GB2192200A

GB2192200A - A process and an equipment for the manufacture of sliding clasp fastners

Info

Publication number: GB2192200A
Application number: GB08714963A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Griessbaum
Original assignee: Opti Patent Forschungs und Fabrikations AG
Current assignee: Opti Patent Forschungs und Fabrikations AG
Priority date: 1986-07-01
Filing date: 1987-06-25
Publication date: 1988-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-25
Also published as: GB2192200B; BR8703337A; IT1205216B; DE3621987C2; DE3621987A1; PT85214A; PT85214B; JPH0351808B2; JPS6359443A; GB8714963D0; CH674446A5; IT8721111A0

Abstract

In a process for the manufacture of a sliding clasp fastener in which two plastics filaments 7 are simultaneously laid upon a slidably- mounted tap catcher 5 at a weaving position 3 to form coupled rows of interlocking members and bound in by warp threads 15 the filaments 7 are drawn in by needles 6 into their halves of a first shed while stringer tape ground weft threads 10 are drawn into a further warp thread shed by ground weft needles 9. The needles 9 are characterised by open thread reception grooves 12 into which the ground weft threads 10 are deflected and bent by deflection beaks 24 on the needles. Distorted warp threads that find their way into the movement path of the ground weft needles 6 are carried past the groove 12 by the deflection beak 24. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A process and an equipment for manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners The invention generically relates to a process for the manufacture of a sliding clasp fastener with rows of interlockig members of plastics filament and textile stringer tapes, in which two plastics filament threads running in opposite directions are simultaneously laid upon a slidably-mounted tap catcher at a weaving position to form coupled rows of interlocking members and bound in by warp threads by movement of the shed, in which the two plastics filament threads are each drawn in by plastics filament weft needles as a double weft into their halves of the shed lying at the same level, and the end of the tap catcher that lies in front of the weaving position in the direction of weaving and is there moved up and down is passed through between the two sides of each plastics filament double weft, and in which together with the plastics filament threads, stringer tape ground weft threads that are moving forward are drawn into a further warp thread shed and are bound in by the warp threads, the stringer tape ground weft threads being led -over a weft thread guidance appliance in the central region of width of-this warp thread shed and drawn into the region between the weft thread guidance appliance and the weaving position by ground weft needles with open thread-reception grooves and deflection beaks. At the same time the reversing loops of the stringer tape ground weft threads can be crotcheted at the weaving position into selvages.Within the scope of the invention "sliding clasp fastener" embraces the endlessly-woven structure of rows of interlocking members and textile stringer tapes from which sliding clasp fasteners are manufactured by cutting to length, mounting start and end stops and pulling on a slider. The invention further relates to an equipment to perform such a process.

In known--constructions ground weft needles are used, the points of which carry threadreception groove. Instead- of drawing-in, the deflection beak serves to ensure that the correct warp thread reaches the thread-reception groove. The thread reception-groove and the base of the groove lie in the the plane of movement of the ground weft needles. Hence, when the- stringer tape ground weft threads are drawn in, a collision with the warp threads can take place if distorted warp threads find their way into the path of movement of the ground weft threads. They can be picked up by the thread-reception groove. Distorted warp threads are for example those that sag as far as- the movement path of the ground weft needles or are prevented from proper shed displacement.If a distorted warp thread is picked up it represents a troublesome weaving fault.

It is the object of the invention to provide a process and equipment in which distorted warp threads can no longer be picked up weft needles, and thereby extend the length of sliding clasp fastener that can be woven free from faults.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a process for the manufacture of a sliding clasp fastener with rows of interlocking members formed from plastics filament and textile stringer tapes is provided in which two plastics filament threads running in opposite directions are simultaneously laid upon a slidably-mounted tap catcher at a weaving position and bound in by warp threads by movement of the shed, the two plastics filament threads are each drawn in by weft needles as a double weft into their halves of the shed lying at the same level, and the end of the tap catcher, that lies in front of the weaving position in the direction of weaving and where it is moved up and down, is passed through between the two sides of each plastics filament double weft and in which stringer tape ground weft threads that are moving forward are drawn together with the plastics filament threads, into a further warp thread shed and are bound in by the warp threads which stringer tape ground weft threads are led over a weft thread guidance appliance in the central region of width of this warp thread shed, and are drawn into the region between the weft thread guidance appliance and the weaving position by ground weft needles with open thread-reception grooves and deflection beaks, the stringer tape ground weft threads being bent by the deflection beak on the weft thread guidance appliance and brought to a thread-reception groove prepared for the deflected stringer tape ground weft threads that follows in the direction of movement of the ground weft needle of the deflection beak and the distorted warp threads that find their way into the movement path of the ground weft needles being carried past the threadreception groove by the apptopriately-formed deflection beak.

According to a second aspect of the present invention an equipment to perform the process above defined comprises a loom with a shed-forming mechanism, having two simultaneously-actuatable weft insertion appliances located on either side of the shed and a tap catcher located centrally in the shed, one end of which that lies horizontal before the weaving position is supported in a mandrel carrier that can be moved up and down, the weft insertion appliances having plastics filament weft needles for the drawing in and out of plastics filament threads for the rows of fastener elements and supplementary ground weft needles for the simultaneous drawing-in of stringer tape ground weft threads, there being guidance appliances for the stringer tape ground weft threads that are delivered to the weaving position, essentially in the direction of weaving and provided centrally in the shed before the tap catcher, the ground weft needles associated with the stringer tape ground weft threads having an open receptiongroove and a deflection beak in the region of their free ends, the deflection beaks of the ground weft needles having as seen in the direction of movement of ground weft insertion, a wedge-shaped profile with a deflecting wedge surface, the thread-reception grooves incorporated in the deflection beaks being adapted to the path of the deflected stringer tape ground weft threads and distorted weft threads being able to be carried past the thread-reception groove by the deflection beak.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference tithe accompanyig drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of an equipment performing the process according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of portion A of Fig. 1: Figure 3 is a perspective view of Fig. 2 in the direction of arrow B; and Figure 4 is a side view of part of Fig. 1.

The equipment to perform the process according to the invention consists of a loom with -a- shed-forming mechanism, two simultaneously actuatable weft insertion appliances 2 located on either side of the shed 1, and a tap catcher 5 located centrally in the shed 1, with one omits ends that lies horizontally before the weaving position 3 supported in a mandrel carrier 4 that can be moved up and down; The weft insertion appliances' 2 have plastics filament-weft needles 6 for the drawing in and out of plastics filament threads 7 for the rows of interlocking members 8, and supplementary ground weft needles 9 for the simultaneous drawing-in of stringer tape ground weft threads 10.In the direction of weaving, guidance appliances 11 for the stringer tape ground weft threads 10 that are delivered to the weaving-position 3, essentially in the direction of weaving, are provided centrally in the shed and before the tap catcher 5. The ground weft needles 9 associated with the stringer tape ground weft threads 10 have open reception grooves 12 inthe region of their free ends.

Thus, theshed-forming mechanism forms a shed 1 and a further warp~threåd shed 13 of warp threads 14. The shed 1 is formed from the warp threads 15 to bind in the rows of interlocking members 8. These warp threads 15 alternate between a high shed position and a low shed position. The further warp thread shed 13 is formed from the warp threads 14 for the stringer tape portions 16 that lie adja cent to the rows of interlocking members 8, and these warp threads alternate between a low shed position and a central position. As can be seen from Fig. 4, in a top view the shed 1 lies centrally between the two halves of the further warp thread shed 13. At the commencement of the passage of a sliding clasp fastener, the weaving position 3 is pro vided with a heat-fixing equipment, which is not illustrated.

The weft insertion appliances 2 already mentioned are located one on each side of the shed 1 and the further warp thread shed 13. The two weft insertion appliances 2 that can be actuated simultaneously, have the plastics filament weft needles 6 for drawing-in the plastics filament thread 7, each of which is supplied from the same exterior side as the needle. Accordingly, these plastics filament weft needles 6 have a closed thread-guidance eyelet 17. Also the two weft insertion appliances 2 have the ground weft needles 9 for simultaneously drawing in the stringer tape ground weft threads 10 that are moving forward.As these stringer tape ground weft threads 10 are not drawn in from the exterior sides of the further warp thread shed 13, the ground weft needles 9 have, in the area of their free ends, the open thread-reception grooves 12 already mentioned, which are clearly shown in the enlarged detailed portion of Fig. 2. All the weft needles 6, 9 of the weft insertion appliances 2 are arranged in horizontal planes lying above one another so that during the drawing-in, the weft needles 6,9 can cross over one another. In doing so, the plastics filament weft needles 6 enter into the shed 1 above the further warp thread shed 13, and the ground weft needles 9 enter into the further warp thread shed 13.The stringer tape ground warp threads 10 are fed to the weaving positon 3 basically in the direction of weaving, i.e., similarly to warp threads, between warp threads 15 to bind in the two rows of fastener members 8, this being via guidance appliances 11 that are located centrally in the shed 1 between the moved-in weft needles of the weft insertion appliances 2 and the shed-forming mechanism.

The- above-mentioned tap catcher 5 is flexible and is displaceably supported centrally in shed 1, in front of the weaving position 3 and behind the guidance appliances 11 in the direction of weaving, this support being at its end remote from the weaving position 3 and in a mandrel carrier 4 that can be moved up 'and down. The mandrel carrier 4 is itself slidably mounted on a guide 18 and can be moved between a high shed positon and a low shed position by means of a tappet arrangement 19 with associated holding devices that are not illustrated (e.g., magnets or shafts of the shed-forming mechanism). The guide 18 is interrupted centrally, to make it possible for the tap catcher 5 to oscillate through the plastics filament threads 7 when the mandrel carrier 4 is in its high shed position or its low shed position.To avoid excessive drawing-in, temples 20 are provided on both sides of mandrel carrier 4 for the warp threads 15 that are located there.

Crochet hook devices 22 are present on the outer sides of the further warp thread shed 13 next to the slide fastener guides 21 in the region of the weaving position 3, by which the reversing loops 23 of the stringer tape ground weft threads 10 can be crocheted into selvages. The beating of weft threads 7, 10 into the form of double wefts after movement of the shed takes place with a reed beater.

By comparative examination of the Figures it is seen that the ground weft needles 9 have at their tips a deflection beak 24 for the stringer tape ground weft threads 10 that are to be picked up. The thread-reception groove incorporated in the deflection beak 24 is adapted to the path of the deflected carrier tape ground weft thread 10. Regarding the deflection of stringer tape ground weft threads 10, particular reference is made to Fig. 4, where in their non-deflected state the stringer tape ground weft threads 10 are drawn solid, and drawn chain-dotted in their deflected state.

In a projection on the plane of movement of the ground weft needles 9, the deflection beak 24 is approximately half the width of the needle 9,-and the thread reception groove 12 has a direction that is oblique to the plane of movement of the ground weft needles 9. Preferably, the deflection beak 24, and the thread reception- groove 12 are smoothed by polishing.

A distorted warp thread Kfs is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 3 makes it clear that the deflected ground weft thread 10 safely arrives in-the thread reception groove 12 that is adapted to the deflection, whilst the distorted warp-thread Kfs is rejected by the deflection beak 24 and cannot be picked up by thread-reception groove 12; In Fig. 1, the ground weft needles 9 on the ieft hand side are represented as broken off in the neighbourhood of their tips to make the essential features of the invention clearly recognizable at the right-hand side. For the same reason only the upper ground weft needle 9 is shown in Fig. 3. The lower ground'weft needle 9 on the left in Fig. 1 has not been represented.

Claims

1. A process for the manufacture of a sliding clasp fastener with rows of interlocking members- formed from plastics filament and textile stringer tapes, in which two plastics filament threads running in opposite directions are simultaneously laid upon a slidablymounted tap catcher at a weaving position and bound in by warp threads by movement of the shed, the two plastics filament threads are each drawn in by weft needles as a double weft into their halves of the shed lying at the same level, and the end of the tap catcher, that lies in front of the weaving position in the direction of weaving and when it is moved up and down, is passed through between the two sides of each plastics filament double weft and in which stringer tape ground weft threads that are moving forward are drawn together with the plastics filament threads, into a further warp thread shed and are bound in by the warp threads which stringer tape ground weft threads are led over a weft thread guidance appliance in the central region of width of this warp thread shed, and are drawn into the region between the weft thread guidance appliance and the weaving position by ground weft needles with open thread-reception grooves and deflection beaks, the stringer tape ground weft threads being bent by the deflection beak on the weft thread guidance appliance and brought to a thread-reception groove prepared for the deflected stringer tape ground weft threads that follows in the direction of movement of the ground weft needle of the deflection beak and the distorted warp threads that find their way into the movement path of the ground weft needles being carried past the threadreception groove by the appropriately-formed deflection beak.

2. An equipment to perform the process according to Claim 1, comprising a loom with a shed-forming mechanism, having two simultaneously-actuatable weft insertion appliances located on either side of the shed and a tap catcher located centrally in the shed, one end of which that lies horizontal before the weaving position is supported in a mandrel carrier that can be moved up and down, the weft insertion appliances having plastics filament weft needles for the drawing in and out of plastics filament threads for the rows of fastener elements and supplementary ground weft needles for the simultaneous drawing-in of stringer tape ground weft threads, there being guidance appliances for the stringer tape ground weft threads that are delivered to the weaving position, essentially in the direction of weaving and provided centrally in the shed before the tap catcher, the ground weft needles associated with the stringer tape ground weft threads having an open receptiongroove and a deflection beak in the region of their free ends, the deflection beaks of the ground weft needles having as seen in the direction of movement of ground weft insertion, a wedge-shaped profile with a deflecting wedge surface, the thread-reception grooves incorporated in the deflection beaks being adapted to the path of the deflected stringer tape ground weft threads and distorted weft threads being able to be carried past the thread-reception groove by the deflection beak.

3. An equipment as in Claim 2, wherein in projection on the plane of movement of the ground weft needles the deflecting beak of the ground weft needles amounts to approximately half the needle width, and the subsequent thread-reception groove takes a course that is oblique to the plane of movement of the ground weft needles.

4. An equipment as in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the deflection beak and thread-reception groove are smoothed by polishing.

5. A process for the manufacture of a sliding clasp fastener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. Equipment for performing the process of Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.