US2758613A - Wire loom manufacture of pattern pile fabrics - Google Patents

Description

ug. 14, 1956 P. J. scHMlTz WIRE LOOM MANUFACTURE OF' PATTERN PILE FABRICS I Filed May 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I.

INVENTOR PAUL J. SCHMITZ )727 WM @may HQLL ATTORNEYS Aug. 14, 1956 A P. J. SCHMITZ WIRE LOOM MANUFACTURE OF PATTERN PILE FABRICS Filed May 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E "Il INVENTOR PAUL J. SCHMITZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent WIRE L'OGM MANUFACTURE OF PATTERN PILE FABRICS Paul J. Schmitz, Silver Spring, Md.

Application May 29, 1952., Serial No. 290,660

' 24 claims. (ci. 139-39) This invention relates to woven pile fabrics which have pile of different heights formed on their face side during the weaving operation. The pile portion of the fabrics may be all cut so as to form tufts, all loop pile or mixed cut and loop. Sculptured effects are produced in these several forms.

More particularly the invention is directed to the manufacture of these woven pile fabrics in such a manner that the pile may be of different heights in a single warpwise or weftwise row or in both warpwise and weftwise rows.

Prior to the present improvements it was a common practice to insert pile wires parallel to the weft threads, and then pass pile yarns from the fabric over these transverse wires back into the fabric to form pile. It is also known to use longitudinal wires i. e. wires which pass lthrough dents in the reed and which are parallel with warp threads of the fabric being woven. Both these types of weaving are the subject matter of many patents and improvements.

The patterns which can be woven by these prior practices are somewhat limited. This has been recognized for many years and efforts were made to overcome this difficulty. The French Patent 451,065 dated February 1, 1913, explained the difficulty and attempted to remedy it by use of a helical wire which was withdrawn by a torsional or rotary actions. Apparently this method was designed for a hand operation and never attained extensive use, if any. Obvious beating up and other problems are presented and it does not appear suitable for automatic operation.

More recently there has been considerable development work on transverse wire looms in which pile height along a weftwise row is varied by what is termed robbing of previously formed loops of another row. A number of variations of this method appear in the patent literature.

The design of both wires and fabrics of this latter group is somewhat involved. Also it will be seen that the weave must be such that a row of loops or other material is available for being robbed When the robbing method is used there is a row of loops of equal height where a wire was last withdrawn. If the next row of pile formed from the same yarns are tufts, the tufts will not rob the last row of loops. Robbing from tufts is obviously objectionable. These limitations are distinct design restrictions. p

The present improvements are not so limited and unlike the robbing concepts, each row of pile may be substantially independent of all other rows. Also by selective shedding of the pile yarns over wires and the leaving of other pile yarns in the ground an almost limitless field of relief design variations is made available. For example, fabrics may be produced in which weftwise rows or partial rows of loops in which there are loops of different heights, are positioned between similar groups or rows of cut tufts of the same or different height. Warpwise rows of loop and tufts may be in any order or size variation and be made from the same pile yarns which formed the said weftwise rows. For pile fabrics where a single pile yarn ICC is used to form all the pile in a warpwise row, the individual loops or tufts which appear in the row may be readily formed of any desired height and this row may intersect weftwise rows of loops or tufts of various heights in individu-al rows. All that is necessary to varying the pile as suggested is to select and properly position pile wires and to secure the pile in the backing against undesirable robbing.

In multi-colored Wilton Jacquard work, for example, the same condition holds for individual yarns used, although tufts or loops formed in a warpwise row may have intervening loops or tufts formed by another pile yarn. These variations are readily identified by fabric inspection. The term dent relates to the space between reed wires and also to the group of yarns passing through this space during weaving.

Accor-ding to the present improvements, which may be conveniently used in the manufacture of upholstery, carpets and rugs, a set of transverse wires are used with provision for releasing the individual wires from their pile height determining locked position prior to withdrawing the wires from the fabrics. The releasing means are characterized in that they constitute tensioning means for the pile yarns during the loop forming operation. They permit the transverse wires to be released or to be lowered for withdrawal at a subsequent time. A practical releasing means is provided by a set of stationary or sheddable longitudinal wires which are positioned below the transverse wires at the point of insertion of the said transverse wires. As the weaving progresses the transverse wires are advanced to the withdrawal position which is yat a lower or compressible portion of the longitudinal wire or entirely removed from it.

While it is theoretically possible to use a releasing means directly on the transverse wires, this is not feasible except for the coarser pile weaves. The patterns will be less distinct because of the weave and pile length.

It will be understood that in the case of usual upholstery .fabrics the pile formed over the transverse wires will be 1n a height range varying between approximately, .090 and .125 inch above the ground. Carpets and rugs will exceed the one-eighth inch pile height of upholstery fabric, but are seldom over one-half inch and most conventionally are in the one-quarter to three-eighths inch range. Considering the usual number of weftwise rows to the inch of fabric it will be apparent that mechanical wires with moving parts are not suitable for pile heights in the ranges mentioned. They are not recommended at this time for pile below iive-eighths inch in height. The present improvements are not concerned with pile fabrics having pile exceeding three-quarter inch above the ground. Such fabrics do not have sucient pile erection to define a distinct pile pattern. Upholstery fabrics may be 36, 48, 54 or more inches in width, while carpets and rugs will vary from about two to twelve or more feet in width. The releasing of the transverse wires in accordance with this invention, as set forth herein, permits the use of transverse wires which are individually of differentV height along their length. This in turn provides for novel fabrics to be produced.

As explained, the high or raised portions of the wires will pass through the lower loops as the wires are withdrawn. It is advantageous to provide that the variation i of pile height formed is approximately equal to the amount the transverse pile wire must drop before or during withdrawal as this practice provides for more than adequate wire guidance and stability during the withdrawal movement of the wires. A reasonable variation from thisv is permissible especially in the case of the formation of pile loops. stabilizing features may be included in the wires. The transverse wires may conveniently vary from one u another along their length and full or partial twill, herringbone, and other patterns may be formed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a transverse pile wire loom apparatus and method which will produce novel pile fabrics of varying pile height.

Another object is to provide an apparatus and method in which transverse pile wires of different heights along their individual lengths are used in a manner that the top surface of the wires directly determine a relief or sculptured pattern in the nished fabric.

Another object is to provide a method of weaving and the `resulting novel fabrics in which a weftwise row of loops of different heights are the next pile row to a subsequently formed row of cut tufts formed from the same pile yarns.

Another `object is to provide a transverse wire method of weaving multi-color pile `fabrics such as Wilton Jacquard fabrics in which high and low pile appear in individual weftwise rows as desired, and in which the location of high and low pile is independent of the location of other pile loops or cut tufts.

Another object is to produce a transverse wire method and apparatus for producing pilefabrics having a pattern repeat in which repeat there are weftwise rows of pile of predetermined different heights in a row and in which repeat the first and last row each contain pile of different height.

Another object is to provide loom apparatus in which transverse wires are inserted in position with their pile forming surface at one elevation above the ground of the fabric and in which thewires are withdrawn in a lower position with respect to the ground.

Another object is to provide a transverse pile wire of unequal height along its length and which is equipped with a cutting knife at its free end.

Another object is to provide an apparatus and method of wire loom weaving so that selective shedding of the pile produces desired variations of cut and loop pile in either height or location on the face of the fabric.

Another object is to provide supporting and releasing means for the transverse wires.

Another object is to provide supporting means in combination with irregularly shaped transverse wires which supporting means are intimately associated with fabric during weaving.

These and other objects of invention will be manifest from a consideration of the following description claims and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the general arrangement of parts of a transverse wire loom.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic or line view of a fabric illustrating a number of structural variations which may result from the practice of this invention.

Fig. 3 shows a small portion of a weave suitable for upholstery fabrics and in which individual pile yarns form pile as desired in a warpwise row for the length of the fabric.

Fig. 4 shows a small portion of a fabric in which any of a number of sets of yarns are provided for weaving in the ground or for forming pile for a particular dent. Two types of weaves are illustrated.

Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of transverse and supporting longitudinal wires as viewed through the reed wires of the loom.

Fig. 6 is a sheddable longitudinal wire showing a lower portion at its free end over which transverse wires may be withdrawn.

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6, except that a yieldable end portion provides for the lowering of the transverse wire during withdrawal from the fabric.

Fig. 8 shows an arrangement for weaving relatively high pile in which transverse design wires are over and plain wires are under the longitudinal wires or cords.

Fig. 9 is the arrangement of Fig. 8, viewed from the 4 side of the loom, and shows how the top pattern layer of wires may move downwardly for withdrawal.

Fig. 10 depicts a transverse wire with self-contained lowering means and loop tensioning means.

Fig. 11 shows the cutting end portion of a pattern wire with a blade shaped for adding stability to the wire in use and for cutting different heights of loops simultaneously.

Fig. 12 shows two pairs of transverse locking and release wires.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, there is shown a transverse wire loom having conventional parts comprising a frame 10 upon which lay sword 11 and guide roll 12 are mounted. The sword 11 is pivoted at 13, for crankshaft oscillation through pitman 14. At the top of sword 11, is lay beam 15, carrying capped reed 16 in front of which shuttle or needle 17 passes to insert weft yarns or threads. Forwardly of the lay is positioned a wire inserting and withdrawing mechanism 18, on one or both sides of the loom. Support 20 may serve as a fabric guide for the tensioned fabric which moves from the fell at 21, to a take up roll (not shown). The pile wires are inserted and positioned near the fell and are later withdrawn from the woven portion of the fabric as the weaving progresses and are subsequently inserted again.

Ground warp threads 22 and 23 and wires 24 are shed by frames 25, 26 and 27 respectively, whereas jacquard mechanism including comber board 28, cords Z9 and 30, ` heddles 31, 32 and lingoes 33, 345- control the pile yarns 35.

The ground yarns 22 and 23 arc drawn from a warp supply and pass over roil 36, and thence through the heddles and reed dents. The longitudinal wires are secured at 37, pass through guide 38, and in the present improvements provide for the release for withdrawal of transverse wires 39, at least some of which are of irregular shape to form patterns of different pile height.

The pile yarns 3S are maintained under tension in the usual manner as they move to the fell of the fabric through the heddles 31, 32. A downward movement of the heddles after a wire is inserted forces the inside of the loops being then formed against the top of the shaped pile wires. As indicated above the tensioned loops are released by means constituting a tensioning means during the loop forming operation for the pile yarns. The function of the releasing means is first to provide for loops of a size greater than that portion of the shaped wire over which the loops are formed and then to let out the excess length in the loops so the shaped transverse wires can be laterally withdrawn without difficulty.

Fig. `2 depicts a fabric which may be woven on a loom such as illustrated in Fig. l, or on a similar loom. The fabric 40 beginning at the bottom shows a wavy row of weftwise loops 41, followed by four wavy lines depicting the top surface of additional rows. lt will be noted that all four of the rows have the same configuration as the first row `41 but that except for the row 42 preceding the row of tufts 43, depicted by ws. the waves are offset from the row 41. The raised and depressed portions of the row 42, could however be offset from any or all of the other rows or could have a dierent shape. The tufts of row 43 are shown as of different heights weftwise. This is followed by three straight lines 424 representing plain loops of equal size. Following the equal loops are a series of pattern rows of loops offset to the right from the rst row of the series. This series 45. is then interrupted by a row of tufts 46 of equal height.

Above the tuft row 46 is depicted a triangular pattern made of tufts 48 formed on alternate wires to those used in making the pile loops 49. Many variations from the aboveare of course possible. ln fact. the arrange ment shown is merely to illustrate types of variations which may be used.

Fig. 3 represents a fabric construction suitable for npholstery and other uses. Ground warns 50 and 5l interlace with wefts 52. Cut pile and loop pile are formed from pile yarns 53, 54 of next adjacent dents by passing over cutting wires 55 or non-cutting wires 56. It is to be understood that any or all of the wires 55, 56 are of various heights along their length to form individual rows containing pile of unequal height in said row.

The wires 55 and 56 are iirst positioned over Sheddable or stationary longitudinal pile gauges 57 and are not withdrawn until they pass over the end 58 of the gauges 57. Movement over the ends provides a release for the curved top wires. They are withdrawn leaving a row of tufts o1' loops conforming to `the top surface of the wire when in raised position in the fabric. As above explained the diameter or height of the longitudinal wires 57 is sufficient to permit high portions of the wires 55, 56 to pass through the lower loops formed while the wires were supported in their original elevated position.

Fig. 4 shows a double weft plane carpet or rug type of variation. The pile yarns 60 and 6l are selected for shedding at will. Ground warps 6?. and 63 interlace with pairs of wefts 64, 65 and secure stuifer warps 66 in position between them. The interlacing of pile yarns 6i), 61

with the ground wefts shown illustrates possible variations, not all of which might appear in a single fabric. In Fig. 4 as in Fig. 3, pile wires 67 and cutting pile wires 68 are positioned in an elevated position at the right of the view. As the fabric moves to the left in weaving the wires 67 and 68 move downward and may be withdrawn after they reach the lower portion of the wire 69 or after they pass completely ei the wire 69. In either case, of course, it will be the end wire of the series which is withdrawn. Here again it will be noted that curved or irregular top surface wires may be used and withdrawn after release and that the pile and ground interlacing may be so secure as to preclude any robbing of pile. The particular weaves shown do not include many possible variations which are available as a result of each weiitwise row being independent of other rows. There is no difculty in spacing uneven rows of loops by an even or uneven, whole or partial row of tufts, because there is no actual requirement to form an even row at any time. It may, of course, be formed if desired.

Also the wire 69 may be tapered more gradually to effect the release of the transverse wires. rThis is sometimes desirable and the path of the fabric can conveniently compensate for the lowering of the fabric should this be necessary.

In Fig. the relationship of longitudinal wires 70 and transverse pattern wires 71 is shown. The wires 70 pass through the dents formed by reed wires 72 as explained above.

Fig. 6 depicts a Sheddable wire 73 having a flexible end portion 74 for shedding and a slowly tapering release free end 75 over which the transverse wires may be progressively withdrawn. The flexible end 74 is secured to the thicker pile forming portion so as to best adapt the wire to the particular shedding to be used.

Fig. 7 is a similar Sheddable wire. Like end 74, the flexible end 76 is much longer than shown so as to pass through the loom reed and heddles. The right hand portion 77 of the wire is relatively rigid to amply support the transverse wires near the fell of the fabric. The left hand end is flexible at the top 78, so as to yield `to the pressure exerted by pile loops as the pattern wires are withdrawn.

It is desirable that excessive relative movement between the pattern wires and supports be avoided. Where the shedding permits the use of stationary wires no problem is presented as the fabric simply moves forwardly with respect to the secured wires. Sheddable Wires should, however, be selected so that the shedding will not force the wires into the fabric. If the wires used are too stiff a compensating means similar to that shown in U. S. Patent 2,033,250 may be used. The wires may be metaly or plastic and the iiexible shedding portions may be integral therewith or 'attached to it in any of a number of ways. It is apparent that many expedients are available to avoid any damage should excessive movement occur. These include change in form such as degree of taper or of materials, for example, flexible rubber compressible end portions for the longitudinal wires.

Figs. 8 and 9 show an arrangement of pattern formingy top wires 79 supported by longitudinal wires 80 which are in turn supported by transverse supports or wires 81. The wires 79 may vary from each other and be knife wires or loop wires as seen in Fig. 9. Conventionally knife wires are higher than loop wires but they need not be. The wires 81 are all of equal height and are plain. They are inserted as pile wires. A lesser number than shown may be used and they may be inserted alternately with the top wires during weaving. The wires 81 do not remain in the fabric as long as the top pattern wires. The wires '79 and 81 may be inserted alternately from opposite sides of the loom in a known manner. The earlier withdrawal of one or more wires of the wires 81 causes the wire 80 to lose its support and curve ydown and thus release the pile loop tension.

In view of the fact that the wires 81 may be relatively high it is not necessary that the top pattern wires move oif the end of wires 80. In fact, wires 80 may be fed as the weaving progresses and taken up under light tension or cut away as the weaving continues. No claim is made to this longitudinal wire or to its feeding and take up per se. The novel characteristic here as before is the provision of the release means prior to Withdrawal of the top group of wires. The term wire is used generically herein to include plastics and other known types of pile forming supports.

Fig. l() shows a construction in which the support is` inserted with the pattern wire. As above pointed out this is not recommended for the lower pile or high pick fabrics mentioned because thev thinness of wires usable will preclude its use. An end or handle 84 connects to the inserting and withdrawing means. Attached to 84 is a U-shaped channel member or base 85 with a series of cams 86 at its inside bottom. The wire 87 may move in the channel number 85 and be raised and lowered as it moves. Stops 88, 89 keep the wire 87 within the channel. The wire S7 is normally held in raised position by a spring 9d forcing it to the right. Projections 92 on wires 87 ride the cams 86. A knife 94 is secured at 95 to the fixed free end of the member 85. A spring 93 secured to the wire at one end and movable into the recess shown pre-tensions the loops prior to their beingr severed by the knife 94. The portion 85 moves rst in withdrawal. The pile loops retain the wire 87 until the cams 86 permit lowering of the wire S7 after which both S5 and 87 move together.

Fig. l1 shows a pattern transverse wire 96 in which depressed and raised portions 97, 98 form the loop pattern. After the wire 96 drops down and the wire begins its withdrawal, all the loops approach the knife blade 99 secured at 100. The lines 102, 103 represents high and low loops. The blade is formed concave and can simultaneously sever high and low tufts. This provides a stabilizing feature for use in fabrics with substantial pile height variation. It is not essential to the broad concept of invention. It will be noted that the portions of the wire which form the highest loops are approximately as high or higher than any portion of the wire up to cutting blade 99. This enables each of the loops formed to approach the cutting blade without attempting to rob from the pile in the fabric. If the pile were easily movable from the last formed loop or the ground and an enlargement placed in front of the knife, robbing would occur. There is no requirement for this enlargement unless sorne robbing is desired and W or other fast weaves can be used as explained above.

Fig. l2 depicts the use of a usual plain transverse wire 112 as the loop tensioning and length compensating means. The wire 112 is secured in position over part of the unequal loops which are formed over the adjacent wire 113 until the said wire 112 is withdrawn prior to the withdrawal of wire 113. The fabric ground is formed of warps 105vv andI 106, which may be thicker than the pile yarns, stuffer warps 107, Lipper wefts 103 and lower wefts 109. Pile yarns 110 pass over wires 113 which have high and lower portions for forming a row of unequal or graduated height pile. The pile yarns 111 secure the wires 112 in position until they are laterally withdrawn in the usual way. This releases wire 113 for subsequent withdrawal. It may be noted that either yarns 11() or 111 may form all or part of the difiercnt height pile by changing the shedding sequence. While the patterns are limited to some extent, attractive patterns may be formed. The pile 111, for example, may pass between the ground and'wire 113 before moving into the ground or additional securing pile may be used. In any case the secured wire 112 cooperates with the pattern wire 113 within the loops to tension the pile yarns during the formation of the loops and to. take up the excess length necessary to remove the wire without substantial robbing of pile yarn from outside the loops. This permits any desired ground interlacing with many patterns. The patterns are determined by the relative positions of the raised and `depressed portions of inserted wires.

From the detailed description it will be apparent that a great number of new pile fabrics have been made available by the practice of the method set forth and that this results from the fact that the ultimate pile pattern is formed directly on its particular wire. This feature in turn is closely related to the fast pile weaves and complex ground and pile interlacings which give the same result as the fast W weaves relative to preventing slippage of pile. Not only do novel fabrics result from the practice of the method but production of other fabrics is greatly simplitied. For example, an all cut pile may be subjected to a shearing machine after removal from the loom. It may be made wholly by the weaving process of the present improvements. These improvements also provide for the use of special pile yarns such as nub yarns or others which are irregular and which could not be subjected to robbing operations without damage to the yarn, fabric or the machine. Weaving with the transverse wires moving off supports will be advantageous even in certain types of robbing concepts as even a small amount of easing on the pile yarn tension will facilitate the starting of the withdrawal .movement and different height supports will vary the pattern.

While different arrangements have been shown, they all provide for the formation of loops larger than the transverse pattern wire positioned within the loops and for additional means within the fabric as the weaving progresses for first maintaining the pile yarns under tension by taking up the excess length and then for releasing the wire for withdrawal. Further, and important, because of the width, pile height and density of the cortemplated fabrics as well as the neness of usable wire, the pile forming wires are supported entirely across the width of the fabric and hence do not bow.

Having described my invention but not desiring to be limited to the specific arrangement shown, I claim:

l. In a method of weaving pile fabrics having a ground portion and a pile portion including pile of various heights on a transverse wire loom equipped with ground forming warp threads and pile forming warp yarns, the steps which consist of inserting a transverse pile wire having relatively raised and depressed portions along its top surface, supporting said wire in a position spaced above the ground of the fabric being woven, forming a row of pile loops over raised and depressed portions of the wire to form pile loops of different heights, lowering and withdrawing said wire transversely while it is in lowered position So that the raised portions of the wire will pass under the lower loops of pile formed.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, further defined in that the transverse wire has a cutting surface near its f5 free end, and that the different height loops are severed to form cut tufts as the wire is withdrawn from the fabric.

3. ln a method of weaving pile fabrics having a ground portion and pile of various heights on a transverse wire loom equipped with ground forming warp threads and pile forming warp yarns, the steps which consist of inserting a transverse pile wire having relatively raised and depressed portions along its top surface, maintaining said wire in a position spaced above the ground of the fabric being woven by forces acting perpendicular to the fabric, forming tensioned pile loops of different lengths over said wire, and subsequently releasing and withdrawing said wire transversely while it is in released position so that the raised portions of the wire will pass under the lower loops of pile formed without substantial drawing of yarn from outside any of the formed loops.

4. The method of claim 3, further defined in that the ground warps are interwoven with a single set of weft threads as the weaving progresses and that the pile forming yarns are interwoven with a plurality of weft threads before being formed into pile loops.

5. The method of claim 3, further defined in that the ground warps are interwoven with weft threads, that the weft threads are inserted in spaced pairs, and that the pile yarns are Secured in the ground with sufficient firmness to prevent substantial robbing of pile yarns from one loop to another during the weaving process.

6. ln a .method of weaving pile fabrics which have a ground portion and a pile portion including pile of various heights on a transverse wire loom equipped with ground forming warp threads and pile forming warp yarns, the Steps which consist of progressively inserting transverse pile wires, at least one of which wires has relatively raised and depressed portions along its top surface, supporting said wires in a position spaced above the ground of the fabric being woven, forming loops over raised and depressed portions of an individual wire to form loops of different height, progressively lowering and withdrawing said wires while they are in lowered position so that raised portions of a wire may pass under the lower loops of pile formed on said wire.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6, further defined in that one or more of the pile wires having relatively raised and depressed portions have a cutting surface near their free end and that formed loops are severed as the wires are withdrawn in lowered position.

8. In a method of weaving pile fabrics on a transverse wire loom equipped with ground warps and pile warps, the steps which consist of progressively inserting transverse pile wires as the weaving continues, said wires including wires having relatively raised and depressed portions on their top surface and said wires including one or more which have a cutting surface near their free ends, supporting said wires in a position spaced above the ground of the fabric being woven, forming pile loops over each of said wires, progressively lowering and withdrawing all Of said wires while they are in lowered position, said progressive order including the positioning of a cutting wire after an unequal loop producing wire so that next adjacent rows of pile formed from the same pile yarn will be formed from said two wires.

9. The method of claim 8, further defined in that the knife wire between said loop wires severs loops to form tufts of equal height in the row.

l0. In a transverse pile wire loom, a transverse pile wire, means for inserting and withdrawing said wire, said transverse wire having a top surface with relatively raised and depressed portions along its length, means for positioning said Wire with its top surface at a predetermined elevation above the ground of the pile fabric being woven on the loom to form pile, and means for subsequently releasing said wire and withdrawing it at a lower level relative to the said ground as the weaving progresses.

l1. In a transverse wire loom. a reed.I transverse pile wires forwardly of the reed, means for inserting and withdrawing said wires progressively, at least some of said wires having a top surface with relatively raised and depressed portions along their length, means for positioning said transverse wire surfaces at predetermined elevations relative to the ground on the pile fabric being f woven on the loom, said means being positioned to support the transverse wires along the length of the wire while it is inserted in the fabric, and means for subsequently releasing said wires and withdrawing them progressively and at a lower level relative to lsaid ground as the weaving progresses.

12. The combination of claim l1, further defined in that the supports for the transverse wires are in position between the ground warp threads of the fabric and the wires as the weaving progresses.

13. The combination of claim l1, further defined in that supporting means for the transverse wires pass through the reed dents and are secured against undesirable forward movement within the fabric during weaving by means positioned rearwardly of the reed.

14. In a method of weaving pile fabrics having ground warp and weft threads and pile of various heights on a transverse wire loom equipped with ground forming warp threads and pile forming warp yarns, the steps of inserting a transverse pile wire having relatively raised and'depressed portions along its top surface between the ground and pile forming yarns, forming pile loops of different lengths over said wire, said formed loops beingof a length greater than can be fully filled by the portion of the transverse pile wire over which they are formed,

4simultaneously with said loop forming, maintaining pile warp tension and forcing the inside of the loop against the top surface of the transverse wire by taking up the excess length in the loops so that the top of the transverse wire will determine the variation in pile height, releasing the transverse pile wire by releasing the loop ten sion and letting out the excess length of loops, and then laterally withdrawing the transverse wire through the tension released loops.

15. The combination of claim 14, further defined in that the ground and pile yarns are rmly interlaced against pulling of pile yarn from outside the loop afterY loop formation in weaving.

16. The combination of claim 14, further defined in that the excess length of the formed loops is taken up by a partially overlying transverse pile wire, that said overlying transverse wire is secured to the ground by pile yarns and is withdrawn prior to the withdrawal of the transverse pattern wire within the loops.

17. In a transverse wire loom having means for inserting and withdrawing a pile wire as the weaving progresses, a transverse pile wire having a surface with relatively raised and depressed portions along vits length so that tensioned pile loops of different height may be formed with the aid of the wire during weaving, means for releasing the tension on pile loops formed with said wire at a time prior to withdrawal of said wire by the withdrawing means.

18. A transverse pile wire for transverse pile wire looms equipped with means for progressively inserting and withdrawing a series of pile wires during weaving, said pile wire having a securing end and a free end and having an inclined exposing cutting edge near its free end, said wire having a plurality of different heights along t 10 its length between the cutting edge and the securing end and having a yielding tensioning means by which pile loops are tensioned as they approach the cutting edge and are cut.

19. The combination set forth in claim 17 further dened in thatfthe means-for releasing the tension of the pile loops includesy another pile wire and that release is effected by the relative movement of wires as the weaving progresses. Y

20. The combination set forth in claim 17 further defined in that the means for releasing the tension on the pile loops includes longitudinal wires spaced a plurality of reed dents from each other transversely across the loom, and that said spaced longitudinal wires support the transverse wires in a position spaced above the groundat the point of insertion of the transverse wires and provide a lowering path for said transverse wires before they reach their point of withdrawal.

21. A transverse pile wire for transverse wire looms equipped with means for progressively inserting and withdrawing the wires of a series during weaving, said wire including a base portion having a channel extending across that portion of its -top surface over which pile loops are formed, a moveable pattern forming wire portion mounted for bodily sliding laterally and vertically in said channel, and means including a cam for raising or lowering said pattern forming portion as it is moved laterally along said channel. l

22. The combination ofclaim 2l further defined in that the `base portion has a pile cutting means near one end.

23. The combination of claim 21 further defined in that the cam is positioned within the pile forming portion of the base portion and that there are means near an end of the base portion to vmove the pattern forming wire yportion relative to said cam.

24. Av transverse pile wire for transverse wire looms equipped with means for progressively inserting and withdrawing the wires of a series during weaving, said wire including a base portion having a channel extending across that portion of its top surface over which pile loops are formed, a movable pattern forming wire mounted for sliding laterally and vertically in said channel, and spring means tending to maintain said movable pattern forming wire in its vertically uppermost. position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,647,600 Behrman Nov. l, 1927 2,164,090 Shuttleworth June 27, 1939 2,225,452 Jacobsen Dec. 17, 1940 2,430,559 Dacey Nov. 11, 1947 2,516,465 Jackson July 25, 1950 2,546,261 Groat Mar. 27, 1951 2,553,303 Crawford May 15, 1951 2,576,791 Jackson Nov. 27, k1951 2,590,608 Groat Mar. 25, 1952 2,609,004 St. Jean Sept. 2, 1952 2,674,269 l Groat Apr. 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS f 273,409 Great Britain July 6, 192 670,127 Great Britain Apr. 16, 1952 17,905 Germany May 25, 1882

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