METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THICKNESS AND/OR COMPRESSION OF FABRICS

摘要

An apparatus and method for measuring the thickness and/or compression characteristics of fabrics is disclosed. The apparatus (1) comprises a support table (2) within which an analogue inductive proximity transducer (4) is positioned a short distance below an upper flat surface (3) of the support table (2). A fabric (8) is placed on the upper flat surface (3) and a disc (6) is placed on the fabric (8) adjacent the sensing head (5) of the transducer (4). The disc (6) acts as a load on the fabric where a greater load can be applied on top of the disc (6). The lower flat surface (7) of the metalised disc (6) provides a suitable measurement area where a desired pressure has been applied to the fabric (8). The transducer measures the thickness of the fabric (8) and with varying loads also measures the compression of the fabric (8).