of said vertically extending plates wherein the horizontally extending arm includes an end pulley about which the belt is run.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein the belt frame is pivotally mounted to a support means between a position wherein the belt is in contact with the edge of the fabric and in a position wherein the belt is out of contact with the edge of the fabric.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the means for maintaining the edges in a flattened condition after they have been flattened include air nozzles mounted over the web of fabric with the nozzles directed outwardly of the web and air pressure supply means for supplying air under pressure through the nozzles towards the edges of the web of fabric.