Abstract: A method of backing carpeting material 19 with hot-melt compositions such as atactic polypropylene or bitumen comprises carefully doctoring selected thicknesses of the composition to the undersurface of the material 19 with the wear surface of the material uppermost. In one arrangement this is achieved using a lick roll arrangement 20 incorporating a doctor blade, cooling the backed product at cooling zones 28, 29 and applying the material to a nip formed by rollers 21. In another arrangement this is achieved by doctor box 16 applying the composition to a carrier 13, the carpeting material 19 then being laminated at roll 21 to the layer of composition, the laminate then being cooled before being stripped from the carrier 13. In a further arrangement the carrier is in the form of sheet material 15 which is supported by endless belt 13 and which is bonded into the hot-melt composition to become an integral part thereof.

Abstract: A composite fabric comprises a layer of pile-forming material such as a textile bonded to a substrate material by an interlayer of plastics material which is substantially air-free. The interlayer has a density in the range 0.9 to 1.5 gm/cc and the substrate is a slab of deaerated plastics material having a weight up to 6.5 kg/sq. meter (12 lbs/sq. yard) and incorporating a layer of fibrous material such as glass fibre scrim. The pile forming material may be as light as 68 gm/sq. meter (2 oz/sq. yard) and as heavy as 4 kgm/sq. meter (120 oz/sq. yard).

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a composite fabric, including an endless carrier belt having a non-stick surface and traversible over first and second contiguous sets of planar support surfaces. Heating means are provided for heating the first set of planar support surfaces and cooling means for cooling the second set of planar support surfaces. A first means is provided for supplying a relatively thick substrate to the carrier belt in advance of the first set of planar support surfaces which means includes a device for applying deaerated thermo-plastics material in liquid form directly to the surface of the carrier belt. A second means supplies pile-forming material and a third means is arranged to receive the pile-forming material that includes a lick roller for coating one surface of said pile-forming material with plastics material in liquid form.

Abstract: A composite fabric in the form of a carpet tile including a fibrous material and a substrate material formed of deaerated thermo-plastics material having a density in the range 4-10 lbs./sq. yard. The thermo-plastics material forms an exposed surface of the carpet tile and the fibrous material forms a layer embedded in the deaerated thermo-plastics material remote from the exposed surface. A lightweight layer of pile-forming material having a density in the range 6-8 oz/sq. yard is bonded to the substrate material at the surface thereof remote from the exposed surface and a bonding agent, in the form of a layer of a foamed plastics material in a gelled state, secures the layer of pile-forming material to the substrate material.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for blanking products from pliable sheet material where the material to be cut is supported on a planar support member within the peripheral shape of the final product and after the blanking process has been completed a product-discharge roller is moved through an aperture in the supporting surface to lift the cut product clear of the cutting edge and discharge the product from the cutting apparatus. Additionally, the cutting edge has a portion which separates the cut product and its peripheral waste from incoming material and the peripheral waste is positively discharged from the apparatus by a conveyor arrangement located externally of the cutting edge which defines the products peripheral shape.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite fabric comprising the steps of coating one surface of a web of relatively lightweight material with a layer of foamed plastics material in liquid state, forming a substrate material by applying a layer of fibrous material to a layer of deaerated thermo-plastics material in liquid form, maintaining the viscosity of the thermo-plastics material at a level to permit the fibrous material to sink into the layer of thermo-plastics material, thermally treating the substrate material to achieve firm gellation of the thermo-plastics material therein and applying the coated surface of the lightweight material to the substrate material when in a heated state for a period sufficient to effect gellation of the foamed plastics material to form the composite fabric.