Apparatus for processing sweater sections and the like
AssigneeSamcoe Holding Corporation
InventorClifford Chandler Bryan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure is directed principally to a novel apparatus for finish processing of knitted sweater body sections in a continuous, flow-through manner. Knitted tubular sweater sections, including a body section and a relatively elastic cuff section, are applied in succession to a spreading frame and are distended to a predetermined, uniform width throughout. The spreader frame discharges the distended sweater sections into a processing section, including a pair of opposed conveyor blankets. In a controlled space interval, between the end of the spreading frame and the line of engagement of the sweater section by the opposed conveyor blankets, controllable width contraction of the sweater section is caused or permitted to occur.
Claims13
Apparatus for processing tubular knitted fabrics in continuous or piece form, which comprises
- a. belt spreader means for engaging the fabric internally and distending it to flat form and to predetermined, uniform width,
- b. lower endless conveyor blanket means having a first portion disposed adjacent and below the discharge end of the spreader means and having a second portion extending downstream from the discharge end of the spreader means,
- c. an upper endless conveyor blanket means having a first portion disposed adjacent and above the discharge end of the spreader means and extending above the lower conveyor blanket,
- d. said conveyor blanket means including flexible conveyor blankets formed of a porous, non-metallic, hydrophobic material,
- e. guide means for said conveyor blankets for guiding said blankets into fabric engaging and gripping relation a predetermined distance downstream of the discharge end of the spreader means and for maintaining said blankets in such engaging and gripping relation in the absence of substantial concentrated, localized pressure throughout a predetermined zone,
- f. said guide means including means for guiding the conveyor blankets adjacent the discharge end of the spreader means while maintaining the blankets free of concentrated pressure contact with fabric on said spreader means,
- g. means for controllably adjusting the position of said guide means for adjusting said predetermined distance,
- h. means for steaming the fabric while it is being conveyed through said zone and is engaged and gripped by said conveyor blankets, and
- i. means for removing moisture from said conveyor blankets subsequent to the steaming of the fabric and in advance of the re-engagement of the conveyor blankets with the fabric.
Apparatus for processing tubular knitted sweater sections in separated form, which comprises
- a. means for supplying an individual sweater section in substantially dry form,
- b. generally flat belt spreader means for engaging the section internally, distending it to predetermined uniform width, and advancing the section,
- c. upper and lower flat endless conveyor blankets straddling the discharge end portion of said spreader means for receiving fabric discharged therefrom,
- d. first guide means adjacent but spaced from the discharge end of said spreader means for guiding said conveyor blankets into light, uniform, across the width gripping engagement with sweater sections discharged from said spreading means,
- e. said guide means including means for guiding the conveyor blankets adjacent the discharge end of the spreader means while maintaining the blankets free of concentrated pressure contact with fabric on said spreader means,
- f. means for controllably adjusting the relationship of said first guide means to the discharge end of the spreader,
- g. further guide means for maintaining said conveyor blankets in said light gripping engagement with said sweater section from the commencement thereof throughout a predetermined steaming zone,
- h. means in said steaming zone for causing the flow of steam through at least one of said conveyor blankets and into said sweater section,
- i. means for effecting disengagement of said upper conveyor blanket from said sweater section adjacent the downstream end of said steaming zone,
- j. means for directing a flow of air through said sweater section and through said lower conveyor blanket in a predetermined cooling and moisture removal zone,
- k. means for mounting and guiding said spreader means and said conveyor blankets to maintain said sweater section free of any substantial, concentrated, localized pressures from at least immediately upstream of said steaming zone to at least immediately downstream of said cooling zone, and
- l. means for removing moisture from said upper conveyor blanket downstream of said steaming zone and in advance of said spreader means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.