Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for aperturing, creping and optionally laminating webs such as, for example, films and fibrous nonwovens. The present invention is also directed to the resultant materials. The process for aperturing and creping webs utilizes a pattern roll and an anvil roll with the anvil roll being rotated faster that the pattern roll. The resultant material is visually much different than conventional materials which are typically run through similar rolls wherein the pattern roll and anvil roll are run at the same speed or wherein the pattern roll is run faster than the anvil roll. The resultant materials have a wide variety of applications not the least of which includes a liner material for personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, bandages and the like.

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: An hydropatterning apparatus conveys a sheet of fabric through a patterning station along a machine direction on a conveyor, preferably a drum, having a support surface formed with a pattern of raised or solid areas and lowered or void areas, and has one or more manifolds of hydrojet nozzles disposed above the conveyor for directing a continuous curtain of fluid downwardly to impact on the fabric so that properties of the fabric become altered in correspondence to the pattern of the support surface. The hydropatterning technique is used to emboss the screen pattern into the nap of napped fabric in order to produce aesthetically pleasing surface textures and patterns in the napped fabric, such as a fur-like surface texture. The technique can also be used for displacement of yarn or fiber to obtain three-dimensional effects such as ribbing, wavy lines, checkering, geometric or floral designs, or lacework.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a fur-like pile fabric of two-layer construction formed of guard hair fibers and under-fur fibers and used as artificial fur and a method for the production thereof.This invention produces a pile fabric 1 possessing guard hair fibers 2 having sharpened leading terminals and under-fur fibers having a satisfactorily uniform length by a method that comprises preparing a pile knitted or woven fabric with a pile yarn obtained by mixing limited-length polyester type fibers for guard hair fibers of sharpened terminals with limited-length polyester type fibers more susceptible to the action of an alkali treating agent and used for under-fur fibers, imparting an alkali treating agent 6 of a specific viscosity to the hair-raised surface of the pile knitted or woven fabric, and thereafter heat-treating the alkali-treated fabric thereby shortening the under-fur fibers and sharpening the leading terminals of the under-fur fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creation of moire fabric. This can be achieved by placing a first piece of fabric against a support member and directing at least one stream of fluid at the surface of said first piece of fabric to provide lateral yarn displacement. Then delivering said stream at a peak dynamic pressure in excess of about 300 p.s.i.g. and less than 4,000 p.s.i.g. and selectively interrupting and re-establishing contact between said stream and said surface in accordance with pattern information in order to pattern said first piece of fabric. This is followed by combining said patterned first piece of fabric with an unpatterned second piece of fabric in overlapping relationship and applying pressure by means of calender rolls having smooth surfaces to said combination of said first piece of patterned fabric and said second piece of unpatterned fabric.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creation of moire fabric by moving textile fabric over a member, with a longitudinal axis, having several areas of a lesser width or diameter along the longitudinal axis and several areas of a greater width or diameter along the longitudinal axis and sloped portions therebetween interconnecting the areas of greater width or diameter with the areas of lesser width or diameter. The areas of greater width or diameter on the member form lobes that retard the movement of filling yarns of the textile fabric by creating a longer path for the textile fabric to traverse thereby shifting the filling yarns while the areas of lesser width or diameter on the member form valleys that advance the movement of filling yarns of the textile fabric by creating a shorter path for the textile fabric to traverse. This shifting provides the proper filling pattern for the conventional moire fabric.

Abstract: A composition for removing cellulose fibers includes an acidification agent such as aluminum sulfate and sodium bisulfate, a humectant such as glycerine, xanthan gum as a thickening agent, and water as the balance. The composition is mixed to a pseudoplastic state having substantial homogeneity, and may be applied to fabric according to a method of removing cellulose-containing fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creation of moire textile fabric. This can be achieved by directing at least one stream of pressurized heated gas at the surface of said first piece of overfed fabric to provide lateral yarn displacement and selectively interrupting and re-establishing contact between said stream and said surface in accordance with pattern information in order to pattern said first piece of fabric. This is followed by combining said patterned first piece of fabric with an unpatterned second piece of fabric in overlapping relationship and applying pressure by means of calender rolls having smooth surfaces to said combination of said first piece of patterned fabric and said second piece of unpatterned fabric. By using high pressure heated gas and shrinking some of the thermoplastic yarns, there is movement of the filling yarns in the fabric.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for the manufacture of imitation Jacquard fabric by passing a flocked fabric through a printing station whereat a selected drawing or design is printed on the fabric by pressurized air. The flocked fabric is moved on a table beneath a rotatable drawing cylinder extending transversely to the table and spaced from the table only by a distance to allow the passage of the fabric therebetween. A stationary tube is placed within the drawing cylinder and the tube is supplied with pressurized air which passes into the drawing cylinder. The pressurized air passes through apertures in the drawing cylinder correlated with the design to be printed onto the fabric. The fabric is advanced under tension by rollers and a driving assembly rotates the drawing cylinder and at least one of the rollers.

Abstract: A method of pleating a garment, wherein an unfinished garment, prepared by sewing cloth parts together, is folded, rolled and twisted, and then attached to a holder. The holder holding the garment is placed in a heat-treatment apparatus, and the unfinished garment is heat-treated and pleated at the same time in the heat-treatment apparatus filled with saturated steam.

Abstract: In the process of the present invention, a plurality of synthetic or natural fibers are arranged by type and color and then lightly needle-punched to form a felted section. One or more of these sections can be cut to appropriate shapes and sizes and then lightly tacked to the base carrier. Thereafter the sections are needle-punched with said base to interlock the fibers, base and carrier.

Abstract: This invention provides a shearing apparatus for shearing, between a spiral cutter and a lower blade, tip ends of numerous piles formed on a foundation of a pile fabic. The shearing apparatus has a construction for producing fine design patterns, and comprises a plurality of elements each including a thin main body vertically movably mounted in a slit defined in an element block, and a thick head formed integral with the thin main body for pressing the foundation toward the spiral cutter. The thick heads of the elements are arranged close to one another without gaps in between over an entire axial length of the spiral cutter. Each of the elements further includes a leg formed integral with a lower portion of the thin main body to be offset from legs of adjacent elements. A cylinder mounting block disposed below the element block has piston rods of air cylinders arranged in positions opposed to the respective legs.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for imparting visual surface effects to a relatively moving, thermally modifiable substrate by application of discrete streams of heated pressurized gas to surface areas of the substrate. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold assembly comprising two gas receiving compartments, each extending across the path of said substrate. Heated gas from the first compartment passes into the second compartment, which is comprised of a series of chambers with an elongate exit slot positioned closely adjacent the substrate surface. The gas is uniformly mixed within this second compartment, and may then be directed from the exit slot onto the substrate as a thin, continuous stream or curtain extending the length of the manifold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of relatively moving substrate materials by preheating the substrate before precise selective application of discrete, high temperature pressurized streams of fluid against the surface of the materials to impart a visual and tactile change thereto. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold for receiving heated pressurized fluid, such as air, disposed across the width of the relatively moving material and having a single slit the full width of the substrate for directing the fluid into the surface of the material. Pressurized cool fluid, such as air, is directed across selected portions of the manifold discharge slit to deflect pressurized heated air away from the substrate. The manifold is provided with cool air outlets which direct the heated air to a position upstream of the path of movement of the substrate for preheating purposes. The apparatus is further arranged and configured to enhance the visibility of faults in the substrate.

Abstract: An arrangement of spaced blade-like members in the form of a cut/fray module is used to make distinctive marks on textile fabrics, especially of woven construction. A sharpened blade-like member penetrates the fabric and cuts yarns while adjacently penetrating dull-edged members cause the severed yarn ends to become disentangled and removed from the fabric structure, resulting in a frayed edge below the incision and "floating" yarns in the region of the incision.

Abstract: It is possible to produce denim fabric suitable for manufacture into garments that have the look and feel of washed and tumble dried garments, practiced in a relatively simple and quick manner. Denim fabric is treated to raise the warp yarns so that the warp yarns are adjacent the face of the fabric and positioned so that they can be rubbed and abraded to loosen the surface fibers; and then effecting abrading and rubbing of the tips of the warp crimp so as to duplicate the surface abrasion of washing and tumble drying without making a napped or brushed type finish or face. The abrading action may be practiced by sanding utilizing a fine sandpaper in the range of about 50-100 grit, employing a 9-roll T-Ralph sander with 2 to 6 rolls running at a speed of about 50 ydm.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing permanently set crumple pleat crease patterns in fabric webs, having a heatable crumple tube with an oscillatingly driveable stuffing element with which a fabric web in rope form is batchwise successively inserted into the crumple tube, compressed and finally forced out. Upstream of the entry end of the crumple tube there is a rope feed tube of smaller diameter than the crumple tube. The rope feed tube has a through-hole connected on the outside to a vacuum source, while part of the crumple tube is concentrically surrounded by a jacket tube. Annular gaps between the crumple and jacket tubes are tightly sealed by annular walls, thereby forming a heating chamber with an inlet and an outlet for a fluid heating medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for giving relief in several directions to a textile cloth, characterized in that it consists:in known manner, in winding this cloth on a support tube,then in withdrawing said tube,thereafter in compressing the roll longitudinally along the axis of said support,finally, in fixing the roll thus compressed.The invention is more particularly applicable to fabric for home furnishings or clothes.

Abstract: A decorative matelasse woven fabric of multi-ply construction having predetermined outwardly bulging fabric pattern areas, some of which pattern areas are colored to present an ombre effect of shaded color areas of varying intensity of color, creating a custom look of hand painting, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: An improved chenille woven or knitted fabric utilizing at least a chenille yarn composed of synthetic fibers, wherein raised fibers forming a raised fiber portion of the chenille yarn are composed of ultra-fine fibers having a fineness smaller than 0.9 denier and the rising angle .alpha. between the axis of the raised fibers and the longitudinal axis of the chenille yarn is not larger than 50.degree..This chenille woven or knitted fabric has a very smooth surface touch and a silk-like high-grade luster. Since almost no raised fine fibers are removed, this fabric is excellent in durability.

Abstract: Method for pressurized fluid stream treatment of the surface of a relatively moving substrate to impart visual surface changes thereto. A fluid discharge manifold having an elongate discharge slot disposed across the path of relative movement of the substrate discharges pressurized fluid, such as air, in one or more narrow discrete streams into the surface of a substrate, such as a textile fabric. In one embodiment, a plurality of spaced air outlets are disposed in the discharge slot of the manifold and pressurized cooler air is selectively directed through the outlets and across the slot in accordance with pattern information to block heated air streams from exiting from the discharge slot in selected locations and thus pattern the surface of a substrate comprised of thermoplastic yarns. The slot of the discharge manifold also may be provided with an elongate shim member having a plurality of spaced notches in a side edge of the shim member.

Abstract: Apparatus for imparting visual surface effects to a relatively moving substrate by application of discrete streams of heated pressurized fluid to surface areas of the substrate. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold assembly comprising two fluid receiving compartments, each extending across the path of said substrate. Fluid from the first compartment passes into the second compartment, which is comprised of a series of chambers, each associated with a throttling gap. The fluid is uniformly mixed within this second compartment, and may then be directed onto the substrate as a thin, continuous stream extending the length of the manifold. By use of blocking streams of relatively cool fluid, smaller streams or groups of streams extending along selected portions of the manifold may be formed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing novelty yarn with an unusual configuration. An effect yarn is fed to a novelty yarn jet, and a core yarn is fed to a different yarn port in the same jet, the core yarn being maintained substantially taut. The combined core and effect novelty yarn is taken up from the jet and periodically (preferably pseudo-randomly) a pronounced variation in linear density is provided in the combined yarn. This linear density variation is accomplished by introducing a first fluid pulse into the jet at a first position to form a loop in the effect yarn, which loop extends substantially coincident with a portion of the core yarn, and then utilizing a second fluid pulse at a spaced position from the first pulse to impart a spiraling and/or rotating action to the loop of effect yarn to wind the effect yarn around the core yarn.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for imparting visual surface effects to a relatively moving substrate material by application of discrete streams of heated pressurized fluid to surface areas of the material. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold assembly disposed across the path of relative movement of the material and comprising a pair of elongate manifold housings which are coupled by quick release clamping means in fluid tight relation to facilitate pattern changes and maintenance of the treating apparatus. The manifold housings are constructed and arranged so that any distortion of the manifold assembly caused by differential thermal expansion of the same is resolved to minimize displacement of the manifold toward or away from the substrate. Baffle means, filter means, and fluid passageways are provided in the manifold assembly to evenly distribute the heated air at uniform temperature throughout the full length of the assembly.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for treatment of relatively moving substrate materials by precise selective application of discrete, high temperature pressurized streams of fluid against the surface of the materials to impart a visual change thereto. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold for receiving pressurized heated fluid, such as air, disposed across the width of the relatively moving material and having a plurality of spaced parallel fluid stream discharge channels for directing the fluid into the surface of the material. Pressurized cool fluid, such as air, is directed into selected manifold discharge channels to block selectively the passage of pressurized heated air therethrough.

Abstract: A woven sheeting fabric is provided with a variety of unusual and visually appealing decorative patterned effects by forming in the fabric open, shear areas of various size and shape having an appearance contrasting with adjacent, substantially heavier areas. The fabric comprises warp and weft yarns of corespun construction interwoven with one another to form a substantially uniform woven fabric construction. Each of the corespun warp and weft yarns has a continuous multifilament core portion and a sheath portion formed of staple fibers helically wrapped about the core portion to substantially surround and encase the same.

Abstract: An improved method for producing decorative fabric wherein a desired geometric design is imparted to fabric through specific dyeing processes. The fabric is smocked to form ridges and a plurality of dye applications to the smocked article promotes diffusion of the various dyes and associated colors through the fabric. The fabric is additionally stiffened to facilitate controlled, concentrated dye applications, after which, the fabric is returned to its original shape and finished.

Abstract: A precisely controllable moistening arrangement in an integrated finishing and preshrinking range which includes fabric straightening means having the requirement that prior to entry into the fabric straightening apparatus, a precise amount, for example at least 30% but not greater than 50% moisture by weight of fabric, is required in order for optimum straightening, prior to partial drying and preshrinking of the fabric.

Abstract: A woven fabric made from flat warp and weft tapes of polypropylene, such as is currently used as a primary carpet backing, is subjected to a repeated needling operation which breaks down each warp and weft component into a multiplicity of fibrils. This fibrillation of the warp and weft in the woven fabric produces a marked change in the surface of the fabric from a relatively shiny to a relatively matt finish. The fibrillated fabric may be rendered dyeable to a good coloration (similar to the color of dyed face yarns of a carpet) either by including a dyeable material in with the polypropylene from which the tapes are originally formed, or by adhering a dyeable coating to the fibrillated fabric. Further repetition of the needling operation reduces the denier of the fibrils still more and produces a generally softer fabric.

Abstract: A diagonal bias-stretching device and a method of enhancing surface grain of imitation-leather material with such device, which device comprises a reciprocating roller moving between lateral positions on either side of a line of advance of an imitation-leather material, to provide for alternating diagonal stretching and relaxing of the material as it moves under tension in the line of advance.

Abstract: A fabric having open areas is knitted from a plurality of body yarns interspersed at intervals with locking yarns having a lower melting temperature by casting off selected loops in selected body yarns, causing the cast-off loops to unravel toward but not past the respective locking yarn, and heating the fabric to cause the locking yarns to fuse to the touching body yarns, thereby preventing the cast-off loops from unraveling past the respective locking yarn.