Abstract: A process of decorating fabric includes the step of imparting wrinkles to the fabric oblique to the warp and weft directions and heat setting the wrinkles into the fabric. The wrinkle imparting step may include moving the fabric longitudinally and simultaneously moving portions of the fabric from side to side by frictionally engaging the fabric to an oscillating means such as an elastomeric pad or interleaved fingers and oscillating the pad or fingers from side to side. Heat setting of the fabric includes exposing the wrinkled fabric to heat at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient duration to set the wrinkles in the fabric. Desirably, the wrinkled fabric is in contact with a transfer print paper while the fabric passes through the heat setting step to set the wrinkles and fix color on the fabric. The longitudinal movement is desirably coordinated with the side to side movement to obtain aesthetically pleasing results. The invention also includes apparatus and the product.

Abstract: A container for a strip (12) of light-sensitive material includes an elongated opening for withdrawing the material from the container. Strips (22) of light-locking material are provided on both sides of the opening, the strips being made from a napped and sheared woven fabric (12, 14). The fabric is dyed, dried, napped, sheared and heat set prior to preparation of the strips. A method of producing such a light-locking material is taught which includes steps of passing the woven fabric multiple times through napping and shearing operations to increase the pile density.

Abstract: An apparatus for shearing, tigering, napping or other surface treatment of a finite length of a textile fabric, particularly pile and plush fabrics, is disclosed which is especially adapted for experimental research and development usage in a laboratory setting. The apparatus includes a rotatably driven roller having a fabric surface-engaging periphery and an arm assembly for supporting the fabric piece for presentation to the roller, the arm assembly being movable between a fabric-loading position spaced from the roller and a treatment position in close adjacency to the roller.

Abstract: A machine for shearing pile fibers from the surface of a textile fabric which is conveyed over the narrow edge of a cloth holder. The cutting is accomplished by a scissors-like action between a stationary cutting blade and a plurality of helical blades which are mounted on a roll which is rotated about a horizontal axis for moving the helical blades into cutting contact of the horizontal cutting edge of the stationary blade. The stationary blade is mounted on a holder which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis to enable the stationary blade holder to be pivoted by a drive mechanism to change the relative position of the cutting edge of the stationary blade relative to the cloth holder. The roller for the helical blades is mounted on a rotary blade holder which is supported on the stationary blade holder for movement with the stationary blade holder so that the cutting edges of both the stationary blades and the rotary blades and the helical blades move in unison relative to the cloth holder.

Abstract: A shearing apparatus of this invention provides a uniform thread shearing, and a high discharging capability for sheared threads. Even when a discharging power is raised by increasing a suction power of a suction box, a cloth having threads subjected to shearing and passing over a shearing table, will not float from the shearing table thereby providing uniform shearing and preventing damage to the cloth. An outer wall having a shutter forming a slit is hinged to the suction box such that it is pivotable with respect to the wall of the suction box so that an angle between the outer wall and the suction box can be adjusted. Inside the suction box, there is provided a rotating blade device comprising a cylinder with a plurality of radially disposed ditches on the surface of the cylinder and longitudinally extending blades fixed substantially equidistantly and parallel each other.

Abstract: The relative dispositions of the shear cylinder, fabric rest and ledger blade of a textile fabric shearing machine may be inspected and any necessary adjustments thereof may be precisely measured and controlled by the present inspecting apparatus which comprises a linear guide rail mounted to the frame of the shearing machine in precise axially parallel relation to the shear cylinder and a carriage mounted on the rail for linear movement therealong, wherein the carriage is equipped with a detection tool, e.g., a feeler arm assembly, selectively articulable and manipulable into a plurality of dispositions for traveling surface contact with the fabric rest or ledger blade to detect and identify irregularities in linearity or relative disposition to the shear roll or to one another.

Abstract: Shearing operations on textile pile fabrics may be repeatably controlled precisely by controlling operating parameters of the shearing machine to maintain constant the average number of times each pile loop of the fabric is cut by the shearing blades of the shearing cylinder, which is accomplished by calculating a numeric value representing cuts per pile loop as a function of the rotational speed of the cylinder, its number of shearing blades, the widthwise dimension of the nose surface of the fabric rest, and the fabric traveling speed, and selectively adjusting one or more of these parameters as necessary to achieve the desired number of cuts per fabric loop.

Abstract: A carpet shearing machine for modular carpet which includes a moveable table which is provided with means for holding the modular carpet. A carpet shear is positioned on a moveable frame which is adjustable to a predetermined distance above the moveable table. The moveable frame may be pivoted and raised above the moveable table such that the modular carpet on the table may be passed beneath and through the shear and thereafter the shear is raised to permit the moveable table to return to its original position.

Abstract: The cutting apparatus for cutting a moving strip of material comprises a rotating cutting cylinder having a spatially fixed nap height determining plate provided with a plurality of holes which contacts a part of the active outer circumference of the cutting cylinder. The exterior side of the plate is the bearing surface for the strip of material and the holes provide opposing cutting edges for a plurality of cutting edges of the cutting cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to raise the edge fibers of a cut pile carpet tile to ensure that they are cut by the rotating shear which is cutting the rest of the fibers in the tile. The tiles are overfed into the shear so that they abut one another causing the edge fiber, on the edge transverse to the direction of travel of the tiles, to be pushed upwardly. At a position adjacent the shearing member air under pressure is supplied against the traveling edge of the carpet tile to project the edge fibers into the upstanding position.

Abstract: The process for the manufacture of a wool fabric to be used as a mattress cover comprises four steps in succession, that is a loosening step, a shearing step, a moistening step and a pressing step, and further trimming steps for applying elements of electrically conductive material to said fabric as well as at least a shunt for grounding the same elements.The wool fabric 16 thus obtained comprises wool yarns having a substantially reduced length and sticking fast to the weft of the fabric itself, as well as elements 104, 106 of electrically conductive material and at least a shunt 108 for grounding the elements 104, 106 and adapted to allow the electrostatic energy to be discharged from a sleeping person.

Abstract: An improved sculpturing apparatus having an asymmetric blade, improved fabric support means and an improved screen for applying stiffening agent is disclosed.

Abstract: A circular disc is rotated with a cutter means secured to the disc periphery, radially outwardly projecting therefrom, and having cutting edges in a plane normal to the axis of rotation. Means are provided for guiding a fabric into and through a position adjacent said cutter means and in which the fabric extends parallel to said plane of the cutting edges for cutting the nap of the fabric.

Abstract: A device for sculpturing pile fabrics which have been treated by stiffening the fibers thereof in selected regions. The device includes means for advancing the fabric, a support and a blade which severs the stiffened fibers as they pass over the support but allows the unstiffened fibers to deflect away from the blade.

Abstract: A machine for shearing the pile of napped cloth includes a shearing bar and a shearing blade spaced by a variable gap from the bar. A control arrangement in accordance with the invention includes a sensing device for sensing the thickness of the base portion of the material and a further sensing device for measuring the variable gap. Signals from both sensing devices are compared and the output difference, if any, is used to actuate controls which adjust the variable gap.

Abstract: Helical shear blade cutter cooperable with a straight-edge bed plate for trimming fibers projecting from an article, including a shaft, and a blade in the form of a helical band wound edgewise on and about the shaft, the helical blade having a free edge forming a cutting edge from which a cutting face of the blade extends inwardly toward the shaft, the cutting face being formed with a serration to limit lateral yielding of the fibers as the fibers are being sheared by the cutting edge and the straight edge of the bed plate, the serration including saw-like teeth, respectively, having a short and a long flank, the long flank, in a condition wherein the shaft is disposed parallel to the straight-edge bed plate, forming a first angle with respect to the straight edge of the bed plate that is equal to the difference between a second angle formed by the cutting face of a blade without serrations formed therein and the straight edge of the bed plate and a third angle formed by the long flank and the cutting face of