Textiles: cloth finishing – Expanding device for textile webs – Spreader
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-10
2001-06-12
Vanatta, Amy B. (Department: 3765)
Textiles: cloth finishing
Expanding device for textile webs
Spreader
C026S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243930
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to the art of spreading a fabric preparatory to processing the fabric in a calender line and more particularly to a spreader and system using the spreader for controlling the width of a cord containing fabric before entering a calender that rubberizes the fabric to produce sheet material used in the production of tires.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Incorporated herein by reference herein is Bulletin No. 10191 from North American Manufacturing Company entitled Calendar Lines “Total Concept” dated April 1991. This trade bulletin discloses a well known calender line for producing laminating fabric to be used in the manufacturing of tires. Bulletin No. 10191 also illustrates the environment to which the present invention is directed which is a spreading mechanism located immediately before the calender. Also incorporated herein by reference is U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/114,374 filed Jul. 14, 1998 titled “Spreader for Calender Line” which discloses an arrangement for a calendar line spreader which can be used in the present invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the tire and rubber industry, calender lines process “gray” fabric for the purpose of producing laminate sheets used to construct rubber tires. The fabric includes longitudinally extending reenforcing cords spaced laterally across the fabric between two transverse edges, which cords are held together by transversely extending picks including small strands or threads spaced longitudinally of the fabric. The fabric is unrolled and then treated in the calender line in a manner that requires periodic spreading of the fabric to a width which is carefully controlled as the fabric enters the calender. The tire cord fabric is produced with various cord counts per inch across the fabric, i.e, cord distribution. In some instances, the cord count or distribution is as low as twelve cords per inch; however, it can be as high as thirty cords per inch. These fabric cords are held together by the picks, which are woven perpendicular in the cords and spaced along the fabric with 2-3 picks per linear inch of cord. From a quality standpoint, the objective is to have the desired cord count extending uniformly over the entire width of the fabric before the fabric is introduced into the calender. However this even distribution of the cords is not accomplished in calender lines now in use. The fabric has a tendency to neck down as it travels toward the calender; therefore, the fabric must be respread several times in the calender line. Spreading devices heretofore used are not predicated on the cord count. As the fabric is respread periodically during its travel through the line, a greater number of cords remain bunched at the edges because the spreading devices are ineffective in spreading this portion of the fabric. Thus, a high concentration of cords appear adjacent the edges of the fabric as the fabric enters the calender for rubberization even though the fabric has the proper width. After processing by the calender, the edge portions of the fabric must be removed by a continuous cutting operation that results in a large amount of scrap with a corresponding reduction in yield for the calender line. Typically, the outer three to five inches at the edges of the fabric are unacceptable because of an over concentration of cords. This particular problem has troubled the tire and rubber industry for many years. To date, the industry has not developed an automatic spreading device that controls the count of the cords across the fabric preparatory to the fabric entering the calender.
Static devices, such as spread bars, have been added to the calender line immediately adjacent the entrant end of the calender in an attempt to address the problem of the cords of the fabric grouping at the edge of the fabric. These bars have two to four indexed positions and they must be manually shifted as a different fabric is being processed. Such devices cannot control width, are not automatic and substantially increase labor costs and down time when changing fabric being processed in the calender line. The most common spreader immediately adjacent the calender is a three finger spreader. This device generally spreads to width; however, the cord count across the fabric is not controlled. Feedback arrangements for use on three finger spreaders are difficult to fabric, i.e, cord distribution. In some instances, the cord count or distribution is as low as twelve cords per inch; however, it can be as high as thirty cords per inch. These fabric cords are held together by the picks, which are woven perpendicular in the cords and spaced along the fabric with 2-3 picks per linear inch of cord. From a quality standpoint, the objective is to have the desired cord count extending uniformly over the entire width of the fabric before the fabric is introduced into the calender. However this even distribution of the cords is not accomplished in calender lines now in use. The fabric has a tendency to neck down as it travels toward the calender; therefore, the fabric must be respread several times in the calender line. Spreading devices heretofore used are not predicated on the cord count. As the fabric is respread periodically during its travel through the line, a greater number of cords remain bunched at the edges because the spreading devices are ineffective in spreading this portion of the fabric. Thus, a high concentration of cords appear adjacent the edges of the fabric as the fabric enters the calender for rubberization even though the fabric has the proper width. After processing by the calender, the edge portions of the fabric must be removed by a continuous cutting operation that results in a large amount of scrap with a corresponding reduction in yield for the calender line. Typically, the outer three to five inches at the edges of the fabric are unacceptable because of an over concentration of cords. This particular problem has troubled the tire and rubber industry for many years. To date, the industry has not developed an automatic spreading device that controls the count of the cords across the fabric preparatory to the fabric entering the calender.
Static devices, such as spread bars, have been added to the calender line immediately adjacent the entrant end of the calender in an attempt to address the problem of the cords of the fabric grouping at the edge of the fabric. These bars have two to four indexed positions and they must be manually shifted as a different fabric is being processed. Such devices cannot control width, are not automatic and substantially increase labor costs and down time when changing fabric being processed in the calender line. The most common spreader immediately adjacent the calender is a three finger spreader. This device generally spreads to width; however, the cord count across the fabric is not controlled. Feedback arrangements for use on three finger spreaders are difficult to control and sometimes result in splitting of the fabric.
Bowed roll spreaders are commonly used to spread the fabric to the desired width. Indeed, four or five bowed roll spreaders may be used before the fabric enters the calender. The three finger spreaders are located six to eight feet beyond the last bowed roll spreader since a bowed roll spreader can not be located close to the calender. Consequently, the fabric necks down after the last bowed roll spreader and before it enters the calender itself. For that reason, there is a need for a spreader to control fabric width immediately adjacent the entrant end of the calender. The three finger spreader is the device which is now commercially acceptable. Since a three finger spreader at this location can cause breakage of the picks and/or cords when using a feedback control, a fixed three finger spreader has been used to approximate the desired width of the fabric as it enters the calender. The only way to actually distribute the cord is the previously mentioned spreader bar that can be located immediately before the calender. This device is so labor intensive that it is no
North American Manufacturing Company
Vanatta Amy B.
Vickers Daniels & Young
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