Patent ID: 6926055

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a non-woven fabric product having substantially perpendicular warp yarns and weft yarns, said apparatus comprising in combination: a warp yarn support system including an elongated substantially cylindrical support structure extending along the length of said warp yarns and having a low-friction, substantially cylindrical outer surface; an endless belt extending along the length of said warp yarns and movable along the length of said support structure; a supply of elongated parallel warp yarns that are positioned side-by-side upon said endless movable belt along the length of said support structure and that have a coating of adhesive at least on their exposed surfaces, preferably only on their exposed surfaces; a delivery system for weft yarn including: a drum mounted for rotation about said support structure, about said endless belt and about said warp yarns, power means for rotating said drum about said support structure endless belt and warp yarns, at least one source of supply of said weft yarn mounted on said drum for rotation therewith, and a guide system for delivering said weft yarn from said source of supply of said weft yarn to said adhesive coated outer surface of said warp yarns upon rotation of said drum, such that said weft yarn is wrapped about said warp yarns in substantially perpendicular relationship therewith; a driven system that is operatively connected to said endless belt for moving said warp yarns along the length of said support structure and through said weft yarn delivery system; a heater for activating said adhesive to bond yarns, between which is said adhesive; and a conical alignment guide which is positioned immediately adjacent said drum and immediately adjacent to, and about, said warp yarns, and about which said weft yarn is wound prior to falling down upon, and being wound about, said warp yarns and said coating of adhesive on said exposed surfaces of said warp yarns.