Patent ID: 6955132
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A method of joining indeterminate length fiber tows end-to-end comprising: providing a first fiber tow and a second fiber tow; placing an end portion of the first tow over an end portion the second tow so that the first and second tow ends overlap each other in an overlapping area; securing the first and second tows while leaving at least a portion of the overlapping area exposed; positioning the overlapping area of the tows on a sewing unit having a support surface, a sewing head, and a controller for executing a preprogrammed stitching pattern, wherein at least one of the support surface and the sewing head is displaceable along first and second axes to execute the preprogrammed stitching pattern; and actuating the controller to displace at least one of the support surface and the sewing head along the first and second axes to form the preprogrammed stitching pattern in the exposed portion of the overlapping area; wherein each of the first tow and the second tow has a width dimension, and wherein the predetermined stitching pattern comprises a plurality of generally parallel lines in the width dimension of the tows and at least one diagonal line traversing at least some of the generally parallel lines.