Abstract: A variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called OFT for Oblique Fibre Textiles, are disclosed. Such OFTs are provided with secondary structural integrity/stability, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability, for improved resistance to formation of openings/gaps. OFTs comprising tapes, particularly Spread Fibre and Highly Drawn Polymeric types, are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. because they provide improved performance, material properties/functions and aesthetics. Such OFTs can be used either independently or in combination with other textile materials. Different types of OFTs are producible by a novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes.

Abstract: Novel ultra-thin unidirectional pre-preg tapes are disclosed. They can be used to produce ultra-thin woven, bias, multiaxial, chopped-oriented etc. types of pre-pregs. These ultra-thin pre-pregs enable production of composite material products with well-controlled dimensional tolerances and smooth/even surfaces. Further, they render the production of composite material products relatively simpler, tidier, quicker, and economical. The obtained composite material products are relatively thinner, lighter, and mechanically higher-performing.

Abstract: An add-on weaving method, a device based on this method, 3D fabric items producible by this method and device, and composite materials reinforced with such 3D fabric items. The 3D fabric items are produced directly by the add-on weaving process using Complementary Fabric, warp yarns and weft yarns. The interacting woven fabric produced by interlacing the warp and weft yarns is simultaneously integrated with the Complementary Fabric used. The Complementary Fabric and interacting woven fabric integrate in mutual through-thickness directions at their intersecting planes and create directly 3D fabric items which are useful for manufacturing delamination resistant and high-performance composite materials.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for producing 3D fabrics including yarns/tows that remain in pre-tensioned condition. Further, the method and device produce 3D fabrics with features that increase the mechanical performance of produced materials which are highly suited for composite materials and impact injury mitigation applications. The method and device also provide a simple, quick and compact arrangement to produce economically both uniaxial and multiaxial types of 3D fabrics with specific dimensions and shapes in ‘middle-outwards’ manner to reduce production time by half by arranging the set of axial yarns in zigzag fashion between oppositely facing supports. The method and device aid automated production of 3D fabrics and their direct packaging to eliminate contamination of produced 3D fabrics. A 3D fabric produced in this way is also disclosed. The 3D fabric includes yarns/tows that remain in pre-tensioned condition.

Abstract: A novel method and means for directly producing a variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two opposite oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called Oblique Fiber Textile (OFT), are disclosed. The described method and means for producing OFT provide secondary structural integrity/stability to OFTs, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability. The process is especially advantageous for producing OFTs comprising tapes, including Spread Fiber and Highly Drawn Polymeric types. Such OFTs are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. for their improved performance, functions and aesthetics. Several different types of OFTs are producible by the novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes.

Abstract: An add-on weaving method, a device based on this method, 3D fabric items producible by this method and device, and composite materials reinforced with such 3D fabric items. The 3D fabric items are produced directly by the add-on weaving process using Complementary Fabric, warp yarns and weft yarns. The interacting woven fabric produced by interlacing the warp and weft yarns is simultaneously integrated with the Complementary Fabric used. The Complementary Fabric and interacting woven fabric integrate in mutual through-thickness directions at their intersecting planes and create directly 3D fabric items which are useful for manufacturing delamination resistant and high-performance composite materials.

Abstract: A method and means are disclosed for measured control of tape-like warps for shedding and taking-up operations when producing woven materials comprising tape-like warps and wefts. According to this invention, a displaceable contact surface of the warp control device is located between the warp supply source and the shedding device. The warp control device includes a displaceable member for providing contact surface to displace at least some of the tape-like warp for releasing them in a measured way for shed forming and taking-up operations. Further, the contact surfaces are retracted for enabling shed closing and measured taking-up.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for producing 3D fabrics including yarns/tows that remain in pre-tensioned condition. Further, the method and device produce 3D fabrics with features that increase the mechanical performance of produced materials which are highly suited for composite materials and impact injury mitigation applications. The method and device also provide a simple, quick and compact arrangement to produce economically both uniaxial and multiaxial types of 3D fabrics with specific dimensions and shapes in ‘middle-outwards’ manner to reduce production time by half by arranging the set of axial yarns in zigzag fashion between oppositely facing supports. The method and device aid automated production of 3D fabrics and their direct packaging to eliminate contamination of produced 3D fabrics. A 3D fabric produced in this way is also disclosed. The 3D fabric includes yarns/tows that remain in pre-tensioned condition.

Abstract: A novel method and means for directly producing a variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two opposite oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called Oblique Fibre Textile (OFT), are disclosed. The described method and means for producing OFT provide secondary structural integrity/stability to OFTs, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability. The process is especially advantageous for producing OFTs comprising tapes, including Spread Fibre and Highly Drawn Polymeric types. Such OFTs are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. for their improved performance, functions and aesthetics. Several different types of OFTs are producible by the novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes.

Abstract: A method and means are disclosed for measured control of tape-like warps for shedding and taking-up operations when producing woven materials comprising tape-like warps and wefts. According to this invention, a displaceable contact surface of the warp control device is located between the warp supply source and the shedding device. The warp control device comprises a displaceable member for providing contact surface to displace at least some of the tape-like warps for releasing them in a measured way for shed forming and taking-up operations. Further, the contact surfaces are retracted for enabling shed closing and measured taking-up.

Abstract: A variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called OFT for Oblique Fibre Textiles, are disclosed. Such OFTs are provided with secondary structural integrity/stability, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability, for improved resistance to formation of openings/gaps. OFTs comprising tapes, particularly Spread Fibre and Highly Drawn Polymeric types, are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. because they provide improved performance, material properties/functions and aesthetics. Such OFTs can be used either independently or in combination with other textile materials. Different types of OFTs are producible by a novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes.

Abstract: Novel woven materials, producible by a new weaving method, are described that comprise single or doubled warps and wefts in the form of tapes that are preferably partially stabilized type of fibrous tape. These fibres are caused to occur in a non-linear arrangement during the weaving process. The non-linear fibres can be subsequently straightened by pulling the tape longitudinally. The doubled warps and wefts comprise disconnected tapes. Such separateness of constituent tapes of doubled warp and weft tapes enables them to be slid/slipped relative to each other by pulling longitudinally and laterally without causing any alteration in the woven structure. These novel fabrics solve the problem of uneven fibre distribution and orientation arising from crumples/wrinkles due to compression and stretches due to extension, at the inner and outer sides respectively, when tape-woven fabrics are curved into shapes.

Abstract: A method of weaving including warp and weft being supplied in the form of tapes, and not yarns. The method preferably carried out in vertical format and includes feeding positively flat tensionless warp for shedding and taking-up; selecting, feeding positively and inserting weft tapes of different widths and thickness by gripping in its fore end in flat condition; depositing inserted weft at fabric-fell in a flat condition without beating-up; and taking-up the woven material that includes either the same or different widths of flat wefts. The warps and wefts, preferably of partially stabilized type of fibrous tapes, can be overfed in a tensionless, positive and controlled manner when required to make the fibres of constituent fibrous tapes occur non-linearly in the form of wave/texture during weaving. Extra warps and wefts can be also fed in tandem whereby the warps and wefts become composed of two or more unconnected, mutually slipping, flat tapes in a stacked arrangement.

Abstract: Novel woven materials, producible by a new weaving method, are described that comprise single or doubled warps and wefts in the form of tapes that are preferably partially stabilized type of fibrous tape. These fibres are caused to occur in a non-linear arrangement during the weaving process. The non-linear fibres can be subsequently straightened by pulling the tape longitudinally. The doubled warps and wefts comprise disconnected tapes. Such separateness of constituent tapes of doubled warp and weft tapes enables them to be slid/slipped relative to each other by pulling longitudinally and laterally without causing any alteration in the woven structure. These novel fabrics solve the problem of uneven fibre distribution and orientation arising from crumples/wrinkles due to compression and stretches due to extension, at the inner and outer sides respectively, when tape-woven fabrics are curved into shapes.

Abstract: A novel method of weaving is described wherein warp and weft are supplied in the form of tapes, and not yarns. In at least one embodiment, the method, which is preferably carried out in vertical format, essentially includes feeding positively flat tensionless warp for shedding and taking-up; selecting, feeding positively and inserting weft tapes of different widths and thickness by gripping in its fore end in flat condition; depositing inserted weft at fabric-fell in a flat condition without beating-up; and taking-up the woven material that comprises either same or different widths of flat wefts. The warps and wefts, preferably of partially stabilized type of fibrous tapes, can be overfed in a tensionless, positive and controlled manner when required to make the fibres of constituent fibrous tapes occur non-linearly in the form of wave/texture during weaving.

Abstract: A method and device involve simultaneously inserting weft/binding yarns and beating them up, in textile manufacturing processes like 3D-weaving and uniaxial noobing. A yarn carrier is equipped with a beating-up reed dent. In the carrier, which includes a cartridge-like yarn supplying device, the yarn is arranged around two axes of rotation and it is enclosed in a case. It is particularly suitable for 3D textile-forming processes like 3D-weaving and uniaxial noobing because of its relatively low-height but high-width and hence the possibility of carrying relatively large amount of yarn. The yarn is contained on a flanged belt that can be driven either from within or from the outside. Such a cartridge-like yarn supplier is equipped with tips that are offset or displaced oppositely about the central axis. Such a displaced arrangement of the tips directs the carriers to lay yarn in two different paths, relative to a layer of warp/axial yarns, while traversing back and forth in the same linear path.

Abstract: A method and means for simultaneously inserting weft/binding yarns (45) and their beating-up, in textile manufacturing processes like 3D-weaving and uniaxial noobing, is disclosed. A yarn carrier (90; 39; 22) is equipped with a beating-up reed dent (27; 28). In carrier (90), which comprises a cartridge-like yarn supplying means (1x), the yarn (45) is arranged around two axes of rotation (X1 and X2) and it is enclosed in a case. It is particularly suitable for 3D textile-forming processes like 3D-weaving and uniaxial noobing because of its relatively low-height but high-width and hence the possibility of carrying relatively large amount of yarn. The yarn (45) is contained on a flanged belt (15) that can be driven either from within or from outside of the means (1x). Such a cartridge-like yam supplying means (1x) is equipped with tips (18a, 18b) that are offset or displaced oppositely about the central axis.

Abstract: The present invention concerns weaving. In particular, it is a woven material produced using tape-like warp and tape-like weft through the employment of a rotary type shedding device which also functions as a direct specific-weave patterning device and a pick guiding device. The material according to the invention has a constructional constitution of at least some of the warp and weft that is non-homogenous. The invention also relates to a weaving device for producing woven material with tape-like warp and weft, comprising a rotary device, which is capable of producing more than one fabric simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention concerns weaving. In particular, it is a woven material produced using tape-like warp and tape-like weft through the employment of a rotary type shedding means which also functions as a direct specific-weave patterning means and a pick guiding means. The material according to the invention has a constructional constitution of at least some of the warp (23) and weft (25) that is non-homogeneous. The invention also relates to a weaving device for producing woven material with tape-like warp and weft, comprising rotary means (1), which is capable of producing more than one fabric simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention concerns weaving. In particular, it is a woven material produced using tape-like warp and tape-like weft through the employment of a rotary type shedding device which also functions as a direct specific-weave patterning device and a pick guiding device. The material according to the invention has a constructional constitution of at least some of the warp and weft that is non-homogenous. The invention also relates to a weaving device for producing woven material with tape-like warp and weft, comprising a rotary device, which is capable of producing more than one fabric simultaneously.