GB1575008A

GB1575008A - Curtain heading tape and the manufacture thereof

Info

Publication number: GB1575008A
Application number: GB22491/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: French & Sons Thomas
Current assignee: French & Sons Thomas
Priority date: 1976-06-01
Filing date: 1976-06-01
Publication date: 1980-09-17
Also published as: AU2573477A; ES459350A1; DK239377A; BE855278A; DE2724775A1; ZA773256B; IT1115968B; FR2353662A1; NZ184266A

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN CURTAIN HEADING TAPE AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF (71) We, THOMAS FRENCH & SONS LIMITED, a British Company of Sharston Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 4TH do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns curtain ' heading tape and the manufacture thereof and in particular, though not exclusively, curtain heading tape made from fusible material.

An object of the present invention is to provide a curtain heading tape which is relatively simple to manufacture and use.

According to one aspect of the present invention the method of producing a curtain heading tape includes the steps of producing a tape having longitudinally and transversely arranged interengaging yarns, drawing the tape past aperture forming and aperture edge sealing mean.s, actuating the aperture forming and aperure edge sealing means in synchronism with a'patterning means adapted to control the manner in which the longitudinal and transverse yarns are interengaged and thereby producing at predetermined spaced intervals longitudinally of the tape a series of longitudinally aligned hook receiving apertures in the tape.

According to another aspect of the present invention the method of producing a curtain heading tape includes the steps of weaving together warpl and weft yarns including fusible material, warp and/or weft yarn and including the steps of periodically applying to the tape, in synchronism with the loom patterning means, a heated die element to produce successive, spaced-apart fused regions in the tape and simultaneously or subsequently forming at least one aperture in the tape at each of the fused regions.

According to one embodiment of the invention the method of producing a cur tain heading tape includes the steps of forming'the tape to provide at least one longitudinal band of material which, when heated, will melt and fuse, traversing the tape so formed past the moveable aperture forming and aperture edge sealing device, said device having at least one tape contacting tip adapted to be heated, heating the said at- lea.st one tape contacting tip and - moving same into contact with the tape thereby to produce at least one aperture and simultaneously fuse the material surrounding each aperture so formed, moving the device away from the tape, travers ing the tape and repeating the steps there by to produce an apertured tape.

Preferably the method includes the steps of producing a tape in which at least some of the longitudinally disposed yarns are produced from fusible material; alternatively the tape may be produced by carrying out the step of forming a tape in which at least some of the transversely disposed yarns are produced from fusible material; conveniently the whole of the woven tape may consist of or include yarns which are of fusible material.

An alternative method of producing a curtain heading tape comprises the steps of traversing the tape past the moveable aperture forming and aperture sealing device, said device including a punch and a sealant applicator moving the device towards the tape to punch at least one aperture therein, applying sealant around the edge of the said at least one punched aperture, moving the punch and sealant applicator away from the tape, advancing the tape and repeating the steps to produce an aperture tape.

Preferably the method includes the step of simultaneously producing a plurality of apertures in the tape in such disposition that a plurality of transversely spaced rows of spaced-apart apertures are formed longi tudinally of the tape; conveniently apertures of the rows are transversely aligned; alternatively there may be provided pairs of rows of apertures in which the apertures of each pair of rows are transversely aligned, the apertures of one pair of rows being off-set relative to those of an adjacent pair of rows.

The method aforesaid conveniently include the additional step of introducing at least one draw cord into the tape. Conveniently there are at least two draw cords in the tape.

Preferably the tape when of woven form is apertured before removal from the loom on which it is being woven, the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing device being operatively controlled from a patterning means of the loom.

Preferably the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing device is mounted on the loom frame and positioned adjacent a fabric take-off means; conveniently the device is mounted between a pair of spacedapart fabric take-off rollers.

The invention also includes a curtain heading tape when produced by any one of the methods hereinbefore referred to.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention an apparatus when used for producing apertured curtain heading tape by the method hereinbefore specified includes an aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means including at least one heatable tip there being means for heating the tip to a temperature at which, when applied to a tape, it will form an aperture therein and simultaneously fuse the periphery thereof, An alternative form of apparatus when used for producing apertured curtain heading tape by the method hereinbefore specified including means for producing an aperture in each fused region associated with each means for fusing the tape, a carrier for the fusing means and the aperture forming means and a tape support means associated with the carrier, there being means for reciprocating the carrier means and the tape support means in unison and means for moving the carrier means towards and away from the tape support means thereby to enable the tape to be fused and provided with apertures in pre-selected regions.

Conveniently the fusing means and the aperture forming means are positioned in spaced-apart disposition on the carrier means whereby initially pre-selected regions of the tape may be fused and one aperture subsequently formed in each of those preselected fused regions.

Alternatively an apparatus when used for producing apertured curtain heading tape by the method hereinbefore specified includes at least one punch and an a.sso- ciated sealant applicator, there being means for synchronously moving the punch and sealant applicator towards a die and means for leading a tape across the die whereby when the punch is moved an aperture will be formed in the tape and .sealant applied to the edge of the aperture.

Conveniently, when the apparatus is used to produce apertures in a woven material the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means is mounted upon the loom on which the fabric is to be woven. Preferably the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means is operably associated with a pattern controlling means of the loom whereby it may be prog.rammed to produce apertures in a tape at pre-determined intervals longitudinally of the tape.

In one form the programming means is the loom dobby. Alternatively the program ming means is. a loom pattern chain. Conveniently the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means includes at least two aperture forming and .aperture edge sealing devices.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one form of apparatus in accordance with the invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view drawn to a larger scale of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are schematic side elevations of modifications of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation of a further modification, FIG. 7 is a perspective view, to a larger scale, of part of the apparatus of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a. view similar to FIG. 6, of a still further modification, and FIG. 9 is a scrap view of a modification.

In the following description initially reference will be made to the production of a woven tape provided with two longitu-dinal rows of apertures. This tape is produced from fusible yarn but it should be borne in mind that the invention is in no way restricted to the manufacture of this particular form of curtain heading tape.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, a curtain heading tape made in accordance with one form of the invention is woven on a loom having shuttles and a dobby patterning mechanism. Conveniently a tape of approximately three inches in width is woven using fusible yarn for both warp and weft. The tape ;is conveniently woven in simple l-and-l plain weave and during weaving of the tape two draw cords are inserted. The draw cords are spaced from the edges of the tape by approximately half an inch and conveniently float alternatively on one face and then the other and are shed in such a manner as to cause them to pa.ss through the tape at approximately half inch intervals. The tape is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As can be seen from HG. 1 there is provided a loom including a plurality of heald frames 10 (two only being shown for convenience) through which pass warp yarns 11. Forwardly of the heald frame 10 is a reed 12 (shown at the beat-up position).

From the reed 12 the woven tape 13 passes over a first guide roller 14 downwardly through a loom frame member 15 to a group of three take-up rollers 16, 17, 18.

Movement of the heald frames is controlled by a dobby mechanism of known form including a pattern chain element 19 carried by pattern chain rollers 20 (one only of which is shown). The pattern chain, in known manner serves to control the movement of dobby levers 21 and, through links not shown, the heald frames 10.

The loom so far generally described is provided with a means for producing two parallel spaced-apart longitudinal rows of spaced-apart apertures 24 in the tape 13, these apertures 24 being located between a pair of draw cords 25. The apertures 24 of the rows are transversely aligned.

The mechanism for producing the apertures 24 is mounted on a bracket 26 fixed to a part 27 of the loom frame. As can be seen a slideable block 28 is mounted on the bracket 26, this block having secured thereto slide bolts 29 which extend through a mounting plate 30 of the bracket 26. The bolts 29 are fixed to the block 28 adjacent its corners and two of the bolts 29 carry helical springs 31 which extend between the head 29 of their bolts 29 to the face of the mounting plate 30 remote from the block 28. Fixed to the bracket 26 is the body of a solenoid 32 the core 32a of which is fixed to the block 28 so that, in use, energisation of the solenoid will move the block 28 in the direction of the arrow A, that i;s towards the tape 13.Movement of the block 28 in the direction of the arrow B, that is away from the tape 13, is caused by the springs 31, when the solenoid 32 is de-energised. As can ;be seen movement of the solenoid core. 32a in the direction of arrow A is limited by the provision of a stop block 33 mounted on a rearward extension of the core 32a.

Fixed to the block 28 is a carrier plate 34 for an arm 35 on which is pivotally mounted a tape piercing pin 36 (hereinafter referred tol. Also mounted on the plate 34 is a saddle 37 which retains a carrier 37a for a tape punch which consists of a pair of heatable tips 38 which are spaced-apart and which, in use, serve to form the apertures 24 in the tape 13 by melting the fusible yarns of the tape 13 and simultaneously fusing together the ends of the yarns at the the edges of the apertures 24 so formed.

The saddle 37 has, extending forwardly therefrom (that is towards the tape 13) a fixed arm 39 and mounted on this arm is a slide block 40 capable of being secured at any pre-determined position on the arm 39. Pivotal on the slide block 40 is a link 41 whose free end is pivotally connected to a slide block 42 carried upon the tape piercin, pin 36.

The arm 35 is provided with a pivot pin about which the carrier 37a pivots, in the direction of double headed arrow C. The tape picrcing pin 36 pivots on the arm 35 in the dIrection of the double headed arrow D. A helical return spring 43 (see FIG. 2) located between the carrier plate 34 and the mounting plate 30 and serves to tend to pivot the plate 34 in the direction of arrow E (see FIG. 1).

Spaced from the heatable tips 38 is a support plate 44 (see FIG. 1) the tape 13 being guided by the rollers 14 and 16 between this plate 44 and the heatable tips 38.

The solenoid 32 is energised and deenergised by means of a switch 45 mounted on the dobby frame and spaced from one of the dobby levers 21. The switch is of the 'push ON' and '.push OFF' type and is operated via the dobby lever 21 by a pair of spaced-apart lugs 46, 47 of the dobby pattern chain 19. The lug 46 serves to operate the switch to the ON position and thus energise the solenoid and the lug 47 serves to move the switch to the OFF position. The spacing between the lugs 46, 47 will determine. the length of time for which the switch is ON.During the time that the switch is ON the heatable tips 38 will be held on the tape 13 since the solenoid core 32cho moved the block 28 towards the tape 13 and will hold it in such position until the solenoid is de-energised and the block 28 is moved in the opposite direction by the springs 31 of the slide bolts 29.

In use, when the switch 45 is operated by movement of the dobby lever 21 the solenoid is energised and the block 28 moves forwardly to cause the pin 36 to pierce the tape 13 and the heated tips 38 to contact the tape 13 to commence the action of producing apertures 24. The tape 13 is of course moving and thus the pin 36 which moves with it will cause the saddle 37 and carrier 37a to pivot with it. This movement of the saddle 37 is effected via the link 41 and arm 39. Thus the heated tips 38 will move with the tape 13. By correctly positioning the link 41 the carrier 37a can be caused to move more quickly than the tape 13 and thus elongated aper tures 24 are formed. The size of the apertures 24 will be determined by the positioning of the blocks 40 and 42 on the pin 36 and arm 39 respectively.When the switch 45 is moved to the OFF position the pin 36 and tips 38 are moved away from the tape 13 ready for the next cycle of operations.

The invention is not restricted to the production of curtain heading tape on a shuttle loom. The apparatus so far described can, m fact, be used on a loom in which weft is inserted by means of a weft insertion needle and in which there is a patterning dobby.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an apparatus that can be used on a shuttieless loom in which patterning is controlled by a pattern chain. As can be seen woven tape 50 on such a loom passes from its beat-up reed 51 and over a series of guide and take-up rollers 52 to 57 mounted in the loom frame 58.

In the particular type of shuttleless loom shown the heald frame movements are controlled by levers 59 on each of which, intermediate its ends, is mounted a cam follower 60 which bears against a pattern chain which controls movement of its associated heald frame. In this arrangement pattern chains 61 for a pair of spaced-apart levers 59 contains pattern links 62 which will serve periodically to lift and lower their associated levers 59 in unison. These two levers 59 are not attached to heald frames but instead carry extension arms 63 to the ends of which are secured a cross piece 64. Mounted on this cross piece 64 is a hollow element 65 having spaced-apart pins 66. There may, for example, be only two such pins 66 (in which case a tape with two rows of apertures can be produced) or there may only be one pin 66 or more than two.

FIG. 7 shows a unit having five pins 66 by way of example. The hollow element is adapted to carry a core (not shown) wound with resistance wire, thus the element, and in particular the pins 66 may be heated to a temperature sufficient to melt and fuse the yarns of the tape 50. The double headed arrow F indicates the directions of movement of the extensions 63 and thus the element 65. A tape support plate 67 is provided to hold the tape 50 as the apertures are being formed.

In use, each time the links 62 pass the cam follower 60 the lever 59 is raised and then lowered to cause the pins 66 to contact the tape 50 and produce the apertures.

In this arrangement the lifting and lowering of the element 65 and the forming of the apertures is carried out with sufficient rapidity to render it unnecessary to provide means for the element 65 to move with the tape as it is being taken up over the rollers 52 to 57.

The invention is not restricted to the details given above. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, which shows schematically a simple apparatus which can be used instead of that shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is provided a carrier plate 100 on which is fixed the body 101 of a solenoid. The core (not shown) of the solenoid is attached to a block 102 which is provided with slide bolts 103 one of which carries a return spring 104. The block 102 carries a mounting arm 105 for an element 106 provided with at least one heatable tip 107. In this case there is no tape piercing pin as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The action of the apparatus is simply movement towards and away from a tape to enable an aperture or apertures to be produced.In this case elongation of the aperture or apertures is caused by the fact that the tape moves past the heated tip or tips 107 while they are in contact with the tape. The length of time of contact will determine the length of the aperture or apertures formed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modification of the arrangement of HG. 3 in which there is provided tape piercing means and means whereby heated tips used to form the apertures in the tape can be pivoted to move with the tape. As shown there is provided a mounting plate 108 which is adapted to be secured to the upper edge of the block 102 (in this arrangement the mounting arm is removed from the block 102). The plate 108 is provided with a pivot pin 109 on which is pivotally mounted a carrier 110 for a heatable tip unit 111 which latter is held in position on the carrier 110 by a saddle member 112. Extending between the carrier 110 and the Mock 102 is a return spring 113 which tends to move the carrier about the pivot pin 109 in the direction of the arrow G. Secured to the saddle member 112 is a needle clamp unit 114 from which project a pair of parallel spaced-apart needles 115.

When this unit is in use the needles 115 are moved to pierce the tape when the solenoid is energised and simultaneously the heated tips contact the tape to produce the apertures. The needles move with the tape as the latter moves and thus the tips also move with the tape. When the solenoid is de-energised the block 102 retracts and the needles and tips are drawn from the tape and are pivoted under the influence of the return spring 113 ready for the commencement of the next cycle of operations.

While the arrangements of HOWS. 1,2,3,4 and 5 are designed primarily for use with a shuttle loom they can be used with a shuttleless loom if desired, in which case instead of the pattern chain links being used to operate levers and control the aperture making device directly as described in relation to FIG. 6 the links can be used to operate via pattern levers a switch which will then cause a device like any one of those of FIGS. 1 to 5 to produce apertures.

The design and number of tips used will determine the form and number of apertures produced in the tape and thus, for example, for a curtain liner tape there may be provided means for producing a single longitudinal row of spaced-apart apertures, or alternatively there may be produced multiple rows of apertures.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a means for actually punching apertu.res in a tape. In this case the heatable tips are replaced by dies which will punch the tape to produce the desired number and form of the apertures and in order to prevent fraying of the fabric around the apertures there is provided means for applying an adhesive or sealant to the edges of the apertures. This means will be synchronised with the dies and may, in fact, form part of the dies.

For example, if the tip 107 of say HG.

3, is replaced by a punch and the element 106 is hollow and filled with a sealant this could be fed to the fabric through an annular nozzle surrounding the punch. The hollow element could conveniently be provided with a piston for forcibly ejecting the sealant through the nozzle, such piston being operably attached to the punch to be moved as the punch is forced through the fabric against a die located at the opposite side of the fabric.

While there is described above the production of a woven curtain heading tape it should be appreciated that tapes of other forms can be provided with apertures and thus serve as curtain heading tapes. In this case the apparatus, whatever its form, would be used as a separate unit since a loom would not be required for producing the tape. In fact woven tapes could be provided with apertures on an apparatus consisting essentially of one of the devices described such a device being mounted on a carrying frame provided with tape feed and take-up means.

Referring now to FIG. 8 in which reference numerals identical to those of FIG. 6 are used to indicate parts identical to those of FIG. 6 it will be seen that it is possible, when producing an apertured tape using a tape containing or consisting of fusible material, to provide means initially for fusing selected spaced-apart regions in the tape and for subsequently punching apertures in those fused regions. As shown there is provided a carrier 200 on which is slideably mounted a fusing and punching die block 201. The carrier 200 is provided intermediate its ends with a cam 202 and the die block is provided with a cooperating cam 203. In addition to sliding motion in the direction of the double headed arrow 204 the block is moveable towards and away from the tape 50 in the direction of the double headed arrow 205.

The block is attached by a link means 206 (partially indicated by chain line 207) to a cam follower 208 which bears against a pattern chain 61 to effect, in use, sliding movement of the block 201. Such sliding motion serves to ease contact of the cams 202, 203 and so cause movement towards the tape 50. Located adjacent the face of the tape 50 opposite to that nearest the block 201 is a tape support block 209 and this block is moveable in synchronism with the block 201. The block 201 carries a fusing die 210 and a punch 211 and the block 209 is provided with a through hole 212 into which the punch 211 can enter as explained below. Movements of the blocks 201 and 209 is synchronised with the tape take-up means which includes the rollers 52 to 56.

In operation, the cam follower serves periodically to cause sliding movement of the blocks 201 and 209 and consequent movement of the block 201 towards the tape 50 when the cams 202 and 203 interengage. This causes the die 210 to contact the tape and the heat of the die fuses an area of the tape. Simultaneously the punch 211 cuts an aperture in a previously fused region of the tape. Movement of the blocks 201 and 209 in synchronism enables this action to take place as the tape moves and thus the device can, as illustrated, be used on a loom. If desired the die 210 and punch 211 can be constructed so that the tape is punched in the fused area as it, in fact, is being fused. Provision is made for adjustment of the space between the die 210 and punch 211 in order that the punch can be positioned to form the aperture centrally of the fused region produced by the die.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the die may be formed with a centrally located punch so that as a fused region is formed thereby the central region thereof is cut by the punch to produce the aperture.

It is also possible, of course, to use the device independently of a loom in which case it can be used to provide apertured curtain heading tape which is not of woven construction.

it is also possible, of course, to modify in any desired manner the way in which the draw cords are secured to woven tape.

For example, instead of passing completely through the tape at regular intervals as described above, the cords may pass thrdugh the tape at irregular intervals, or, in fact, may be contained for predetermined lengths within tubes woven into the tape. The cords in this case will preferably emerge from the tubes at predetermined positions to provide floats on one side only of the tape.

Clearly the cross-sectional shape of the punch may be designed such as to correspond to the crosssectional shape of any form of hook used to suspend curtains to which the talpe is secured.

One of the advantages of producing a woven tape in the manner disclosed above lies in the fact that the weaving pattern may be of very simple form, and, furthermore, the tape may be woven using only a single shuttle or weft inserter.

As a result of weaving the tape with either a single .shuttle or weft inserter thus to produce a single-ply fabric, the tape does not have. bulky or relatively bulky regions at the positions at which, in many forms of tape, it is now common practice to locate sus.pension hook receiving pockets since the tape at these regions is effectively of multiply construction.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. The method of producing a curtain heading tape including the steps of producing a tape having longitudinally and transversely arranged interengaging yarns, drawing the tape past aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means, actuating the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means in synchronism with a patterning means adapted to control the manner in which the longitudinal and transverse yarns are interengaged and thereby producing at predetermined spaced intervals longitudinally of the tape a series of longitudinally aligned hook receiving apertures in the tape.

2. The method of producing a curtain heading tape by weaving together warp and weft yarns including fusible material, warp and/or weft yarn and including the steps of periodically applying to the tape, in synchronism with the loom patterning means, a heated die element to produce successive, spaced-apart fused regions in the tape and simultaneously or subsequently forming at least one aperture in the tape at each of the fused regions.

3. The method claimed in Claim 1 or 2 including the steps of producing the tape to provide at least one longitudinal band of material which, when heated, will melt and fuse, transversing the tape so formed past the moveable aperture forming and aperture edge sealing device, said device having at least one tape contacting tip adapted to be heated, heating the said at least one tape contacting tip and moving same into contact with the tape thereby to produce at least one aperture and simultaneously fuse the material surrounding each aperture so formed, moving the device away from the tape, traversing the tape and repeating the steps thereby to produce an apertured tape.

4. The method claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 including the step of producing a tape in which at least some of the longitudinally disposed yarns are produced from fusible material.

5. The method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 including the step of producing a tape in which at least some of the transversely disposed yarns are produced from fusible material.

6. The methods claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 including the step of producing a tape in which all of the longitudinally disposed yarns and all of the transversely disposed yarns are of fusible material.

7. The method as claimed in Claim 1 including the steps of traversing the tape past the moveable aperture forming and aperture sealing device, said device including a punch and a sealant applicator moving the device towards the tape to punch at least one aperture therein, applying sealant around the edge of the said at least one punched aperture, moving the punch and sealant applicator away from the tape, advancing the tape and repeating the steps to produce an apertured tape.

8. The method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 including the step of simultaneously producing a plurality of apertures in the tape in such disposition that a a plurality of transversely spaced rows of spaced-apart apertures are formed longitudinally of the tape.

9. The method claimed in Claim 8 including the step of producing transversely aligned apertures in pairs of rows, the aligned apertures of one pair of rows being offset longitudinally relative to those of an adjacent pair or pairs of rows.

10. The method claimed in any one of the preceding claims including the step of introducing at least one draw cord into the tape during the production thereof.

11. The method claimed in Claim 10 including the step of introducing at least two draw cords into the tape during the production thereof.

12. The method claimed in Claim 2 including the step of producing a woven tape on a loom and producing apertures in the tape before removal of the latter from the loom and controlling the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing device from a patterning means of the loom.

13. The method claimed in Claim 12 including the step of producing the apertures in the tape, while on a loom, and while the tape is moving between a pair of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. thrdugh the tape at irregular intervals, or, in fact, may be contained for predetermined lengths within tubes woven into the tape. The cords in this case will preferably emerge from the tubes at predetermined positions to provide floats on one side only of the tape. Clearly the cross-sectional shape of the punch may be designed such as to correspond to the crosssectional shape of any form of hook used to suspend curtains to which the talpe is secured. One of the advantages of producing a woven tape in the manner disclosed above lies in the fact that the weaving pattern may be of very simple form, and, furthermore, the tape may be woven using only a single shuttle or weft inserter. As a result of weaving the tape with either a single .shuttle or weft inserter thus to produce a single-ply fabric, the tape does not have. bulky or relatively bulky regions at the positions at which, in many forms of tape, it is now common practice to locate sus.pension hook receiving pockets since the tape at these regions is effectively of multiply construction. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. The method of producing a curtain heading tape including the steps of producing a tape having longitudinally and transversely arranged interengaging yarns, drawing the tape past aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means, actuating the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means in synchronism with a patterning means adapted to control the manner in which the longitudinal and transverse yarns are interengaged and thereby producing at predetermined spaced intervals longitudinally of the tape a series of longitudinally aligned hook receiving apertures in the tape.

spaced-apart take-off rollers.

14. An apertured curtain heading tape when produced by the method claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

15. An apparatus when used for producing apertured curtain heading tape by the method claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 including aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means having at least one heatable tip, means for heating said at least one tip to a temperature at which, when applied to a tape, at least one aperture will be formed therein and simultaneously fused around the periphery thereof.

16. Apparatus for producing apertured curtain heading tape by the method claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 including means for fusing at least one selected region of a tape, means for producing an aperture in each fused region associated with each means for fusing the tape, a carrier for the fusing means and the aperture forming means and a tape support means associated with the carrier, there being means for reciprocating the carrier means and the tape support means in unison and means for moving the carrier means towards and away from the tape support means thereby to enable the tape to be fused and provided with apertures in pre-selected regions.

17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 16 in which the fusing means are positioned in spaced-apart disposition on the carrier means whereby initially pre-selected regions of the tape may be fused and one aperture subsequently formed in each of those preselected fused regions.

18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 including an aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means having at least two heatable tip.s, means for heating the tips to a temperature such that, when applied to the tape, apertures will be formed therein and simultaneously have their boundary fused, means being provided for moving the tips into land out of contact with the tape at predetermined time intervals, means for traversing the tape continuously at a predetermined rate past the tips and means for synchronising the movement of the tips with the movement of the tape whereby longitudinally and transversely spaced apertures are formed in the tape.

19. Apparatus when used for producing apertured curtain heading tape by the method claimed in any one of Claims 1, 2 or Claims 6 to 12 including aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means having at least one punch and an associated sealant applicator, there being means for synchronously moving the punch and sealant applicator towards a die and means for leading the tape across the die whereby when the punch is moved at least one aperture will be formed therein and sealant applied to the edge of the said at least one aperture.

20. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 19 including at least two aperture forming punches and associated sealant applying means.

21. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, 19 or 20 in which the means for synchronising the movement of the aperture forming means with the movement of the tape includes a tape piercing needle operatively associated with the aperture forming means, the said needle and the said aperture forming means being mounted on a pivotally moveable carrier.

22. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 15 to 21 when mounted on a loom frame whereby woven tape may be provided with apertures as it passes around loom fabric take-off means.

23. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 22 in which the aperture forming and aperture edge sealing means is operably associated with pattern controlling means of the loom whereby it may be programmed to produce apertures in a tape at predetermined intervals longitudinally of the tape.

24. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 23 in which the pattern controlling means of the loom is a loom dobby.

25. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 23 in which the pattern controlling means of the loom is a pattern chain.

26. Apertured curtain heading tape producing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the several figures of the accompanying drawings.

27. The method of producing apertured curtain heading tape substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the several figures of the accompanying drawings.