Abstract: An apparatus for replacing a cop in an automated weaving machine is provided. A single, multi-joint robot is situated near the cop replacing position of a shuttle which is reciprocated between warps. A hand stand is provided for supporting first through third hands which can be detachably mounted on the robot arm. The first hand is provided with fingers for individually handling the new cop and the new weft. The second hand includes fingers for handling the old cop and the old weft. The third hand is provided with a suction pad for engaging the shuttle with vacuum suction when transferring the shuttle, and with a hook for raising and lowering the bobbin fitted on a tong of the shuttle. The three hands allow various work steps to be carried out each in an optimum fashion without requiring additional hands to be carried by the robot arm at the same time.

Abstract: A magnetic marker comprising a plurality of magnetized fibers oriented substantially parallel to each other is attached to a fringe of ground fabric for production of felt in the form of an endless belt for detecting the travel of the ground fabric and changing various production parameters according to the number of turns which the ground fabric makes around a series of rolls for causing the movement of the ground fabric. Since the magnetic marker consists of extremely thin magnetized fibers, it can withstand the repeated piercing by needles which is required for the production of felt for the purpose of entangling the fibers of fiber web with the ground fabric.

Abstract: A magnetic marker, comprising a first fabric base sheet, a plurality of magnetized fibers attached to a surface of the first fabric base sheet by bonding means, and a second fabric base sheet secured to the surface of the first fabric base sheet so as to interpose the magnetized fibers between the first and second fabric base sheets. The magnetic marker using magnetized fibers can withstand repeated piercing which is encountered in the application for detecting the position of the ground fabric during the process of needling for the production of felt. The magnetized fibers are firmly secured between the two fabric base sheets, optionally reinforced by a multiplicity of perpendicularly arranged yarn, that the magnetized fibers can retain the capability to generate magnetic flux even after repeated use.

Abstract: A needled felt for papermaking use of the present invention comprises fibers (having a specific fineness or diameter) formed of a polyamide block copolymer, particularly, polyamide block copolymer having hard segments composed of polyamide components such as nylon 12 and soft segments composed of polyether components, the felt of the present invention is excellent in elasticity, recovery and durability compared with other fibers exhibiting rubber-like elasticity such as polyurethane elastic fibers, in addition, the felt of the present invention facilitate needling which has been difficult with prior art rubbery elastic fibers.

Abstract: An automatic cop changing device for a weaving machine in which a shuttle carrying a cop consisting of a bobbin around which a weft is wound is reciprocated between warps so as to weave the weft between the warps, comprising: a cop positioning unit for securing the shuttle stationary near a terminal point of its reciprocating movement when the weft of a current cop mounted on the shuttle is consumed by more than a precribed amount; a cop storage unit for storing a plurlaity of new cops; a robot arm carrying a weft gripping hand for drawing the weft from the current cop and a weft from one of the new cops stored in the cop storage unit, and crossing the two wefts, a cop engaging hand for moving the cop in the shuttle between its upright position and its retracted position, and a cop gripping hand for removing the old cop from the shuttle and carrying the new cop into the shuttle; a weft tying unit for tying the crossed part of the wefts; and a weft trimming unit for trimming an extraneous part of the tied weft

Abstract: A felt for paper manufacture and the method for producing the felt. At least two fabrics having a single weave or double combination weave structure are piled to form a ground fabric. A lap is fed on the ground fabric and the lap and fabrics of the ground fabric are combined with each other by needling.

Abstract: A bed, particularly of the type convenient for the use of an invalid or sick person and specifically constructed to allow the user to defecate while lying on his back on the bed, whereby when the user wants to defecate, a part of the bed mat supporting the buttocks of the user can be removed to form a defecating hole below which an excrement receptacle specifically designed for such use is placed.

Abstract: A bed for a patient having a bed pan mounting recess bored at its central position wherein a bed pan is supported at a level in conformity with a degree of depression of the periphery of said recess such that the buttocks of a patient never strongly touch the pan seat. The bed pan has a hollow front cover which broadly covers around an excretory organ, and only the periphery of said front cover comes into intimate contact with the skin of the patient ranging from the groins up to the lower abdomen whereby the pan seat and the front cover are disposed so as to interpose the body of the patient therebetween.