Abstract: A method of making a deep pile fabric that closely resembles natural sheepskin fleece. The method includes forming a length of pile fabric having fibers on one side and a scrim on an opposing side, where at least a portion of the fibers are natural wool fibers, and finishing the pile fabric as natural sheepskin by polishing the fiber side of the pile fabric, including guiding the length of pile fabric over at least two polishing rolls, where the two polishing rolls rotate in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loosening, cutting, and abrading a web of textile fabric having spun yarns containing wrapper fibers. The textile fabric web is directed under high tension around pairs of rotatable, small diameter tubes coated with abrasive particles. Abrasive particles are preferably rounded (nonfaceted) tungsten carbide particles. The tubes (rolls) are rotated at differing speeds in relation to the fabric web speed through the apparatus. Preferably, the first, regressive roll rotates at a speed slower than the web speed and the second, progressive roll rotates at a faster such speed. Such a process and apparatus provide improved conditioning and napping of a fabric web as well as a quicker, more efficient method of performing such fabric treatment.

Abstract: A seam protecting device which can be applied to drum grinding or raising machines for preventing threads connecting adjoining pieces to be processed from breaking, has at least a pair of ring-like elements, parallel to one another and connected by means of connecting beams or bars, adapted to turn about bearings and a drum provided with raising or grinding cylinders. To the pair of ring-like elements there is applied a cusp element which, under a normal condition, is located at the bottom part of the drum.

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: A device is described which permits automatic, uniform, and precise shearing of cloth pieces, including those areas near the seams, and which thus minimizes the economic loss due to non-sheared areas of cloth. The device employs the logic processing of information continuously delivered by a detector which measures the thickness of the cloth at a point before it reaches the shearing cylinder. This information is processed in an electronic system so as to adjust properly the width of the shearing slit in synchronism with the movement of the cloth. By the technique described herein, spurious signals of thickness information caused by the presence of a seam are discarded and replaced by certain fictitious signals that will bring about the desired height of pile in the sheared cloth in the areas near the seams, while nevertheless permitting the seam to pass through the shearing slit.