Loom configurations and methods for efficiently manufacturing unique spiral-shaped fabrics. The loom introducing two weft yam (30) segments in the form of a continuous loop in each shed may be configured with one or two weft needles (20) and is equipped with a knitting system to form a knitted selvedge along the outside circumference of the fabric. The knitted edge is used as reference to form weft yarn loops of different lengths. The opposite weft yarn loops are permanently secured around selected warp yarns (40). Alternatively intermediate length weft yam loops may be created where the extremity of the loop is not bound to any warp yarn (40). Fiber architectures may be designed and woven which exhibit uniform fiber volume across the width of the fabric. Fiber architectures with greater fiber volume along the outside circumference of the fabric may also be prepared.

A variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called OFT for Oblique Fibre Textiles, are disclosed. Such OFTs are provided with secondary structural integrity/stability, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability, for improved resistance to formation of openings/gaps. OFTs comprising tapes, particularly Spread Fibre and Highly Drawn Polymeric types, are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. because they provide improved performance, material properties/functions and aesthetics. Such OFTs can be used either independently or in combination with other textile materials. Different types of OFTs are producible by a novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes.

A novel method and means for directly producing a variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two opposite oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called Oblique Fibre Textile (OFT), are disclosed. The described method and means for producing OFT provide secondary structural integrity/stability to OFTs, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability. The process is especially advantageous for producing OFTs comprising tapes, including Spread Fibre and Highly Drawn Polymeric types. Such OFTs are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. for their improved performance, functions and aesthetics. Several different types of OFTs are producible by the novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes.

Zwischen zwei Förderketten mit der Förderrichtung (18) wird eine unidirektionale Faserlage (17) in Form von einzelnen abgelängten Faserschar-Abschnitten (10a) verlegt und an Befestigungseinrichtungen befestigt, die sich an den Förderketten (12a, b) befinden. Die zu verlegenden Fasern (8) werden auf Spulen (7) bereitgestellt, die ein gemeinsames Spulengatter bilden. Die Spulen durchlaufen ein Spreizaggregat (6), das sie als verbreiterte Faserschar (10) verlassen, deren Fasern (8) parallel zu einander verlaufen. Die Faserschar (10) wird in einzelne Faserschar-Abschnitte (10a) getrennt und von der intermittierend und mit wechselnder Geschwindigkeit arbeitenden Verlegeeinrichtung (13) verlegt.

Das Spulengatter mit den Spulen (7) befindet sich gemeinsam mit dem Spreizaggregat (6) auf einem gemeinsamen Laufwagen (3), der in der Verlegerichtung (19) gesteuert hin und her beweglich ist. Durch die Bewegung des Laufwagens (3) wird ein Faserspeicher von der Länge L gebildet, der die ungleichmäßige Bewegung der Verlegeeinrichtung (13) ausgleicht. Dadurch können auf dem Laufwagen (3) die Fasern (8) mit gleich bleibender Geschwindigkeit von den Spulen (7) abgezogen und durch das Spreizaggregat (6) hindurchgeführt werden. Die unidirektionale Faserlage (17) wird damit gleichmäßig, in hoher Qualität und mit derselben Fadenspannung in allen einzelnen Fasern (8) abgelegt.

Procédé de fabrication d'un article textile de renfort, comportant en chaîne une nappe (7) de fils liée à un support (15) par couture, dans lequel les fils de chaîne (7° sont amenés en regard du support (15) pour lui être solidarisés en traversant un peigne (10) dont l'écartement entre les dents permet de régler la densité des fils de chaîne, caractérisé en ce que fon fait varier finclinaison du peigne (10) par rapport à la direction de la chaîne au cours de l'avancée des fils de chaîne, de manière à modifier la densité en fils de chaîne le long de l'article.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a fabric and an apparatus for manufacturing a fabric that enable weaving of weak fibers including monofilaments of noble metal such as 24-carat gold. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a fabric using a power loom driven by driving means, comprising the steps of: (a) separating a warp into an upper part and a lower part to form a shed by means of rotation of said driving means; (b) accelerating a weft thread toward said shed by means of rotation of said driving means; (c) passing said weft thread through said shed by means of rotation of said driving means; (d) decelerating said weft thread passed through said shed by means of rotation of said driving means; (e) returning said warp to close said shed by means of rotation of said driving means; and (f) beating said weft thread inserted into said warp in said step (c) to draw up said weft thread into near side by means of rotation of said driving means; rotational speed of said driving means during said steps (b) and (d) being lower than rotational speed of said driving means during said step (c).

The present invention provides a multiaxis three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing method and apparatus which serves to increase the density of a weave in a three dimensional woven fabric product. A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing method according to the present invention is characterized by including a step of forming a 4-axis yarn laminate LB of a desired thickness by using warps X, wefts Y, and a set of bias yarns B1, B2 to laminate a plurality of warp layers, a plurality of weft layers, and a plurality of layers each comprising the set of bias yarn layers, and a vertical yarn stitching step of stitching vertical yarns Z into the 4-axis yarn laminate from one surface of it in its laminating direction, and in that a three-dimensional woven fabric is formed by stitching the vertical yarn to fasten the warps X, wefts Y, and set of bias yarns B1, B2 together (Fig.3).

The present invention provides a multiaxis three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing method and apparatus which serves to increase the density of a weave in a three dimensional woven fabric product. A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing method according to the present invention is characterized by including a step of forming a 4-axis yarn laminate LB of a desired thickness by using warps X, wefts Y, and a set of bias yarns B1, B2 to laminate a plurality of warp layers, a plurality of weft layers, and a plurality of layers each comprising the set of bias yarn layers, and a vertical yarn stitching step of stitching vertical yarns Z into the 4-axis yarn laminate from one surface of it in its laminating direction, and in that a three-dimensional woven fabric is formed by stitching the vertical yarn to fasten the warps X, wefts Y, and set of bias yarns B1, B2 together (Fig.3).