US3718300A

US3718300A - Apparatus for rolling tubular fabrics

Info

Publication number: US3718300A
Application number: US00087951A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Aronoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-10-31
Filing date: 1970-11-09
Publication date: 1973-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-02-27

Abstract

A fabric rolling device including a pair of driven rollers adapted to receive a core on which the fabric is to be rolled, a guide channel for guiding the ends of the core as the fabric is being rolled thereon, a branch channel guide device for a branch guide channel merging with the main guide channel including a retaining flap for withholding a second reserve core adapted to simultaneously feed the reserve core when the core on which the fabric has been rolled has been completed and removed.

Description

United States Patent 1 Aronoff 1 APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TUBULAR FABRICS [76] Inventor: Edward I. Aronofi, 605 Dorais Street, St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 87,951

Related 0.8. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 695,605, Jan. 4, 1968, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl. ..242/66, 242/55.1, 242/67.1 [51] Int. Cl ..B65h 17/08, B65h 19/22 [58] Field of Search ..242/67.1, 66, 65, 64, 55.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,239,155 3/1966 Kinoshita ..242/66 X 2,970,786 2/1961 Justus et a1. ..242/64 1 Feb. 27, 1973 3,568,944 3/1971 Besserdich ..242/66 3,286,944 11/1966 Kusel ..242/66 3,586,253 6/1971 Gilbank ..242/65 1,950,159 3/1934 Berry ..242/65 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney-Alan Swabey [57] ABSTRACT A fabric rolling device including a pair of driven rollers adapted to receive a core on which the fabric is to be rolled, a guide channel for guiding the ends of the core as the fabric is being rolled thereon, a branch channel guide device for a branch guide channel merging with the main guide channel including a retaining flap for withholding a second reserve core adapted to simultaneously feed the reserve core when the core on which the fabric has been rolled has been completed and removed.

2 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENHEIJ 3,718,300

SHEET 10F 5 INVENTOR Edward I. ARONOFF v ATTORNEY PAIEMEB 3.718.300

INVENTOR Edward i. ARONDFF @M/JU? PATENTED FEB2 7 I973 SHEET 3 OF 5 INVENTOR Edward I.' AKONOFF A TTORNEY PA NTED 3.718.300

Fla 8 M2 202 TNT- H I E? I INVENTOR Edward I. ARONOFF 'Qzwf ATTORNEY PATENTEUFEBZIISIS $718,300

' sum 5 OF 5 INVENTOR Edward I. ARONQFF ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TUBULAR FABRICS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention 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.

2. Description of Prior Art In the manufacture of knitted goods, it is often considered preferable to treat the fabric, i.e. for 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 No. 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.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 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 advanced.

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 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 and 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 flattened 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 n 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.

Further, 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 driven means and means for simultaneously feeding a new core to the driven means as the said core and rolled fabric is being delivered.

IN THE DRAWINGS 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 a top 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;

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. 8;

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 ofFIG. 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. I, 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 of the steam box 20 whereby one fold edge thereof is slit at the slitting table 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 are flattened 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 atan acute angle with the table 34 to form V-shaped corners. 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 journalled 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 the edge of the telescopic table 36. A finger 49 extends from the mounting bracket 44 adjacent the edge of the disc knife 48 so as to guide the edge of the tubular fabric against the disc knife 48. A knife cover 50 is also mounted to the bracket 44 and covers the disc-knife.

A wire form 51 is removably mounted to the frame 32 and extends within the tubular fabric 18 to abut against the inner 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 corner 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 support 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 and 80a. A threaded spindle 84, having a rotating handle 85, is also provided between the

side frame members

80 and 800.

Of course, since this part of the apparatus is symmet-' rical, 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, 10 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 as well as the pulley 94. the horizontal arm 96 extends transversely over the edge of the web of the 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 the 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 slacken 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 meshed 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 90 includes a female collar 119 which fits over the collar 118 an 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

130 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 13 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 secc nd 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 in 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 140 which extends past the offset journal 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 150 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 within 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 of 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, if it is required totreat a larger fabric, then the handle 39 is turned, forcing the supporting bracket 44 to advance towards the left in FIG. 4 which, of course, extends the telescopic table 36 to widen the effective width of the table. 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 comer 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. ln 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 l72b 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 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 to spring the angle members 136 back into a vertical position.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for rolling a web of fabric comprising means driven for rolling a fabric on a core comprising a pair of driven cylindrical drums in close parallel relation defining a rolling nest, a pair of side supports, means for retaining the core of the fabric being rolled in contact with the driven means including an upwardly extending angle member pivotally mounted to said pair of side supports on either side of the rolling nest, the side supports including flanges defining the vertically extending channel with the angle member, the angle members including extensions extending past the pivoting point, said side supports mounting feeding channels operatively located to feed a new core into the rolling nest, and means operatively connecting said feeding channels with the extensions of the angle members to feed the new core to the rolling nest as the angle members are pivoted into a delivery means.

2. An apparatus for rolling a web of fabric on a core comprising means for advancing a fabric towards a rolling zone, a pair of driven rollers in close parallel relation defining a rolling nest, means for retaining the core in the fabric being rolled in contact wit the rollers,

including an upwardly extending angle member pivotally mounted to a pair of side supports on either side of the rollers, the side supports including flanges defining vertically extending channels with the angle the core and the rolled fabric from the driven means, when said angle members are pivoted to a horizontal position, and chute means for simultaneously feeding a new core to the nest defined by the'rollers as said core member, the angle members including extensions exand rolled fabric are being delivel'ed' tending past the pivoting point said channels delivering Disclaimer 3,718,300.--Edward I. Aronofi, Quebec, Canada. APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TUBULAR FAB- RICS. Patent dated Feb. 27, 1973. Disclaimer filed Dec. 29, 1989, by the inventor.

The term of this patent subsequent to Dec. 31, 1989, has been disclaimed.

[ Oflicial Gazette April 17, 1990

Claims

2. An apparatus for rolling a web of fabric on a core comprising means for advancing a fabric towards a rolling zone, a pair of driven rollers in close parallel relation defining a rolling nest, means for retaining the core in the fabric being rolled in contact wit the rollers, including an upwardly extending angle member pivotally mounted to a pair of side supports on either side of the rollers, the side supports including flanges defining vertically extending channels with the angle member, the angle members including extensions extending past the pivoting point said channels delivering the core and the rolled fabric from the driven means, when said angle members are pivoted to a horizontal position, and chute means for simultaneously feeding a new core to the nest defined by the rollers as said core and rolled fabric are being delivered.