US2698044A - Method and apparatus for making pile fabric - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1954 L. A, RUNTON ET AL 2,598,044

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILE FABRIC Filed Sept. 29, 195; e she'ets-she'et 1 Dec.. 28, l 954 Filed Sept. 29, 1953 L. A. RUNTON ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILE FABRIC 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gitomcg Dec. 28, 1954 l.. A. RUNTON ETAL 2,698,044

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILE FABRIC JW 'Hi @0 9a 76 Q /Z 7g (Ittomeg Dec. 28, 1954 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILE FABRIC Filed Sept. 29, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 l.. A. RUNTON ET AL 2,698,044

...I'm' |||||i'| nventors Gttorneg Dec. 28, 1954 L. A. RUNTON ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILE FABRIC 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 29, 1953 @A A 3 @a .www Mmmm a Dec. 28, 1954 L.. A. RUNToN ETAL 2,698,044

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILE FABRIC Filed Sept. 29, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INI/ENTORS 1! TTORNE Y United States Patent Office 2,698,044 Patented Dec. 28, 1954 NIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILE FABRIC Leslie A. Runton, Harrison, and Ewart H. Shattuck,

Ardsley, N. Y., assignors to Alexander Smith, Incorporated, White Plains, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 29, 1953, Serial No. 382,962

18l Claims. (Cl.A 1541-11) Thisinvention relates to a method and apparatus for making pile fabric wherein the pile is secured in a nonwoven backing, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for making a pile lfabric of the above type which has characteristics resembling a woven velvet floor covering.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for the above purpose which can be carried out without the` use of a loom.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus which can be operated at a reduced cost as compared to a standard weaving method and apparatus.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above type which is capable of operating continuously in commercial production for long periods of time and with a minimum of attention.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above type which is capable of operating at a higher rate of sppged than standard looms now producing equivalent fa ric.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for producingv pile fabrics having novel and improved details of construction and features of operation.

Another object is to produce pile fabrics having novel and improved characteristics.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In accordancewith the present invention the Warp yarn is fed from a series of cops spaced around the periphery of a large drum and arranged so that the warp is fed axially of the drum with the individual yarns spaced peripherally thereof. The warp yarns, as they pass along the drum, are coated by spraying or rolling with a quick drying adhesive, after which the pile yarn is wrapped around the drum over the warp yarn and is secured to the warp yarn by the adhesive.

As the pile yarn feeds axially along the drum with the warp yarn, the pile is severed midway between each pair of warp yarns, leaving a series of straight pile lengths attached to the Warp yarn. The Warp is now fed along a contracting cone over guides which bend the two ends of the pile lengths inwardly around' the warp yarn to form inwardly extending pile tufts. The decreasing diameter of the cone serves to decrease the spacing of the warp yarns around the cone to that appearing in the backing of the finished fabric.

A second coating of adhesive is now applied to the warp yarn and filler yarnl is Wrapped around the same and" secured by the second adhesive. The warp yarn carrying the pile tufts and with the filler yarn secured thereto is then passed to a suitable dryer for drying the adhesive. The resultant pile fabric is in the form of a cylinder with the pile tufts on the inside. This cylinder may then be split as desired and opened and the fabric rolled or passed to a further treating stage.

, A further coating or backing of latex may be applied to the back of the fabric to bind the warp and ller yarn securely togetherV into a backing. The fabric may then 'be passed to other finishing steps such as are commonly used in making woven Velvet floor covering.

It will be noted that the fabric so produced' is similar to woven velvet except that the filler and warp yarns are not interlaced as in Weaving, but are secured together by an adhesive, at their` Crossovers.

' Although Vthe novel features which are characteristic of; the, invention are pointed;l out in the claims, the nature of' the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain specic embodiments have been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 6 showing the arrangement of cutting knives and glue applicator;

Fig. 4 is a detail View of the modified form of the adhesive applicator;

5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of 1g.

Fig. 6' is a vertical section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 showing the lower portion of the machine on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 6 showing the upper part of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a partial section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10;

Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views illustrating different forms of the product; and

Fig. 14 is a side elevation similar to Fig. l illustrating a different embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings more in detail the apparatus is shown as comprising a drum 10 (Figs. 1 and 5) which is supported from the oor by brackets 11 disposed on the inside of the drum. The warp yarn 12 is drawn from a plurality of packages 13 which are disposed on a circular table 14, which extends entirely around the drum 10. The packages 13 are shown as arranged in radial rows with passages 15 bet-Ween adjacent rows to provide access for servicing. The warp yarn 12 is drawn from the packages 13 through eyes 16 and is passed through flexible tubes 17 beneath the floor and then upwardly over the outer surface of the drum 10. The various tubes 17 are so disposed around the periphery of the drum 10 that the warp yarns are spaced by a distance equal to twice the pile height. For example, for a onehalf inch pile the warp yarns are spaced an inch apart around the periphery of the drum 10 Pile yarns 20 are fed from packages 21 through guides 22. The packages 21 are supported on a ring 23 which extends entirely around the drum 10 and is supported by roller bearings 24 on a xed ring 25 which is carried by a standard 26. The ring 23 also carries a platform 27 which is disposed at the oor level and is adapted to provide access to the cops 21 for an operator. The ring 23 and platform 27 are driven continuously by a motor 30 (Fig. 6) having a reduction gear in housing 36 from which an output shaft 31 drives pinion 32 engaging a circular rack 33 mounted on a ring 34 which is attached to the ring 23 and is provided with a roller bearing 35 which rides on the underside of the supporting fixed ring 2.5.

The ring 23 also carries a reservoir 33 containing a quick drying adhesive. An applicator roller 39 (Figs. 3-6) is journalled in a frame 40 at the lower end of the reservoir 33 in a position to apply the adhesive to the warp yarns 12 which are disposed around the outer surface of the drum 10.

ln the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 the adhesive is fed through manifold 170, having a valve 171 controlled by solenoid 172, the pipe 173 terminating in nozzles 174 adjacent the respective Warp yarns 12 and disposed to apply they adhesive just prior to the wrapping of the pile yarns to be described. ln this embodiment the solenoid 172 is connected to close the valve, 171 in the event of stop ping of the mechanism and also during shutdowns.

The pile yarns 20, after passing through the guides 22, pass through holes 41 in guide` ring 42 carried on brackets 43 attached to the ring 23 and disposed adjacent the outer Surface of the drum 10. A plurality of packages 21 are disposed on the ring 23 around the periphery of the drum 10 and the pile yarns 20 from the respective packages 21 are fed through individual guide bores 41 to be wrapped around the outside of the drums 10, and around the outside of the warp yarns 12 which are disposed thereon. The guide holes 41 are disposed above the applicator roller 39 so that as the warp yarns move upwardly over the drum 10, a coating of adhesive is supplied thereto and then the pile yarns 20 are wrapped around the drum over the warp yarn carrying the adhesive. The pile yarns are thus caused to adhere firmly to the warp yarns. The speed of rotation of the ring 23 and the number of p1le yarns 20 is so selected with respect to the rate of feed of the warp yarn 12 that the pile yarns are continuously wrapped around the warp yarns in a helical pattern having a pitch such that the spacing between successive pile yarns conforms to the desired spacing of the pile rows in the finished fabric.

A rotating knife 50 (Fig. 3) is disposed on a bracket 51 on the inside of drum 10 and extends through a slot 52 in said cylinder between each pair of Warp yarns 12 and at a point above the wrapping of pile yarn 20. Each rotating knife 50 is provided with a bevel gear 54 driven by a bevel gear 55 on a shaft 56 which is journalled in a bearing in a ring 57 attached to the inside of the drum 10 by brackets 58, and carries on its inner end a pinion 59. A circular rack 60 engages all of the pinions 59. Rack 60 is carried by arms 61 secured in a hub 62 which is rotatable about a fixed rod 63 located at the axis of the drum 10 and carries a bevel gear 64 which is driven by a pinion 65 on a shaft 67 of a motor 68. Rotation of the rack 60 by the motor 68 thus serves, through the pinion 59 and shafts 56, to drive all of the rotating knives 50. The arrangement is such that as the pile yarns 20 feed upwardly past the knives 50 they are cut as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7, to leave a series of spaced lengths 70 attached to the individual warp yarns 12. For making uncut pile loops the knives 50 are omitted.

The upper end of the drum 10 is formed with a curved tiange 71 as indicated in Fig. 6 over which the warp yarns 12 are now guided and passed over the inner surface of a ring guide 73 (Fig. l). The ring guide 73 is of smaller diameter than the surface 71 of the drum 10 and is disposed axially thereof so that the yarns passed thereunder are drawn together in frustoconical formation as they pass from the drum 10 to the ring guide 73. The ring guide 73 is of a diameter such that the warp yarns 12 are brought close together and are spaced generally corresponding to the spacing of the Warp yarn in the finished fabric.

A frustoconical uted guide plate 75 is disposed over the warp yarns 12 as they pass between the top of the drum 10 and the guide ring 73. This plate 75 is supported by brackets 76 from the ceiling 77 and comprises a series of channels 78 (Fig. 9) of progressively decreasing width which are adapted to fold the lengths 70 progressively inwardly around the warp yarns, as indicated in Fig. 8, so as to form U-shaped pile tufts with inwardly extending legs 80 as indicated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11.

When the pile tufts leave the ends of the channels 78 the warp yarns are so close together that the pile tufts are in contact and are substantially rigidly supported against each other so that they cannot open up.

As shown in Fig. 9 the ring 73 is carried by an annular platform S which is journalled for rotation by means of roller bearings 86 and 87 between a fixed ring 88 and a lower bracket 89. Ring 88 is attached to truss members 90 which are attached to the ceiling 77. Strengthening members 91 and 92 extending between the truss members 90 and the brackets 76 provide a rigid structure. The platform S5 carries a circular rack 95 engaging a pinion 96 on the shaft 97 of a motor 98, by means of which the platform 85 is continuously rotated. Platform 85 carries, on brackets 100 (Figs. 1 and 9), a plurality of packages 101 of filler yarn and a reservoir 102 for an adhesive. A pump 103 driven by a motor 104 is provided to maintain air pressure within the reservoir 102 for discharging the adhesive from the reservoir 102 to pipes 103 and nozzle 105 in the form of a spray which is directed against the outer surfaces of the warp yarns and the portions of the pile tufts which are bound thereto. A ring guide 106 is attached to the platform 85 and extends around the outer surfaces of the ring of warp yarns 12 and pile yarns. A fixed cylinder 107 is mounted on the inside of the ring of pile yarn so as to engage and support the inner ends of the pile legs 80 as they pass this zone. The cylinder 107 is attached by suitable means to the fixed rod 63 which is supported from the oor.

The filler yarns 110 are drawn from the packages 101 through eyes 111 and through guide openings 112 in the ring 106 to be wrapped around the outer surface of the warp yarns 12. The speed of rotation of the platform 85 is so selected with respect to the number of filler yarns 110 and the rate of feed of the warp yarns 12 that the filler yarns are wrapped around the warp yarns in a helix of a pitch such that the spacing conforms to the desired spacing of the filler yarns in the finished fabric as indicated in Fig. 9.

The material which is now in the form of a tubular fabric with pile tufts extending on the inside is then passed through a suitable drying chamber (Fig. 1), maintained at a suitable temperature for drying and setting the adhesive and thereby permanently afiixing the filler yarn to the warp yarn. The backing thus formed is similar to a woven backing but without the interlacing of the yarn characteristic of a woven backing. The tubular fabric is then fed upwardly between guide rollers 121 (Fig. 1) and feed rollers 122 which serve to draw the fabric upwardly at the predetermined rate as above mentioned. The fabric may then be slit longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 14, and opened or may be fed to other treating devices as desired.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 14 is similar to that above described except that the apparatus is arranged to feed the material downwardly instead of upwardly. In the apparatus of Fig. 14 a drum 130 is suspended from the ceiling 131. The warp yarns 132 are disposed on packages 133 mounted on a frame 134 suspended from the ceiling 131. The warp yarn is fed through guides 135 and 136, then downwardly around the outer periphery of the drum 130.

The pile yarn is disposed on packages 141 carried on a rotating ring 142 which is driven by a reduction motor 143 through a gear train 144.

The ring 142 also carries a reservoir 146 for quick drying adhesive, which is mounted on a bracket 147 and has an applicator roller 148 for applying the adhesive to the warp yarn 132. As the latter moves downwardly over the surface of the drum 130 the pile yarns 140 are fed from the packages 141 through guides 150 and are wrapped around the warp yarn as in the previous embodiment.

The pile yarns are cut by a plurality of knives which are similar to the knives above described and they are adapted to sever the pile yarns into short lengths as the pile yarns are fed downwardly with the warp yarns over the surface of the drum 130.

The cut pile lengths are folded inwardly by folders 156 similar to the folders above described and the second coating of adhesive is applied from a reservoir 157 mounted on a bracket 158 carried on a ring 159. The reservoir 157 carries an applicator roller 160. A plurality of packages 161 of filler yarns are mounted on the ring 159. The filler yarns are fed from these packages through guides 162 and are wrapped around the pile yarns and adhered thereto by the adhesive which has been applied by the roller in the manner previously described. The ring 159 is driven by a motor 163 through gear train 164.

The fabric in tubular form is now fed downwardly by rollers 165 and may be cut if desired and rolled on a roller 166.

The process steps carried out by the form of Fig. 14 are similar to the process steps carried out in the form of Figs. 1 to 13 above described. It is obvious that other mechanism may also be provided for carrying out the several process steps above mentioned.

It will be noted that in this system the fabric is formed continuously without weaving and the speed of operation is limited only by the rate at which the adhesive dries or sets suiciently to secure the yarns together and by the size of the equipment. For a more rapid operation a larger number of pile yarns and filler yarns are used so as to increase the time available for the drying and settingr of the adhesive..

It is to be understood that a suitable backing such as.

latex may be applied to the back of a finished fabric so as to! impart the necessary body and to cover the pile yarns.

nieuwe@ Various changes and ".modicationsf. may. also: be made4v as will :be-'readil`yapparent toaiperson skilledin theeart'.

Whatiis claimed is: l. Apparatus for makingpile fabric, comprising a cir-v cular'gui'de, meansspacingy a series kof parallel warp yarnsperipherally around said guide to form elements of a cylinder, means feeding said'iwarp yarns' inV an axial di rection with respect to said'cylinder, meansA applying an adhesive to said yarns, means rotating with respect to said cylinder of warp yarnsto wrap a pile yarn around said,

warp yarns'to `be secured thereto Aby said adhesive, means advancing and guiding said cylinderl of warp yarns inwardly intconical formation to decrease the spacing therebetween to that in the finished fabric, means folding the pile yarn inwardly between adjacent warp yarns to form pile tufts, meansadvancing and guiding said warp yarnsfrom said conical formation in theform of a second-cylinderofsmaller diameter than said first cylinder, and means rotatingtwith respect to said last cylinder of warp yarnsto wrap a series of filler yarns therearound to be secured.y adhesively, and tol form a nonwoven backmg with pile` direction with respect to said cylinder, means applying' an adhesive to said yarns,.means rotating with respect to said cylinder of warp yarns to wrap a pile yarn around said warp yarns to be secured thereto by said adhesive, means advancing and guiding said cylinder of warp yarns inwardly in ccnicalformation todecrease the spacing therebetween to that in the finished fabric, means folding the pile yarn inwardly between adjacent warp yarns to form pile tufts, means advancing and guiding said warp yarns from said conical formation in the form of a second cylinder of smaller diameter than said first cylinder, means rotating with respect to said last cylinder of warp yarns to wrap a series ofi'lller yarns therearound and to be secured adhesively, and means setting the adhesive to form a non-woven backing with pile tufts projecting inwardly therefrom and to form a non-woven backing with pile tufts projecting inwardly therefrom.

3. Apparatus for making pile fabric, comprising a circular guide, means spacing a series of parallel warp yarns peripherally around said guide to form elements of a cylinder, means feeding said warp yarns in an axial direction with respect to said cylinder, means applying an adhesive to said yarns, means rotating with respect to said cylinder of warp yarns to wrap a pile yarn around said warp yarns to be secured thereto by said adhesive, means advancing and guiding said cylinder of warp yarns inwardly in conical formation to decrease the spacing therebetween to that in the finished fabric, means folding the pile yarn inwardly between adjacent warp yarns to form pile tufts, means advancing and guiding said warp yarns from said conical formation in the form of a second cylinder of smaller diameter than said first cylinder, means rotating with respect to said last cylinder of warp yarns to wrap a series of filler yarns therearound to be secured adhcsively, means setting the adhesive to form a cylindrical pile fabric with inwardly proiecting pile tufts, and means splitting and rolling said fabric to form a nonwoven backing with pile tufts projecting inwardly therefrom.

4. Apparatus for making pile fabric, comprising a circular guide, means spacing a series of parallel warp yarns peripherally around said guide to form elements of a cylinder, means feeding said warp yarns in an axial direction with respect to said cylinder, means applying an adhesive to said yarns, means rotating with respect to said cylinder of warp yarns to wrap a pile yarn around said warp yarns to be secured thereto by said adhesive, means cutting said pile yarn between adjacent warp yarns to leave a straight length of pile yarn attached to each warp yarn, means advancing and gliding said cylinder of warp yarns inwardly in conical formation to decrease the spacing therebetween to that in the finished fabric, means` folding the pile yarn inwardly between adjacent warp yarns to form pile tufts, means advancing and guiding said warp yarns from said conical formation in the form of a second cylinder of smaller diameter than said rst cylinder, and means rotating with respect to said last cylinder of warp yarns to wrap a series of ller yarns therearound to be secured adhesively and to form a nonwovenbaenng wanjpi'ietufts"projecnngfmwardry there from;

5l Apparatus for making pilefabric, comprising: a

circularf guide, means spacing alseriesr off parallel warp=- Y yarnsjperipherally around said guide to `form elementsjof a' cylinder; means feeding said warp yarns in an airial'- direct-ion withl respect 2 to-'sai'd cylinder,` means i applying anV adhesive tosaidyarns; means rotating with respect tosaid cylinder of'warp yarns to wrap a pile yarn around' said# warp, yarns to besecured thereto yby said adhesive, means:

advancing and" guiding said cylinder of warpfyarnsinwardly in conical formation to'decrease the spacing'there`- between-to that inthe finished fabric, means folding the pile? yarn inwardly between adjacentwarp yarns to form pile tufts, means advancing and guiding said"warpyarns from` saidy comcal formation in the form of a` second cylinder ofg smaller diameter than said first cylinder,

means'applying adhesive to the warp yarns of'said second" cylinder, andfrueans` rotating with respecttosaid lastcylmder of warp yarns towrap a series ofA filler yarns` therearound to be secured adhesivelygandf-to `form a= nonwoven', backing with pile tufts projectinginwardly there from.

6. Apparatus as set forth in' claim l inl which said circular guide comprises a fixed-drum.

7. Apparatus asset forthy inclaim 6in. which aV rotating ring surrounding said drum carries said pile yarns.

8. Apparatus as set forth in-claim 7' in which aV seriest ofpile yarns are carried by said rotating ring and guide ship inabandextending around said drum. j

- 9; Apparatus as set-forth in claim ,8inV which an adhesive applicatoris' carried by said ring to apply'adhesive to said warp yarns in advance of said pile yarns as said ring rotates.

l0. Apparatus as set forth in claim l in which a rotating ring surrounding said second cylinder of wa1p yarns carries said filler yarns.

ll. Apparatus as set forth in claim l() in which said ring carries a series of filler yarns and guide means feeds said series of filler yarns in spaced relation in a band around said second cylinder of warp yarns.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim l1 in which an adhesive applicator is carried by said ring to apply adhesive to said warp yarns in advance of said iiller yarns as said ring rotates.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said cutting means comprises a rotary knife positioned between pairs of adjacent warp yarns in the path of said pile yarn, and means rotating said knives.

14. An apparatus for making pile fabric, comprising a fixed drum, means for feeding a series of warp yarns longitudinally along the surface of said drum with the individual warp yarns spaced around the periphery thereof, means applying adhesive to the warp yarns disposed around said drum, means wrapping a pile yarn around said drum and over said warp yarns to be secured to said warp yarns by said adhesive, means folding said length of pile yarns inwardly around each of said warp yarns, means applying an adhesive to said warp yarns, means wrapping a filler yarn around said warp yarns to be secured thereto by said last adhesive, and means drying and setting said adhesive to form thereby a non-woven backing carrying upstanding pile.

l5. Apparatus for making pile fabric, comprising a fixed drum, a plurality of package supports disposed around said drum and carrying packages of warp yarns, means feeding said warp yarns from said packages longitudinally over the surface of said drum with the individual warp yarns spaced peripherally therearound, a rotating ring disposed around said drum, applicator means carried by said ring to apply adhesive to the warp yarns on said drum, a plurality of pile yarn packages carried by said ring, means rotating said ring for applying said adhesive to said warp yarns and wrapping said pile yarns continuously around said drum over the adhesive carrying surface of the warp yarns, knives carried by said drum between each pair of warp yarns and disposed in the path of said pile yarns to sever the same into individual lengths as the pile yarns are fed along said drum with said warp yarns, means feeding said warp yarns from said drum in a frusto conical formation, a folder disposed over said pile yarns to fold said lengths inwardly and form pile tufts as the pile tufts advance therealong, means feeding said set of warp yarns carrying said inwardly folded tufts forwardly in cylindrical formation of lesser diameter than said drum, a rotating ring surrounding said cylindrical warp yarns, means carried by said last ring to apply adhesive to said warp yarns as they are fed past said last rotating ring, a set of packages of iller yarns carried by said last ring, means guiding said filler yarns to Wrap around the cylindrical surface of said warp yarns to cause said filler yarns to be adhered thereto by said last adhesive, a drying oven, means feeding said fabric composed of ller, warp and pile yarns through said drying oven to set said adhesive to form a non-woven backing with U-shaped pile tufts extending therefrom.

16. The method of making pile fabric, which comprises spacing a series of parallel warp yarns peripherally around a circle to form elements of a cylinder, feeding said yarns axially with respect to said cylinder, applying an adhesive to said yarns, wrapping a pile yarn around said cylinder of warp yarns to be secured thereto by said adhesive, feeding said warp yarns inwardly as elements of a cone to reduce the spacing therebetween and then axially as elements of a second cylinder of lesser diameter than said rst cylinder, folding the pile yarns inwardly between adjacent pairs of warp yarns as the latter advance in conical formation, wrapping a series of iiller yarns around said second cylinder of Warp yarns to be secured thereto adhesively and setting the adhesive to form a fabric in cylindrical form having non-woven backing and pile extending inwardly therefrom.

17. The method of making pile fabric, which comprises spacing a series of parallel warp yarns peripherally around a circle to form elements of a cylinder, feeding said yarns axially with respect to said cylinder, applying an adhesive to said yarns, wrapping a pile yarn around said cylinder of warp yarns to be secured thereto by said adhesive, feeding said warp yarns inwardly as elements of a cone to reduce the spacing therebetween and then axially as elements of a second cylinder of lesser diameter than said rst cylinder, cutting said pile yarn between adjacent pairs of warp yarns to leave a length of pile yarns attached to each warp yarn, folding the pile yarn inwardly between adjacent pairs of warp yarns as the latter advance in conical formation, wrapping a series of filler yarns around said second cylinder of warp yarns to be secured thereto adhesively and setting the adhesive to form a fabric in cylindrical form having non-woven backing and pile extending inwardly therefrom.

18. The method of making pile fabric, which comprises spacing a series of parallel warp yarns peripherally around a circle to form elements of a cylinder, feeding said yarns axially with respect to said cylinder, applying an adhesive to said yarns, wrapping a pile yarn around said cylinder of warp yarns to be secured thereto by said adhesive, feeding said Warp yarns inwardly as elements of a cone to reduce the spacing therebetween and then axially as elements of a second cylinder of lesser diameter than said rst cylinder, folding the pile yarns inwardly between adjacent pairs of warp yarns as the latter advance in conical formation, applying adhesive to the warp yarns of said second cylinder, wrapping a series of ller yarns around said second cylinder of warp yarns to be secured thereto adhesively and setting the adhesive to form a fabric in cylindrical form having non-woven backing and pile extending inwardly therefrom.

No references cited.

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