Patent ID: 6014797
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: D21F

Abstract:
An apparatus for unravelling weft threads to form a fringe in a woven fabric web having a lateral edge substantially parallel to said weft threads, comprising:fabric holding means supporting a portion of said fabric web;an unravelling assembly including an unravelling needle, first reciprocation means for reciprocally driving said needle substantially perpendicular to said web wherein, in a first direction, said needle pierces said fabric, and, in a second direction, said needle captures and unravels at least one weft thread from said fabric, a cutter adjacent said needle for cutting said at least one unravelled weft thread, and second reciprocation means for selectively driving said cutter to cut said at least one weft thread;longitudinal displacement means for moving said unravelling assembly, in incremental steps, a preselected distance toward said weft threads, and returning said unravelling assembly to a starting position detected by a sensing means; andlateral displacement means for moving said apparatus a preselected distance along said edge.