Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for winding at least a layer of separate fibers or groups of fibers onto a rotating support while modifying the width of the layer by moving the layer between two extreme positions perpendicular to the direction of fiber travel and simultaneously moving each fiber or group of fibers in its own plane of motion, offset in relation to a vertical plane at an angle varying from one plane to the next.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein there is provided a source of fiber forming material, with said fiber forming material being pumped into a die having a plurality of spinnerets about its periphery. The die is rotated at a predetermined adjustable speed, whereby the liquid is expelled from the die so as to form fibers. It is preferred that the fiber forming material be cooled as it is leaving the holes in the spinnerets during drawdown. The fibers may be used to produce fabrics, fibrous tow and yarn through appropriate take-up systems. The pumping system provides a pumping action whereby a volumetric quantity of liquid is forced into the rotational system independent of viscosity or the back pressure generated by the spinnerets and the manifold system of the spinning head, thus creating positive displacement feeding. Positive displacement feeding may be accomplished by the extruder alone or with an additional pump of the type generally employed for this purpose.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for continuous shaping of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tubes, a carbon fiber prepreg in tape form impregnated with a first thermosetting resin is laminated on and around a mandrel; the laminate provided on said mandrel is preheated; and the preheated laminate is pulled in and through a hot die together with the mandrel, during which it is gelled, cured, and shaped into a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tube, wherein a second thermosetting resin is uniformly supplied onto the outer circumference of the laminate in a resin squeezing zone in the hot die.

Abstract: A large number of melt blown carbon fibers from petroleum pitch through a multi-orifice die under continuous formation, are fed onto the periphery of a continuously moving endless conveyor surface whose surface speed is matched to the linear velocity of the melt blown carbon fibers to cause the fibers to be deposited in parallel alignment on the conveyor surface and to be maintained in fiber axial alignment to form a non-woven mat of aligned carbon fibers. The speed of the conveyor surface may be slightly less than the linear speed of the fibers to form a loose fiber mat to facilitate subsequent fiber oxidation and carbonization by permitting gas flow through the aligned fiber mat. The endless conveyor may comprise a cylindrical drum whose surface is perforated to facilitate gas flow and oxidation of the carbon fibers subsequent to non-woven mat formation.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for use in the manufacture of rod like elements, for example cigarette filters formed of filamentary tow, for dissipating conveying gas from a conduit through which the tow is conveyed pneumatically through a series of processing stations. To effectively dissipate the gas from the conduit, the invention provides axially spaced rings of gas dissipation ports in the conduit. The ports in the upstream rings are inclined rearwardly to provide gas dissipation in a direction which is counter-current the direction of travel of the tow through the conduit. The ports in adjacent rings are offset circumferentially so as to improve the distribution of ports around the circumference of the conduit in the section used for gas dissipation.

Abstract: Single mode optical fiber cable with a plurality of buffer tubes wherein the buffer tubes each encase a plurality of single mode optical fibers, the fibers run in a random pattern through the buffer tube and the remaining space is filled with soft filler material which prevents the ingress of moisture while allowing free movement of the fibers within the tube, the fibers all having equal overlength.

Abstract: Upper and lower rollers have grooves for a bead ring having a clamp area portion produced by a bead winding machine. The bead ring is placed in the groove of the lower roller with the beginning of the clamp area portion in position for pressing by lowering of the upper roller so that the bead ring is engaged by the groove in the upper roller. The rollers are oscillated between the pressing position at the beginning of the clamp area and the end of the clamp area to roll the top, bottom and sides of the clamp area portion during the movement of the bead ring. The pressure on the bead ring is released by raising the upper roller at the initial pressing position at the beginning of the clamp area so that the bead ring may be removed with the same orientation it had when it was placed in the groove.

Abstract: An embodiment assembly for the impregnation of a continuous length of fibers comprises a convex surface and a non-convex surface over which the length of fibers is drawn under tension. The pressure of impingement on the surfaces alternately separates and consolidates the fibers in sequence during their impregnation with the resin, to obtain a complete and homogeneous impregnation.

Abstract: In a process for producing tubular shaped fibrous articles of small diameter by heating and cooling a fibrous bundle containing at least 20 weight % of hot-melt-adhesive composite fibers, the improvements comprise using a shaping apparatus including an injecting chamber, an injecting hole formed in the wall of the chamber, a fibrous bundle outlet provided with a nozzle of a desired shape in cross-section, a cylindrical pipe for introducing the fibrous bundle, which has a cross-sectional area larger than that of the outlet, is located at a position opposite to the outlet and projects toward the outlet and terminates in the injecting chamber, and a core pipe which is open at its base on the outside of the injecting chamber, has its one end inserted through the cylindrical pipe and extending into the nozzle through the injecting chamber, and having a vent in its portion exposed within the injecting chamber, and passing the fibrous bundle through the cylindrical pipe to the outlet, while injecting a hot compresse

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuous shaping of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tubes, wherein a carbon fiber prepreg in tape form impregnated with a thermosetting resin is laminated on and around a mandrel, then the laminated carbon fiber prepreg tape on the mandrel is preheated, and the thus preheated laminate is pulled in and through a hot die together with the mandrel so as to subject the carbon fiber prepreg to gelling, curing and shaping into a predetermined carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tube, the pulling operations being continuously carried out by alternate motion of first and second grasping mechanism in such a manner that the pulling force is generated in the second grasping mechanism, while the first grasping mechanism still retains its pulling force, and finally the gellation of the laminate is completed at the first half part of the hot die.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a filter rod having a hollow tube extending longitudinally through the filter rod. The apparatus includes a supply reel of hollow tubing, a supply of filter material web, and a garniture funnel into which the filter material web and hollow tubing are continuously, concurrently fed for wrapping the filter material web into a cylindrical configuration enclosing the hollow tube longitudinally therein. The apparatus also includes a plasticizer or adhesive applicator for coating the outside wall surface of the tube with a plasticizer or adhesive before it is fed into the garniture funnel, and a tube guide nozzle located at the inlet to the garniture funnel for positioning and guiding the hollow tube into the garniture funnel.

Abstract: The procedure for manufacturing thin profiled strips, made up of continuous unidirectional fibers embedded in a thermoplastic resin, consists of impregnating a lap (1) of parallel fibers with resin particles, achieving resin fusion, forming the profiled strip and of cooling the latter.The lap (1) of fibers is dipped into a bath (26) of resin particles, mechanically impregnated with the particles, by feeding it for instance around rollers (15, 16, 17) immersed in the resin particles and the excess particles are removed to obtain the desired resin to fiber content ratio.Use of profiled strips obtained, in particular for outwardly reinforcing tubes or for producing moulded items.

Abstract: This invention provides a machine for efficiently laying out biased arrays of yarns. The machine combines on a single supporting machine frame (1) two mechanically driven continuous yarn carrier strips, each provided on its edge facing the other carrier strip with a plurality of spaced yarn restrainers, and (2) a reciprocating conveyor capable of conveying a small array of spaced parallel yarns, oriented at an angle to the motion of the carrier strips between 10.degree.-80.degree., back and forth between the two carrier strips in such a manner that the yarns will be held on the restrainers at each pass of the conveyor. Continuous yarns are supplied by conventional means under constant low tension to the input of the conveyor. The relative motions of the carrier strips and the reciprocating conveyor are controlled so that the web of yarns produced is regularly patterned.

Abstract: Filler material, particularly for cigarette filters, is produced by feeding a stream of substantially continuous fibres of filter material onto a pin roller having a surface carrying sharp projections in the form of pins and the pin roller is driven at a speed such that the fibres are rapidly accelerated so as to be broken by the pins into irregular lengths and are projected from the roller in random orientations. The broken fibres may be collected as a stream for delivery to a rod-making unit by showering onto a conveyor band, by continuously rolling the fibres between cooperating rollers, or pneumatically. More than one stream could be supplied to the pin roller, so that the broken fibres can comprise a mixture of fibres of different filter materials. The broken fibres may be received on a substantially continuous carrier stream, comprising similar or different filtering material, before the fibres and carrier stream are formed into filter rod.

Abstract: Forming a core unit from telecommunications conductor units of twisted together conductors in which the units are first changed in relative positions laterally of their passline and then are passed between two rollers to form them into a curved array. The positions of the units in the array influence their final positions in the core unit as they move towards a core unit closure device. Hence as the positions in the array change because of the positional change in relative positions of the units upstream from the array, then the units change in relative positions in the core unit by extending backwards and forwards around the core unit axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of reinforcement non-woven net fabric which is provided with selvage nipping devices for nipping selvages of a weft sheet constituted by loop end portions of reaches of weft thread on both sides of the weft sheet and advancing the weft sheet with the weft thread reaches laterally tensioned, an adhesive applying device for coating thermoplastic adhesive on the weft sheet being nipped by the selvage nipping devices except for the selvage portion of the weft sheet, a heating device for drying and melting the adhesive on the weft sheet, and a sheet pressing device for pressing and bonding to each other the weft sheet with melted adhesive thereon and a preheated warp sheet. During applying of the adhesive the weft thread reaches can be maintained exactly straight and in parallel and spaced relationship, and no adhesive is applied to most of the warp thread, other than at the intersection points with the weft sheet.

Abstract: A tape laying machine is disclosed carrying a tape laminator unit which forms in situ from individual strips of composite material.The strips are first spaced apart on a carrier sheet and next compressed to a relatively thin widened state where the widened strips are contiguous to one another, forming a unitary wide composite tape.The tape is conveyed to a tape laydown station where it is transferred from the carrier sheet and deposited on a work surface.

Abstract: Fibre-reinforced structures comprising a thermoplastics polymer and containing at least 30% by volume of reinforcing filaments extending longitudinally of the structure which have been produced in a continuous process and which have exceptionally high stiffness. The exceptionally high stiffness results from thorough wetting of the reinforcing filaments by molten polymer in the continuous process. The thorough wetting gives rise to a product which can be further processed even in vigorous mixing processes such as injection moulding with surprisingly high retention of the fibre length in the fabricated article. The continuous processes for producing the reinforced structures employ thermoplastics polymers having lower melt viscosities than conventionally considered suitable for achieving satisfactory physical properties.

Abstract: A device for concurrently forming a plurality of generally longitudinally extending grooves in a filter rod includes at least one pair of groove forming rollers located in a common plane, with their axes of rotation generally parallel and with their peripheries spaced apart. A plurality of elongated, generally arcuately shaped groove forming projections are spaced apart from each other around the circumference of each of the rollers. Each groove forming projections of one roller is in opposed facing, coextensive, aligned relationship with a different one of the groove forming projections of the other roller across the space separating the peripheries of the rollers. As a filter rod to be grooved passes through the space between the peripheries of the rollers, the rollers are rotated and the groove forming projections embed into the peripheral surface of the filter rod thusly forming grooves into the peripheral filter rod surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed an undersea communications cable containing optical fibers. The cable is fabricated so that fiber optical loss characteristics vary only slightly with changes in tensile strain in the cable.

Abstract: Reinforcing fiber materials such as rovings, webbings, and other fiber maials are impregnated with a resinous binder material in such a manner that gaseous inclusions are avoided whereby a surprising increase in the strength of the fiber compound material is achieved. For this purpose the liquid resinous binder material is applied substantially only to one side of the reinforcing material which is then moved through an absorbing zone in which the liquid resinous binder material penetrates the reinforcing material substantially completely as a result of a predetermined residence time and temperature in the absorbing zone. Gas inclusions are removed by adsorption and/or by expulsion. The gas adsorbing and expulsion zone is a chamber in which a plurality of guide rollers are arranged so as to cause the impregnated material to repeatedly reverse its moving direction, whereby the sequential and repeated penetration of the reinforcing material by the resinous material and the removal of gas inclusions are enhanced.

Abstract: Production of cigarette filter rod is controlled by monitoring the tow (12) or rod (18) to provide signals indicative of tow consumption rate and varying the composition of the rod in accordance with the signals, e.g. to maintain a constant proportion by weight in the rod of tow and a plasticizer applied to the tow by an applicator device (18). The tow feed rate or the plasticizer supply rate may be varied in accordance with the signals. The monitoring device may comprise a tow bale weight sensor (48), a rod scanning head (54), or a weight band (33,57).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for making a filamentary web. One or more strands of roving, each composed of multiple filaments, are spread out to increasing extents until the filaments form a band in which they extend unidirectionally and generally parallel to each other, but are not connected with one another. Adhesive strips, threads or other connecting elements are then transported on a carrier into a working station so as to be positioned transverse to the elongation of the band. In the working station, they are transferred to the band and joined to the filaments under application of contact pressure in the nip between cooperating nip rollers. This converts the band into a unitary filamentary web structure in which the filaments are all unidirectionally oriented.

Abstract: A process for continuous production of shaped bodies of synthetic resin reinforced with axially parallel fibers wherein a plurality of continuous fibers are drawn through spaced apertures in a perforated guide plate and then through an alternating series of impregnating baths and shaping nozzles and finally through a hardening zone. The impregnating baths, shaping nozzles, and drying zone are disposed in a vertical arrangement, the shaped body withdrawn from one shaping nozzle is passed with a further group of fibers through the next resin impregnating bath and shaping nozzle, the impregnating resin on the surface of the shaped body is still liquid as it enters the next impregnating bath and all of the impregnating baths and the drying zone are maintained at the same temperature. The resulting fiber-reinforced shaped synthetic resin bodies are particularly suitable as electrical insulators which also exhibit good mechanical strength and which are especially useful in high voltage installations.

Abstract: An improved jet device for treating a continuous, multifilament filter tow is disclosed wherein discharge means affixed to the exit end of the jet tube of the device are modified to present a smooth streamlined surface to the moving filter tow and to prevent accumulation therein of liquid addendum dislodged from the filter tow.

Abstract: A jet and improved bustle tow blooming apparatus, the jet and bustle apparatus both being rectangular-shaped and the bustle apparatus having vented outlets through which the gases confined with the tow escape causing separation and blooming of the tow prior to its exit from the bustle apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing fiber reinforced plastic composite articles which have a length and where the shape of and volume of material in the composite across its length is not necessarily uniform. The apparatus receives filament containing reinforcing material, as for example, strands of filament reinforcing material impregnated with a hardenable binder such as a curable resin. The apparatus also includes a device for forming cores or plugs from a bulk-molding compound, roughly in the form of the desired shape of a portion of the article to be produced. Thereafter, the resin impregnated fiber containing reinforcing strands are disposed about each of the plugs which are draped over a continuous string to from a chain of the plugs on the string. The impregnated strands preferably enclose the plugs to form a composite therewith.

Abstract: A machine for crimping tire bead rings in which an inner die member has grooves for holding the bead rings in the area of the bead splices and an upper die member engages the outer surface of the bead rings in that area. The die members are compressed with sufficient force for a sufficient period of time so that the strands of the bead rings are held together by the insulating material around the strands in the area of the bead splices. The side portions of the grooves control the spreading of the bead rings and may be flared to compress and then release the bead rings. The grooves of the inner die member may have movable inserts for ejecting the bead rings. The upper die member may also include grooves in mating engagement with the grooves of the inner die member for enclosing the outer portions of the bead rings at the splice area and provide for release of the bead rings after crimping.

Abstract: A novel method and means are provided for making constant cross sectional area, pultruded, filament-reinfored articles, such as automotive leaf springs, the shapes of which vary along their lengths. The invention features a specially adapted shaping die for the pultrusion process comprising two pairs of spaced apart die members. The die members and die pairs are mechanically linked so that the spacing between pair members can be changed while the cross sectional area of the die opening remains constant.

Abstract: Reinforced plastic composite articles which have a non-constant cross-sectional shape over their length, such that a first portion of the article has a different cross-sectional shape than a second portion of the article, and which portions may be integral with each other. In one embodiment, the article may have a non-constant cross-sectional shape with a constant cross-sectional volume over its length. In another embodiment, the article may have a non-constant cross-sectional shape and non-constant cross-sectional volume over its length. An apparatus and a method which utilizes a die having a die channel of non-constant cross-sectional shape is employed. In the apparatus, a pair of first and second die-forming members are used, and form in one or both of the die-forming members a die channel having a first portion of a cross-sectional shape which is different than a cross-sectional of a second die channel portion over the length of the die channel.

Abstract: Process for treatment of crimped filter tow in preparation for forming tobacco smoke filter rods and including steps of separating and blooming the crimped filter tow into a wide, flat, well-opened low density tow, uniformly applying plasticizer to both sides of and through the tow across the width thereof, and then squeezing the tow and spreading the plasticizer more uniformly on the filaments of the tow; and a jet and improved bustle tow blooming apparatus, the jet and bustle apparatus both being rectangular-shaped and the bustle apparatus having vented outlets through which the gases confined with the tow escape causing separation and blooming of the tow prior to its exit from the bustle apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacture of milk chocolate-coated toffee candy pieces that comprises a toffee header with means connected to the header for heating a mass of toffee to a softened temperature sufficient to permit portions of it to be pulled from the mass. The header has spaced orifices for the toffee to exit as strands. A rotary toffee forming device is mounted beneath the orifices. Means is provided for reciprocating the header back and forth with the fine toffee strands being drawn from the orifices by the rotary movement of the rotary toffee forming device. Means is provided for transversely severing outer ends of the axially moving lengths of cores with consecutive cuts to form successive toffee pieces of toffee cores. A chocolate coating bath is provided for first immersing the bottoms of the toffee cores in a bath of milk chocolate and then for flooding chocolate over the tops of the cores to completely coat the cores.

Abstract: A multiple fiber formation machine permits a simultaneous drawing of a plurality of N optical fibers and then a linear multifiber stranding. It comprises a first drawing assembly for a plurality of N fibers constituted by N regulatable preformed supports, a system of N fiber formation enclosures, a system for the simultaneous coating of N fibers, a plurality of N drawing or pulley capstans, and a fiber diameter measuring system. A second linear multifiber stranding assembly comprises a cable support supply system, positioning means for the N fibers from the first drawing assembly, a system of coating the support with its fibers and a cable reception drum.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for manufacturing a synthetic resin hose having a tubular reinforcing member embedded therein, which comprises a hollow cylindrical member having diameter adjusting discs provided with yarn guide holes for guiding a plurality of bonding-agent applied warps to the outer peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical member, and an adjusting disc for guiding braiding yarns to the outer peripheral surface of a tubular member formed by said plurality of warps; a braiding machine surrounding said hollow cylindrical member and weaving the braiding yarns into a braided member; a first heating unit surrounding said hollow cylindrical member and bonding the warp tabular member to the braided member at the contacts therebetween, thereby heat-setting a tubular reinforcing member consisting of the warp tubular member and the braided member; a resin applying unit having manifolds and die for coating synthetic resin to the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of said tubular reinforcing member;

Abstract: An ink reservoir element for use in a marking instrument is disclosed, which combines good ink holding capacity and good ink release properties with a wide variety of inks. The ink reservoir element is formed from a coherent sheet of flexible thermoplastic fibrous material, such as a spunbonded polyester fabric or a foam-attenuated extruded polyester fabric, which has been uniformly embossed with a series of parallel grooves. The embossed sheet is compacted and bonded into a dimensionally stable rod-shaped body whose longitudinal axis extends parallel to the embossed grooves. A method and apparatus is disclosed for continuous production of the ink reservoir elements from a continuous web of the fibrous sheet material.

Abstract: A reinforced plastic product is molded from a bundle of resin impregnated strands with the bundle being sequentially advanced from a supply station to a molding station by two pairs of clamping assemblies simultaneously reciprocating in opposite directions with the forward moving pair gripping the bundle and pulling it to the molding station as the rearward moving pair is shuttled back past the forward moving pair toward the supply station to grip the bundle prior to molding of the forward gripped bundle.

Abstract: A fiber glass mat making process is described which utilizes an improved method of transferring unbonded mat from a mat forming chain to a bonding station on a continuous basis.The system involves passing the unbonded mat from a continuous conveyor surface to a roll which has on its surface a draped conveyor chain rotating around the roll but driven by the roll on which it is draped. By permitting the draped chain to hang freely below the roll and to rotate with the roll stray strands falling between the conveyor surface and the roll are returned on the draped chain to the feed end of the bonding station. Means are also provided to maintain the draped chain centered to insure that mat is delivered to the bonding station in a straight line from the conveyor surface.

Abstract: A ridge remover for smoothing and shaping rod surfaces where jointure marks occur in fibrous rod manufacture when made using a porous belt garniture device.

Abstract: Non woven fabrics are made by a method and an apparatus in which a preformed, planar set of adhesive coated or impregnated fill strands having a fixed orientation, spacing and tension of the fill strands is laminated to warp strands in the nip of pressure rolls.Adhesive lines are printed on a side of the warp strands opposite that engaged by the fill strands to prevent warp strands from hanging loosely from that side of the fabric.

Abstract: In order to organize a plurality of fiber lightguides (33--33) into a planar array (40), so that they can be bonded together between two tapes (34--34) to form a ribbon (32), the fiber lightguides are payed out from individual supply spools (51--51) and advanced toward a takeup (43). Interposed between the supply spools and the takeup is at least one surface (72) past which the lightguides are advanced and which is effective to organize them contiguously into a single layer array (76). The surface is made with a curvature which is convex in the direction of advance of the fiber lightguides and which is concave in a direction transverse to the direction of advance. The single layer array (76) is advanced past and in engagement with another surface (86) which reforms the array into a planar configuration after which the lightguides are bonded together to form the ribbon (32).

Abstract: A resin reinforced fiber structure is formed by coating and curing the resin of resin coated fibers in air form a hard gel surface is passed through a bath containing a molten metal at a temperature from about 95.degree. C. to the anaerobic degradation temperature of the resin to complete internal cure of the resin under non-oxidizing conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for laying down a fibrous strand in an ordered configuration comprises means for supplying a fibrous strand, means for forwarding the strand, means to impart an oscillatory motion to the forwarding strand and a moveable collecting surface whereon the strand is laid, the improvement being that the apparatus includes two closely spaced shaped plates which extend between the oscillating means and the collecting surface.

Abstract: Heat treating a fibrous bundle containing at least 20% by weight of adhesive fibers by introducing the fibrous bundle into a heating zone through an elongated transport zone that is surrounded by said heating zone, imparting heat to the exterior portion of said fibrous bundle by directing heat against the exterior of said transport zone and imparting heat throughout the interior of said fibrous bundle by directing heated gas outwardly through the interior of said transport zone in a direction opposite to the inward movement of said fibrous bundle through said transport zone.

Abstract: Thermoplastic materials are converted directly into thermally bonded, coherent fibrous products by melt blowing techniques. The fibrous product is in the form of a rod having a relatively dense, rigid skin in which the fiber portions are oriented primarily in a longitudinal direction with respect to the axis of the product, and a less dense core where the fiber portions are oriented primarily in a transverse direction with respect to the axis of the product. The products are made by melt blowing fibers and intercepting them by a fiber collecting and forming device which permits a relatively heavy build-up of fiber mass in the central portion and a relatively light build-up of fibers in a lip portion surrounding the central portion.

Abstract: A continuous strand consisting of loose filamentary and/or fibrous material is brought into engagement with a conveying and forming belt in at least approximately tension-free condition by means of at least one continuously moving conveying element which extends into the strand-gripping zone of the conveying and forming belt and which engages the interior of the strand. Next the strand is enveloped and brought to the desired cross-section by said belt. After achieving the desired cross-sectional form of the strand, the strand material is interfixed. The thus formed form-stable rod is then divided into rod-shaped portions by a cutting-device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating continuously a solidified elongated rod or hollow shapes of various geometric cross sections of fiber reinforced plastic having a smooth surface. A plurality of strand-like fibers are wetted with a liquid, heat-hardenable plastic, the fibers are collected together into a plastic-wetted bundle, the bundle is continuously, in intermittent steps, passed through an elongated die, the die being heated in sequential zones of progressively increasing temperature so as to harden the plastic by the time the bundle emerges in rod form from the die. The bundle is moved through the die intermittently, dwelling for a predetermined time at rest, then moved an incremental distance, permitted to dwell again, until the hardened bundle eventually emerges from the die. The various heated zones of the die serve to initiate and carry the hardening of the plastic to a predetermined point at which the bundle is moved and the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing weft webs consisting of parallel spaced threads, in which at least one weft thread is fed around positioning, holding and advancing elements which consist of continuous endless belts which support a plurality of juxtaposed blocks which have a length corresponding substantially to the desired spacing between two consecutive weft threads. The blocks are in contact with one another in the rectilinear portions of the endless belt and spaced in the curved portion as they pass around drive rollers. At least one reciprocating thread guide has a free end which passes between the blocks in the curved portion of each endless belt, to feed thread between the blocks.

Abstract: A system for making self-supporting scrim is described. The apparatus includes a net forming means in which scrim yarns are arranged in overlapping pattern such as a criss-cross net; a net carrier and support for continuously advancing the criss-cross yarn net along a path; an adhesive supply means positioned along the path for applying an adhesive onto the advancing yarn net between the criss-cross yarns; and, an adhesive setting means positioned along the path for advancing the yarn net along the path while maintaining the individual yarns of the net substantially immoveable with respect to one another until the adhesive sets. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the adhesive setting means includes a pair of endless belts which engage surfaces on opposite sides of the yarn net so as to apply sandwiching pressure to the yarns and to advance the net.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating continuously a solified elongated rod or hollow shapes of various geometric cross sections of fiber reinforced plastic having a smooth surface. A plurality of strand-like fibers are wetted with a liquid, heat-hardenable plastic, the fibers are collected together into a plastic-wetted bundle, the bundle is continuously, in intermittent steps, passed through an elongated die, the die being heated in sequential zones of progressively increasing temperature so as to harden the plastic by the time the bundle emerges in rod form from the die. The bundle is moved through the die intermittently, dwelling for a predetermined time at rest, then moved an incremental distance, permitted to dwell again, until the hardened bundle eventually emerges from the die. The various heated zones of the die serve to initiate and carry the hardening of the plastic to a predetermined point at which the bundle is moved and the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: The process and apparatus for continuously forming glass fiber reinforced products employs a preform produced by drawing continuous glass fibers through a resin bath and stripping die. This preform is then compressed during passage through an elongate molding zone. The molding zone is formed of two, articulated die cavity-containing tracks, the individual mold components of which join at the threshold of the zone to form an elongate, moving compression stage. This stage may be heated to carry out curing of the product during compression thereof.