Improvements in or relating to a method and apparatus for the shrink-resistant finishing of knitted tubular fabrics

摘要

874,916 Finishing-fabrics. MEYER-WAE-SPI & CIE A.G. VORM. Jan. 13, 1958 [Jan. 24, 1957], No. 1182/58. Class 42 (1). A method of treating a knitted, tubular fabric so as to make it shrink-resistant, comprises the steps of stretching the fabric laterally and subsequently feeding it between two endless conveyer members so arranged that there can be no relative, longitudinal displacement between the members and the fabric, at the same time releasing the lateral tension in the fabric by easing the pressure exerted by one of the conveyer members, on the fabric, and finally fixing and pressing the fabric. The fabric 2 to be treated is fed from a container 1 to the stretching device 3 comprising two components 11 and 12 which can slide on cross members 29 and 30. Each component comprises at its lower half a pair of endless belts 24, 25 and at its upper half an endless belt 26, the belts being driven from the power unit 7 in such a manner that the running. speed of the belt 26 is less than that of the belts 24 and 25 to compensate for the change in length of the fabric as it is stretched. The stretching device also comprises front and rear brackets 31 and 32 to ensure that the fabric is uniformly stretched over its whole circumference. From the stretching device 3, the fabric passes over projections 22 which are tapered to enable the fabric to slide over them automatically due to its own tension, and is fed between two endless bands of cloth 34 and 35, both of which are driven by means of the roller 36 from the power unit 7. Between the point at which it passes between the rollers 37 and 44 and the point at which it passes over the roller 36, the fabric cannot move longitudinally relative to the bands 34 and 35, and passes between two surfaces 84 and 85. The surface 84 can'be adjusted in a direction which is normal to the direction of travel of the fabric, adjustable rollers 40 and 41 being-provided to ensure that the band 34 remains in constant contact with the member 84, so that depending on the degree-of adjustment of the member 84, the lateral tension of the fabric can be released by allowing it to contract laterally. The fabric then passes through the region 5 where it is steamed and fixed by steam issuing from pipes 49 in a chest 48, is pressed between the parts of rollers 42, 45 and 43, 46, and is finally folded by an oscillating mechanism 10.