US3905401A

US3905401A - Method and apparatus for weaving a row of slide-fastener links into the edge of a tape

Info

Publication number: US3905401A
Application number: US477313A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur Steingruebner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-06-06
Filing date: 1974-06-06
Publication date: 1975-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-16
Also published as: CA1004112A; CH571839A5; ZA743052B; AR203648A1; DE2328677C3; BR7404636D0; NL7406626A; GB1435439A; FR2232283A1; IT1014724B; IL44827A0; SE7407383L; AT330110B; DE2328677B2; IL44827A; ES426539A1; DK292174A; DE2328677A1; JPS5031937A; SU646882A3

Abstract

A method and apparatus for weaving a row of slidefastener links into the edge of a tape which is formed on a needle loom which feeds the links in the direction of the warp while simultaneously weaving the tape from warp and weft threads. At least one pair of warp threads tie an edge of the links into the edge of the tape, while the weft threads form loops which engage the links from the outside and run in an opposite direction over and under the row of links. Guiding means aid in tying off the warp threads and weft thread loops which pull in opposition to each other near the reed stop of the loom.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Steingruebner Sept. 16, 1975 I 22 Filed:

[76] Inventor: Arthur Steingruebner, Am

Buchenhang 11, 53 Bonn 1, Germany June 6, 1974 [21] App]. No.: 477,313

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 6, 1973 Germany 2328677 [52] US. Cl 139/11; 139/116; 139/124 R; 139/384 B; 24/205.1 C; 24/205.16 C [51] Int. Cl. D03D 41/00; A44B 19/42 [58] Field of Search 139/11, 20-22, 139/124 R, 124 A, 384 B, 116; 24/205.1 C, 205.16 C

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,068,908 12/1962 Firing 139/384 B 3,123,103 3/1964 Hendley 139/11 3,524,479 8/1970 Burbank 139/124 A 3,545,497 12/1970 Burbank 139/11 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 1,945,315, 3-11-1971 German Application (Glindmeyer).

1,945,317 3-11-1971 German Application (Glindmeyer).

1,945,318 3-11-1971 German Application (Glindmeyer).

1,023,422 1-23-1958 German Application (Heidermann).

1,263 ,634 3 14- 1968 German Application (Beyfuss).

Primary Examiner.lames Kee Chi Attorney, Agent, or FirmAbra.ham A. Saffitz [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for weaving a row of slidefastener links into the edge of a tape which is formed on a needle loom which feeds the links in the direction of the warp while simultaneously weaving the tape from warp and weft threads. At least one pair of warp threads tie an edge of the links into the edge of the tape, while the weft threads form loops which engage the links from the outside and run in an opposite direction over and under the row of links. Guiding means aid in tying off the warp threads and weft thread loops which pull in opposition to each other near the reed stop of the loom.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEB SEP 6 I975 SHEET 1 OF 4 PATENTED SEP 1 8W5 SHEET E G? 4 Fig. 4

PATEN s'irnsEP 5 i975 SHEET UF 4 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WEAVING A ROW OF SLlDE-FASTENER LINKS INTO THE EDGE OF A TAPE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Applicant acknowledges his prior West German Pat. application No. P 23 28677.3 filed in West Germany on June 6, 1973 in the name of the Assignee Suplex AG, Wylenstrasse 6, 6440 Brunnen, Switzerland and claims the priority of said West German patent application under the provisions of 35 USC 119.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method and apparatus for weaving a row of slide-fastener links into the edge of a tape, using a needle loom, the said row of links being fed in the warp direction, while the weft is introduced laterally of the row of links.

2. Description of the Prior Art In one known needle loom, operating with a single needle and used for weaving helices into a tape, a complex mechanism is required to insert and to guide the helix since and at each operation of the needle, an up and down movement is required to form the shed. It is known from German Pat. application No. l 902 082* that it is necessary not to allow the helix, or row of slide-fastener links, to take part in the -shedforming movements during the weaving operation, but instead to change the direction of the needle at each cycle in such a manner that it places the weft loop alternately above and then below the row of links in the tape. However, this alternating of the needle increases the complexity of the needle loom and seriously restricts the weaving speed. Another disadvantage is that the links are tied off alternately on one side and the other by the weft-thread loop, instead of each link being tied on both sides and symmetrically. As a result of this, the typing and locating of the row of links is unsatisfactory, and there is the danger of the links being pressed alternately above and below the plane of the tape, so that they are no longer in exact longitudinal alignment. Corresponding to US. Pat. application Ser. No. 698,182, filed Jan. 16, 1968 by John E. Burbank, US. Pat. No. 3,457,964.

3. Objects of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to provide a high-speed method for weaving a row of slide-fastener links into the edge of a tape, whereby the individual links can be secured to the tape symmetrically and in their correct positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Starting from a method of the kind mentioned in the objects, this purpose is accomplished in that the row of links is secured with at least one pair of tie-in warp threads which are drawn into the edge of the tape by the weft entry, with the formation of loops engaging from the outside and running in opposite directions over and under the row of links, and are then tied off.

A further development of the method of the present invention provides for the tie-in warp threads, at the side of the row of links remote from the tape, to be guided, by means of a guide device which is arranged approximately on a level with the reed-stop location, substantially in the warp direction, and from there guides the threads inwardly towards the edge of the tape; and the guide device serves for the base-side defleeting curves of the weft-thread loops which are inserted into the tape of the needles to be tied off at the tie-in warp threads so that the said tie-in warp threads, operate in opposition to the weft-thread loops returning at least once between consecutive entries of the weft-thread loops and crossing the row of links. As a result of the method and apparatus of the invention, the row of slide-fastener links is secured to the tape by means of pairs of opposing loops of the weft threads and tie-in warp threads, which loop repeatedly around each other directly at the weaving-edge of the slidefastener links and provide a specially reinforced tape edge especially adapted to position the row of links accurately and securely.

According to further characteristics of the invention, provision is made for the tie-in warp threads, upon their return (shed changing), to be crossed in the area lying between the weft entry location and the guide device; for the weft entry to take place at the intersection of the tie-in warp threads before the guide device, a looping knot being formed before the guide device out of weft threads and tie-in warp threads; and for the said looping knot to be pushed over the guide device at the reed stop so that the weft-thread tension, at least at and shortly after the reed stop, is kept substantially greater than the tension of the two tie-in warp threads.

According to further characteristics of the invention, the row of links is fed inside a guide bar opening approximately on a level with the reed stop, the tie-in warp threads being deflected at the end-face of the said guide bar. The two tie-in warp threads are fed to the end-face of the guide bar and form an acute angle therewith, as seen in the direction of the weaving plane.

The method according to the invention may actually be carried out by using only one weft thread. It is desirable, however, to operate with two weft threads, one of which is passed into the shed above the row of links, while the other is passed into the shed below the row of links, and both being looped around the warp tie-in threads. If two weft threads, i.e., two needles, are used, there is no need to change the direction of the needles. Moreover, since in the method according to the invention, the row of links takes no part in the shed-forming movements, the method according to the invention may be carried out on a relatively simple needle loom operating at high speed. According to still another characteristic of the invention, the feed of the row of links is controlled in such a manner that, at the moment of the reed stop, a gap in the row of links is open in the direction of deflection.

According to a further development of the invention, several pairs of tie-in warp threads may be used to secure the rows of links, which is an advantage in the case of large links since this produces, in each gap between the links, a woven area which provides a particular stable location of the row of links in the tape.

In one preferred form of execution of the method according to the invention, each tie-in warp thread is always looped with a curve around the same side of the teeth of the row of links, and is tied off between the said teeth by the weft thread operating on the other main side of the tape. In this connection, provision may be made for the tie-in warp threads to return each time the tape advances and exposes a new gap between the links, whereupon the weft is introduced, after which the two tie-in warp threads return for the second time and the tape advances once more.

The invention provides, for the execution of this method, a needle loom having two parallel needles operating in the same direction, and a guide bar for the row of links extending in the direction of the warp and opening approximately into the area of the reed-stop location, the operative position of one of the needle being above, and that of the other needle being below, the said guide bar, the said guide bar being arranged as a cover for the row of links against the tie-in warp threads, and the end-face thereof being the deflecting device for the tie-in Warp threads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is explained hereinafter in greater detail, with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of the most important parts of the loom for the execution of the method according to the invention, as seen from the end where the weave is produced;

FIG. 2 is a simplified side elevation of the loom;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the loom in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of theplan view of a slide-fastener strip being produced, showing the feed of the two tie-in warp threads, the two weft threads, and the mouth of the guide bar for the 'two of links; I

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the looping knots formed after new weft-threadloops have been placed in the fabric;

FIG. 6 shows the intermediate stage according to FIG. 5 but in a view similar to that in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the slide-fastener tape, in which the rows of links are woven to the edge of the tape in a different way; and

FIG. 8 is a view of the tape from the right-hand side of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 to 3 show warp or ground warp threads 1 of the tape in the open-shed position, a guide bar 2 approximately U-shaped and arranged at one edge of the tape, a helical row of links 3 running in the said guide bar in the direction of the warp, and two

parallel needles

5,5, each introducing a

weft thread

6,7.

Needles

4,5 are carried on a common member 8 and operate in the same direction and in synchronism, needle t introducing its weft thread 6 above guide bar 2, while needle 5 introduces its weft thread 7 below the said guide bar, into the shed. In addition to the edge of tape to which the row of links 3 is to be tied, provision is made for a pair of tie-in or

fastening warp threads

9,10 which, as may be seen in FIG. 3, to be fed to edge ll of guide bar 2 at an acute angle. Also shown diagrammatically are the reed l2, shafts or heddles 13 controlling the shed change, and finished sections 14 of the fabric.

During the weaving operation, warp threads 1 and tie-in warp threads 9, are reversed at each weaving cycle. At the same time,

weft threads

6, 7 are placed in the open shed by

needles

4,5, where they are held by thread catcher 1 5. A special looping knot is then formed onthe outside of guide bar 2, between

weft threads

6,7 and tie-

in warp threads

9,10, this :knot being pushed over edge 1 1 of the guide bar at the next reed stop or beaten up location. Due to the thread tension, the threads of the looping knot then loop around the row of links, as shown in greater detail in FIG. 4, and tie them off.

In FIG. 4, for the sake of clarity, all threads are shown substantially thinner than links 3 and their loops, and in a very loose state. Moreover, several sections of thread and looping locations which lie one above the other in plan view have been staggered sideways in relation to each other,

If tie-in warp thread 9 is followed'from the lower edge of FIG. 4, it will be seen that in the vicinity of gap 16, this thread is drawn in the form of a loop 91, through upper weft thread 6, towards the tape. Thread 9 then crosses link 3 and is then drawn, in the vicinity of gap 17, in the form of a loop 92 lying under the row of links, through lower weft thread 7 into the tape. In the vicinity of gap 18, thread 9 again reaches the upper surface of the row of links and is again drawn through upper weft thread 6 in the form of a loop 91. Thus tie-in warp thread 9 secures the row of links alternately with a loop 91 lying above it and a loop 92 lying below it.

In the same way, tie-in warp thread 10, operating alternately, secures the row of links with alternate lower loops 1102 and upper loops I01, upper loops 101 passing through upper weft thread 6, while lower loops I02 pass through lower weft thread 7, in the tape. The staggering of the loops formed by

threads

9,10 results in the row of links being secured to the tape, in the vicinity of each of the gaps 16 to 20, by one loop laid above and one loop laid below the said row of links.

Shown at the top of FIG. 4 is a finishing stage after a completed weaving cycle, i.c., after reed 12 has stopped and the finalloops of

threads

9,10 have been drawn into gap 20, this drawing'in of the loops being effected by appropriate tensioning of

weft threads

6,7. At this time,

threads

9,10 pass over edge 11 of guide bar 2 towards the tape, whereas the two

weft threads

6,7 runs above and below guide bar 2 towards the fabric.

The next weaving cycle is initiated by a shed change in warp threads 1 and the return of tie-

in warp threads

9,10 which thereafter cross each other, the location 21 of this crossover being on the outside of guide bar 2, i.e., in front of deflecting edge ll. At the same time,

threads

9,10 loop around

weft threads

6,7.

Needles

4,5, which are located behind cross-over location 2i, then introduce

new weft loops

61,71 into the open shed, and these are again retained by thread catcher 15, of. FIGS, 5 and 6. For better understanding, the broken ends shown in FIG. 5, and the relevant sections of weft thread 6 shown in FIG. 6, are marked with

position numerals

6a, 6b, 6c. After this new introduction of weft, section arriving from the last tie-in location in the vicinity of gap 20, and section 6b leading to the next weft loop, loop around both tie-

in warp threads

9,10. In a similar manner, lower warp thread 7 now loops around the two tie-

in warp threads

9,10, and looping knot 22 again lies in front of deflecting edge 11 of guide bar 2. Row of links?) is now advanced by the distance between two links, so that the next gap 23lies opposite deflecting edge 11. If desired, gap 23 may also be exposed by moving bar Zbaekwards by a suitable amount. 7

At the next reed stop, knot 22 is pushed over edge ll of guide bar 2, whereupon

weft threads

6,7 and warp threads 9,110 are again drawn towards the edge of the tape in the manner shown in FIG. 4, and links 3 are again secured to the edge of the tape by one loop above and one loop below.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, tie-

in warp threads

9,10 are the edge warp threads to which the

curves

62, 72 between consecutive weft-

thread loops

6,6 and 7,7 are secured. In the manner described in conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 6, thread 9 alternatelysecures-curve 62 of an upper weft-thread loop and curve 72 of a lower loop 7, while thread 10, operating in mirror image, alternately secures the curves-of upper and lower weftthread loops. This results from the. method of operation described, in which the two tie in

warp threads

9,10 return once between two consecutive introductions of pairs of

weft loops

6,7.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a slide-fastener tape in which a different method is used to weave row of links 3 to the edge of the tape. The maindifference between this and the method already described is that tie-

in warp threads

9,10 are reversed twice between two Consecutive introductions of pairs of weft-thread ,loops. 6,7. In. this way thread 9 always secures curve 62 of upper weft-thread loops 6, while thread l0 always secures curve 72 of lower weft thread loops 7. As a result of this double reversal of

threads

9,10, curve 92 of thread 9, lying between two pulled-in loops 93, loops around the comblike teeth, in plan view, of links 3 on the same side of the tape, for example on the underside of the tape, whereas curve 104 lying between two pulled-in loops 103 of thread 10 always loops around the teeth on the other side of the tape. As may be gathered from the side elevation in FIG. 8, the two

threads

9,10 cross over each other twice within one gap between the links. When the tape is woven as in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tie-in warp threads are reversed for the first time after each advance of the tape exposing a new gap between the links, whereupon a pair of weft-

threads loops

6,7 are introduced, after which the two tie-in warp threads are reversed for the second time; this is followed by the reed stop, and the tape is again advanced. In the form of execution according to FIGS. 7 and 8, curves 94 and 104, looping around the teeth of the links on both sides, produce a satisfactory guide for the fastener slide.

The method described may also be carried out with a single needle alternating between the top and bottom of the guide bar, in which case the weft thread also secures the row of links in the area of the gaps between the links. In this case, however, the weaving speed is lower and a suitable reversing mechanism for the needle must be provided.

I claim:

1. A weaving method for binding a row of slidefastener links at the edge of a tape during weaving the tape formed of warp threads and two weft threads on a needle loom having warp and weft supply means, two parallel needles and a front reed, said method comprising the steps:

a. dividing the warp threads in a group of ground warp threads and in at least two fastening threads, lying at the edge of the tape;

b. feeding the row of slide-fastener links in a warp direction defined between the ground warp threads and the fastening threads;

c. 1. building up a shed of ground warp threads and of the fastening threads, while the row of slidefastener links is maintained in the median plane of the shed;

2. simultaneously introducing the two weft threads X into the open shed to form two shot loops, wherein one of the weft threads isintroduced on one side of the row of slide-fastener links and the other weft thread-is introduced on the other side of the row of slide-fastener links and' wherein one weft thread is wound around one of the fastening .threads and the other. weft thread is. wound around the other fastening thread;

'3. closing the'shed and beating up; I

d. '1. buildingup a new shed with the ground warp threads'and the two fastening'threads, while again maintaining the row of slide-fastener links'in'the median plane of the shed;

2. simultaneously introducing the two weft threads each on the same side of the row of slide-fastener links as at step ('c '2), whereby the one weft thread'is wound now around the other fastening thread and the other weft thread is wound now around the onefasteni ng thread; I 3. closing the shedand beating up; and,

erepeating the sequence of the s teps(c) and (d), so that both fastening threads cross at each step (c) and (d) the row of slide-fastener links at the edge of the tape.

2. A weaving method for binding a row of slidefastener links at the edge of a tape during weaving the tape formed of warp threads and two weft threads on a needle loom having warp and weft supply means, two parallel needles and a front reed, said method comprising the steps:

a. dividing the warp threads in a group of ground warp threads and in at least two fastening threads lying at the edge of the tape;

c. 1. building up a shed of ground warp threads and of the fastening threads, while the row of slide fastener links is maintained in the median plane of the shed;

2. simultaneously introducing the two weft threads into the open shed to form two shot loops, wherein one of the weft threads is introduced on one side of the row of slide-fastener links and the other weft thread is introduced on the other side of the row of slide-fastener links and wherein one weft thread is wound around one of the fastening threads and the other weft thread is wound around the other fastening thread;

3. tying off said shot loops to draw the two fastening threads into a gap between following links;

4. reversing the shed positions of the two fastening threads;

5. closing the shed and beating up;

d. 1. building a new shed with the ground warp threads reversed relative to step (c l) and with the fastening threads in the same shed position as at step (c 3);

2. simultaneously introducing the two weft threads into the open shed to form two shot loops, wherein the weft threads are introduced each on the same side of the row of slide-fastener links as at step (c 2) and whereby the weft threads are each wound around the same fastening thread as in step (c 2);

3. tying off said shot loops to draw the two fastening threads into a gap between following links; 4. reversing the shed position of the two fastening threads; 5. closing the shed and beating up; and, e. repeating the sequence of the building steps and (d).

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional steps:

supplying the row of slide-fastener links within a guide bar having a guiding edge at its end until the location, where the shot loops are beaten up to the woven tape; and,

guiding the fastening threads around the guiding edge of the guide bar to the edge of the tape.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastening threads form an acute angle, in the weaving plane with the guide bar at the guiding edge.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the row of links is advanced in intermittent manner to create a gap which opens towards the guiding edge of said guiding bar at the time that the front reed is beaten up.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fastening threads consist of two groups of a plurality of threads.

7. Apparatus for weaving a row of slide-fastener links into the edge of a tape formed of warp threads and weft threads each from its supply, the said warp threads and in at least a pair of tie-in warp threads, said apparatus comprising:

a needle loom having a front reed;

two parallel weft thread introducing needles, both operating in the same direction on said loom;

a guide bar for guiding a row of slide-fastener links;

said guide bar extending in the direction of the warp threads and ending at that location where the weft threads are beaten up to the woven tape;

the operative position of one of said needles being above said guide bar;

the operative position of the other of said needles being below said guide bar;

said guide bar covering said row of slide'fastener links to bear against the pair of tie-in warp threads which tie-in the links; and,

said guide bar having an end face which acts as a deflecting means for said tie-in warp threads.

Claims

1. A weaving method for binding a row of slide-fastener links at the edge of a tape during weaving the tape formed of warp threads and two weft threads on a needle loom having warp and weft supply means, two parallel needles and a front reed, said method comprising the steps: a. dividing the warp threads in a group of ground warp threads and in at least two fastening threads, lying at the edge of the tape; b. feeding the row of slide-fastener links in a warp direction defined between the ground warp threads and the fastening threads; c. 1. building up a shed of ground warp threads and of the fastening threads, while the row of slide-fastener links is maintained in the median plane of the shed; 2. simultaneously introducing the two weft threads into the open shed to form two shot loops, wherein one of the weft threads is introduced on one side of the row of slide-fastener links and the other weft thread is introduced on the other side of the row of slide-fastener links and wherein one weft thread is wound around one of the fastening threads and the other weft thread is wound around the other fastening thread; 3. closing the shed and beating up; d. 1. building up a new shed with the ground warp threads and the two fastening threads, while again maintaining the row of slide-fastener links in the median plane of the shed; 2. simultaneously introducing the two weft threads each on the same side of the row of slide-fastener links as at step (c 2), whereby the one weft thread is wound now around the other fastening thread and the other weft thread is wound now around the one fastening thread; 3. closing the shed and beating up; and, e. repeating the sequence of the steps (c) and (d), so that both fastening threads cross at each step (c) and (d) the row of slide-fastener links at the edge of the tape.

2. simultaneously introducing the two weft threads each on the same side of the row of slide-fastener links as at step (c 2), whereby the one weft thread is wound now around the other fastening thread and the other weft thread is wound now around the one fastening thread;

2. A weaving method for binding a row of slide-fastener links at the edge of a tape during weaving the tape formed of warp threads and two weft threads on a needle loom having warp and weft supply means, two parallel needles and a front reed, said method comprising the steps: a. dividing the warp threads in a group of ground warp threads and in at least two fastening threads lying at the edge of the tape; b. feeding the row of slide-fastener links in a warp direction defined between the ground warp threads and the fastening threads; c. 1. building up a shed of ground warp threads and of the fastening threads, while the row of slide-fastener links is maintained in the median plane of the shed;

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional steps: supplying the row of slide-fastener links within a guide bar having a guiding edge at its end until the location, where the shot loops are beaten up to the woven tape; and, guiding the fastening threads around the guiding edge of the guide bar to the edge of the tape.

3. closing the shed and beating up; and, e. repeating the sequence of the steps (c) and (d), so that both fastening threads cross at each step (c) and (d) the row of slide-fastener links at the edge of the tape.

3. closing the shed and beating up; d. 1. building up a new shed with the ground warp threads and the two fastening threads, while again maintaining the row of slide-fastener links in the median plane of the shed;

4. reversing the shed position of the two fastening threads;

4. reversing the shed positions of the two fastening threads;

5. closing the shed and beating up; d. 1. building a new shed with the ground warp threads reversed relative to step (c 1) and with the fastening threads in the same shed position as at step (c 3);

5. closing the shed and beating up; and, e. repeating the sequence of the building steps (c) and (d).

7. Apparatus for weaving a row of slide-fastener links into the edge of a tape formed of warp threads and weft threads each from its supply, the said warp threads and in at least a pair of tiein warp threads, said apparatus comprising: a needle loom having a front reed; two parallel weft thread introducing needles, both operating in the same direction on said loom; a guide bar for guiding a row of slide-fastener links; said guide bar extending in the direction of the warp threads and ending at that location where the weft threads are beaten up to the woven tape; the operative position of one of said needles being above said guide bar; the operative position of the other of said needles being below said guide bar; said guide bar covering said row of slide-fastener links to bear against the pair of tie-in warp threads which tie-in the links; and, said guide bar having an end face which acts as a deflecting means for said tie-in warp threads.