Abstract: An apparatus for compressive lengthwise shrinking of tubular knitted fabrics and other materials, particularly in a single stage. Feeding and retarding rollers are separated from each other by a distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric. Zone-forming blades are projected between the rollers from opposite sides and form between them a confinement zone which extends at a large angle from the feeding roller to the retarding roller. Fabric is guided to the zone under low contact pressure by the feeding roller and is conveyed away from the zone under similarly low contact pressure by the retarding roller. At the entrance to the zone, the fabric is decelerated and compacted lengthwise without burnishing or abrasion and without crimping. Tubular and open width knitted fabrics can be compressively preshrunk in large amounts, up to 25% and more, in a single stage. Significant savings and other benefits are realized.

Abstract: A method for compressive lengthwise shrinking of tubular knitted fabrics and other materials, particularly in a single stage. Feeding and retarding rollers are separated from each other by a distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric. Zone-forming blades are projected between the rollers from opposite sides and form between them a confinement zone which extends at a large angle from the feeding roller to the retarding roller. Fabric is guided to the zone under low contact pressure by the feeding roller and is conveyed away from the zone under similarly low contact pressure by the retarding roller. At the entrance to the zone, the fabric is decelerated and compacted lengthwise without burnishing or abrasion and without crimping. Tubular and open width knitted fabrics can be compressively preshrunk in large amounts, up to 25% and more, in a single stage. Significant savings and other benefits are realized.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the finish processing of tubular knitted fabric in the manner to effect accurate, uniform alignment of the sewn seam at the edge extremity of the fabric tube, as it is being finished and gathered in flat form. Stripe-matched tubular knitted fabric has been slit longitudinally, adjusted to convert stripes from spiral to circular form, and resewn along its entire length. An equipment and method is provided for finish processing of such fabric, wherein a novel arrangement is provided for rotationally manipulating a laterally distended fabric to maintain accurate, uniform edge alignment of the sewn seam.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the finish processing of stripe-matched tubular knitted fabric in the manner to effect accurate, uniform alignment of the sewn seam at the edge extremity of the fabric tube, as it is being finished and gathered in flat form. Stripe-matched tubular knitted fabric has been slit longitudinally, adjusted to convert stripes from spiral to circular form, and resewn its entire length. An equipment and method is provided for finish processing of such fabric, wherein a novel arrangement is provided for rotationally manipulating a laterally distended fabric to maintain accurate, uniform edge alignment of the sewn seam.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for treatment of continuous lengths of tubular knitted fabrics, involving wet processing, drying and then moisture conditioning of fabric. The fabric web is impregnated with a finishing resin in a wet processor, and is passed through a dryer to both eliminate the water of the processing solution and to cure the residual resin. The fabric emerging from the dryer is both extremely hot and, typically, bone dry, a condition considered unsatisfactory for gathering and further processing. In the disclosed invention, fabric enters a moisture conditioning chamber, in the lower portion, passes under a condensation guard, and then is guided vertically upward between opposed sets of finely atomizing spray nozzles. The fabric continues an upward course for a distance, and then is guided to a folder or roll up device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates a method for finishing of tubular knitted fabric involving the steps of laterally distending the fabric to flat, two-layer form by passing it over a spreader frame, and discharging the fabric from the spreader frame into a pair of opposed calendering rolls. In accordance with the invention, the individual layers of the distended fabric are engaged substantially across their full width and the individual layers are controllably advanced independently of each other. Moreover, the side edge regions of the fabric are also controllably advanced independently of said individual layers.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for finishing of tubular knitted fabric including means for laterally distending the fabric to flat, two-layer form by passing it over a spreader frame, and discharging the fabric from the spreader frame into a pair of opposed calendering rolls. Improved arrangements are provided for engaging the tubular fabric, across its fully spread width, above and below the spreader, for independently advancing or retarding the respective layers of the fabric in order to bring them into proper alignment. The improved arrangements include a thin, flat contact plate, incorporated into the spreader frame structure, which provides a contact support for the fabric, enabling it to be drivingly engaged by independently driven contact rolls. The structure of the invention enables the fabric to be adjusted substantially across its full width, reducing to a practicable minimum areas at the extreme edges of the fabric tube that are not under positive control during the adjustment stage.