Abstract: An apparatus for clamping individual pieces of textile fabric exiting a fusing machine conveyor 13, for withdrawing the fabrics until the trailing edges thereof clear a photocell sensor 42, and for stacking the fabrics with aligned leading edges on a hinged and vertically movable table 19 includes a withdrawable stacking rake 21 and a cooperable, vertically movable clamping plate 20. The rake and plate comprise a plurality of laterlly spaced, longitudinally oriented prongs 38 and rods 37, respectively, which are relatively staggered such that they may be partially interleaved during operation to clamp a piece of fabric therebetween.

Abstract: A textile piece 10 to be coated with rigidizing plastic supplied by a compressing cylinder 12 is fed through a nip zone between the cylinder and a driven roller 16 by conveyors 15, 17. The compressing cylinder is mounted between pivotable levers 18, 19 counterweighted in one direction, and urged in the opposite direction to squeeze the fabric by a lateral array of pneumatic cylinders 21. The cylinders are individually controlled by a lateral array 13 of photocells which continuously sense the width of the incoming textile piece, whereby the nip zone force is automatically controlled as a function of fabric width to provide a uniform coating pressure on irregularly shaped or oriented textile pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus for stiffening textile pieces 10 by coating them with plastic includes a printing or coating cylinder 16 and underlying pressure roller 18, and a subsequent tunnel dryer 42. The pieces are fed through the printing and drying stations by separate conveyor belt mechanisms 13, 14, 15 longitudinally movable away from the printing station to enable easy access thereto for cleaning and servicing.

Abstract: In an apparatus for coating fabric sheets with plastic stiffening strips and including a conveyor 15 for feeding sheets through the nip between a drive roller 16 and a printing cylinder 14, a flexible doctor blade 20 wipes unused plastic and fluff contaminant from the cylinder. The wiped material falls into a collecting trough 21 and is screw conveyed to a supply reservoir 24, from which it is filtered and pumped back to the printing cylinder feed reservoir 18 under the control of a level sensor 19 mounted therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking glued textile fabrics has photocells 43, 44 for controlling the withdrawal movement of a stacking table 25 in dependence on the length of the fabrics. The stacking table moves in the same direction as a fabric piece until the trailing edge of the fabric no longer interrupts a light beam, whereupon the table returns to its original position to receive further pieces of fabric. The apparatus also includes clamping means 37, 38 to firmly hold the already stacked fabrics.

Abstract: A textile piece 10 is transported by a conveyor belt 14 through the nip between a compression cylinder 15 and an underlying pressure roller 17, whereat lines of reinforcing plastic carried by parallel grooves in the cylinder are applied to the piece. It thereafter passes through a dryer 18, and both the cylinder and the dryer extend across about 2/3 of the conveyor width with the dryer housing 35 being spaced above the conveyor on both ends and one side. This arrangement enables either full or partial line coating of textile pieces which are transversely placed on the conveyor, and avoids heating the uncoated portions of the pieces.

Abstract: A textile piece 10 to be coated with rigidizing plastic supplied by a compressing cylinder 12 is fed through a nip zone between the cylinder and a driven roller 16 by conveyors 15, 17. The compressing cylinder is mounted between pivotable levers 18, 19 counterweighted in one direction, and urged in the opposite direction to squeeze the fabric by a lateral array of pneumatic cylinders 21. The cylinders are individually controlled by a lateral array 13 of photocells which continuously sense the width of the incoming textile piece, whereby the nip zone force is automatically controlled as a function of fabric width to provide a uniform coating pressure on irregularly shaped or oriented textile pieces.