Apparatus for inspecting double knit fabric

Claim 2

Apparatus for inspecting double knit fabric in the form of an elongated strip folded lengthwise upon itself and wound up into a roll comprising means for supporting a roll of double knit fabric for rotation about an axis so as to enable the folded strip to be progressively unwound in an upward direction, a frame, cooperating interior and exterior guide structures fixed to said frame in a position above said roll supporting means, said interior structure including a rod engageable with the interior of the longitudinally folded edge of said fabric, said exterior structure including a generally U-shaped rod engageable transversely across opposite exterior surfaces of the folded fabric at a position adjacent the position of engagement of said folded edge engaging rod and above said roll supporting means, said interior structure including a pair of angularly related rods extending from said fold engaging rod in diverging relation therefrom in directions both outwardly and upwardly to an extent and at angles of divergence such that when the fabric is moved upwardly thereover the same will be disposed in a generally planar condition, a pair of cooperating rollers journaled on said frame about parallel axes extending perpendicular to the axis of a roll supported on said roll supporting means, said pair of rollers having helical fabric spreading means on the periphery thereof for engaging the fabric as it passes from said pair of angularly related rods, a table structure fixed to said frame extending downwardly and forwardly from said pair of rollers for receiving and supporting the fabric for movement thereover, said table structure including a translucent panel extending thereacross, electric light means on opposite sides of said panel for illuminating said translucent panel and providing an inspection station for an operator as the fabric moves over said panel, a second pair of rollers journaled on said frame about axes parallel with the axes of said first pair of rollers in a position downwardly and rearwardly from the forward edge portion of said table structure, said second pair of rollers having helical fabric spreading means on the periphery thereof for engaging the fabric as it moves from said table structure, a pair of drive rollers having cylindrical peripheries formed of a friction material, means mounting said drive rollers on said frame for rotational movement about axes parallel with respect to each other and with respect to the axes of said rollers and with their peripheries disposed in closely spaced horizontal side-byside relation in a position such that when the fabric is unwound from a roll supported on said roll supporting means, and disposed in engagement with said cooperating interior and exterior guide structures, said first pair of rollers, said table structure, said second pair of rollers, with a leading portion thereof disposed in engagement with the peripheries of said drive rollers and wrapped around a spindle freely supported above and between the upper peripheral portions of said drive rollers, rotation of said drive rollers will effect longitudinal movement of the fabric while progressively unwinding the same from the roll supported on said roll supporting means and progressively winding up the same on the spindle disposed above and between said drive rollers, an electric motor, and means drivingly connecting said motor with said drive rollers for rotating said drive rollers about their axes at the same peripheral speed and in a corresponding direction to effect said fabric movement.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said roll supporting means includes a frame having means thereon for independently supporting a plurality of rolls for rotation about a plurality of horizontally spaced parallel axes, and wheel means supporting said frame for horizontal movement in a direction transversely to the rotational axes of said rolls into a plurality of operative positions with respect to said interior and exterior guide structures.

Claim 4

Apparatus for inspecting double knit fabric in the form of an elongated strip folded lengthwise upon itself and wound up into a roll comprising means for supporting a roll of double knit fabric for rotation about an axis so as to enable the folded strip to be progressively unwound in an upward direction, a frame, cooperating interior and exterior guide structures fixed to said frame in a position above said roll supporting means, said interior structure including a rod engageable with the interior of the longitudinally folded edge of said fabric, said exterior structure including a generally U-shaped rod engageable transversely across opposite exterior surfaces of the folded fabric at a position adjacent the position of engagement of said folded edge engaging rod and above said roll supporting means, said interior structure including a pair of angularly related rods extending from said fold engaging rod in diverging relation therefrom in directions both outwardly and upwardly to an extent and at angles of divergence such that when the fabric is moved upwardly thereover the same will be disposed in a generally planar condition, first roller means journaled on said frame with the longitudinal extent thereof disposed perpendicular to the axis of a roll supported on said roll supporting means, said first roller means having helical fabric spreading means thereon for engaging the fabric as it passes from said pair of angularly related rods, a table structure fixed to said frame extending downwardly and forwardly from said first roller means for receiving and supporting the fabric for movement thereover, said table structure including a translucent panel extending thereacross, electric light means on opposite sides of said panel for illuminating said translucent panel and providing an inspection station for an operator as the fabric moves over said panel, second roller means journaled on said frame with the longitudinal extent thereof disposed parallel with said first roller means in a position downwardly and rearwardly from the forward edge portion of said table structure, said second roller means having helical fabric spreading means thereof for engaging the fabric as it moves from said table structure, a pair of drive rollers having cylindrical peripheries formed of a friction material, means mounting said drive rollers on said frame for rotational movement about axes parallel with respect to each other and with respect to the longitudinal extent of said first and second roller means and with their peripheries disposed in closely spaced horizontal side-by-side relation in a position such that when the fabric is unwound from a roll supported on said roll supporting means, and disposed in engagement with said cooperating interior and exterior guide structures, said first roller means, said table structure, said second roller means, with a leading portion thereof disposed in engagement with the peripheries of said drive rollers and wrapped around a spindle freely supported above and between the upper peripheral portions of said drive rollers, rotation of said drive rollers will effect longitudinal movement of the fabric while progressively unwinding the same from the roll supported on said roll supporting means and progressively winding up the same on the spindle disposed above and between said drive rollers, an electric motor, and means drivingly connecting said motor with said drive rollers for rotating said drive rollers about their axes at the same peripheral speed and in a corresponding direction to effect said fabric movement.

Claim 5

Apparatus for inspecting double knit fabric in the form of an elongated strip folded lengthwise upon itself and wound up into a roll comprising means for supporting a roll of double knit fabric for rotation about an axis so as to enable the folded strip to be progressively unwound in an upward direction, a frame, cooperating interior and exterior guide structures fixed to said frame in a position above said roll supporting means, said interior structure including a rod engageable with the interior of the longitudinally folded edge of said fabric, said exterior structure including a generally U-shaped rod engageable transversely across opposite exterior surfaces of the folded fabric at a position adjacent the position of engagement of said folded edge engaging rod and above said roll supporting means, said interior structure including a pair of angularly related rods extending from said fold engaging rod in diverging relation therefrom in directions both outwardly and upwardly to an extent and at angles of divergence such that when the fabric is moved upwardly thereover the same will be disposed in a generally planar condition, first roller means journaled on said frame with the longitudinal extent thereof disposed perpendicular to the axis of a roll supported on said roll supporting means, said first roller means having helical fabric spreading means thereon for engaging the fabric as it passes from said pair of angularly related rods, a table structure fixed to said frame extending downwardly and forwardly from said first roller means for receiving and supporting the fabric for movement thereover, said table structure including a translucent panel extending thereacross, electric light means on opposite sides of said panel for illuminating said translucent panel and providing an inspection station for an operator as the fabric moves over said panel, second roller means journaled on said frame with the longitudinal extent thereof disposed parallel with said first roller means in a position downwardly and rearwardly from the forward edge portion of said table structure, said second roller means having helical fabric spreading means thereof for engaging the fabric as it moves from said table structure, a pair of drive rollers having cylindrical peripheries formed of a friction material, means mounting said drive rollers on said frame for rotational movement about axes parallel with respect to each other and with respect to the longitudinal extent of said first and second roller means and with their peripheries disposed in closely spaced horizontal side-by-side relation in a position such that when the fabric is unwound from a roll supported on said roll supporting means, and disposed in engagement with said cooperating interior and exterior guide structures, said first roller means, said table structure, said second roller means, with a leading portion thereof disposed in engagement with the peripheries of said drive rollers and wrapped around a spindle freely supported above and between the upper peripheral portions of said drive rollers, rotation of said drive rollers will effect longitudinal movement of the fabric while progressively unwinding the same from the roll supported on said roll supporting means and progressively winding up the same on the spindle disposed above and between said drive rollers, an electric motor, and means drivingly connecting said motor with said drive rollers for rotating said drive rollers about their axes at the same peripheral speed and in a corresponding direction to effect said fabric movement.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said roll supporting means includes a frame having means thereon for independently supporting a plurality of rolls for rotation about a plurality of horizontally spaced parallel axes, and wheel means supporting said frame for horizontal movement in a direction transversely to the rotational axes of said rolls into a plurality of operative positions with respect to said interior and exterior guide structures.