US2482270A - Tentering machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept 20, 1949- J. A. GRUNDY TENTERING I MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11 1947 Tf1/venia?" /I James (Tran/dy, by his ttorneys WwN/ mwn/ Sept- 20, 1949 J. A. GRUNDY 2,482,270

TENTERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 11, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 by his yqtornegs A James Grundy,

Sept. 20, 1949. 1 A, GRUNDY TENTERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 11 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor/i 87 .Tam/es Cmd/nay,

by his fltorrbegS #aww/f4 ,ewwzf/ SePt- 20 1949 J. A. GRUNDY 2,482,270

TENTERING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 1l, 1947 James Grundy,

by hij orneyy Patented Sept. 20, 1949 TENTERING MACHINE James A. Grundy, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to John Bromley & Sons, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a lcorporation of Pennsylvania Application August 11, 1947, Serial No. '768,037

8 Claims. (Cl. 26-57) This invention relates to textile machinery and more particularly to -a continuous vautomatic feed for tenter frames.

Heretofore it lhas always been necessaryT to use manual feeding for tenter frames when lace is being run. The peculiar characteristics of this material are such that the .tension applied in the feeding AVof the fabric controls the final length of the material toa much greater degree than with a more vclosely woven material. As a result, it has been found that even a highly skilled -feeder cannot avoid .irregularity in the feeding of the lace with 4.consequent loss due to rejection of considerable material. For example, in the stretching of lace lcurtains which should be of uniform length such as ninety inches, it was found that it was impossible for a hand feeder to .maintain the curtain length within limits of plus vor minus two inches. .Obviously a pair of curtains must be matched closer than four inches in length and it therefore becomes necessary that each curtain be .individually measured so that they lmay be paired in equal lengths or the curtains having .maximum variations ybe discarded entirely. In any event, it has been necessary for each curtain to be measured individually and this measuring .operation .entails considerable loss vof ytiri-1e and money.

The provision of a `continuous tenter frame and feed, which if desired, may be 4set .up as a unit with the loom, enables .the weaving, sizing and tentering -of the material .to .be performed without any manual 4control whatsoever, and not only has the advantage of greater .production but provides .constant tension on the material at all times.

Therefore, a primary object of the invention is to provide automatic tension control feed for tenter frames.

Another object .of the invention is to provide auto-matic speed control for the ,padder rolls of a dunker and ,means whereby the tension in the fabric between the padder rolls and the feed rolls as well as Ybetween the feed rolls and the tenter .frame proper are vall automatically arranged and controlled.

A .still further object of the invention is 'to provide means especiallyY adapted to the stretching -o-r relaxing of lace in tenter frames.

Further .objects of the invention will be apf- Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail along lines 4 4 of Figs. l and 2;

Fig. .5 is an enlarged detail of the feed plate;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the brush feed;

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail showing a padder roll .compensator but with the electrical switch on the side of the frame .opposite to that shown in Figs. l and 2; and

Fig. 8 is the wiring diagram of the electrical control system.

The invention comprises essentially a unitary machine having a drinker Twith its associated rollers for sizing a. fabric, a pair of power driven padder rolls positioned at. one end of the ,dunler, a compensator supported immediately after he padder rollsrforvfindependently and automatically regulating thespeed of the padder rolls in proportion to the `tension of the fabric as it leaves the padder rolls, a pair lof power driven. feed rolls supported in alignment with the .padder rolls, and ,power driven feed brushes which maintain ya taut condition in the fabric between the feed rolls and the brushes on the tenter frame.

The .invention also includes provision 4of interrelated electrical control devices for the brushes, feed rolls and padder .rolls as well as a special guide plate which `operates in conjunction with the feed brushes to guide the' fabric on to the impaling pins of the tenter frame.

Referring now lmoreparticularly to the 'drawings, a conventional tenter Vframe designated generally at lil, adapted to receive and stretch a roll of textile material '|'I has .a ypair of adinstable frame members l2 and vI?) carrying sprockets li!- and l5 Vat their outer extremities which in turn support the .chains I6 and Il' of the tenter frame. For the sake .of clarity. the construction and .operation of a conventional tenter frame are notdescribed in detail except insofar as related tothe present invention. The tenter frame proper is wel1 known in the art, an example of which is l.United States Patent 1,234,897 toS. L. Cluett.

Feed brushes -l and I9 are lmounted at the ends of members .l2 and 4.3 .and are driven. from cross shaft 2) through ch-ains 2l and 22. A pair of feed rolls 23 .and l24 .are supported from unright frame members 25 v.and '2E by brackets 2" and 28 (Figs. 1 and 2). The axes of rollers 23 and 24 are substantially in a vertical plane with each other and the height of the rolls on frame members 25 and .2G is such that the material as it passes between the rol-1ers is substantially in line with chains I6 and I1 as they pass over the tops of sprockets M and l5. Located directly in front of feed rollers 23and 24 on horizon-tel frame 29 is a compensator assembly consisting of two fixed rollers 30 and 3l and a central pivoted roller 32. The fabric feeds over roller in staggered vertical alignment with stationary rollers 42, 43 and 44 to provide repeated immersion of the fabric in a sizing solution 45 contained in vat 46 which with its associated rollers is known as a dunker. A pair of Vopposed fish plates 41 and 48 having biased corrugations in accordancewith conventional practice serve to smooth anyV wrinkles in the fabric before it is fed on to roller 40.

Fish plates 41 and 48 may Yalso be secured to the member 33l and 4I or to kvertical member 49, all of which are conveniently constructed of angle iron to form a rigid support structure for the various rollers. The fabric before being fed onto the sh plates may be supplied from a large feed roll or directly from the prior operation such as a fabric weaving machine (notshown).

Vat 46 is providedwith a sloping lip 58Hwhich extends underpadder rolls 35 and 36 in 'order to return to the vat thesolution squeezed from the fabric between the rolls. The threeV rolls 42, 43 and 44 are immersed in the liquid 45 to provide ample sizing of thematerial and the pressure .between padderr rol1sw35 and 38, which are ordinarily rubber covered, is suiicient to draw the fabric through the dunker as well as to squeeze all excess sizing fluid therefrom.

Padder roll 36 is driven by chain 5| froml a. variable speed unit 52 which in turn is driven by electric motor 53 through chain 54. Control of the variable speed unit52 is eifected by means of a small electric motor 55 mounted on the housingof unit 52 and controlling the speed ratio in the unit through chain 56 connected to the regulating element of unit 52.

The compensator, which islocated between feed rolls 23 and 24V and padder'rolls 35 and 36, serves to control the tension of the fabric between the feed rolls and the Ypadder rolls by regulating the speed of lower padderroll 36. Compensator roll 32 is pivoted to upright frame member 51 by means of rocker shaft 58 (Fig. 7) and counter balance. 59 isA adjustablyrnounted on rocker shaft 58 and serves to balance roll 32. Any desired adjustment may be made by turning the counter weight59 on threaded rod 60 to which it may be secured by means of lock nut 6|. An electricalswitchz, preferably of the mercury variety, is connected to the axis of roller 32 through links 83 andlso that the switch is actuated by pivotal movement of roller 32 around rocker shaft 58. YIt will be apparent that when thertension inthe fabric |I is increased between the padder rolls andthe feed rolls, roller 32 moves upwardly around rocker shaft `58 to activate switchY 62. If, however, vthe tension in fabric II at the compensator decreases, roller 32 drops thus raising counter Weight 59 and energizing different contacts in rswitch 62. The electrical connections .andpperation of switch 82 will be described hereinafter in connection with Fig. 8.

After leaving roller 30 of the compensator, the fabric passesbetween the feed rolls 23 and 24, the lower one of which is driven by means of chain 10 mounted on sprockets 1| and 12. From the feed rolls, the fabric engages the ngers 13 the position of fingers 13. 'geared to threaded adjusting screws 15 by means 4 of electrical switches 14 which are mounted at the forward extremities of members IZand I3 on the frame. Electrical contacts within switches 14 serve to operate motors 15 in accordance with The motors 15 are of 'spur gears 11 and 13 (Fig. 3) Vand screws 15 Vare threadedly engaged with members 'I2 and I3 so that rotationl of screws 16 serves to'move one or both of members I2 and I3 laterally thereby increasingl or decreasing the distance between sprockets I4 and |51 Members I2 and I3 are supported on casters 19 which run on track 88- thereby facilitating the lateral adjustment of members I2 and I 3. The above fingers and lateral adjustment construction of the Vtenterframe proper is entirely conventional and formsno part of the present invention. The use, however, of a power driven adjustable'feed brush mounted on the frame members I2 and I3 enables the tenter frame to be utilized successfully with a Very loosely knit material such as lace.

kA feed plate 8| r(Fig. 5) having aV forwardly o extending downwardly curvedlip 82 and a slot 83 at the rearward end thereof guides the selvage of the fabric ontoV the impaling-pins 84 carried by the links of chains ItandV I1. YPlates 8| are adjustably mounted by means,v of bracket 85 on strap 86. Bolt 81 and slot 88 in vstrap 86 permit longitudinal adjustment of'pl'ates 8| with respect to sprockets I4 and I5.` The mounting` and spacing of theplates 8| is important since the pins 84 extend through slot 83 to engage vthe selvage Y as it traverses the upper surfaces of plates 8|. An additional groove 89 in` alignment with slot 83 permits theraised portion of thechain links I6 to be received thereby thus providingproper external Yclearance for the pins above the upper surface of plates 8|. Y

In accordance V with customary practice, the fabric II is fed on to the pins84 so thatfthe selvage of the fabric-is securely impaled on the pins. Gradual tranverse stretching of the fabric takes place as it progresses along membersY I 2 and .I3 which may be adjustably set for any predetermined final .Width. Since the fabric is stretched transversely after it isY impaled on the pins, it is essential, and especially with lace material, that a certain gather be imparted to the selvage as it is impaled on the pins 84 inorder that there be a suffcientamount of material between members I2 and'. I 3V to provide for the Yde,- sired stretching. The primaryr function of brushes kI8 and VI9 insofar as thestretching of the lace is concerned is vto overfeed the fabric onto pins 84 ina controlled amountdependent upon thespeed of feed rolls .23 and 24. Further@ more, the spacing of the brushes with respectto the point at which pins 84 begin to protrude through slots 83 in plates,8|.is also.. important since a desired amountV of :the fabric must be gathered at this point in order that it may be properly impaled on the pins. Y

I haveA therefore found that it isA desirable to offset the center line ofthe brushes with respect to the center of sprockets I4 and` I 5A as shown in Fig. 6.` By providing aP peripheral speed for brushes I8 andi!) somewhat in excess of the speed of pins 84 and in locating the brushes forwardly on plate 8|, the fabric is maintained taut between the point of contact with .the brushes and the feed rolls 23 Aand 24. In addition to insuring the desired amount. of overfeed. this construction has the additional important advana tage of insuring constant tension on the selvages of thefabric .at the Vpoints contacted by lingers 13 with the result that hunting of lingers 13 is largely eliminated.y Ithas Ibeen the experience of lace manufacturers that hunting of fingers 13 causes .excessive variation in the width of the material and especially inthe .amount which was fed to the chains. Constant tension between the feed brushes and the feed rolls serves to reduce the operation of motors `15 to an absolute minimum thereby providing much greater uniformity in the stretched product.

Brushes I8 and :I9 are mounted on shafts 9| and 92 which .are supported in brackets 93 .and 94 likewise mounted on members I2 and I3. Chains 2| and 22 are -driven by sprockets 95 and 96 respectively which are slidably keyed to shaft 2|! by means of e. long key or spline 91. Each sprocket 95and 96 has an annular groove 98 in its hub which is adapted to ride in yoke 99 vsupported from members .I2 and I3 by brackets |00. This construction permits sprockets 95 and 9S to move transversely on shaft in accordance with the position yof members I2 and I3 which is in turn regulated by :screw shaft 16 and motor 15. Shaft 20 is mounted in trunnions IDI and is provided with .a sprocket |02 driven by shaft ISB (Fig. '3) through .chain IM.

Shaft r|03 is vdrivexl from shaft |95 by means of spur gears |08 (Fig, 1) and power is in turn transmitted t shaft |05 from variable speed unit |01 through chain |08. Shaft |05 likewise drives the feed rolls 23 and 24 through sprocket 12 and chain 10. The intake side of variable speed unit |01 is connected with jackshafts |09 and ||0 `through chains III and ||2 respectively and shaft IIS is likewise driven from the main ttr frame motor IH3 through chain H4, variable speed unit H5, chain H6, vshaft ||1 and chain H8.. Control of unit |01 is elected manually at ||9 whereas the regulation of unit ||5 is similar to the regulation of unit 52 in that electric motor |20 operates the speed controlling device through chain |21. In accordance with customary practice, the main tenter chains I6 and I1 are driven through sprockets (not shown) from shaft I1.

The interrelated control of the entire system can best be understood by referring to the wiring diagram, Fig. B, which vshows how the various motors and speed control devices cooperate with each other. rlhe variable speed units 52 and ||5 are not described in detail because such devices are `readily obtainable in the market and are, therefore weil known. Current from the main supply |25 is led to 'main switch |26 which when 'closed starts' main motor ||3 'and padder roll motor 53. IIn this w'ay, neither of these motors can be separately started. The speed with which the tent-.eirr-aine and the :poeder 'rolls .should operate depends primarily upon the type of goods, their size and the nature of the particular operation; therefore, any desired speed of the padder rolls and the 'chains 'I6 and I1 will be obtained by closing the double throw, double pole switch |21 to operate speed control motors 55 and |26. The connection between the speed control motors is such that closing switch |21 operates both :motors simultaneously and it will be apparent that this switch is normally open. but is closed merely when change in speed is desired. Opposite holes of switch 121 simply serve to reverse the direction of motors 55 and +20 so that when this switch is :closed in one position the speed of the padder rolls and 'the main fram-e will be increased whereas 'if it is closed in the opposite direction the speed will be .decreased u-ntil switch |21 is opened. Since motors 53 and H3 operate .at the sam-e speed., a .constant relation .between the tenter frame chains and thev padder rolls is always achieved insofar as these motors and the control units 52 and I l5 can be regulated by mearns of either switch |26 or |21.

Automatic variation between the speed of the padder rolls and the tenter frame is provided, however, by means of the compensator, the action of `which has been previously described. The electrical leads from switch B2 Vof the compensator are connected across the leads to control motor 55 in such -a way that only motor 55 will be started when the compensator calls for increased or decreased padder roll speed. This automatic actuation takes place only when switch |21 is not closed to start both motors 55 and |28, hecause lthe/leads |28 and |28' are connected with leads |29 .and |29 only when the Aswitch is open. As soon las the switch is thrown in either direction, the circuit to switch 52 is broken thereby rendering the compensator inoperative to regulate motor 55.

I have found that for lace material, suflicient overfeed of brushes I8 and 'IS may be obtained bythe proper ratio between gears |05 (Fig. l). A difference of one tooth in these gears is ordinarily ample to provide the desired amount of overfeed for lace. Provision for changing the ratio between shafts |03 and IE5 is not required except when widely different materials are being fed. In order that proper feed of the brushes and the feed rolls be maintained Ywith respect to the chains I5 and |1 and the padder rolls 35 and 36, control of the feed roll speed is achieved vthrough variable speed unit |01 which provides direct but variable connection with the main drive through shaft I I1. Any desired setting of the feed roll with respect lto the main feed is provided by means of adjustment 1| `|9 which at the same time changes the feed brush speed -as well as the feed roller speed. It is important that the ratio of the brush and roller speeds remain constant for any specified ratio of gears |05 and therefore operation of adjustment ||9 regulates the brush and roller speeds simultaneously.

Variable speed unit |81 provides a range from zero to 30% overfeed or underfeed thereby controlling shrinkage to within llimits of 1.5% to 3%. Regulation of the amount of overfeed depends to some extent upon the nature of the sizing fluid used in the dunken For example, a starch nish shrinks 6% to l2% whereas a resin sizing shrinks '1.5% to 3%. Thus it will be apparent that the setting of control ||9 will be made `primarily 'in accordance with the amount of shrinkage which should be imparted to the fabric.

The provision of feed rollers extending the full width 'of the yfabric is especially important for lace goods and has been found to be very desirable in providing the proper actuating tension for fingers 13.

I have thus provided Aan improved tenter machine specially adapted for lace which includes the automatic control and feeding devices neces- 'sa-ry to eliminate all hand feeding of this material and which may be employe-d in direct conunction with the loom. -I-e-ret-ofore the sizing or "dunking operation has been an entirely separate process and the feeding of iace to a tenter frame `has necessitated Athe employment of skilled feeders because of the 'nature of the fabric and its peculiar reaction to stretching. The control relatively simpl-e and above all provides a substantially foolproof automatic lace feed which eliminates` the necessity for measuring the length of the shrunken fabric because the varia-v tion in width and length is maintained within very close tolerances.

I claim:

1. In tentering machine construction having continuous feed from a fabric weaving machine to the tenterframe proper, a dunker comprising a vat having a plurality of horizontal rollers disposed in and over said Vat, a pair of horizontal padder rolls mounted atone end of the' vat, a

compensator comprising two horizontal stationari7 rollers and a pivoted roller, said stationary rollers being in alignment with said padder rolls, a pair of feed rolls mounted in alignment with thecompensator rollers, a pair of adjustable tenter frame members in alignment with thefeed rolls, means for adjusting said frame members laterally with respect to each other, a pair of feed brushes mounted on the tenter frame members, said feed brushes being driven in timed relation with the feed rollers, a variable speed unit adapted to drive one of the padder rolls, a regulating electric motor for said variable speed unit, said motorbeing connected to the compensator by means of a switch whereby movement ofthe compensator roller operates the regulating motor to vary the speed of the driven padder rolls through the variable speed unit. Y

. 2. A tenter machine comprising a pair of relatively adjustable tenter frame members having sprockets at the outer end of eachmember, a, pair of chains operating on said sprockets, the chains carrying pins for impaling a fabric, a flat guide plate having a longitudinal slot adjustably mounted on each frame member over each sprocket so that the pins on the chain protrude through the slot on the guide plate before reaching top dead center ofthe sprocket, a pair of feed brushes mounted on said frame members, means for driving said feed brushes at a peripheral speed in excess of the chain speed, a pair of feed rolls for feeding fabric t0 the pins and brushes, said rolls being supported in spaced relation to the Vsprockets of the frame members, and a pair' of movable lingers mounted on the frame members adapted to contact the fabricedge as it is fed between the feed rolls and the feed brushes, the tension in the fabric between the feed rolls and the brushes maintaining the ngers'in a substantially constantposition.

3. In a tentering machine having a pair of adjustable side members a chain adapted to move along the side members and means on the chains for grasping and retaining a fabric, a feed brush assembly comprising a bracket mounted on each side member, a guide plate adjustably attached to each bracket, said guide plates having a rearwardly disposed slot through which the fabric retaining means arcuately protrude, a forwardly and downwardly disposed lip on each guide plate, and a driven feed brush mounted on each of said side members to feed fabric along the guide plates and onto the fabric retaining meansv as they emerge through the slots. Y

4. In tentering machine construction, a continuous feed control system comprising a driven padder roll, a first variable speed unit connected -to said padder roll having speed regulating means,

an electric motor operatively controlling said speed regulating, means o n the first variable speed unit, a tenter frame, a power driven feed roll for said tenter frame, a second variable speedunit connected to said feed roll and having speed regu- 6. A control system in accordance with claim 4 having a single speed-control switch'V -so con'- nected to startboth .the speed regulating motors simultaneously whereby the output of the variable speed units may be equally increased ordecr'eased, and automatic means for regulating the speed of the padder roll when the speed-control switch is open. l

7. In tentering machine construction, a` tenter frame having a pair of laterally adjustable members, a pair of feedv rolls in alignment with said members, a pairof feedV brushes mounted oneach of said members, means for. driving the feed rolls and the feed brushes in a predetermined constant ratio with each other, said means including a sprocket on one ofthe feed rolls, a sprocket on each of the feed brushes, aY shaft in; alignment with the centers ofthe feed brushes, a pair of sprockets slidable on said sha-ft, chainsconnect-v ing each of saidslldable sprockets'torthe feed brush sprockets, and connecting meansA including spur gears between the shaft land thefeed roll sprocket. Y f 8. In tentering machine constructiomeJ tenter frame having a pair of laterally adjustable .members carrying a. tenterg'chain, aipair of feed rolls in alignment with said members, a pair of feed brushes mounted on each of-said members, means for driving the feed rolls and the feed brushes in a predetermined constant ratio with `each other, said means including a sprocket on one of the feed rolls, a sprocketon each ofthe feed brushes, a shaft in alignment with the centers of thefeed brushes, a-pair of sprockets slidable on said shaft, chains connecting each of said slidable sprockets to the feed brush-sprockets, a second shaft having a sprocket in drivingrelation with the first shaft,

rolls with respectto thetenter chain. y f Y JAMss a.' Gauner., REFERENCES fCIrED*Y The followingA references are of record the flle of this patent:

UNrrED sfrATEs PATENTS, A

Number Name Date 1,673,253 Krantz June l2, 1928 1,754,196 Draper Apr, 8,- 1930 1,773,232 .Lenders V Aug. 19,1930 1,864,681 Tandel Y June 28, 1932 2,327,712 1 Huey etal. 1 Aug. 24, 1943

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