EQUALIZING MACHINE FOR THE FINISHING AND FINAL INSPECTION OF FABRICS DESCRIPTION The fabric equalizing machine is used in textile finishing for giving the fabric a defined and constant width, that is, a controlled width, following on from the various operations of calendering, steaming, raising, cutting and so forth. At present, the equalizing machine comprises two chains or equivalent flexible means having pins or clamps or other members to grasp the edges (selvedges) of the fabric. The chains run along a first segment in which they diverge and then run parallel at a predetermined distance to stretch the fabric to the correct width. In current equalizing machines the active zones of the chains are on a straight and horizontal plane, or in some models on a slightly inclined plane. Along the paths of the chains are: an optional over-feeding section; a steaming section; a transverse tensioning zone (in which the chains diverge); a drying section; and at the end of the path a winding unit.

It is conventional for equalizing machines to have a unit where the equalized fabric is wound up, and in order to perform a final inspection the fabric must then be unwound, viewed and rewound (or altematively it is viewed, wound up and unwound again to be equalized and then rewound).

This takes up more space and costs more and can end up introducing faults into the edges or selvedges due to the unwinding and subsequent rewinding after inspection. To avoid these and other disadvantages, in an earlier intellectual property document belonging to the same applicants, the equalizing machine has a path divided up into at least two segments, one ascending and one descending; the descending segment also includes an inspection section equipped for viewing the fabric so that it can be examined and any defects indicated. The descending section is then followed by the winding unit. The inspection section may include a light table over which the fabric passes for viewing. This inspection operation can be performed directly by the operator operating the equalizing machine, and immediately before the fabric is accumulated by being

wound up, downstream of the descending segment, in a winding unit. The arrangement enables said winding unit to be installed at the point where the fabric comes away from the pins or clamps, which eliminates the problems due to pulling. This system is also useful because it allows precise measurement of the length of the fabric, there being no possibility of slippage. The inspection section can be vertical or slightly inclined relative to the vertical, thereby setting it at an appropriate distance from the operator who has to watch the moving fabric.

The sections of transverse tensioning, steaming and drying were located in the ascending section and the drying section optionally in the descending section, immediately before the inspection zone.

In the present invention, the equalizing machine in question, for textile finishing operations, comprises two endless chains with pins for gripping the edges of the fabric for the operation of equalizing the width of the fabric following completion of the treatment of said fabrics, and has a generally horizontal path that has a limited inclination with respect to the horizontal with sections for steaming, transverse tensioning in which the chains diverge, drying, and optionally cooling, and said machine is characterized in that said path continues with at least two segments, an ascending segment followed by a descending segment, which includes an inspection section equipped for viewing the fabric so as to examine it and indicate any defects before it is rewound.

In practice the ascending segment and the descending segment may be approximately parallel to each other.

In addition, said descending segment will be inclined at an angle of less than or no more than 90° with respect to the direction at which the fabric enters.

The control section may advantageously include a light table over which the fabric passes for viewing, situated along the descending leg.

Downstream of the descending segment will be a winding unit or other means for accumulating the fabric, without pulling it, and also

advantageously a measuring system.

An equalizing machine according to the invention may also include: means for causing the fabric to return in the opposite direction to that of normal operation, to allow the operator to repeat an inspection; a buffer or other means of temporary recovery of the fabric that is made to return; and, to act during the occasional phases of return, an arrangement for gripping the selvedges of the fabric, pin brushes, selvedge feelers and a segment where the chains are moved apart in order to allow work on the reversing fabric and optionally also on the fabric that is to be wound up.

There may also be selvedge cutters mounted at the outlet of the fabric, immediately before it is wound up.

A clearer understanding of the invention will be gained from the description and the attached drawing, the latter showing a practical, non-limiting example of the invention. In the drawing the single figure shows a diagram of an equalizing machine according to the invention.

In the drawing the reference 1 indicates a fabric T feeding unit, with an optional over-feeding unit 3 for the treatment of fabrics which may undergo a certain longitudinal shrinkage during the treatments through which they are put.

Downstream of this over-feeding unit 3 is a zone of the fabric T path controlled by the chains that grip the edges of the fabric and release the fabric only to allow it to be wound onto the reel. The first segment of this path following the optional over-feeding unit comprises a steaming section 5, which can be constructed in any of the various known ways for carrying out uniform steaming, and has the task of recovering the condensation and removing the steam without dispersing it into the work environment. The steaming unit 5 is followed by a drying unit 7, which may employ a current of air or any other means conventional per se. Next comes a cooling section 9, which in most cases can be a forced circulation of ambient air, provided there is no excess humidity liable to escape harmfully into the environment where the unit is positioned.

Downstream of the segment comprising sections 5,7 and 9,

which is slightly inclined in the direction of advance F in a downward direction, the chains C are deflected by deflection wheels outlined at 10 and 12 to guide the path of the fabric along an ascending segment T1, over a system of deflection wheels 14 at the top and down a descending segment T2, where the fabric inspection takes place. The two segments T1 and T2 in the example illustrated are inclined steeply upward, roughly at or in the vicinity of a vertical direction and advantageously slightly inclined in the upward direction and backward against the arrow f of the direction of the initial path, which is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal on which sections 5,7 and 9 are located. Advantageously and preferably the two segments T1 and T2 of the path of the fabric may be parallel to each other.

At the end of segment T2 the fabric is accumulated in a unit 16 that winds it onto a reel B or any other means of accumulation of the inspected fabric. This unit 16 can also be equipped with appropriate cutters for the edges of the fabric where this is required during the processing of certain kinds of fabric.

The descending segment T2 includes means for enabling a convenient inspection, particularly for watching the fabric in order to examine it and indicate any defects in the fabric before it is rewound.

The descending segment T2 may also include a backlight zone to assist inspection. The operator can be positioned at a slight distance from the descending segment T2 in order to make the abovementioned inspection operations easier.

This arrangement provides an efficient finishing treatment of the fabric, reducing to a minimum the work of the operators and the manual operations as well as reducing operations subsequent to that which can be performed by the machine described herein.

It will be understood that the drawing shows an example given only by way of a practical demonstration of the invention, it being possible for said invention to be varied in its shapes and arrangements without thereby departing from the scope of the concept on which the invention is based. The presence of any reference numbers in the appended claims is for the purpose of facilitating the reading of the claims with reference to the description and drawing, and does not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.