Edge drive control means for tubular fabric calendering systems

Claim 1

A system for the treatment of tubular knitted fabric and including driver means for spreading the fabric to predetermined width, means for steaming the spread fabric, and means for gathering the spread and steamed fabric after discharge from the spreading means, characterized by a. edge drive rolls mounted at opposite sides of the spreading means for engaging and driving the spreading means through the edge walls of the fabric, b. power means for moving the edge drive rolls toward each other for effecting pressure engagement between the edge drive rolls and the fabric edge walls, including threaded shaft means for moving the edge drive rolls, and drive means for rotating said shaft means, c. adjustable control means for automatically limiting the pressure of engagement between the edge drive rolls and the fabric by disabling the drive means when a predetermined pressure is established between the edge drive rolls and the fabric, d. said drive means comprising an air driven motor, and e. said adjustable control means comprising a controllable pressure regulator associated with said air driven motor and effective to cause said motor to stall when a predetermined edge pressure is achieved.

Claim 2

A system for the treatment of tubular knitted fabric and including driver means for spreading the fabric to predetermined width, means for steaming the spread fabric, and means for gathering the spread and steamed fabric after discharge from the spreading means, characterized by a. edge drive rolls mounted at opposite sides of the spreading means for engaging and driving the spreading means through the edge walls of the fabric, b. power means for moving the edge drive rolls toward each other for effecting pressure engagement between the edge drive rolls and the fabric edge walls, including threaded shaft means for moving the edge drive rolls, and drive means for rotating said shaft means, c. adjustable control means for automatically limiting the pressure of engagement between the edge drive rolls and the fabric by disabling the drive means when a predetermined pressure is established between the edge drive rolls and the fabric, d. said drive means comprising an air driven motor, and e. said adjustable control means comprising a controllable pressure regulator associated with said air driven motor and effective to cause said motor to stall when a predetermined edge pressure is achieved.

Claim 3

A system for the treatment of tubular knitted fabric and including driver means for spreading the fabric to predetermined width, means for steaming the spread fabric, and means for gathering the spread and steamed fabric after discharge from the spreading means, characterized by a. edge drive rolls mounted on carriages at opposite sides of the spreading means for engaging and driving the spreading means through the edge walls of the fabric, b. means for moving the edge drive roll carriages toward each other for effecting pressure engagement between the edge drive rolls and the fabric edge walls, c. said means for moving further including a controllably driven threaded shaft, d. a pair of drive nuts arranged in threaded engagement with said shaft and associated with the respective edge drive roll carriages, e. spring means interposed between the associated drive nuts and edge drive roll carriages, whereby rotation of said shaft effects movement of said drive nuts and, through the interposed spring means, also of said edge drive roll carriages, and f. edge drive pressure indicator means comprising an indicator device carried by one element of an associated edge drive roll carriage and drive nut pair, and g. calibration scale carried by the other element of the associated pair, h. the position of said indicator in relation to said scale reflecting the magnitude of the edge drive roll pressure.

Claim 4

A system for the treatment of tubular knitted fabric and including driver means for spreading the fabric to predetermined width, means for steaming the spread fabric, and means for gathering the spread and steamed fabric after discharge from the spreading means, characterized by a. edge drive rolls mounted on carriages at opposite sides of the spreading means for engaging and driving the spreading means through the edge walls of the fabric, b. means for moving the edge drive roll carriages toward each other for effecting pressure engagement between the edge drive rolls and the fabric edge walls, c. said means for moving further including a controllably driven threaded shaft, d. a pair of drive nuts arranged in threaded engagement with said shaft and associated with the respective edge drive roll carriages, e. spring means interposed between the associated drive nuts and edge drive roll carriages, whereby rotation of said shaft effects movement of said drive nuts and, through the interposed spring means, also of said edge drive roll carriages, and f. edge drive pressure indicator means comprising an indicator device carried by one element of an associated edge drive roll carriage and drive nut pair, and g. calibration scale carried by the other element of the associated pair, h. the position of said indicator in relation to said scale reflecting the magnitude of the edge drive roll pressure.

Claim 5

A system for the treatment of tubular knitted fabric and including driver means for spreading the fabric to predetermined width, means for steaming the spread fabric, and means for gathering the spread and steamed fabric after discharge from the spreading means, characterized by a. edge drive rolls mounted on carriages at opposite sides of the spreading means for engaging and driving the spreading means through the edge walls of the fabric, b. means for moving the edge drive roll carriages toward each other for effecting pressure engagement between the edge drive rolls and the fabric edge walls, c. said means for moving further including a controllably driven threaded shaft, d. a pair of drive nuts arranged in threaded engagement with said shaft and associated with the respective edge drive roll cariages, e. spring means interposed between the associated drive nuts and edge drive roll carriages, whereby rotation of said shaft effects movement of said drive nuts and, through the interposed spring means, also of said edge drive roll carriages, f. a safety limit switch operatively associated with a drive nut and its associated edge drive roll carriage, g. said safety limit switch being operative in response to a predetermined condition of compression of said spring means to stop operation of the treating system.

Claim 6

A system for the treatment of tubular knitted fabric and including driver means for spreading the fabric to predetermined width, means for steaming the spread fabric, and means for gathering the spread and steamed fabric after discharge from the spreading means, characterized by a. edge drive rolls mounted on carriages at opposite sides of the spreading means for engaging and driving the spreading means through the edge walls of the fabric, b. means for moving the edge drive roll carriages toward each other for effecting pressure engagement between the edge drive rolls and the fabric edge walls, c. said means for moving further including a controllably driven threaded shaft, d. a pair of drive nuts arranged in threaded engagement with said shaft and associated with the respective edge drive roll cariages, e. spring means interposed between the associated drive nuts and edge drive roll carriages, whereby rotation of said shaft effects movement of said drive nuts and, through the interposed spring means, also of said edge drive roll carriages, f. a safety limit switch operatively associated with a drive nut and its associated edge drive roll carriage, g. said safety limit switch being operative in response to a predetermined condition of compression of said spring means to stop operation of the treating system.