| 摘要 |
A continuous and uninterrupted process for knitting a plurality of cylindrical blanks, automatically transferring the knit blanks sequentially to a shrink apparatus, continuously shrinking the blanks for a predetermined period of time, and automatically transferring the shrunken blanks from the shrink apparatus to a remote location. The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out the process having a shrink apparatus with a blank input conduit, a blank output conduit, a plurality of heating chambers, and means for transferring knitted tubular blanks from knitting machines to heating chambers. A heat source transfers heat to the heating chambers to heat and shrink the blanks, and an associated component automatically transfers the shrunken blanks to a remote location. The apparatus also includes an indexer carrying the heating chambers, appropriate conduit means for directing incoming and exhausting outgoing heated air, and a programmable controller for selectively displacing the indexer to coordinate the operation of the heat source with the other components of the apparatus.
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