MANDREL FOR USE WITH LOOM FOR FORMING LOOPS OF SURFACE-TYPE FASTENERS

Abstract: An improved mandrel (l0) for use with a weaving loom (l2) for the formation of loops (l6) of a looped fabric suitable for use as a surface-type fastener generally known as a loop-and-hook fastener. The mandrel (l0) has a generally V-shaped first recess (2l) defined in an upper longitudinal edge (22) thereof and adapted to be disposed adjacent to the fell (l5) of a foundation fabric (l2) while being woven on the loom (l2), for receiving individual loops (l6) therein before they are tensioned on a loop-setting portion (20). Since all the loops (l6) are received in the recess (2l) irrespective of their initial looping positions, a warp thread (l7) forming loops (l6) does not interfere with a weft thread (l4) forming a part of the foundation fabric (l2) and the loops are placed in a desired upstanding position when tensioned on the loop-setting portion (20). The loop-setting portion (20) has a second recess (26) defined in a lower longitudinal edge (27) of the mandrel and extending along a limited longitudinal part of the loop-setting portion (20) for releasing the tension on the loops to thereby prevent the loops (20) from being deformed or twised under undue frictional forces applied thereto as they advance along the loop-setting portion (20).

Description: The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of a surface-type fastener having a number of interlocking elements such as loops or hooks projecting from one surface of a woven foundation fabric. More particularly, it relates to a mandrel for use with a loom for the formation of the loops in synchronism with the weaving of the foundation fabric on the loom. U. S. Patent No. 3,009,235, issued November 2l, l96l discloses, as reillustrated here in Figures 6 and 7, a mandrel A used for the formation of loops B on a woven fabric C. The disclosed mandrel includes a loop-forming portion D of reduced section on which the loops B are formed, and a loop-setting portion E of larger section adapted to tension the loop B after their formation for insuring the formation of a firm fabric with the upstanding loops positioned in a uniform manner. Since the loop-forming portion D of the disclosed mandrel A has a uniform height throughout the length threof, it is not possible to rectify or correct the deviation of a loop-forming warp thread F from its desired course which would occur when the warp thread F is looped successively around the loop-forming portion D due to, for example, the flexibility of or the initial twisting of the warp thread F. Consequently, successive loops B are formed at different positions on the loop-forming portion D and hence they are subjected to random tensioning forces when advanced to the loop-setting portion F. The final loops B set on the loop-setting portion E have different shapes and configurations and are positioned in a non-uniform manner. Due to the above-mentioned deviation, the loop-forming warp thread F is likely to interfere with a foundation weft thread G prior to the latter is interlaced with a series of foundation warp threads H (two being shown) and with the warp thread F. This interference result in a weaving failure and non-uniform loop formation. A further disadvantage associated with the mandrel A is in that since the loop-setting portion E has a uniform height, the loops B, as they are advanced along such portion E, are subjected to undue frictional forces which would cause deformation or twisting of the loops B. The present invention seeks to provide an improved loop-forming mandrel which can overcome or substantially eliminate the foregoing drawbacks of the known mandrel. The present invention further seeks to provide a mandrel adapted to be incorporated in a loom and having structural features capable of forming loops of a uniform shape and configuration without obstructing the weaving operation of the loom. According to the present invention, there is provided a mandrel for use with a loom for the formation of loops projecting from a foundation fabric as the latter is woven on the loom, said mandrel comprising an elongate bar for being disposed closely over one surface of a foundation fabric while being woven and extending perpendicularly across a fell of the foundation fabric, said elongate bar including a longitudinal loop-forming portion adapted to be disposed substantially upstream of the fell for supporting thereon the loops during their formation, and a longitudinal loop-setting portion contiguous to said loop-forming portion and adapted to be disposed substantially downstream of the fell for tensioning the loops after their formation to set the latter in upstanding positions, characterized in that said longitudinal bar further includes a generally V-shaped first recess defined in an upper longitudinal edge of said elongate bar and extending in and between said loop-forming portion and said loop-setting portion for receiving therein the loops before their formation, and an elongate second recess defined in a lower longitudi­ nal edge of said elongate bar and extending along a limited longitudinal part of said loop-setting portion for releasing a tension on the loops. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. Figure l is a side elevational view of a mandrel embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a loom in which the mandrel of Figure l is incorporated, the view illustrating the manner in which successive loops are formed on the mandrel the weaving a foundation fabric advances; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line III - III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a different operation mode of the loom; Figure 5 is a schematic fragmentary coss-­ sectional view showing a looped fastener member and a hooked fastener member joined together to form a surface-type fastener manufactured by the loom shown in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a schematic side elevational view of a known mandrel; and Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a loom in which the mandrel of Figure 6 is incorporated, the view illustrating the operation of the loom. The principles of the present invention are particularly useful when embodied in a mandrel, generally denoted by the reference numeral l0 in Figure l, for the formation of loops of a looped fabric which is suitable for use as a surface-type fastener member having number of interlocking elements such as loops or hooks projecting from a foundation fabric. In practice, a number of such mandrels l0 are incorporated in a loom ll (Figure 2), however, only one mandrel l0 is shown and described here for clarity. The loom ll is of the general type employed in weaving a velvet ribbon and is constructed to produce a foundation fabric l2 by interlacing a series of warp threads l3 with a weft thread l4 progressively at a fell l5. The mandrel l0 is disposed between a selected pair of the warp threads l3 and extends parallel to the warp threads l3 perpendicularly across the fell l5 of the foundation fabric l2 while being woven. Loops l6 on the foundation fabric l2 are formed in a supplementary warp thread l7 passed over the mandrel l0 and woven into the foundation fabric l2 as the latter is woven on the loom ll. The supplementary warp thread l7 preferably is made of thermoplastic synthetic resin, such as nylon or other material capable of being heat-set into a predetermined form, so that the warp thread l7 is capable of retaining, by a heat treatment, the shape which has been imparted thereto during weaving. As shown in Figure l, the mandrel l0 comprises an elongate bar preferably press-formed from a thin steel blade and surface-treated by plating to provide a smooth external surface so as not to damage the warp thread l7 as the latter is formed into the loops l6 around the mandrel l0. The mandrel or elongate bar l0 has at one of its ends a hook l8 enabling it to be hooked on the weaving loom. The mandrel l0 further includes a loop-forming portion l9 on which the loops l6 are formed, and a loop-setting portion 20 adapted to tension the loops l6 after their formation. The two portions l9, 20 are separated by a generally V-shaped first recess 2l defined in an upper longitudinal edge 22 of the mandrel l0, the loop-setting portion 20 extending between the recess 2l and the other end 23 of the mandrel l0. The loop-forming portion l9 has a first guide surface 24 extending along the upper longitudinal edge 22 and sloping downwardly toward the loop-setting portion 20. The loop-setting portion 20 has a second guide surface 25 extending contiguously from a lower end of the first guide surface 24 and sloping upwardly away from the loop-forming portion 20 so as to define the recess 2l jointly with the first guide surface 24. The first guide surface 24 extends substantially throughout the length of the loop-forming portion l9 and has an angle of inclination smaller than that of the second guide surface 25. The mandrel l0 further has an elongate second recess 26 defined in a lower longitudinal edge 27 of the mandrel l0 and extending along the loop-setting portion 20 through a limited longitudinal part thereof which is intermediate the first recess 2l and the other end 23 of the mandrel l0. The second recess 26 is disposed closer to the other end 23 than to the first recess 2l for a purpose described below. The operation of the mandrel l0 in the loom ll is illustrated in Figure 2 in which are shown the foundation fabric l2 woven of the warp threads l3 and the weft thread l4, and the mandrel l0 extending closely over the foundation fabric l2 with the first recess 24 disposed adjacent to, and more particularly, immediately upstream of the fell l5 of the foundation fabric l2 while being woven. The foundation fabric l2 moves progressively across a support plate 28 in a direction from the left to the right in the same figure, as the weaving proceeds. During that time, the loops l6 slide along the mandrel l0 progressively engaging the loop-forming portion l9 and the loop-­ setting portion 20. The supplementary warp thread l7 which forms the loops l6 is directed first to one side and then to the other side of the mandrel l0 to assume a zig-zag or meandering formation. When the supplementary warp thread l7 is looped around the loop-forming portion l9 to form a loop l6 thereon, the warp thread l7 slides downwardly along the first guide surface 24 into the bottom of the first recess 2l. This guided sliding movement of the warp thread l7 is always attained even though the warp thread l7 is likely to deviate from its predetermined course as indicated by phantom lines shown in Figure 2, due to its own flexibility or the initial twisting or torque given thereto. Thus, the loops l6 are formed at a fixed position on the loop-forming portion l9, i.e. the bottom of the recess 2l as the foundation fabric l2 advances rightwards in the same figure. As indicated by the solid line shown in Figure 2, the warp thread l7 is retained in the bottom of the recess 2l disposed adjacent to the fell l5, so that this thread l7 does not interfere with the weft thread l4 which has been inserted in a shed between the separated warp threads l3, l3. Then the weft thread l4 is beated against the fell l5 by a reed 29, as shown in Figure 4, whereupon one of the loops l6 slides up the second guide surface 25 and on to the loop-setting portion 20 during which time the loop l6 is tensioned. As described above, all the loops l6, which have been formed on the loop-­ forming portion l9, are guided to a fixed position or the bottom of the recess 2l before their tensioning with the result that uniform tensioning of the individual loops l6 is effected on the loop-setting portion 20. The loops l6 thus tensioned uniformly have a uniform shape and configuration. Although not shown, all the mandrels l0 are disposed in the loom ll with their recesses 2l held in lateral alignment with one another, such uniform tensioning of all the loops l6 on the loop-setting portions 20 of the respective mandrels l0 ensures that the formation of a firm foundation fabric l2 with the upstanding loops l6 positioned in a uniform manner. The loops l6 are preferably heat set by means of a heater 30 while they remain on the loop-setting portion 20 of the mandrel l0. The heater 30 is disposed above the mandrel l0 and extends over the loop-setting portion 20 so that the loops l6 are subjected to a heating treatment after they have been tensioned to assume a desired upstanding form. After the heat treatment has proceeded to some extent, the loops l6 are then advanced along the recessed longitudinal part 26 during which time they are released from tensioning forces. The recess 26 thus provided enables the loops l6 to pass smoothly through the loop-setting portion while keeping the desired form as shown in Figure 3, without causing deformation or twisting thereof. If the loop-setting portion 20 were constructed to have a uniform height, the loops l6 would be deformed or twisted due to undue frictional forces generated between the loop-setting portion 20 and the tensioned loops l6 as the loops l6 advance along the loop-setting portion 20. The mandrel l0 of the present invention can be emplyed both in the formation of a hooked fabric fastener member 3l and in the formation of a looped fabric fastener member 34, as shown in Figure 5. To form the hooked fabric fastener member 3l, the supplementary warp thread l7 forming loops l6 is preferably made of a thermoplastic monofilament capable of heat-setting as described above. After heat-­ setting, the loops l6 of monofilament are cut to form hooks 32 projecting from a woven foundation fabric 33. In case the looped fabric fastener member 34 is to be produced, the warp thread l7 is preferably made of a multifilament so that when subjected to a known brushing treatment, each parent loop of multifilament produce a plurality of loop elements 35 projecting from a foundation fabric 36.

Claims: 1. A mandrel (l0) for use with a loom (ll) for the formation of loops (l6) projecting from a foundation fabric (l2) as the latter is woven on the loom, said mandrel comprising an elongate bar (l0) for being disposed closely over one surface of a foundation fabric (l2) while being woven and extending perpendi­ cularly across a fell (l5) of the foundation fabric, said elongate bar (l0) including a longitudinal loop-forming portion (l9) adapted to be disposed substantially upstream of the fell (l5) for supporting thereon the loops (l6) during their formation, and a longitudinal loop-setting portion (20) contiguous to said loop-forming portion (l9) and adapted to be disposed substantially downstream of the fell (l5) for tensioning the loops (l6) after their formation to set the latter in upstanding positions, characterized in that said longitudinal bar (l0) further includes a generally V-shaped first recess (2l) defined in an upper longitudinal edge (22) of said elongate bar (l0) and extending in and between said loop-forming portion (l9) and said loop-setting portion (20) for receiving therein the loops (l6) before their formation, and an elongate second recess (26) defined in a lower longitudinal edge (27) of said elongate bar (l0) and extending along a limited longitudinal part of said loop-setting portion (20) for releasing a tension on the loops (l6). 2. An apparatus according to claim l, said first recess (2l) being disposed immediately upstream of the fell (l5). 3. A mandrel according to claim l or 2, said loop forming portion (l9) having a first guide surface (24) extending along said upper longitudinal edge (22) of said elongate bar (l0) and sloping downwardly toward the fell (ll), said loop-setting portion (20) having a second guide surface (25) extending contiguously from said first guide surface (24) and sloping upwardly away from the fell (l5), said first and second guide surfaces (24, 25) jointly defining therebetween said first recess (2l). 4. A mandrel according to claim 3, said first guide surface (24) extending substantially along the entire length of said loop-forming portion (l9). 5. A mandrel according to claim 3 or 4, said first guide surface (24) having an angle of inclination which is smaller than that of said second guide surface (25). 6. A mandrel according to one of the claims l to 5, said elongate bar (l0) having one end adapted to be conncted to the loom (ll), said loop-setting portion (20) extending between said first recess (2l) and the other end (23) of said elongate bar (l0), said second recess (26) being disposed closer to said other end (23) of said elongate bar (l0) than to said first recess (2l).

Inventors: MURASAKI, RYUICHI
Applicants: YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A44B18
IPC codes: D03D39, A44B18