Method and apparatus for manufacturing carbon fiber woven fabric by water-jet loom

Claim 1

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position as well as wefts each of which includes carbon fibers, said water-jet loom also having a nozzle with a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; storing said weft in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; placing said weft on water that is injected from said nozzle of said water-jet loom; driving said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and interrupting dispersion of said water injected from said nozzle onto said weft as said weft travels from a bobbin around which said weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of said nozzle.

Claim 2

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position as well as wefts each of which includes carbon fibers, said water-jet loom also having a nozzle with a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; storing said weft in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; placing said weft on water that is injected from said nozzle of said water-jet loom; driving said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and interrupting dispersion of said water injected from said nozzle onto said weft as said weft travels from a bobbin around which said weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of said nozzle.

Claim 3

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position as well as wefts each of which includes carbon fibers, said water-jet loom also having a nozzle with a needle entrance portion at which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; storing said weft in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; placing said weft on water that is injected from said nozzle of said water-jet loom; driving said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and sucking said fluffs from said weft by air suction at least at a position between said storage area and said needle entrance portion of said nozzle as said weft travels from a bobbin around which said weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of said nozzle.

Claim 4

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position as well as wefts each of which includes carbon fibers, said water-jet loom also having a nozzle with a needle entrance portion at which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; storing said weft in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; placing said weft on water that is injected from said nozzle of said water-jet loom; driving said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and sucking said fluffs from said weft by air suction at least at a position between said storage area and said needle entrance portion of said nozzle as said weft travels from a bobbin around which said weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of said nozzle.

Claim 5

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having an openable and closable warp sheet and wefts each of which includes carbon fibers, said water-jet loom having a nozzle having a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: moving said warp sheet between an opened position and a closed position; storing said weft in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; placing said weft on water that is injected from said nozzle of said water-jet loom; driving said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; causing contact between said weft and said fluffs on the surface of said tube wall by loosening said weft when a succeeding weft is being stored in said storage area after said weft has been driven; and driving said fluffs in a weftwise direction and under the influence of said water and together with said succeeding weft when said succeeding weft is driven toward or into said warp sheet.

Claim 6

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having an openable and closable warp sheet and wefts each of which includes carbon fibers, said water-jet loom having a nozzle having a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: moving said warp sheet between an opened position and a closed position; storing said weft in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; placing said weft on water that is injected from said nozzle of said water-jet loom; driving said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; causing contact between said weft and said fluffs on the surface of said tube wall by loosening said weft when a succeeding weft is being stored in said storage area after said weft has been driven; and driving said fluffs in a weftwise direction and under the influence of said water and together with said succeeding weft when said succeeding weft is driven toward or into said warp sheet.

Claim 7

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position as well as wefts each of which includes carbon fibers, said water-jet loom also having a nozzle with a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; storing said weft in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; placing said weft on water that is injected from said nozzle of said water-jet loom; driving said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; interrupting dispersion of said water injected from said nozzle onto said weft as said weft travels from a bobbin around which said weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of said nozzle; sucking said fluffs from said weft by air suction at least at a position between said storage area and said needle entrance portion of said nozzle as said weft travels from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said nozzle; causing contact between said weft and said fluffs on the surface of said tube wall by loosening said weft when a succeeding weft is being stored in said storage area after said weft has been driven toward or into said warp sheet; sucking said fluffs from the surface of said tube wall by said air suction; and driving said fluffs which have not been sucked in a weftwise direction and under the influence of said water and together with said succeeding weft when said succeeding weft is driven toward or into said warp sheet.

Claim 8

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position as well as wefts each of which includes carbon fibers, said water-jet loom also having a nozzle with a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; storing said weft in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; placing said weft on water that is injected from said nozzle of said water-jet loom; driving said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; interrupting dispersion of said water injected from said nozzle onto said weft as said weft travels from a bobbin around which said weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of said nozzle; sucking said fluffs from said weft by air suction at least at a position between said storage area and said needle entrance portion of said nozzle as said weft travels from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said nozzle; causing contact between said weft and said fluffs on the surface of said tube wall by loosening said weft when a succeeding weft is being stored in said storage area after said weft has been driven toward or into said warp sheet; sucking said fluffs from the surface of said tube wall by said air suction; and driving said fluffs which have not been sucked in a weftwise direction and under the influence of said water and together with said succeeding weft when said succeeding weft is driven toward or into said warp sheet.

Claim 9

An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric comprising: means for moving a warp sheet to open and close the warp sheet; means for storing a weft including carbon fibers in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; a nozzle positioned to form a water jet to drive the weft into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is opened; and means for interrupting dispersion of water injected from the nozzle on a weft running path extending from a bobbin around which the weft is wound to a needle entrance portion of the nozzle, said means for interrupting dispersion of the water being positioned on a water-injection side of said nozzle.

Claim 10

An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric comprising: means for moving a warp sheet to open and close the warp sheet; means for storing a weft including carbon fibers in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; a nozzle positioned to form a water jet to drive the weft into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is opened; and means for interrupting dispersion of water injected from the nozzle on a weft running path extending from a bobbin around which the weft is wound to a needle entrance portion of the nozzle, said means for interrupting dispersion of the water being positioned on a water-injection side of said nozzle.

Claim 11

An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a comprising: means for moving a warp sheet to open and close the warp sheet; means for storing a weft including carbon fibers in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; a nozzle positioned to form a water jet to drive the weft into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is opened; and air suction means for sucking fluffs from the weft positioned between said storage area and a needle entrance portion of the nozzle and along at least a portion of a weft running path extending from a bobbin around which the weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of the nozzle.

Claim 12

An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a comprising: means for moving a warp sheet to open and close the warp sheet; means for storing a weft including carbon fibers in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; a nozzle positioned to form a water jet to drive the weft into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is opened; and air suction means for sucking fluffs from the weft positioned between said storage area and a needle entrance portion of the nozzle and along at least a portion of a weft running path extending from a bobbin around which the weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of the nozzle.

Claim 13

An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric comprising: means for moving a warp sheet to open and close the warp sheet; means for storing a weft including carbon fibers in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; a nozzle positioned to form a water jet to drive the weft into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is opened; and means for loosening the weft so as to be extended along the surface of a tube wall of a needle entrance portion of the nozzle during the time when a succeeding weft in an amount corresponding to one pick is stored in the storage area after the weft in an amount corresponding to one pick has been driven.

Claim 14

An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric comprising: means for moving a warp sheet to open and close the warp sheet; means for storing a weft including carbon fibers in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; a nozzle positioned to form a water jet to drive the weft into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is opened; and means for loosening the weft so as to be extended along the surface of a tube wall of a needle entrance portion of the nozzle during the time when a succeeding weft in an amount corresponding to one pick is stored in the storage area after the weft in an amount corresponding to one pick has been driven.

Claim 15

An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric comprising: means for moving a warp sheet to open and close the warp sheet; means for storing a weft including carbon fibers in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; a nozzle positioned to form a water jet to drive the weft into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is opened; means for interrupting dispersion of water injected from the nozzle on a weft running path extending from a bobbin around which the weft is wound to a needle entrance portion of the nozzle, said means for interrupting dispersion of the water being positioned on a water-injection side of said; air suction means for sucking fluffs from the weft positioned between said storage area and said needle entrance portion of the nozzle along at least a portion of said weft running path extending from said bobbin around which the weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of the nozzle; and means for loosening the weft so as to be extended along the surface of a tube wall of said needle entrance portion of the nozzle during the time when a succeeding weft in an amount corresponding to one pick is stored in the storage area after the weft in an amount corresponding to one pick has been driven.

Claim 16

An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric comprising: means for moving a warp sheet to open and close the warp sheet; means for storing a weft including carbon fibers in a storage area in an amount corresponding to one pick; a nozzle positioned to form a water jet to drive the weft into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is opened; means for interrupting dispersion of water injected from the nozzle on a weft running path extending from a bobbin around which the weft is wound to a needle entrance portion of the nozzle, said means for interrupting dispersion of the water being positioned on a water-injection side of said; air suction means for sucking fluffs from the weft positioned between said storage area and said needle entrance portion of the nozzle along at least a portion of said weft running path extending from said bobbin around which the weft is wound to said needle entrance portion of the nozzle; and means for loosening the weft so as to be extended along the surface of a tube wall of said needle entrance portion of the nozzle during the time when a succeeding weft in an amount corresponding to one pick is stored in the storage area after the weft in an amount corresponding to one pick has been driven.

Claim 17

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position, a bobbin around which a weft is wound, a storage area for storing said weft in an amount corresponding to at least one pick, and a water nozzle with a needle entrance portion, said method comprising the steps of: (a) moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; (b) advancing said weft along a path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (c) injecting water into said water nozzle to form a water jet; (d) causing said water jet to drive said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and (e) interrupting dispersion of said water from said water nozzle onto said weft as said weft travels along said path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle.

Claim 18

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position, a bobbin around which a weft is wound, a storage area for storing said weft in an amount corresponding to at least one pick, and a water nozzle with a needle entrance portion, said method comprising the steps of: (a) moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; (b) advancing said weft along a path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (c) injecting water into said water nozzle to form a water jet; (d) causing said water jet to drive said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and (e) interrupting dispersion of said water from said water nozzle onto said weft as said weft travels along said path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle.

Claim 19

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position, a bobbin around which a weft is wound, a storage area for storing said weft in an amount corresponding to at least one pick, and a water nozzle with a needle entrance portion, wherein fluffs tend to be deposited on said weft, said method comprising the steps of: (a) moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; (b) advancing said weft along a path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (c) injecting water into said water nozzle to form a water jet; (d) causing said water jet to drive said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and (e) sucking said fluffs from said weft by providing air suction at a position along a portion of said path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle.

Claim 20

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp sheet that is movable between an opened position and a closed position, a bobbin around which a weft is wound, a storage area for storing said weft in an amount corresponding to at least one pick, and a water nozzle with a needle entrance portion, wherein fluffs tend to be deposited on said weft, said method comprising the steps of: (a) moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; (b) advancing said weft along a path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (c) injecting water into said water nozzle to form a water jet; (d) causing said water jet to drive said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and (e) sucking said fluffs from said weft by providing air suction at a position along a portion of said path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle.

Claim 21

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp movable between an opened position and a closed position, a bobbin around which a weft is wound, a storage area for storing said weft in an amount corresponding to at least one pick, and a water nozzle with a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: (a) moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; (b) advancing said weft along a path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (c) injecting water into said water nozzle to form a water jet; (d) causing said water jet to drive said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and (e) causing contact between said weft and said fluffs deposited on the surface of said tube wall by loosening said weft after an amount corresponding to one pick is driven and when a succeeding weft in an amount corresponding to one pick is being stored in said storage area; and (f) driving at least a portion of said fluffs in a weftwise direction and under the influence of said water jet together with said succeeding weft as said succeeding weft is driven toward or into said warp sheet.

Claim 22

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp movable between an opened position and a closed position, a bobbin around which a weft is wound, a storage area for storing said weft in an amount corresponding to at least one pick, and a water nozzle with a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: (a) moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; (b) advancing said weft along a path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (c) injecting water into said water nozzle to form a water jet; (d) causing said water jet to drive said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; and (e) causing contact between said weft and said fluffs deposited on the surface of said tube wall by loosening said weft after an amount corresponding to one pick is driven and when a succeeding weft in an amount corresponding to one pick is being stored in said storage area; and (f) driving at least a portion of said fluffs in a weftwise direction and under the influence of said water jet together with said succeeding weft as said succeeding weft is driven toward or into said warp sheet.

Claim 23

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp movable between an opened position and a closed position, a bobbin around which a weft is wound, a storage area for storing said weft in an amount corresponding to at least one pick, and a water nozzle with a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: (a) moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; (b) advancing said weft along a path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (c) injecting water into said water nozzle to form a water jet; (d) causing said water jet to drive said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; (e) sucking a portion of said fluffs from said weft by providing air suction at a position along a portion of said path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (f) causing contact between said weft and a portion of said fluffs deposited on the surface of said tube wall by loosening said weft after an amount corresponding to one pick is driven and when a succeeding weft in an amount corresponding to one pick is being stored in said storage area; (g) sucking a portion of said fluffs from the surface of said tube wall with said air suction; and (h) driving a portion of said fluffs which have not been sucked in a weftwise direction and under the influence of said water jet together with said succeeding weft as said succeeding weft is driven toward or into said warp sheet.

Claim 24

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric using a water-jet loom having a warp movable between an opened position and a closed position, a bobbin around which a weft is wound, a storage area for storing said weft in an amount corresponding to at least one pick, and a water nozzle with a needle entrance portion including a tube wall on the surface of which fluffs tend to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: (a) moving said warp sheet between said opened position and said closed position; (b) advancing said weft along a path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (c) injecting water into said water nozzle to form a water jet; (d) causing said water jet to drive said weft into said warp sheet when said warp sheet is in said opened position; (e) sucking a portion of said fluffs from said weft by providing air suction at a position along a portion of said path from said bobbin to said needle entrance portion of said water nozzle; (f) causing contact between said weft and a portion of said fluffs deposited on the surface of said tube wall by loosening said weft after an amount corresponding to one pick is driven and when a succeeding weft in an amount corresponding to one pick is being stored in said storage area; (g) sucking a portion of said fluffs from the surface of said tube wall with said air suction; and (h) driving a portion of said fluffs which have not been sucked in a weftwise direction and under the influence of said water jet together with said succeeding weft as said succeeding weft is driven toward or into said warp sheet.