GB1354559A - Apparatus for and a method of forming a continuous series of substantially parallel filaments or threads - Google Patents

Abstract

1354559 Producing weft arrays and fabrics reinforced thereby RENHURST INDUSTRIES Pty Ltd 1 Sept 1971 [4 Sept 1970] 40779/71 Heading D1R A weft thread array (which may 'be combined with one or two warp thread arrays to form a scrim or deposited as reinforcement on a backing layer) is formed by supplying continuous thread (filament or yarn) to a plurality of outlet points 42 around the periphery of one or both of angularly disposed wheels 21, 22, rotating said wheels in the same direction, gripping each thread in turn as the outlet point 42 to which it is supplied moves adjacent the periphery of the other wheel, drawing the filament or thread to span between the peripheries of the wheels as they rotate, and severing each length of drawn out filament or thread to provide a weft threads array. Preferably the periphery of each wheel contains equally spaced outlet points 42 interspersed with gripping devices 43, the wheels being out of phase by one interval so that each outlet 42 passes point 27 simultaneously with a gripping device 43. Threads 39 (preferably glass fibre yarns or fusible material) are drawn from bobbins 38 supported on tubes 37 which convey the threads through the wheel to tubes 41 which connect with outlets 42. As the outlets approach point 27 a blast of compressed air is applied to eject the thread ends. Each gripper 43 comprises a pair of fingers 44, 46, each having a sleeve 51. Finger 44 is fixed whilst finger 46 is biased into contact with 44 by spring 49 but is forced away from finger 44 for a portion of the wheel's rotation terminating at point 27 by the action of cam 52 or 53 upon cam follower 48 attached to finger 46. The weft thread array is cut by disks 56, spring biased against roller 60. As shown the cutting device is diametrically opposite adjacent point 27 in order to maximise the length of the cut thread. This length can also be varied by altering the angle between wheels 20, 21, the support frame 26 being pivotable for this purpose. An adhesive coated base web (63, Fig. 11) may pass around roller 60 to pick up the cut threads (66). These threads may be laid in contact with each other or at a spacing determined by the rotational speed of wheels 20, 21 relative to roller 60 and by the number of thread outlets. Warp threads (64) may be laid onto the cut weft. Non-woven scrim may be produced by replacing web (63) by warps (67, Fig. 13, not shown), which may be coated with adhesive. Further warps (68) may be laid on top. Preferably the two warp arrays are staggered so that successive warps are above and below the weft layer, to give a "semi-woven" scrim. Fusible fibres may be heat-bonded.