Claims
- 1. An apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric comprising:
- a frame;
- an endless belt supported on the frame, wherein the tubular knit fabric to be finished is carried on the endless belt;
- a ring supported on the frame; and
- a mandrel disposed within the ring.
- 2. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular knit fabric is fitted onto the mandrel and wherein the ring is adapted to receive the belt and the tubular knit fabric after the tubular knit fabric has been fitted onto the mandrel.
- 3. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 2, wherein a bottom side of the belt contacts an interior side of the ring, and wherein a top side of the belt contacts an exterior of the tubular knit fabric.
- 4. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an extractor and wherein the mandrel and ring cooperate to compress the tubular knit fabric to thereby extract a liquid therefrom.
- 5. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a compactor and wherein the mandrel and ring cooperate to compact a lengthwise stitching of the tubular knit fabric.
- 6. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the ring is substantially cylindrical with an annular detent therein, and wherein the mandrel has a corresponding detent, the detents preventing the mandrel from being dislodged from the ring.
- 7. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the ring is frustroconical in shape, an opening in a front end of the ring having a diameter that is larger than an opening in a rear end of the ring, whereby the mandrel is prevented from being dislodged from the ring.
- 8. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the mandrel has a conical shaped front end for receiving the tubular knit fabric, the conical front end spreading the tubular knit fabric from an interior thereof.
- 9. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein an interior diameter of the ring is larger than a combination of the thickness of the belt, a thickness of the tubular knit fabric and an outside diameter of the mandrel.
- 10. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the belt is made from a compressible material.
- 11. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame has a front end and a rear end, the apparatus further comprising:
- rollers attached to each of the front end and the rear end, the belt being coupled to the rollers; and
- at least one drive mechanism attached to at least one of the rollers, wherein operation of the drive mechanism rotates the at least one roller and thereby moving the belt.
- 12. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 1, wherein the ring has a first half and a second half, the first and second halves being combined after the mandrel and the belt have been inserted between the first half and the second half.
- 13. An apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric comprising:
- a frame;
- an endless belt supported on the frame;
- a ring supported on the frame and adapted to receive the belt and the tubular knit fabric to be finished; and
- a mandrel disposed within the ring and adapted to press the tubular knit fabric to be finished and the belt to an interior surface of the ring.
- 14. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 13, wherein the mandrel is adapted to fit into an interior of the tubular knit fabric and to thereby spread the fabric.
- 15. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 13, wherein the apparatus is an extractor and wherein the mandrel and ring cooperate to compress the tubular knit fabric to thereby extract a liquid therefrom.
- 16. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 13, wherein the apparatus is a compactor and wherein the mandrel and ring cooperate to compact a lengthwise stitching of the tubular knit fabric.
- 17. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 13, wherein the mandrel has a conical shaped front end for receiving the tubular knit fabric, the conical front end spreading the tubular knit fabric from an interior thereof.
- 18. The apparatus for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 13, wherein the frame has a front end and a rear end, the apparatus further comprising:
- rollers attached to each of the front end and the rear end, the belt being coupled to the rollers; and
- at least one drive mechanism attached to at least one of the rollers, wherein operation of the drive mechanism rotates the at least one roller and thereby moving the belt.
- 19. A method of finishing tubular knit fabric comprising the steps of:
- conveying, on a belt, the tubular knit fabric onto a mandrel disposed in a ring;
- spreading the tubular knit fabric with the mandrel; and
- conveying the belt and the tubular knit fabric between the mandrel and the ring.
- 20. The method for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:
- fitting the tubular knit fabric onto the mandrel; and
- receiving the belt and the tubular knit fabric into the ring after the mandrel has been fitted into the tubular knit fabric.
- 21. The method for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 19, further comprising the step of:
- compressing the tubular knit fabric between the ring and the mandrel to thereby extract a liquid from the tubular knit fabric.
- 22. The method for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 19, further comprising the step of:
- compacting a lengthwise stitching of the tubular knit fabric in the ring and mandrel assembly.
- 23. The method for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 19, wherein the mandrel has a conical shaped front end and wherein the step of spreading the tubular knit fabric is accomplished by the conical front end of the mandrel.
- 24. The method for finishing tubular knit fabric as recited in claim 19, wherein the ring is supported on a frame, wherein the frame has a front end and a rear end and rollers attached to each of the front end and the rear end, and wherein the belt is coupled to the rollers, the method further comprising:
- rotating at least one roller to thereby move the belt.
Parent Case Info
This Appln claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional No. 60/072,408 filed Jan. 23, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0041787 |
Sep 1980 |
EPX |
0250025 |
Dec 1987 |
EPX |
0311897 |
Apr 1989 |
EPX |