US3771201A

US3771201A - Tubular fabric inspection machine

Info

Publication number: US3771201A
Application number: US00121792A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Christian; J Lovin
Original assignee: HUNT R CO
Current assignee: HUNT R CO
Priority date: 1971-03-08
Filing date: 1971-03-08
Publication date: 1973-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-13
Also published as: DE2211217A1

Abstract

A machine for the inspection or handling of textile materials, especially tubular knit goods, is disclosed. The present machine comprises a frame on which a floating panel is received. Textile material to be inspected or otherwise treated passes around the floating panel. Electrical actuatable means such as lights, heat elements or the like are positioned within the floating panel and are actuated by an electrical supply means positioned outside the panel so as to permit tubular goods to pass unobstructed therearound. Roll guides positioned on the frame and panel receive textile material therebetween to properly present the textile material to the panel and to maintain floatation of the panel. The electrical supply means for actuation of the electrical means within the panel is preferably an air gap transformer with the primary winding thereof positioned apart from the panel and the secondary winding thereof positioned within the panel. Textile material supply means and take up means may also be provided with the inspection machine. The supply means is mounted for free rotation on the back side of the frame. The take up means comprises a roll received on a pivotally mounted arm assembly with the roll or the fabric thereon being in driven contact with a driving roll. Air cylinders are associated with the arm assembly so as to maintain constant contact between the driving roll and the take up roll to create a package of constant density.

Description

United States Patent Christian et al.

[ TUBULAR FABRIC INSPECTION MACHINE [75] Inventors: Donald K. Christian, Spartanburg;

Joseph R. Lovin, Greer, both of [57] ABSTRACT A machine for the inspection or handling of textile materials, especially tubular knit goods, is disclosed. The present machine comprises a frame on which a S.C. floating panel/is received. Textile material to be in- [73] Asslgnee: Rodney Hum Company Orange, spected or otherwise treated passes around the float- Mass. ing panel. Electrical actuatable means such as lights, 22 l Man 3, 1971 heat elements or the like are positioned within the floating panel and are actuated by an electrical supply Appl' N05 121,792 means positioned outside the panel so as to permit tubular goods to pass unobstructed therearound. Roll {52] us. c1. 26/70, 26/55 R guides Positioned on the frame and panel receive 511 Int. Cl. D06h 3/16 file material therebetween to Properly Present the [58] Field oi Search 26/55, 70, 55 R; tile material to the Panel and to maintain floatation of 3 5 27 24 5 the panel. The electrical supply means for actuation of the electrical means within the panel is preferably an [5 References Cited air gap transformer with the primary Winding thereof UNITED STATES PATENTS positioned apart from the panel and the secondary 629 631 7 89 winding thereof positioned within the panel. Textile 723'836 1: z jl g Q material supply means and take up means may also be 1 I396I2 5/1915 weis g 26/55 R provided with the inspection machine. The supply 16:62] 1/1964 'g g 26/70 X means is mounted for free rotation on the back side of 3,188,0l6 6/1965 Aaron 242/65 the frame- The take up means comprises a 3,l95,212 7/1965 w h 2 55 R x ceived on a pivotally mounted arm assembly with the 3,380,685 4/1968 Crist et a1. 242/65 roll or the fabric thereon being in driven contact with FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS a driving roll. Air cylinders are associated with the 25 405 1963 0 arm assembly so as to maintain constant contact be- 940339 41963 fgz gz' 'g tween the driving roll and the take up roll to create a p g of constant density- Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney-Wellington M. Manning, Jr. 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures l 7 w I B L l J 1 =fi 225 555% 7/ l9 I9 2 20 l9 1,

75 22 H 66 L. 1 z i 2 as as Lag Q76 77 79 8! I4 I 11 1| e .s. n 15 Pmmmnv 13 ms 3771.201

-- sum 10? s 1 NVENTORS DONALD K.CH RISTIAN" JOSEPH R. LOVIN PATENTEuxuv 13 ms 3,771. 201

I SHEET 2 or 3 mvsmks DONALD K. CHRISTIAN 8 JOSEPH R. LOVIN TUBULAR FABRIC INSPECTION MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The inspection of textile materials subsequent to the manufacture thereof represents an essential step in the overall textile manufacturing process. Inspection of the prepared materials enables the manufacturer to determine any defects in the material prior to shipment to a customer such as for example, a converter, dyer, or the like. As such, defective materials may be segregated from first quality goods whereby further processing thereof is prevented until the defect is corrected, removed or the like. Inspection of textile goods thus represents savings along the process line to the point of utilization of the materials and the manufacture of a garment, or the like.

Flat woven goods may be inspected by simply passing the goods over a lighted background where defects therein may be visually observed. Tubular goods, on the other hand, present a problem. If tubular goods are passed in front of a lighted background, an inspector cannot precisely locate imperfections due to the double thickness of the fabric being observed. Also an imperfection on the back side of the fabric, even if detected, cannot be properly marked. It may even be necessary to handle the fabric twice so as to permit visual inspection of both sides, one side at a time.

spection of tubular knit goods whereby simultaneous inspection of all sides of the goods is achieved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating panel having electrically actuatable means therein wherein said means are actuated by a power source remote from the panel.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a machine for handling textile materials comprising a support frame, an inspection panel movably associated with said support frame, said panel having electrically actuatable means received therein, an electrical power source remote from said panel, said power source being operatively associated with said electrically actuatable means within said panel, and textile material guide Inspection frames for tubular knit goods or other tuspected from the outside by photoelectric cells or other mechanical or optical devices which may detect imperfections in the fabric. The majority of these mandrels, forms or the like, however, aresupported from the bottom, whereby the fabric, after being inspected, will collect around the support. After inspection of the piece is completed, all the fabric must then be pulled back over the mandrel onto a take up roll. Forms have also been provided, where a floating mandrel, panel or the like is employed for receiving a tubular material to be inspected. Such a form is illustrated in the Klein et al. U.S. Pat. No., 3,116,621.

All of the inspection frames previously shown in the prior art and presently in existence, are deficient in operation, in that, additional-handling of the materials is required, additional inspection of the materials is required, or the like for the complete inspection of tubular goods. The present invention overcomes all of these deficiencies and represents an improved inspection machine on which tubular or other goods may be inspected or otherwise treated in one path from all sides during a single pass of the goods and after which, the goods are properly removed and packaged directly from the inspection machine.

The present machine is not anticipated or suggested by the prior art which is exemplified by U.S. Pat., No. 3,105,283 to Pemick; U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,621 to Klein et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,299,484 to Pernick.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel machine for the inspection and/or treatment of textile materials, especially in tubular form.

A further object of the present invention is' to provide a novel inspection frame for tubular knit goods.

Still further, another object of the present invention is to provide a unique floating panel for use in the inmeans associated with said panel to permit said materials to pass around said panel.

More specifically, the machine of the present invention relates to a device for accepting textile materials around a floating panel where the materials pass completely around the panel and are brought back together beyond the panel to be collected on a take up roll or the like. The panel of the instant invention is thus completely floating and is arranged in such a manner that electrical power can be provided therefor to excite a bank of lights, heater coils, or the like positioned within the panel. The use of lights within the panel permits ready inspection of the textile material, especially tubular goods and when utilized in conjunction with mirrors, an individual performing the task of inspecting the goods may stand at one point and visually observe the entire circumference of the tube as it passes the panel.

The frame is adapted to accept a supply roll of fabric or to receive fabric from a knitting machine, an independent roll stand, or the like. Furthermore, the stand in a preferred embodiment thereof is equipped with fabric take up means that continuously produces a roll of fabric of constant density immediately after inspection of the goods. Alternatively, the fabric may be removed from the panel and directed to a further processing machine or to an independent roll stand where a take up roll may be employed.

In essence, therefore, the machine of the present invention comprises a support frame having a textile material supply, followed by idler rolls that direct the fabric to the floating panel. The floating panel is provided with a pair of male rolls on each side adjacent the top thereof with each pair of male rolls mating with a female roll that is rotatably received on the support frame. Fabric passing between the nips of the male and female rolls thus passes around the panel. The lower end of the floating panel is provided with a plurality of rolls across the width of the panel on each side thereof. These rolls cooperate with a set of rolls rotatably received on the support frame to provide a nip across both sides of the panel through which the textile material passes as it exits from'the panel. The roll system thus supports the floating panel and properly guides a textile material over the floating panel. a

After leaving the panel, the fabric may be handled as dictated by the consumers process in which the machine is employed. Preferably, a take up roll is received on a pivotally mounted arm assembly with the roll being adjacent andv in contact with a driven roll that is rotatably supported on the support frame. An air cylinder arrangement is associated with the arm assembly in such a manner as to maintain constant pressure between the take up roll and the driven roll or the fabric on the take up roll and the driven roll. In this manner, a roll of fabric having a constant density from core to outside of the roll is produced.

Electrical energy is supplied to the electrically actuatable means positioned within the floating panel by magnetic induction means or the like. An air gap transformer is a preferred magnetic induction device and is situated in such a manner that a primary winding of the transformer is located remote from the panel while the secondary winding is received within the panel. The primary winding and ancillary apparatus making up the transformer may be adjustably aligned with respect to the panel so as to enable one to modify the air gap between the primary and secondary windings. Hence, when the transformer receives electrical power from a normal source, the electricity is transferred from the primary winding to the secondary winding so as to enable the electrically actuatable means within the panel to become excited and perform according to their intended purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the textile material handling machine according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the textile material handling machine.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the floating panel.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the panel.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the take up roll and related apparatus as shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be specifically described, making reference to the Figures.

FIGS. 1 and 2 best illustrate the textile material, hereinafter referred to as fabric, handling machine of the present invention. Basically, the instant machine is made up of a support frame, generally indicated as on which is received a floating panel, generally indicated as 50. Further, fabric supply and take up means may also be provided as will be hereinafter discussed in detail.

Support frame 10 comprises front vertical legs 11 and rear vertical legs 12 that are united by a plurality of crossing members to define a unitary structure. Rear legs 12 extend above front legs 11 and have horizontal arms 13 secured thereto and extending forwardly therefrom. Further

horizontal members

14, 15 and 16 are secured between the vertical legs to afford unity to the frame. A diagonal strut 17 is secured on each side of the machine between front legs 11 and rear legs 12 to further brace the support frame and to provide a member to which other components of the machine may be affixed. Angular side plates 18 are also provided and are secured between horizontal arms 13 and rear vertical legs 12 on both sides of the machine.

Rear vertical legs 12 are provided with U shaped mounting blocks 23 which rotatably receive a rod 24 that supports a roll of fabric F to be handled. As mentioned earlier, the fabric F may be supplied from roll 24 mounted on frame 10 or may be dispensed from an independent roll stand or the like. In the preferred embodiment, however, the roll of fabric F is positioned between vertical legs .12 and is held by U mounts 23 secured thereto. Fabric F on frame 10 is fed upwardly to the top of frame 10 and around two idler-guide rolls 26 and 28 which are rotatably mounted between horizontal arms 13.

Angular side plates 18 are constructed such that the lower edges 18 thereof assume an angle approximating that of diagonal struts 17. A cross arm 19 extends across the front of the handling machine and is secured between plates 18. Cross arm 19 is provided intermediate its length with a pair of grooved or female rolls 20 which are spaced apart for receiving floating panel 50 as will be hereinafter discussed. Arm 19 has a slot 19' thereby in which rolls 20 are received. Hence, rolls 20 may be moved axially along slot 19' to properly receive a panel 50 of variable width. A pair of

rolls

21 and 22 extend across the present fabric handling machine and are rotatably secured between diagonal struts 17.

Rolls

21 and 22 cooperate with floating panel 50 to support the lower end thereof. Floating panel 50 is thus positioned adjacent the front of the instant machine and cooperates with

rolls

20, 21 and 22 to reside in a floating relationship therebetween.

Floating panel 50 may best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Panel 50 comprises a body 51 which houses electrically actuatable means 52 and has adjustable sides 53 which are mirror images of each other and top and

bottom connectors

54, 55 and 56 secured thereto.

Connectors

54 and 56 are secured at one end thereof to their respective sides 53 and are provided with slots 54 and 56' adjacent an opposite end thereof. Center connector 55 is provided with

longitudinal slots

55 and 55" adjacent opposite ends thereof. The longitudinal slots of the various connectors overlap and a bolt or the like 57 passes through the two adjacent slots of adjacent connectors to adjustably secure one connector to another. In this manner, sides 53 are adjustably secured to body 51 of panel 50. Loosening of bolts 57 thus permits sides 53 to be moved in or out with respect to body 51 to adapt panel 50 to the size of a particular tubular fabric that is to pass therearound for inspection, heat treatment or the like. Body 51 of panel 50 is provided with a bracket 51' secured thereto at one end while an opposite end is secured to the top center connector 55. Bracket 51 thus unites body 51 with sides 53 to provide integrity to the structure of panel 50.

Electrically actuatable means 52 are positioned within body 51 of panel 50 and may take the form of lights, heating elements or the like. Electrically actuatable means 52 are secured within body 51 of panel 50 in a conventional electrical manner depending upon the particular means employed. Thus, if fluoroscent lights are used for inspection of fabric, lights 52 may be easily replaced by opening body 51 and removing a particular bulb from its mounting. Obviously, the particular means 52 provided within body 51 will dictate the need for any ancillary electrical apparatus. Such apparatus may likewise be provided in a suitable manner within the confines of panel 50. As such, it is likewise suitable to provide electrically actuatable means or attendent apparatus within sides 53 without any adverse effects on the proper utilization of panel 50. As shown in FIG. 3, starters 52 are secured to body 51 to facilitate the proper operation of lights 52. Electrical power must be provided for excitation of means 52 without interfering with the passage of fabric F around panel 50. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, electrical power is supplied by an air gap transformer where the secondary winding 58 of the transformer is secured to body 51 of panel 50 and the primary winding P of the transformer is remote from panel 50 (See FIG. 2). Primary winding P and other transformer apparatus are supported from a bracket 16' that is secured to horizontal member 16 located between arms 13. Bolts or the like 16" secure primary winding P to bracket 16 and are adjustable to permit winding P to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to secondary winding 58 to vary the air gap therebetween to suit the particular fabric being inspected or the like. Electric connectors (not shown) are provided to supply electric current to primary winding P.

As mentioned above, panel 50 cooperates with

rolls

20, 21 and 22 on frame to achieve a floating relationship. Sides 53 of panel 50 are provided with a pair of rotatable male rolls 59 that extend outwardly from sides 53 to mate with female rolls 20 on frame 10. Further, sides 53 and body 51 have supports 61 and 62 respectively extending downwardly therefrom on both the front and back sides. Each pair of supports 61 have a single roll 63 rotatably received therebetween while supports 62 have two rolls 64 rotatably received therebetween. As best seen in FIG. 4, rolls 63 and 64 on one side of panel 50 cooperate with roll 21 on frame 10 while

rolls

63 and 64 on an opposite side of panel 50 cooperate with roll 22 on frame 10 to provide a nip across each side of panel 50. Rolls 63' and 64 thus cooperate with

rolls

21 and 22 to support panel 50 from the bottom thereof. Tubular fabric being handled by the instant machine thus passes between female rolls 20 and male rolls 59 at the top of panel 50 and through the nips produced between

rolls

63 and 64 and rolls 21 and 22 at the bottom of panel 50. The fabric is thus spaced around panel 50 to facilitate the proper inspection, etc., while continuing to permit panel50 to float.

A reflective surface 40 such as a mirror, for example, is mounted behind panel 50 with the reflective surface facing forward. Reflective surface 40 is secured at its lower end to diagonal struts l7 and its upper end to vertical legs 12. A further reflective surface 42 which may likewise be a mirror is mounted on one end of the instant machine so as to cooperate with reflective surface 40 to permit an inspector to stand in one position and visually observe all sides of a tubular material passing over floating panel 50. Reflective surface or mirror 42 is secured at its lower end to one of the diagonal struts l7 and at its upper end to one of the side panels 18.

A mechanical or other drive means 70 is secured in some fashion to the support frame of the instant machine (FIGS. 1 and 2) as by

brackets

71 and 72 which are secured to each other at one end and to strut l7 and vertical leg 11 respectively at an other end. Drive means 70 may be any suitable drive means and may be a fixed or variable speed device. Operatively associated with drive means 70 is an appropriate motor 80 which receives power from a power source (not shown). Drive means 70 is Operatively associated with a control roll 74 which is rotatably mounted between vertical legs 11 of the support frame and extends thereacross. Control roll 74 has an extension 75 which extends beyond one of the vertical legs 11 and has a pulley 66 at the end thereof. Drive means 70 likewise has a pulley 73 extending outwardly therefrom and is connected to pulley 66 of control rod 74 by a belt 76. An inspector operating the machine of the instant invention may,

upon observing a defect in the fabric being inspected, grasp control rod 74 and slow down or stop its rotation. The reduction in rotation of rod 74 is transferred to drive means by belt 76 so as to slow down or stop the passage of fabric through the machine in a manner that will be hereinafter discussed. Further, since control rod 74 extends completely across the front of the machine, an operator can control the passage of fabric through the machine from any point along the front of the machine.

A preferred fabric take up system for the machine of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. A feed roll 77 is journaled for rotation between front vertical legs 11. Feed roll 77 is provided with a pulley 78 at one end thereof. A belt 79 passes over pulley 78 and a second pulley 81 that is associated with motor 80. Motor 80 thus, depending on the speed of drive means 70, rotates pulley 81 which in turn through belt 79, drives feed roll 77. Diagonal struts 17 have a take-up arm 82 pivotally secured thereto. Each take-up arm 82 extends outwardly from a strut 17 and has a U shaped slot 83 at an opposite end thereof. A take-up roll 89 rests in slots 83 of arms 82 and is held in contact with feed roll 77 to accept fabric therefrom. A manifold 84 is provided across the front of support frame 10 and supplies air from an air source (not shown) to two air cylinders 85 pivotally secured to opposite ends thereof. Air cylinders 85 have corresponding piston rods 86 extending outwardly therefrom with the opposite ends of rods 86 being pivotally secured to arms 82 as at brackets 82'. Air cylinders 85 through rods 86 properly position pivotal arms 82 to insure constant nip pressure between take-up roll 89 and feed roll 77 regardless of the amount of fabric on take-up roll 89. Hence, as fabric is wound onto take-up roll 89, arm 82 pivots downwardly. Simultaneously with movement of arms 82, rods 86 of cylinders 85 extend from cylinders 85 and maintain the constant nip pressure between feed roll 77 and take-up roll 89. This procedure insures the production of a roll of fabric having a constant density throughout.

Operation of the textile material handling machine of the present invention proceeds as follows. A fabric F in tubular form is fed from roll 24 up along vertical legs 12 and across idler rolls 26 and28 at the top of the machine. After passing idler roll 28, fabric F moves downwardly around panel 50. As fabric F passes downwardly around panel 50, it passes in part between female rolls 20 and mating male rolls 59 which assists in maintaining a proper relationship between the fabric and panel 50, and at the same time assists in maintaining floatation of panel 50. Proceeding further down over panel 50 fabric F passes through the nip formed between

rolls

63 and 64 and roll 21 on one side of panel 50 and rolls 63 and 64 and roll 22 on the opposite side of panel 50. Fabric F then comes back together after leaving panel 50 and passes around the outside of driven feed roll 77 and rearwardly onto take-up roll 89. As mentioned earlier, the proper position of take-up roll 89, which is supported by pivotal arms 82, is maintained by air pressure in air cylinders 85 which'are connected to arms 82 via rods 86 and brackets 82'. As such, the fabric on takeup roll 89 is in constant contact under uniform pressure against feed roll 77 so as to permit the fabric to be wound onto take-up roll 89 in a uniform manner.

Panel 50 may have a plurality of fluoroscent lights 52 received within body 51 thereof. With the primary winding P and electrical supply mounted to the support frame 10 at bracket arm 16', electrical energy may be transferred from primary winding P of the air gap transformer to the secondary winding 58 positioned within body 51 of panel 50. Hence, the energy transfer to the secondary winding excites lights 52 so as to illuminate same. Illumination of lights 52 permits visual inspection of the tubular fabric F passing over panel 50. An operator may stand at the right hand corner of the inspection frame as shown in FIG. 1 looking obliquely to the left and may visually inspect the front and right hand corner of the tubular fabric in a direct manner while simultaneously viewing the left hand corner and rear side of the tubular fabric in the

reflective surfaces

40 and 42.

In the event that the inspector observes a defect in the fabric being handled by the machine, he may grasp control rod 74 and hold rod 74 against further rotation which, in turn, reduces the speed of drive means 70 or stops drive means 70. Operative association between drive means 70 and motor 80 brings about a like reduction in the speed of motor 80. Since motor 80 is associated with feed roll 77, a reduction in output from motor 80 reduces the speed of rotation of feed roll 77. Hence, fabric speed through the machine slows or stops. Release of control rod 74 reverses the procedure and permits the operation to return to normal.

Having described the present invention in detail, it is obvious that one skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and variations thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for handling tubular fabrics comprisa. a support frame, said frame having fabric supply and take up means associated therewith;

b. a floating panel associated with said support frame and located along a fabric path between said supply and take up means, said panel having electrically actuatable means received therein;

c. an electrical power source remote from said panel and outside said fabric path, said power source being remotely operatively associated with said electrically actuatable means within said panel to remotely actuate same as desired; and

d. guide means associated with said panel and said support frame, said guide means maintaining said panel in a floating position and permitting tubular fabric to pass around said panel.

2. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 1 wherein electric light means are received within said panel to permit inspection of tubular fabric passing therearound.

3. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical power source is a magnetic inductive device.

4. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 3 wherein said electrical power source is an air gap transformer.

5. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 4 wherein a secondary winding of said transformer is located within said panel and a primary wind ing of said transformer is located without said panel.

6. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprise male and female rolls adjacent the top of said panel and nip rolls adjacent the bottom of the panel.

7. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 6 wherein two male rolls are rotatably received on said panel at opposite sides thereof and a female roll is rotatably received on said frame on opposite sides of said panel and positioned to receive said male rolls therein whereby tubular fabric passing around said panel will pass between said male and female rolls.

8. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality of nip rolls are rotatably received on said panel across opposite sides thereof with mating nip rolls therefor being rotatably received on said frame.

9. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 1 wherein electrically actuatable means within said panel are lights; said guide means comprise a pair of male rolls rotatably mounted on each of opposite sides of said panel adjacent the top thereof, each pair of said male rolls being in mating relationship with a female roll rotatably mounted on said frame and at least one roll across the front and back of said panel adjacent the bottom thereof, each said roll cooperating with a roll rotatably mounted on said frame to produce a nip therebetween; wherein said electrical power source is an air gap transformer, and wherein a constant tension material take up assembly is provided on said frame.

10. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 9 comprising further, power means for driving said take up system.

* III l

Claims

1. A machine for handling tubular fabrics comprising: a. a support frame, said frame having fabric supply and take up means associated therewith; b. a floating panel associated with said support frame and located along a fabric path between said supply and take up means, said panel having electrically actuatable means received therein; c. an electrical power source remote from said panel and outside said fabric path, said power source being remotely operatively associated with said electrically actuatable means within said panel to remotely actuate same as desired; and d. guide means associated with said panel and said support frame, said guide means maintaining said panel in a floating position and permitting tubular fabric to pass around said panel.

5. A machine for handling tubular fabrics as defined in claim 4 wherein a secondary winding of said transformer is located within said panel and a primary winding of said transformer is located without said panel.