Patents Represented by Attorney Leo Fornero
  • Patent number: 5826289
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a wet processing system wherein a wet roped knitted fabric is treated to achieve a finished product that is flat and open and accomplished by moving the fabric so that it is transported through the various processing steps in a manner that minimizes distortion and elongation of the fabric. Advantage is also provided by utilizing a J-scray that is moveably disposed in the system to fine tune the accumulation of wetness and control the speed of delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 5718107
    Abstract: A fabric detwister for continuously opening roped knitted fabric operating to open the roped fabric by moving the detwister arrangement in the direction of twist and as this occurs it actuated the turntable to move in the direction to remove the twist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 5704102
    Abstract: An apparatus for finishing or shrinking webs of material such as textile webs, both of the knit and woven variety; and non-woven like webs, all usually made from fibrous like materials. The apparatus, generally comprises first and second roll like members. One is capable of being driven faster than the other and both are disposed to drive belts for moving the web. The apparatus also includes a compaction or finishing zone formed between the belts by an adjustably disposed idle roll like member and one of the roll like members. The plural belts are disposed to run around the roll like members so that a web may be fed on a sheet like member to facilitate finishing or shrinkage of the web in the finishing or compaction zone formed between the belts which are caused to abut each other by roll like members disposed inside the abutting belts. The sheet like member being disposed relative the zone so that treatment of the web in said zone is optimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 5701641
    Abstract: A spreader included in tubular knit conditioning or finishing equipment is disclosed and includes a frame serving to support a pair of support members having fabric gripping means mounted on the spaced and oppositely disposed support members. A series of rolls some of which are driven are connected to the fabric gripping means to cause same to move the fabric through the equipment or the spreader. An actuator is connected to the spreader and arranged to move the fabric gripping means to move the fabric while moving through the equipment to adjust for any changes in dimension of the fabric to a desired dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 5625932
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting or opening a tube of knit fabric is disclosed and includes a conveyor which moves the fabric along a horizontal axis as it enters the apparatus and continues in this horizontal path and the fabric is expanded cut and moved out of the apparatus along the horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 5553365
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for the compressive shrinking of fibrous web materials is disclosed. The apparatus uses a system of moving rolls of different speeds cooperating with a confining member to form a stuffing chamber wherein a web material moves in a passageway where it is compacted. The addition of means for moving the rolls to provide a substantially uniform dimension to the passageway facilitates the compaction of the web material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 5412853
    Abstract: An apparatus for finishing a fabric web by subjecting a usually wetted fabric which is carefully handled preferably on a spreader in the case of knits or a tenter-like device in the case of woven or non-woven webs so that it remains flat and smooth and then presenting the fabric to a fabric treating station comprising endless belts in abutting relationship to shrink or finish the fabric and finally removing the fabric from the fabric treating station or arrangement. An apparatus for finishing a fabric by passing a carefully handled fabric onto a device to smooth the fabric and move same to a confined space formed by side by side plural, usually endless, belts with guide means on the outer surfaces thereof and said plural belts arranged to change direction around inner rolls disposed on the opposite ends of said belts to finish or shrink said fabric either as a result of the curvature caused by the change in direction of said belts or in the nip formed by the rolls at one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 5211755
    Abstract: An apparatus 5 for applying a creasing setting agent in order to achieve a permanent crease in a textile article such as pants, sheets or the like. The apparatus comprises a support member 12, having a guide member 24 for receiving the textile article to be creased. The support member 12 is mounted on another support or plate 10. There is also included a detachably mounted applicator 31 having a nozzle 34 the applicator being mounted at the one end 50 of the plate member 10 so that the nozzle 34 may be inserted into the opening 32 in the guide member 24. Also a stop member 40 is provided on the guide member 24 and between the opening 32 and the end 50 to substantially preclude hand operation of the applicator as the textile article is being finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: James P. Hangley, II
  • Patent number: 5046208
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an extractor wherein tubular knitted fabric is ballooned, prior to the extraction of, usually water from the fabric, in an arrangement comprising a nip formed by two rolls. A tubular knit fabric additive applying mechanism is formed by providing a reservoir consisting of these two rolls and sealing or dam members disposed at each of the opposite ends of the above mentioned rolls. A single drive is provided one roll and functions to drive the second roll and a third roll disposed to form a nip with the second roll to extract excess additive from the fabric as it passes through the last mentioned nip. A method of applying an additive to a tubular knitted fabric moving the fabric through a nip to extract liquid therefrom and then immediately subjecting the fabric to an application of additive and immediately following this application by subjecting the fabric to the removal of the additive in a second nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 5012562
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for the compressive shrinking of fibrous materials is disclosed. The apparatus uses a system of moving surfaces of different speeds cooperating with a confining blade spaced from the movable surface or surfaces to cooperate to form a stuffing chamber for compaction of the fibrous material. An improved impact blade is provided to facilitate the compression of the fibrous material and the blade includes an apparatus for achieving optimum straightness of the blade among the benefits provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 4959893
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for preshrinking fabric which in various forms moves a web of shrinkable material through a nip like configuration and usually by compression reduces the webs potential shrinkage a predetermined amount.More particularly there is shown a system for heating fabric at a controlled temperature by utilizing the normally associated steam heat source of the apparatus which usually functions to dampen the fabric prior to treatment as provided for in the present invention on the one hand along with a heated oil supply which is disposed in a chamber of the shrinking unit to thusly provide an additional heat source for the fabric to facilitate shrinkage or other treatment of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Inventor: Frank Catallo
  • Patent number: 4924563
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to improvements in tenter frames which typically function to move fabric through a fabric processing step which might be fabric curing or drying. The tenter frame contemplated herein includes various adjustable devices for optimizing the position of the fabric as it is being moved to thereby minimize or eliminate any distortions in the fabric construction which can occur in open-type knits, such as pattern distortions and the like. In addition, the apparatus utilizes a series of mechanical variable speed drives and controllers which are all synchronized with an electric driver motor to better control the operation of a tenter frame as it moves fabric through a processing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Inventor: Frank Catallo