Fabric treatment apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus for treatment of fabric, and including a fabric supply for supplying a length of dry fabric. A plurality of rolls having fabric-altering surface elements thereon is positioned in an upstream-to-downstream flow path for receiving the length of fabric across the surface elements thereof from an upstream fabric supply assembly to a downstream fabric take-up assembly. At least some of the plurality of rolls have drive means for positively rotating the rolls. The take-up assembly pulls the length of dry fabric off of the fabric supply assembly and through the flow path against the surface elements of the plurality of rolls in only a single pass and onto the take-up assembly.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for treatment of fabric, and comprising: 
 (a) an upstream fabric supply assembly for supplying a length of dry fabric;    (b) a plurality of rolls having fabric-altering surface elements thereon positioned in an upstream-to-downstream flow path for receiving the length of fabric across the surface elements thereof from the fabric supply assembly, at least some of the plurality of rolls having drive means for positively rotating the rolls; and    (c) a take-up assembly for pulling the length of dry fabric off of the fabric supply assembly and through the flow path against the surface elements of the plurality of rolls in only a single pass and onto the take-up assembly.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said take-up assembly includes a variable speed motor for pulling fabric through the apparatus at a variable predetermined constant rate.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive means of the rolls are reversible for rotating the rolls in either the direction of movement of the fabric or in opposition to the direction of movement of the fabric.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive means are individual to each drivable roll for selectively rotating a roll in either the direction of movement of the fabric or in opposition to the direction of movement of the fabric independent of the direction of movement of any other roll.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said fabric supply assembly includes brake means for applying a predetermined resistance to the movement of the fabric through the flow path to reduce wrinkling of the fabric and maintain contact between the fabric and the rolls.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said surface elements are selected from the group consisting of grit, ribbon scrolls, spiral flutes, axially-extending edge members, chain and buttons.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each said outwardly-projecting edge member defines a wavy surface edge.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each said outwardly-projecting edge member defines a wavy surface edge wherein the wavy surface edge of each edge member is out-of-phase with the surface edge of any adjacent edge member.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said edge members are paired to define a v-shape in cross-section.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for treatment of fabric, comprising: 
 (a) an upstream fabric supply assembly for supplying a length of dry fabric;    (b) a plurality of rolls having fabric-altering surface elements thereon positioned in an upstream-to-downstream flow path for receiving the length of dry fabric across the surface elements from the fabric supply assembly;    (c) the surface elements selected from the group consisting of grit, ribbon scrolls, spiral flutes, axially-extending edge members, chain and buttons;    (d) drive means for positively rotating at least some of the plurality of the rolls, the drive means being individual to each drivable roll for selectively rotating the roll in either the direction of movement of the fabric or in opposition to the direction of movement of the fabric without independent of the direction of movement of any other roll; and    (e) a take-up assembly for pulling the length of fabric off of the fabric supply assembly and through the flow path against the surface elements of the plurality of rolls in only a single pass and onto the take-up assembly.    
     
     
         11 . A method of treating fabric, and comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a plurality of rolls having fabric-altering surface elements thereon and positioned in an upstream-to-downstream flow path for receiving a length of fabric across the surface elements thereof from an upstream fabric supply assembly to a downstream fabric take-up assembly;    (b) providing drive means for at least some of the rolls for positively rotating the rolls; and    (c) pulling a length of dry fabric off of the fabric supply assembly, through the flow path against the surface elements of the plurality of rolls in only a single pass and onto the take-up assembly.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of providing drive means comprises the step of providing a variable speed motor for pulling fabric at a variable predetermined constant rate.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , and including the step of selectively rotating the rolls in either the direction of movement of the fabric or in opposition to the direction of movement of the fabric.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , and including the step of selectively rotating a roll in either the direction of movement of the fabric or in opposition to the direction of movement of the fabric independent of the direction of movement of any other roll.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , and including the step of applying a predetermined resistance to the movement of the fabric through the flow path to reduce wrinkling of the fabric and maintain contact between the fabric and the rolls.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said surface elements are selected from the group consisting of grit, ribbon scrolls, spiral flutes, axially-extending edge members, chain and buttons.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein each said outwardly-projecting edge member defines a wavy surface edge.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein each said outwardly-projecting edge member defines a wavy surface edge wherein the wavy surface edge of each edge member is out-of-phase with the surface edge of any adjacent edge member.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 ,  17  or  18 , wherein said edge members comprise are paired to define a v-shape in cross-section.