Loom

Claim 2

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure comprising straight group warps extending longitudinally of said structure in three dimensional array, said array being rows of ground warps and columns thereof at right-angles to the rows, a plurality of binder warps, and a single continuous weft extending alternately back and forth in substantially straight paths across the width of said structure and throughout the depth of said array, the machine comprising in combination, means for holding each ground warp in position in its respective row and column during commencement of weaving, ground warp row separating means operative to separate each successive ground warp row from its adjacent row independently and in sequence, weft-insertion means adapted to lay successive straight portions of a single continuous weft between successive separated ground warp rows in opposite directions each of which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, and guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array.

Claim 3

A weaving machine according to claim 1, in which the weft-insertion means comprises, in combination, first and second drive means for respectively passing a shuttle between two separated ground warp layers and adjusting the shuttle height relative to the structure.

Claim 4

A weaving machine according to claim 2, in which the first drive means comprises at least one pair of shuttle-carrying rapiers simultaneously inserted from opposite sides of the structure, the shuttle being transferred from one rapier to the other while in the gap between separated ground warp layers, respective arms pivotally supporting said rapiers for reciprocating movement into and out of said gap, and links connected to said arms and to crank means for imparting reciprocating motion to the arms and hence to the rapiers.

Claim 5

A weaving machine according to claim 1, in which the guide means comprises a heald frame carrying heald wires for the binder warps, means for reciprocating the heald frame to produce the laying-in motion for the binder warps, and a spring-loaded tension bar over which the binder warps are fed prior to passing through the heald frame.

Claim 6

A weaving machine according to claim 4, in which means for reciprocating the heald frame comprise a bell crank mechanism actuated through linkages by a cam adapted to operate in synchronism with the weft-insertion means.

Claim 7

A weaving machine according to claim 1, further comprising a reed, and means for reciprocating the reed for beat-up purposes.

Claim 8

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure having a three-dimensional array of ground warps arranged in a series of rows and columns, a plurality of binder warps and a plurality of wefts, the machine comprising in combination, means for holding said ground warps in said three-dimensional array during commencement of weaving, ground warp layer separating means comprising two columns of separating bars arranged in pairs disposed so that successive rows of ground warps may pass between the two bars of each successive pair and means for raising said pairs of bars independently in sequence, weft-insertion means adapted to lay straight spaced wefts between separated ground warp layers in a direction which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array, and means for linearly progressing said structure as it is woven.

Claim 9

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure having a three-dimensional array of ground warps arranged in a series of rows and columns, a plurality of binder warps and a plurality of wefts, the machine comprising in combination, means for holding said ground warps in said three-dimensional array during commencement of weaving, ground warp layer separating means comprising two columns of separating bars arranged in pairs disposed so that successive rows of ground warps may pass between the two bars of each successive pair and means for raising said pairs of bars independently in sequence, weft-insertion means adapted to lay straight spaced wefts between separated ground warp layers in a direction which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array, and means for linearly progressing said structure as it is woven.

Claim 10

A weaving machine according to claim 7, in which each pair of bars form one end of a rectangular framework, each framework being independently pivotablE about a common axis with the other frameworks, said shedding bars being disposed to one side of the pivot axis, the other end of each framework being connected at the other side of the pivot axis to the jacks of a dobby.

Claim 11

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure having a three-dimensional array of ground warps, a plurality of binder warps and a plurality of wefts, the machine comprising in combination, means for holding said ground warps in said three-dimensional array during commencement of weaving, ground warp layer separating means, weft-insertion means adapted to lay straight spaced wefts between separated ground warp layers in a direction which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, said weft-insertion means including first and second drive means for respectively passing a shuttle between two separated ground warp layers and adjusting the shuttle height relative to the structure and further including means operatively connecting the second drive means with the first drive means and means for operating the second drive means to adjust the height of the shuttle in timed relationship with operation of the first drive means, guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array, and means for linearly progressing said structure as it is woven.

Claim 12

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure having a three-dimensional array of ground warps, a plurality of binder warps and a plurality of wefts, the machine comprising in combination, means for holding said ground warps in said three-dimensional array during commencement of weaving, ground warp layer separating means, weft-insertion means adapted to lay straight spaced wefts between separated ground warp layers in a direction which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, said weft-insertion means including first and second drive means for respectively passing a shuttle between two separated ground warp layers and adjusting the shuttle height relative to the structure and further including means operatively connecting the second drive means with the first drive means and means for operating the second drive means to adjust the height of the shuttle in timed relationship with operation of the first drive means, guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array, and means for linearly progressing said structure as it is woven.

Claim 13

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure having a three-dimensional array of ground warps, a plurality of binder warps and a plurality of wefts, the machine comprising: in combination, means for holding said ground warps in said three-dimensional array during commencement of weaving; ground warp layer separating means; weft-insertion means adapted to lay straight spaced wefts between separated ground warp layers in a direction which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, said weft-insertion means including first and second drive means for respectively passing a shuttle between two separated ground warp layers and adjusting the shuttle height relative to the structure, said first drive means comprising at least one pair of shuttle-carrying rapiers simultaneously inserted from opposite sides of the structure, the shuttle being transferred from one rapier to the other while in the gap between separated ground warp layers, respectively arms pivotally supporting said rapiers for reciprocating movement into and out of said gap, and links connected to said arms and to crank means for imparting reciprocating motion to the arms and hence to the rapiers, and said second drive means comprising a pinned plate intermittently driven in synchronism with the rapiers by a double pallet mechanism which is movable to reverse the direction of rotation of said pinned plate, a nut mounted on said pinned plate, a lead screw mounted in said nut for rotation and axial movement as said pinned plate rotates, and support means mounted on said lead screw for supporting the rapier support arms so that the rapier and shuttle height relative to the structure is adjusted as said lead screw rotates in said nut; guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array; and means for linearly progressing said structure as it is woven.

Claim 14

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure having a three-dimensional array of ground warps, a plurality of binder warps and a plurality of wefts, the machine comprising: in combination, means for holding said ground warps in said three-dimensional array during commencement of weaving; ground warp layer separating means; weft-insertion means adapted to lay straight spaced wefts between separated ground warp layers in a direction which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, said weft-insertion means including first and second drive means for respectively passing a shuttle between two separated ground warp layers and adjusting the shuttle height relative to the structure, said first drive means comprising at least one pair of shuttle-carrying rapiers simultaneously inserted from opposite sides of the structure, the shuttle being transferred from one rapier to the other while in the gap between separated ground warp layers, respectively arms pivotally supporting said rapiers for reciprocating movement into and out of said gap, and links connected to said arms and to crank means for imparting reciprocating motion to the arms and hence to the rapiers, and said second drive means comprising a pinned plate intermittently driven in synchronism with the rapiers by a double pallet mechanism which is movable to reverse the direction of rotation of said pinned plate, a nut mounted on said pinned plate, a lead screw mounted in said nut for rotation and axial movement as said pinned plate rotates, and support means mounted on said lead screw for supporting the rapier support arms so that the rapier and shuttle height relative to the structure is adjusted as said lead screw rotates in said nut; guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array; and means for linearly progressing said structure as it is woven.

Claim 15

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure having a three-dimensional array of ground warps, a plurality of binder warps and a plurality of wefts, the machine comprising in combination, means for holding said ground warps in said three-dimensional array during commencement of weaving, ground warp layer separating means, weft-insertion means adapted to lay straight spaced wefts Between separated ground warp layers in a direction which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array, and means for linearly progressing said structure as it is woven, including a pair of driven spaced horizontal rollers and a pair of driven spaced parallel vertical rollers, the spacing of the rollers of each pair being adjustable to suit the fabric dimensions.

Claim 16

A weaving machine adapted to produce a structure having a three-dimensional array of ground warps, a plurality of binder warps and a plurality of wefts, the machine comprising in combination, means for holding said ground warps in said three-dimensional array during commencement of weaving, ground warp layer separating means, weft-insertion means adapted to lay straight spaced wefts Between separated ground warp layers in a direction which is generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said ground warps and across the width of said array, guide means adapted to lay-in said binder warps with said ground warps and said wefts in a direction generally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said ground warps and through the depth of said array, and means for linearly progressing said structure as it is woven, including a pair of driven spaced horizontal rollers and a pair of driven spaced parallel vertical rollers, the spacing of the rollers of each pair being adjustable to suit the fabric dimensions.