US3827463A - Method of and apparatus for the production of a slide fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and of producing a slide fastener tape and an apparatus therefor for guiding back and forth a fastener member-forming warp in a shed forming movement through a weaving plane to form a row of fastener members, feeding the profile strand within a range of a stop point about a loop-forming mandrel, the latter held at one end and binding the profile strand by a weft thread and the shed forming movement caused by feeding the latter about the mandrel.

Description

llnited States Patent [191 Glindmeyer et al.

[11] 3327,63 1 Aug. 6, 1974 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A SLIDE FASTENER Assignee: Firma William Prym-Werke K.G.,

Stolberg/Rhineland, Germany Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 Appl. No.: 238,192

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 25, 1971 Germany r 2114561 Apr. 10, 1971 Germany 2117598 May 22, 1971 Germany 2125470 US. Cl. 139/35, 139/116 llnt. Cl D03d 41/00 Field of Search 139/11, 35, 46, 48, 54, 139/116 Sir [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,399,880 5/1946 Moessinger 139/54 3,692,068 9/1972 Aucr 139/116 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,023,422 1/1958 Germany 139/11 Primary ExaminerHenry S. Jaudon [57] ABSTRACT A method and of producing a slide fastener tape and an apparatus therefor for guiding back and forth a fastener member-forming warp in a shed forming movement through a weaving plane to form a row of fastener members, feeding the profile strand within a range of a stop point about a loop-forming mandrel, the latter held at one end and binding the profile strand by a weft thread and the shed forming movement caused by feeding the latter about the mandrel.

-7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDMB M f 3,827,463

SHEET 2 {1F 3 minnows 6 w SHEET l UF 4 PHI-I METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A SLHDE FASTENER The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for the production of a slide clasp fastener tape by weaving.

The present invention amounts to an improvement and further development of the invention disclosed in German Pat. No. 2,023,005 (German Pat. application No. P 23 0051-26) where within the range of the weaving location for the formation of the fastener members a thread forming a member reciprocates to form a shed and thereby is fed about a loop forming mandrel and the band weaving is bound by a weft thread.

The present invention improves and simplifies the method of production of a slide clasp fastener by weavmg.

it is one object of the present invention to provide a method of and an apparatus for the production of a slide clasp fastener tape by weaving, wherein the unbound securing end of the loop forming mandrel within the range of the formed shed is retained in one of the parts of the spreaded positions of the shed, while the profile strand forming the member with its thread portion disposed in this range, is moved around the securing end of the mandrel at a distance corresponding substantially to the required total spreaded width of the shed.

With this movement of the profile strand, simultaneously two working movements are performed. On the one hand, the profile strand is moved upwardly and downwardly forming a shed about the securing end of the mandrel, through a weft insertion plane which is determined by the working stroke of the weft insertion device, so that this profile strand is gripped by the weft thread and can be bound in the fabric; on the other hand, the profile strand during this movement is wound simultaneously about the mandrel, whereby on the fell there are created loops of the profile strand, which form the members of the fastener member row. In accordance with the method of the present invention, this profile strand moves about the loop forming mandrel along the surface of a circular cone, the base circle of which has at its center point the securing end of the mandrel which is held there, while the apex of this cone lies at the fell. The diameter of the base circle determines the spreaded width of the profile strand for its shed formation. Concerning the shed, there is an excellent diameter of the base circle of the cone, where the profile strand assumes the uppermost and the lowermost extreme positions during its formation. The diameter thereof crosses the insertion plane of the weft thread. In each of the extreme positions, the profile strand is disposed with a sufficient spreaded width above and below, respectively, of the mentioned weft insertion plane, so that during the rotation along the circular cone, a crossing feature of the fabric between the profile strand and the weft thread is created.

in order to produce a sufficient spreaded movement of the profile strand in the shed formation, it is required, also that the base circle of the cone is oriented very close to the fell, to permit the cone to be developed with an appreciable base circle by the profile strand. So that this dimensioning of the rotation does not create any difficulties, it is desirable, to permit the profile strand to develop thereby an inclined circular cone, the cone axis of which forms with the plane of the base of the base circle an acute angle, with the plane of the base circle being retained substantially parallel to the plane of the spreaded movement of the shed forming wrap thread. Since the base circle points in the direction of the warp threads, the remaining warp threads of the fabric do not hinder, by their arrangement, the rotation of the member forming profile strand.

The present invention is directed also to an apparatus for performing the above mentioned weaving method, where at the fell a loop forming mandrel is disposed for the formation of the fastener member row from a continuous profile strand. In accordance with the present invention, in the removing direction of the fabric, in front of the fell, there is disposed a rotary driven shedforming-rotor. A securing end of the loop forming mandrel is set in the axial range of the rotor, and does not bind into the fabric. The rotor is formed eccentrically to its rotary axis with an opening, which turning about the mandrel, and through which is guided the profile strand in a spreaded direction. Upon rotation of the rotor, thus the profile strand is set at first through the weft insertion plane from a shed part in the oppositely disposed shed part and is simultaneously wound in loops about the mandrel at the weaving location. In two rotary positions of the rotor, diametrically opposite each other, the eccentrically arranged opening guides the profile strand, at one diametric position within the range of a warp thread group belonging to the lower shed and, at the other diametric position within the range of the warp thread group of the upper shed. The loop forming mandrel is thereby suitably rotatably disposed on the rotor, so that upon its rotation the mandrel is not joined in rotation. In addition, the loop forming mandrel does not participate in the shed formation, rather it is disposed always on the same side of the warp insertion plane, so that it does not cross with the weft thread. Since the rotor, which serves the attachment of the securing end of the loop forming mandrel, does not bind into the fabric, it thus does not require in addition to its rotary movement any further stroke. The loop forming mandrel remains during the weaving process of the apparatus in an unchanged rest position so as not to project into the area of the working stroke of the weft insertion means as the shed fonning means.

in order to produce a sufficient spreading movement of the member forming profile strand during the shed formation, the eccentricity of the thread guiding opening in relation to the rotary axis of the rotor must be large, which requires large diameters of the rotor. So that such large spacial formation does not render more difficult the arrangement of this structural part in the weaving machine, the rotor is formed as a circular disk and its rotary axis is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the spreading movement of the shed forming warp threads. The drive of the rotor is effected suitably by peripheral teeth on the circular disk.

For the purpose of a more rigid binding or deeper working of the fastener members in the fabric, which fastener members are produced from the loops of the member forming profile strand, it is advisable to use an insert strand in the inner space of the winding of the row of fasteners, which row is gripped by the weft thread of the fabric. One must start, thereby, in accordance with the method of the present invention such,

35 that inaddition to the loop forming mandrel, an additional running thread is joined, which is to. form the later member row insert and to permit winding this additional run thread jointly with the loop forming mandrel in the range of the fell by the member forming profile strand. In this case, in the thread feeding range in front of the fell, a compensating linking movement of the additional run thread relative to the member forming strand is performed, so that the rotation in the opposite direction which is created at this location for the linking at the fell is eliminated. By this arrangement, in spite of the linking within the range of the fell, by the further feeding of the additional run thread and the member forming profile strand, no undesirable corresponding linking is created. At the fell, finally, the additional run thread, jointly with the member forming profile strand which is wound in loops, is gripped by the weft thread and bound in the fabric. During this binding, the weft thread with its returning points, grips the additional run thread, disposed now as an insert in the inner space of the winding, and presses by means of the latter, the rear winding parts of the member-forming loops of the profile strand to the desired extent into the marginal range of the fabric. The marginal range of the fabric is, with its fabric threads, designed as a weave for circular goods, where the rear winding parts of the row of fastener members are worked into a desired extent from the weft thread. This process is enhanced by the auxiliary run thread.

The described method can be realized in a simple manner such, that in the shed forming rotor a nonrotating insert is provided, which insert carries the loop forming mandrel, which insert is equipped with a thread passage for the latter as an additional run thread, serving as later insert of the row of fastener members. This insert is disposed suitably in the center of the rotor. To the mentioned compensating linking movement'between the member forming profile strand and the additional run thread, in the advancing direction of the fabric, in front of the rotor, a rotary device is provided having a rotating thread guide means. The thread guide means of the rotary device runs synchronously with the rotation of the shed forming rotor. Such thread guide means can comprise a winding-off drop, which is aligned coaxially with a storage spool of the additional run thread, and in which the winding-off drop is rigidly connected with a hollow shaft which is placed in movement by the weaving drive. The member forming profile strand is guided by the inner space of the hollow shaft. Also, the reverse arrangement could be made, by. arranging the winding-off drop axially to the storage spool of the member forming profile strand, and the additional run thread is fed through the hollow space of the shaft, the storage spool of which lies further back in relation thereto.

So that the auxiliary run thread jointly with the member forming profile strand is gripped by the fabric weft and is bound into the fabric, one uses a thread guiding device between the fell and the insert, which performs within the weaving cycle a lifting movement and thereby gets into weaving connection with the auxiliary run thread, so that the latter is transformed from its normal position in a shed part, as the lower shed, and where also the loop forming mandrel is disposed, through the weft insert plane, beyond in the oppositely disposed shed part, as for example, the upper shed. By this arrangement, a needle can be used, which moves within a cycle upwardly and downwardly in the direction of the shed forming spreading movement of the warp threads. A groove can thereby be provided on the end face of the needle, in which groove, during the lifting movement of the needle, the additional run thread can enter, so as to be transformed into the opposite shed part. Since this thread guiding device grips only the additional run thread and, not the loop forming mandrel, only the additional run thread, and not the loop forming mandrel, is gripped by the weft threads and crosses with the latter by the formation of a fabric binding.

Instead of providing a thread guiding device for the additional run thread, it would be also possible, to design the weft insert plane itself so as to be adjustable as to its height, which plane being determined by the working stroke of the weft thread insert device, such that the additional thread, which is now not participating in a shed forming spreading movement of the remaining warp thread, is disposed alternately above and below the prevailing position of the weft insert plane. For this reason, there is provided for the thread passage in the center insert of the rotor, relatively to the engaging location of the loop forming mandrel, a sufficient distance, so that there is a sufficient spreading for the passage of the weft thread insert device between the additional run thread and the loop forming mandrel. in this case, the weft insert takes place, for example, about the loop forming mandrel, yet above the additional thread. If the weft insert plane is set relative thereto into a higher position, the working stroke of the weft thread insert device is disposed now above the additional thread, as well as above the loop forming mandrel. This has the consequence that the additional run thread, and not, however, the mandrel, is gripped desirably by a weft and the remaining warp thread of the fabric has to perform relative thereto only a sufficiently high spreading movement for the formation of its shed, so that relative thereto, the height displacement of the weft insert plane does not play any role.

A further simple possibility for gripping of only the additional run thread (not of the mandrel) by the weft in the desired manner, is an arrangement in which the exit location of the thread passage for the additional run thread is arranged in the insert eccentrically to its axis, so that between the loop forming mandrel, which is received in the range of the axis of the insert, and the additional run thread, there is created a sufficient spreading angle for the performance of the weft thread insert device. The insert is thereby driven oscillatingly in the weaving circle. By this oscillating movement of the insert, the thread passage of the additional thread assumes in the insert, different height positions relative to the weft insert plane such, that the additional thread is brought from its one spread position, in which it belongs to the group of warp threads of the one shed part, through the weft insert plane into another spread position, in which it is arranged by the warp threads of the oppositely disposed other shed part. The loop forming mandrel in the center insert, however, in each case is arranged suitably with less eccentricity, is rotatably mounted in the center of the insert, so that it assumes a rest position during the oscillation movement of the insert.

The rotary drive of the rotor,'with which the member forming thread is wound about the mandrel, as well as through the weft insert plane, is transformed from one shed part into another, and takes place continuously in the simplest case in one direction, so that as, a result thereby, a helical spring-like winding of the member forming profile strand is produced within the range of the fell. No intermittent rotary movement has to be used therefor, rather it will suffice, if the rotor performs a continuous rotary movement, which is much easier to obtain. With the apparatus of the present invention, however, also rows of fastener members with a different winding form, for example, in form of a spatial meander, can be produced, if the rotary drive of the rotor changes, correspondingly, in the cycle, in its rotary direction. By a corresponding control of direction of the rotation of the rotor, one can obtain any desired visible winding form of the row of fastener members.

Directly forward behind the fell, one uses a guide, which surrounds the finally woven row of fastener members. By this arrangement, the form of the row of fastener members can be influenced. Suitably, a heating effect is arranged in the guide to the row of fastener members, in orde to simplify the forming process. The heating effect of the range of the guide can take place in any selected manner, for example, by heating of the guide or by ultra-sound or high frequency energy, which starting from the guide, affects the row of fastener members. By this arrangement, the winding cross section of the finished fastener member row can vary. Furthermore, it would be also possible with this guide, to produce fastener faces, or to influence its formation afterwards.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention, which is shown by example only, will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the most important parts of a weaving machine, partly in section; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view, partly in section, of an important structural part of the machine, shown in FIG. 1, yet in varied positions of the rotary parts;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. I, of a varied embodiment of the weaving machine;

FIG. 4 is a section along the lines IV--IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a further embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention with the omission of the remaining known structural parts of the weaving machine;

FIGS. 6a and 7a are side elevations of the fabric within the range of the weaving location in two different working positions of the different threads; and

FIGS. 6b and 7b are the corresponding top plan views on the fabric in the two working positions, shown in FIGS. 6a and 7a.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, for the production of a slide fastener tape 10. In the range of a carrying band 25, a continuously woven in weft thread 12 is applied, in addition to the required number of warp threads 11. A profile strand 15 of synthetic material delivered as warp thread serves for the formation of a fastening member row 14. The latter is guided in the range of the fell, in a manner still to be described about a loop forming mandrel 16, with the formation of the row of winding loops.

For the inserting of the weft thread, in the present case, a weft insert needle 17 is used, which can be recognized in FIG. 1 in cross section, and in FIG. 2 by its forward part in a top plan view. By this arrangement,

the weft thread 12 is inserted, corresponding with the schematic top plan view of FIGS. 6b and 7b, as a weft thread loop 34 in the form of double picks. The warp threads11, as well as the profile strand 15 selectively 5 are separated into upper and lower positions to form 15 heald shafts 22 and 23, through the weaving plane WE alternately into an upper shed half 19 and a lower shed half 20. The number of healds and shafts to be employed depends upon the weave pattern desired for the web portion. Rods providing the movement of the 20 shafts and the shaft control are of conventional structure and thus not part of the present invention and for this reason not particularly shown for the sake of simplicity. The warp threads 11 are positioned in dependency upon the desired weaving design disposed in healds 24 of the shafts 22 and 23. Above the shafts 22 and 23, the warp threads are spread apart in thread groups 11 and 11", so that for the passage of the needle 17, the shed 18 is formed with a sufficiently spread angle.

The loop forming mandrel 16 extends angularly relative to the weaving plane WE, in order not to obstruct with the weft insert needle 17; and in particular it is fixed within the range of the lower thread group 11', thus extending in the lower portion of the shed 20, as

shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mandrel 16 does not participate in the upward and downward spreading movement of the warp threads 11 and does not change its position below the weaving plane WE. The end of the mandrel 16 is disposed within the range of the fell 57 and extends for a length in the edge of the fabric. By

the advance of the fabric (not shown), which is known per se, the loop windings are continuously removed =from the free end 33 of the mandrel. The oppositely disposed end 31, serving as a securing means for the mandrel, as viewed in FIG. 1, is mounted in an opening along the axis of rotation of the rotor which rotates around said end. The housing 32 comprises the mounting structure for rotor 47, which has the form of a shape of a flat wheel, i.e., a circular disk. The housing 46 comprises in turn a securing plate 18, which is attached by means of one or a plurality of rigid carriers 50 to the frame of the weaving machine.

A housing ring 49 having an angular profile is secured to the plate 48 cooperatively forming a recess in which the rotor can run. Aside from its rotary movability, the rotor 47 has a fixed position with respect to the weaving plane WE. The rotor 47 is equipped along its periphery with teeth 51 by which the rotary drive engages with a gear 52. The gear 52 is driven by a shaft 53. The weaving machine may have a plurality of transversely spaced weaving zones for weaving simultaneously a plurality of slide fastener tapes. The shaft 53 crosses the individual weaving locations and drives the different rotary discs 47.

As shown in FIG. 2, the securing end 31 of the mandrel 16 is mounted along the rotary axis 77 as indicated by dotdash lines, and in particular lies at the center point of the rotor 47, being provided rotatably thereagainst, so that upon rotation of the rotor 47, the mandrel 16 does not jam the rotation. Thus, the part of the mandrel following the end 31 can be formed angularly. This angular arrangement is due to spacial reasons, since the plane B of the rotor shown in dot-dashed lines in FIG. 2, extends substantially parallel to the plane of the spreading of the thread group ll, 11" forming the shed 18. The rotary axis 77 of the rotor 47 extends perpendicularly to the plane B.

In-addition to the previously mentioned function of securing the end 31 of the mandrel 16, the rotor 47 still performs the function of the shed formation of the pro file strand 15 which is positioned between the upper shed position and the lower shed position, the shed being formed by warp l1 and shafts 24. The rotor 47 has an opening 56 disposed eccentrically to its rotating axis 77, which opening 56 serves to guide therethrough the profile strand 15. The opening 56 is disposed at one end of a spoke extending diametrically to the rotor, which spoke has two recesses 27 and 28 in the rotor 47, separated from each other, which are provided to reduce the weight. Above the rotary drive, the gear 52 is moved in the direction of the arrow 54, thereby causing a rotation of the rotor 47 in the direction of the arrow 43. Thus the thread guiding opening 56 moves about the rotary axis 77 in the direction of the arrow 43. By this arrangement, the desired movement of the warp thread 15 is obtained.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, the profile strand 15 has just reached its upper extreme position, whereby the upper shed 19' of the profile strand 15 is completely formed. A half rotation later the opening 56 is in the dot-dash line position 56, whereby the warp thread 15 assumes its lower extreme position for the formation of the lower shed 20'. As can be ascertained, the profile strand 15 is disposed during rotation of the rotor 47 alternately, once above, and once below, the weaving plane WE, whereby the weft thread 12, which is guided in the weaving plane through the needle 17, can grip the profile strand 15.

During this rotation of the rotary 47, the thread portion 115 which is disposed between the fell 57 and the opening 56 defines a surface of an inclined circular cone, the cone axis A being drawn in dot-dashed lines in FIG. 2. On the one hand, this circular cone is deter-- mined by the position of the rotor axis 77 and, on the other hand, by the position of the loop winding 21 at the fell 57. The plane B of the rotor 47 is coincidentwith the base circle of the cone, more particularly the locus of the circular path of rotation of the opening 56. This base circle defines with the cone axis A an acute angle, such that the distance between the rotor 47 and the remaining warp threads 11 can be maintained as small as possible, in order to save space. By this arrangement the thread portion 15, producing the cone jacket, defines an extreme inclined cone. In FIG. 2 the positions of the thread portion 15 are shown by thin dot-dashed lines at different rotary angles of the rotor 47. With an assumed rotary direction 43 of the rotor 47, the resulting rotary direction 43' of the thread portion 15 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2 during the production of the circular cone 41 which is indicated by its dot-dashed line position.

Thus, the particularly designed holding of the mandrel 32 automatically performs a third function, namely, the formation of a fastener row-forming loops of the profile strand 15 about the mandrel M5. During the rotary movement 43 along the circular cone l-ll of FIG. 2, the mandrel 16 runs around.

Though the mandrel 16, as can be ascertained from 5 FIG. 2, can deviate from the arrangement of the cone axis A, it does not disturb the rotary movement, because it extends within the generated cone surface. Thus with each rotation within the range of the fell 57, a loop is formed for a fastener of the row of fasteners, which is gripped by the weft l2 and abuts by the reed 30 (shown partially broken away at the upper part), the fell 57, if the reed 30 swings back and forth in the sense of the double-headed arrow 52 The exact operation of the warp threads results in connection with the operation shown in FIG. 6a to 7b, if one disregards the additional thread 60 shown therein.

In the shown example of FIGS. 3 and 4 for a better showing, the same numerals as in the previous examples have been used, relating to corresponding structural parts. An essential difference resides in the fact, that in the center of the rotor 47, an insert 55 is provided, which does not rotate during the rotation of the rotor 47. With this formation, the holding of the dorn fulfills still a fourth function, namely the guiding of an additional thread 60, which produces, in the finished fastener row 14, an insert disposed in the inner space of the winding, which is woven in by the weft thread 112 of the fabric in the marginal range of the carrying band.

The insert carries not only the securing end 31 of the mandrel, but also has an opening 59 for the additional thread 60. By this arrangement the additional thread extends from the rear side of the rotor to the front side, where the mandrel is disposed.

The insert 55 is adjusted for this particular application. The insert carries at one end a flange-like widened head, by which the insert is supported on the upper face of the rotor, and if it is threaded through a central bore in the rotor 47, by a shaft end extending therefrom through, as can be ascertained from FIG. The shaft end projecting on the opposite side of the insert 55 is secured by a spring disk or the like. The head of the insert 55 is designed conically and equipped with a radially extending groove 61, which terminates in an axial 45 bore. In the bore and the groove 61 the securing end 31 of the mandrel is provided in a manner shown in FIG. 4, or for a more protective treatment of the additional thread 60, the upper and lower edge of the opening 59 is rounded up.

Although the mandrel 16, as can be seen particularly in FIG. 2, may diverge from the path of the cone axis A, it does not hamper the encircling movement of the profile strand 15 about the mandrel because the main part of the mandrel is within the cone which is generated. Thus, for each revolution of the rotor a loop is formed in the region of the weaving zone 57. The loop is woven in by the weft l2 and beaten up at the fell 57 by the comb 30 which is shown with part of its upper portion broken away, the said beating up taking place as the reed 30 is pivoted to and fro in the direction of the double-headed arrow 58.

Because the mandrel 116 extends inside the groove 63 and the thread extends along the flattened end face of the head of the insert 55, the mandrel and thread are located at some distance from but alongside each other in this zone, although they about at the fell 57. A space is provided to accommodatea-thread guide element in the form of a push member 62 which has a notch 64 located at its head end. The thread 60 is received by the notch when the push rod 62 is moved in the direction of the arrow 63 in FIG. 3 from the ineffective position shown in solid lines to the effective position 62 which is shown in chain-dotted lines. Usually, the thread 60 is located in a lower position 20 with respect to the weaving plane WE while the push rod 62, located in its ineffective position, is far outside the spreading movement of the warp threads so that it cannot interfere with the formation of the shed. According to the desired design in which the weft thread is to be used, the thread 60 may be passed through the weaving plane WE using the push rod 62 which is moved into the position shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now again the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 6a to 7b, the method of the present invention is more closely explained, in connection with two successive working positions of the threads. From each working position a top plan view and a side elevation are drawn next to each other.

In the method step in accordance with FIGS. 6a and 6b the profile strand is arranged in its upper shed 19, after rotation of the rotor 47 of FIG. 3 by a half rotation, and where the opening 56 is disposed in the position 56' shown in dot-dashed lines and the thread 15 passing therethrough assumes the position of FIG. 3, shown in dot-dashed lines. The warp threads are divided between the weaving shafts 22 and 23 in two warp thread groups 11' and 11" and controlled for the formation of the upper shed 19 and the lower shed 20. By the needle, which is lifted in the direction of the double arrow 63 into the position 62' shown in dotdashed lines, the additional thread 60 forms also its upper shed 19" in accordance with FIG. 6a. The loop forming mandrel 16 is disposed within the range of the warp thread group 11', which forms the lower shed 20. Now the weft insert needle 17 with the weft thread produces a loop 34, in accordance with FIG. 6b, and in particular at the marginal range from the fabric which carries the fastener row 14. There extends on the opposite rear fabric edge 35, a loop 36 of the weft thread 12 which is pulled through a loop of the previous weft insert in known manner, with the loop end thereof being formed into a knitted selvage along fabric edge 35.

In FIGS. 7a and 7b the next method step is shown, where the next following weft thread loop 34 is inserted. Corresponding with the fabric winding, the warp threads 11 assume a different distribution in its upper shed l9 and the lower shed 20, respectively, as in the previous method step. The loop forming mandrel 16 is still disposed on the same side of the fabric plane WE within the range of the lower spreading position of the warp threads 11'. During the transfer in this method step, the rotor 47 has continued for half a rotation, whereby the warp thread 15 has reached the position shown in full lines in FIG. 3, through the thread guiding opening 56, whereby it forms the lower shed in accordance with FIG. 7a. The larger formation of the lower shed 20 relative to the fabric plane WE, in relation to the upper shed 19 of FIG. 6a is developed such, that the rotor 47 rotates about the securing end of the mandrel 16, so that the two spreaded positions of FIGS. 6a and 7a in equal angular distance from the mandrel 16, remain fixed within the range of the spreaded position in the fabric threads 11 disposed in the lower shed. During this half rotary movement in the ill) method step of FIGS. 7a and 7b, the warp thread section describes between the fell 57 and the opening 56 the cone half of the cone surface 41, more clearly explained in FIG. 2, which in relation to the mandrel I6 is disposed on the side remote from the fabric threads 11. This is seen in the section of FIG. 4, and appears as a mirror image to the sectional top plan view of FIG. 2. With this movement of the member forming profile strand IS on the left side in the top plane view of FIGS. 6b and 7b by the lifting movement, automatically, the loop is disposed about the mandrel 16. In this method step outside of the position 62, shown in full lines of FIG. 3, the needle also releases the additional thread, so that the latter automatically reaches again the passage 59, a position in accordance with FIG. 3 in the insert 55, so that the additional thread in relation to the weaving plane WE in accordance with FIG. 7a forms a lower shed 22'.

The weft insertion needle 17 moves into the open shed 18 as shown in FIG. 7a, with weft 34 passing around profile thread 60, whereby both threads are gripped and are bound into the fabric. The projecting loop 36' of the weft thread is guided through the previous loop 36 and swings around for the formation of a further mesh on the free fabric edge 35.

During a further rotation of the rotor disc 47 in the direction of the arrow 43 of FIG. 3, the profile strand 15 reaches again a position, shown in dot-dashed lines in FIG. 3, whereby the different threads assume again their positions according to FIGS. 6a and 6b, whereby the working cycle is concluded and the method cycle can start again. During this further movement of the rotor 47, the thread part piece is tensioned between the fell 57 and the opening 56 of the profile strand l5, and the second half of the conical jacket, which in relation to the mandrel 16, in the sectional view of FIG. 4, is disposed on the side pointing to the fabric warp thread ll. The warp thread 15 is looped around the mandrel; the additional thread 60 is moved about the profile strand 15 so as to produce an insert inside of the produced loop winding 45.

It is easily possible, to cover the formed loops of the row of fastener members 14 with their rear winding parts disposed in the fabric by additional warp threads 37, which are guided in the marginal range 38, which follows the actual carrying band part 25. These additional warp threads 37 operate contrary to the warp threads 11 of the carrying band part 25 in the manner of a form of a hollow weaving binding with the weft thread 12, so that in the marginal range 38 a receiving channel is created in the fabric, which is open to the profile strand 15. Thus this thread with its rear winding parts 39 jointly with the additional thread 60 is drawn through weft inserts 34 and 34' in this marginal range and thereby is covered up. For reasons of better demonstration in FIGS. 6b and 7b, the position of the finished member row and of the additional warp thread 37 is shown next to each other. Furthermore, merely two warp threads 37 are shown, which produce the upper covering wall in the marginal range 38, which is of a hollow fabric, which is just visible in FIGS. 6b and 7b. It is to be understood that for the covering on the opposite side, there are provided further additional warp threads operating mirror-like thereto, and that the number of additional warp threads can be of course greater than two. The rear winding part 39 can be drawn in up to the transfer between the marginal range Iii 38 and the carrying band part 25. Thereby a zip closure can be produced, which is extensively covered up by the carrying band fabric. The covering by the additional weft threads could, of course, be only on one side, which can be obtained easily by a suitable fabric binding.

It is to be understood, that in this schematically shown weaving structure of FIGS. 6a to 7b, the strength of the threads and the thread thickness do not coincide with reality, rather for a better showing of the thread arrangement, the showing has a distorted scale.

During the rotation of the rotor disk 47 in the range of the fell 57, the loop formation about the mandrel I6 and the additional thread 60 takes place, yet also in the further disposed feeding range of the threads, there results generally a corresponding oppositely directed swinging of the member forming warp thread about the additional thead 60, which is compensated by the rotary device 40 shown at the right hand portion of FIG. 3. By a suitable arrangement of a storage spool for the additional thread inside of the space moved about during the weaving process by the warp thread, one could basically neglect a particular rotary direction, because thereby an undesirable looping cannot be achieved in a thread feeding range. For spacial reasons one is sometimes forced to select a less favorable arrangement of the storage spool, as here, with some distance from the rotor 47, in accordance with FIG. 3.

The storage spool 67 for the additional thread 60, as well as the further (not more closely illustrated) storage spool of the profile strand is arranged in the advancing direction of the fabric, still behind of the weaving shafts 22 and 23. The supply spool 67 is disposed substantially in the direction of the profile strand arrangement and is moved in the direction of the arrow 68 on the rotating hollow shaft 69. The hollow space 78 of the shaft serves for warp thread 15, which is removed from a storage spool, disposed further in behind. There is rigidly connected the hollow shaft 69 and unwinding member 70, which during rotation 68 of the shaft 69 is guided synchronously with a rotor run 68 in the direction of the arrow .71 of FIG. 3. The coupling drive is not shown in detail.

In the unwinding member there is a bore 72, through which the additional thread is fed. Thereby the thread removal position on the storage spool 67 is determined. The additional thread 60 runs through an eye 73, which holds the thread 60 under tension by means of a tensioning element 66, for example in the form of a helical spring. Upon rotation of the hollow shaft 69 and the unwinding member 70, the storage roll 67 is joined in rotation. In addition a spool brake 67 is provided, disposed on the unwinding member. By this arrangement it is not avoided, that the storage spool in accordance with the removing speed of the additional thread can be rotated in relation thereto. The tensioning device 66 equalizes the possibility of non-uniformity during rotation of the rotating device 40, as well as also the required position variations in the part of the additional thread 60 leading to the fell 57, which results from the lifting movement by means of the needle into the position 62'.

The rotation of the unwinding member 70 takes place in combination with the rotation 43 of the rotor. as can be ascertained from FIG. 3. If the rotor 47 has with its opening in the position 56, shown in full lines, where the warp thread 15 forms its lower shed, the unwinding member assumes the opposite position 7a shown in full lines. Thereby the thread removing location 72 for the additional thread 64) is disposed above. If the rotor 47 continues its rotation for half a rotation 43, the thread guiding opening 56 reaches its diametrically opposite position 56 shown in dot-dashed lines, whereby the warp thread l5 assumes its position in the upper shed, shown in dot-dashed lines. Due to the rotation 68 of the hollow shaft 69, and thus with the rotation of the rotor, the unwinding member '70 moves between into the diametrically opposite position 70, shown in dot-dashed lines, whereby the thread removing location reaches the shown position 72, so that the additional thread assumes now the dot-dashed indi cated performance. Thus it is to be recognized that the additional thread 60 follows over this rotary device MB, in the feeding range of the rotary movement for the warp thread 15 of the circular cone surface rotary movement in this range, which the latter performs with its thread section between the rotor 47 and the exit from the hollow space 78 of the shaft 69. This is be cause the additional thread describes the thread part piece, which is disposed between the passage opening 59 in the insert and the thread removing location '72, in turn a cone surface with the same angular speed. In this rotation in the feeding range, the additional thread follows at an equal distance and movement of the member forming thread 16, whereby in this range an opposite rotation of the threads is prevented.

Instead of the described arrangement of the storage spool of the warp thread 15 and the additional thread 60, one could also provide an opposite arrangement of the threads: it is decisive for the compensation of the undesirable winding in the range of the thread guidance, merely to have a relative rotation between these two threads.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a rotor 47 with the omission of all other structural parts is shown. Corresponding numerals have been applied to indicate corresponding parts and the same explanations as stated before also apply.

A difference resides in the formation of the insert 55 in the winding wheel which is larger than the diameter. The thread passage 59 for the additional thread 60 can now be sufficiently distant from the securing end 311 of the mandrel 60 in the insert 55, so that a spreading angle is achieved, which creates a sufficient intermediate space for the insert path of the weft thread needle 17. Concerning the weaving plane, WE I determined thereby in FIG. 5, the additional thread 60 forms an upper shed, while the mandrel 16 resting here also during weaving is disposed in the spreaded position of the warp threads 11' of the lower shed. In this embodiment, the insert 55 rests during the rotation of the rotor disk 47, as already has been described.

In order to achieve now a crossing between the weft and the additional thread 60, in accordance with the desired winding by lifting the insert path of the weft needle into the position 17, the thereby secured weaving plane WE II is set off within the cycle with respect to its height. Concerning this lifted weaving plane WE II, the additional thread 60 is arranged in a spreaded position disposed therebelow thus for the formation of the lower shed, also unchanged, the mandrel 16 has retained its position in the lower shed. The remaining warp threads of the fabric are moved sufficiently during shedding with the shown spreading positions 111' and 11", so that relative to the latter it is of no importance, whether the weaving plane is disposed in the position I or position II.

Starting from the embodiment of FIG. 5, there is a further possibility to render a shed forming movement, to give a shed forming movement to the additional thread, by permitting the insert 55 in the direction of the arrow 74, shown in dot-dashed lines, to perform an oscillating movement. This weft insert needle 17 must work merely in an immovable weaving plane WE 1 without the necessity of varing its height. The insert 55 oscillates through any conventional drive independently from the rotation of the rotor 47, about a sufficient angular extent, so that by means of the thread passage'59 of the additional threads 60, it reaches a spreaded position from its shown position above the weaving plane WE I, where it forms an upper shed, which spreaded position is spread below the weaving plane WE I substantially at the height of the warp thread 11' or of the member 16. For the formation of 20 such a lower shed, the insert 55 merely performs a swinging movement of about more than 90.

In all described embodiments, the rotary movement of the rotor 47 takes place not only in the same direction, but rather the rotor could also be driven in a cycle once in one rotary direction and then in the opposite rotary direction. Thus, one could without difficulty produce, instead of a row of fastening members with helical springs, windings of any other type, for instance, windings of a special meander. This can be realized by a relative drive or by suitable couplings in the shown embodiment.

Immediately behind the fell 57 there is disposed a guide 75 for the row of coupling members, from which heat can be exerted onto the row of coupling members for their formation.

The described rotary driven rotor is of importance because it is usable not only during the production of the fastener member rows of slide fasteners, but rather it can be applied for any weaving process, where it is desirable to have a spreading of warp threads for the threading through of weft threads. Thus, one could use also, for the weaving stroke movement of the warp threads 11 of the woven carrying bands, corresponding rotors instead of the shown weaving shaft. Beyond that, one could use with such shed forming rotors, the spreading of warp threads in any other fabrics, as to woven bands. In these cases the rotor will be arranged in accordance with the showing in FIG. 1, with the rotor plane as substantially most possibly parallel to the plane of the spreading position of the warp thread. One will thereby arrange the rotation axis not in a spreaded position of the warp thread, but rather the latter as much as possible in the center, between the extreme spreaded positions of the shed formation. Furthermore, in these cases since no mandrel has to be retained in this position, eccentricity of the arrangement of the thread guiding opening 56 relative to the rotor axis 77 will be chosen such that the latter corresponds substantially to the half stroke height of the warp threads. In the showing of FIG. 1, this means that the thread guide opening 56 for the movement of a conventional opening from the shown spreaded position 11" is in the opposite spreaded position 11' after performing a half rotation of the rotor. One uses in these cases for the weaving stroke movement of the warp threads, an entire line of parallel and adjacent rotors, which are driven jointly dependent upon the fabric binding. By individual control of the rotors, any desired fabric binding could be produced. For reasons of lack of space, a plurality of rotors could also be set next to each other 5 in front of the fell for the shed formation. For the formation of a clean shed an increased eccentricity of the thread leading opening in relation to the rotor axis is formed with increasing distance of the position of the rotor of the fell. For this reason openings could be formed in the rotor with different eccentricities. Fi-

an opening, each being for guidance of a warp thread.

In the latter case, a warp thread is disposed in the upper shed, while the other warp thread is arranged in the lower shed. After a half rotation of the rotor, the warp threads are arranged opposite to each other.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

l. A method of producing a slide fastener tape comprising the steps of moving warp threads back and forth through a weaving plane so as to produce successive warp sheds,

guiding adjacent to one edge of said warp threads and wrapping said profile strand in the course of said back and forth movement about said loop forming mandrel so as to form a row of successive fastener members,

inserting a weft thread into each successive shed so as to bind said profile strand along said one edge of said warp thread, whereby a slide fastener tape having a longitudinal row of fastener members along one edge thereof is formed.

2. The method, as set forth in claim I, which includes 5 the steps of concurrent with the delivery of said profile strand, guiding an additional thread along said edge of the warp thread adjacent to and through said mandrel,

providing an oscillating guide for said additional thread to move same back and forth through the weaving plane so as to be bound along said edge of the warp thread inwardly of said row of fastener elements.

3. An apparatus for producing a slide fastener tape including a row of fastener members formed of a continuous profile thread, comprising shed forming means operative to form successive sheds in warp threads passing therethrough,

a loop-forming mandrel having one end arranged perpendicular to the plane of the fell of the fabric and adjacent one edge thereof,

a shed forming rotor rotably driven about a fixed axis in synchronism with the motion of said shed forming means,

means mounting the other end of said mandrel along said axis,

said rotor having an opening constituting a threadingeye for moving a profile strand through a shed forming motion driving rotation of said rotor,

a weft insertion means for passing weft thread throughsu'ccessive sheds, and

the distance of said opening from said rotary axis of said rotor being at least equal to the total shed height required for the passing through of said weft insertion means.

4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said rotor is provided with a non-rotating insert, said insert including means mounting said mandrel and also including adjacent the periphery thereof a second opening, constituting a lead-in for an additional thread serving as an insert for a finally wound row of fastening members. 5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, further comprising means including a thread storage means disposed behind said rotor and facing in the direction of advancement of said warp threads, and

said means including a thread feeding means which is driven synchronously with the rotation of said rotor.

6. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said thread feeding means includes an unwinding member rotably mounted on a hollow shaft and adapted to move said other thread during delivery thereof about said profile strand, and

said hollow shaft providing a guide through which said profile strand is moved during delivery to the rotary means.

7. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, further cornprising a thread deflection means comprising a ram located along the path of said additional thread between the axis of said rotor and the fell.

Claims (7)

1. A method of producing a slide fastener tape comprising the steps of moving warp threads back and forth through a weaving plane so as to produce successive warp sheds, guiding adjacent to one edge of said warp threads and in said back and forth movement a fastener member-forming profile strand, providing adjacent said one edge of the warp a loop forming mandrel, wrapping said profile strand in the course of said back and forth movement about said loop forming mandrel so as to form a row of successive fastener members, inserting a weft thread into each successive shed so as to bind said profile strand along said one edge of said warp thread, whereby a slide fastener tape having a longitudinal row of fastener members along one edge thereof is formed.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, which includes the steps of concurrent with the delivery of said profile strand, guiding an additional thread along said edge of the warp thread adjacent to and through said mandrel, providing an oscillating guide for said additional thread to move same back and forth through the weaving plane so as to be bound along said edge of the warp thread inwardly of said row of fastener elements.

3. An apparatus for producing a slide fastener tape including a row of fastener members formed of a continuous profile thread, comprising shed forming means operative to form successive sheds in warp threads passing therethrough, a loop-forming mandrel having one end arranged perpendicular to the plane of the fell of the fabric and adjacent one edge thereof, a shed forming rotor rotably driven about a fixed axis in synchronism with the motion of said shed forming means, means mounting the other end of said mandrel along said axis, said rotor having an opening constituting a threading-eye for moving a profile strand through a shed forming motion driving rotation of said rotor, a weft insertion means for passing weft thread through successive sheds, and the distance of said opening from said rotary axis of said rotor being at least equal to the total shed height required for the passing through of said weft insertion means.

4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said rotor is provided with a non-rotating insert, said insert including means mounting said mandrel and also including adjacent the periphery thereof a second opening, constituting a lead-in for an additional thread serving as an insert for a finally wound row of fastening members.

5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, further comprising means including a thread storage means disposed behind said rotor and facing in the direction of advancement of said warp threads, and said means including a thread feeding means which is driven synchronously with the rotation of said rotor.

6. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said thread feeding means includes an unwinding member rotably mounted on a hollow shaft and adapted to move said other thread during delivery thereof about said profile strand, and said hollow shaft providing a guide through which said profile strand is moved during delivery to the rotary means.

7. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a thread deflection means comprising a ram located along the path of said additional thread between the axis of said rotor and the fell.

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