Patent ID: 7056403

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a woven-appearing, non-woven fabric comprising in combination: a supply roll of substantially parallel warp yarns defining a warp sheet, a closed loop flexible transfer belt on which said warp sheet can be deposited for linear movement therewith, motor means for driving said transfer belt in a closed loop, a folding system for folding said transfer belt and warp sheet into a substantially cylindrical configuration an elongated mandrel for supporting said transfer belt and warp sheet in said substantially cylindrical configuration, a weft yarn applicator for wrapping weft yarn around said substantially cylindrical warp sheet as said warp sheet is moved in a downstream direction by said transfer belt to form a cylindrical fabric of said warp and weft yarns, said applicator advancing said weft yarn in an upstream direction before wrapping said weft yarn around said warp sheet, a cutter for cutting said weft yarns along the length of said cylindrical fabric to free the fabric from its cylindrical form and a take-up roll for accumulating said fabric.