Abstract: A method and apparatus removing creases from a tubular fabric including an assembly for moving the fabric through a fabric travel path, an assembly for internally stretching the fabric locally in the area of the creases and an arrangement for applying steam locally to the internally stretched fabric in the area of the creases.

Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing of textile fabric in endless rope form is disclosed which basically comprises a processing vessel, dual oppositely-extending fabric travel paths within the vessel for lengthwise movement of the fabric in successive alternation through the two travel paths, and dual lifter reels and jet nozzles between the adjacent entrance and exit ends of the respective travel paths, providing more positive continuous fabric traveling movement, increased fabric processing capacity, and reduced fabric processing time in comparison to conventional wet processing operations utilizing a single lifter reel, jet nozzle, and fabric travel path.

Abstract: An apparatus for shearing, tigering, napping or other surface treatment of a finite length of a textile fabric, particularly pile and plush fabrics, is disclosed which is especially adapted for experimental research and development usage in a laboratory setting. The apparatus includes a rotatably driven roller having a fabric surface-engaging periphery and an arm assembly for supporting the fabric piece for presentation to the roller, the arm assembly being movable between a fabric-loading position spaced from the roller and a treatment position in close adjacency to the roller.

Abstract: Apparatus for festooning a traveling length of textile fabric or other web-like material comprises a frame supporting a pair of opposed spaced endless conveyor chains across which a plurality of fabric support rods are removably carried by the conveyor chains in succession with one another for supporting an individual festoon of the fabric depending between each successively adjacent pair of the rods. A secondary conveyor arrangement at the fabric entrance end of the frame is operative to temporarily remove each succeeding fabric support rod from the conveyor chains and, after a selected dwell time, to replace each removed rod onto the conveyor chains to control the festooning accumulation of the fabric on the support rods.

Abstract: An apparatus for take-up of textile fabric from a fabric producing machine is equipped with a fabric take-up frame, a fabric take-up roll supported on the frame for fabric winding thereabout, and a variable speed drive motor arrangement for rotating the take-up roll. A transducer roll or other suitable arrangement monitors tension in the fabric between the fabric producing machine and the take-up frame and is associated with a microprocessor or other controller to adjust the drive motor speed as necessary to maintain fabric tension in accordance with a predetermined tension program as the fabric is wound on the take-up roll, either for purposes of maintaining constant fabric tension or programmed tension variation over the winding operation. The take-up frame is separable from and movable independently of the fabric producing machine for transporting a fabric after a take-up operation to a subsequent processing station without rewinding of the fabric.

Abstract: Tubular textile fabric is guided during longitudinal travel substantially without circumferential torque or twisting by a guide apparatus having a series of guide rings which open the tubular fabric into circular form, a drive ring affixed co-axially to the guide rings and mounted rotationally on the apparatus frame, and a drive motor connected to the drive ring through an endless drive belt for incremental reversible rotation of the drive ring and guide rings as a unit as necessary to counteract fabric torque or twisting. A linear guide stripe or line extends lengthwise along the tubular fabric and is monitored by a photo-optic sensor operable in conjunction with a microprocessor to control incremental and reversing operation of the drive motor as necessary to counteract detected non-linearities in the guide line which indicate the existence of fabric torque or twist.

Abstract: A shear roller lubricating apparatus for textile shearing machines having cylindrically oriented rotating shearing blades includes an oil delivery pad, an oil application pad, and an airflow-blocking plate sandwiched therebetween, the pads and the plate being mounted to an oil distribution header with the outer terminal ends of the pads projecting beyond the plate for end abutment of the pads. This assembly is mounted to the shearing machine with the outer end of the application pad arranged to tangentially contact the shearing blades. A microprocessor controlled metering pump supplies oil to the delivery pad and thereby to the application pad at selected time intervals and may be operated continuously to provide an increased supply of oil to the delivery and application pads after deactivation of the shear rollers for an extended period of time.

Abstract: Shearing operations on textile pile fabrics may be repeatably controlled precisely by controlling operating parameters of the shearing machine to maintain constant the average number of times each pile loop of the fabric is cut by the shearing blades of the shearing cylinder, which is accomplished by calculating a numeric value representing cuts per pile loop as a function of the rotational speed of the cylinder, its number of shearing blades, the widthwise dimension of the nose surface of the fabric rest, and the fabric traveling speed, and selectively adjusting one or more of these parameters as necessary to achieve the desired number of cuts per fabric loop.

Abstract: The relative dispositions of the shear cylinder, fabric rest and ledger blade of a textile fabric shearing machine may be inspected and any necessary adjustments thereof may be precisely measured and controlled by the present inspecting apparatus which comprises a linear guide rail mounted to the frame of the shearing machine in precise axially parallel relation to the shear cylinder and a carriage mounted on the rail for linear movement therealong, wherein the carriage is equipped with a detection tool, e.g., a feeler arm assembly, selectively articulable and manipulable into a plurality of dispositions for traveling surface contact with the fabric rest or ledger blade to detect and identify irregularities in linearity or relative disposition to the shear roll or to one another.

Abstract: A textile napping machine is equipped with pivotable arms for supporting its napping cylinder for selective movement between an operative position wherein the cylinder is arranged in driven relationship with the machine's cylinder drive system and an inoperative position wherein the cylinder is moved to one side of the machine for easy demounting and replacement. A traveling cart docks with the machine at the inoperative position for lateral transfer of a napping cylinder between the cart and the cylinder support arms. The various operating components of the machine are microprocessor-controlled for easy programmed adjustment. The machine may be of a reduced scale in comparison to conventional production machines for experimental, research-and-development, and laboratory usage.

Abstract: A textile warp knitting machine is equipped with a driven sandpaper-covered sueding roll extending the full width of the fabric take-up section of the machine for peripheral engagement of the warp knitted fabric with the sueding roll to produce a raised suede-like nap on one fabric surface. The sueding roll is driven oppositely to the direction of fabric travel. The fabric is guided to contact the sueding roll periphery at two opposite locations thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for monitoring depletion of yarn from a textile warp beam wherein yarn actually remaining on the beam is measured radially with respect to the beam, compared with a preselected radial dimension of yarn desired to remain on the beam when the machine is stopped for beam replacement, and machine operation is stopped when the measured radial dimension of yarn equals the predetermined radial dimension of yarn. An analog inductive proximity switch is supported at the periphery of yarn wound about the beam to measure the radial dimension between the switch and the beam by producing an electrical current output proportional to such dimension. A comparator circuit compares the switch output with a reference current selected to correspond to the current output of the switch when at the preselected radial dimension of yarn at which machine operation is to be stopped.