Compactor shoe construction

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to mechanical compressive shrinkage apparatus of the type comprising opposed feeding and retarding rollers arranged for cooperation with a confining shoe. Fabric or the like is advanced over the feeding roller, being maintained in contact therewith by the confining shoe. The feeding and retarding rollers are arranged to form a nip, and the fabric enters this nip immediately after its emergence from between the feeding roller and the confining shoe. The retarding roller, moving at a slightly slower rate of speed than the feeding roller, and having a superior grip on the fabric, causes the fabric to be decelerated at the nip and mechanically compacted between the nip and the shoe. The disclosed improvements are directed specifically to the construction of the confining shoe itself, enabling manufacture of the shoe to be accomplished at significant savings and facilitating maintenance and repair of the shoe. The shoe assembly includes a rigid support beam, to which are secured a plurality of contoured shoe segments whose length is a fraction of the length of the rigid support beam. A thin, contoured, liner element is secured over the working faces of the shoe segments, forming a continuous, uninterrupted working surface arranged for contact with the fabric. The liner plate is arranged for easy replacement to accommodate wear.