US3727433A

US3727433A - Method and apparatus for warp knitting hook and loop fasteners

Info

Publication number: US3727433A
Application number: US00090415A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Hamano
Original assignee: INT KNITLOCK CORP
Current assignee: Velcro Industries BV; INT KNITLOCK CORP
Priority date: 1970-11-17
Filing date: 1970-11-17
Publication date: 1973-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-17
Also published as: AU2438071A; FR2123775A5; DE2105639A1; BE762387A; CA923718A

Abstract

Novel warp knitting apparatus is disclosed for producing a knitted pile fabric suitable for use in a hook and loop fastener. In conjunction therewith, means are disclosed for heat setting the pile and for cutting pile loops to form hooks.

Description

Uniwd States Patent 1 1 Hamano 5] Apr. 17, 1973 [5 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 2,601,770 7/1952 (361651111111 ..66/l47 W ARP KNITTING HOOK AND LOOP 2,020,694 11/1935 Maun'tsch et al.. ..66/147 1,758,665 5/1930 Hofner ..66/ 147 FASTENERS 2,650,486 9/ 1953 Planning ....66/86 [75] Inventor: Hisashi Hamano, Soka, Japan 3,464,235 9/1969 Salway /86 2,339,153 1/1944 Cotterill ....66/86 [73] Assngnee: Internahonal Kmtlok rp r n, 3,092,935 6/1963 Matthews, ..66l8 4 New York, N.Y. I Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum [22] Filed 1970 Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor & [21] App]. No.: 90,415 Adams ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl. ..66/84, 66/86, 66/147 [51] int. Cl. ..D04b 23/06 8 l P i q i for produc' 58 Field of Search ..66/86, 125 A, 149, afknmed P g m a zf 66/147. 28/74 76 oop astener. n congunctmn erew1 means are sclosed for heat settmg the pfle and for cuttmg plle loops to form hooks. [56] References Cited 12 Claims, 43 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,530,687 9/1970 Hamano: ..66/84 PATENTEDAPR 1 H973 3 727, 433

SHEET 02 0F 11 INVENTOR. HISASHI HAMANO BYg ne w, W/ 22,44 aw ATTORNEYS PATENTED 1 3,727, 433

Sum 03 [1F 11 IN NTO HISA HAM o ATTOR N E YS PATENTED 1 3, 727. 433

sum an [1F 11 INVENTOR. HISASHI HAMANO WM ATTORNEYS PATENTEBAPR 1 7107s SHEET 05 0F 11 INVENTOR. HISASHI HAMANO BY W,

ATTORNEYS PATENTEU 1 7 I975 3, 727, 433

SHEET 06 [1F 11 Mg HIISIKIVENTOR. I

k w L I LHO BY/ /SHI EAMANO/ w i fzm ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAFR 1 71373 3 [27, 433

SHEET 07 [1F 1 1 l U l- |8 INVENTOR.

HkSASHI HAMANO BY M W m wafi ATTORNEYS PATENTED 3.727.433 v szazn 080$ 11 INVENTOR. HISASHI HAMANO ATTORNEYS PATENTED APR] 715173 SHEET 10 0F 11 INVENT HISASHI HA A 0 ngage, 174 M ATTORNEYS PATENTH] APR 1 7 I975 SHEET 1.]. UF 11 FIG. 35

FIG. 34

FIG. 37

FIG. 36

INVENTOR. HISASHI HAMANO Y W W,W%

ATTORN EYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WARP KNITTING HOOK AND LOOP FASTENERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional methods for knitting a pile fabric include adding a special sinker to a round knitting machine or employing a Raschelle machine equipped with straight needles arranged against a row of knitting needles. When a warp knit is required as the knitted base fabric, the latter method has been conventionally employed, i.e., the thread to be formed into the piles is applied to the straight needles and then it is knitted into the basic pattern. Immediately after the completion the knitting-in action, the straight needles are drawn away from the pile. If these two sequences of operation could be completed in one action, it is estimated that the efficiency of the production would be doubled. Also, as stated above, as the piles are drawn away from the needles immediately after the completion of the knitting action, this type of operation has the shortcoming that the shape of the piles cannot be securely maintained when the knitting operation is completed. This adverse tendency is especially conspicuous when a high rigidity thread of the piles is employed. It is one purpose of the present invention to rectify these shortcomings so that fabric material can be warp knitted efficiently with stable and orderly piles. It is furthermore a purpose of the invention to disclose methods and means for producing a pile fabric suitable for use in strip form as either the hook or loop portion of a hook and loop fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, warp knitting apparatus comprises means for warp knitting a pile fabric having a series of upstanding loops joined to a knitted base fabric and means for maintaining the loops as they are knitted thereafter in an orderly series. The material used may be, for example, a heat settable nylon and in the case where it is desired to convert the loop pile into a series of hooks, the invention provides novel means for heat setting the pile fabric while the loops are maintained in a uniform upstanding position. Thereafter, the invention furthermore provides means for fixing the fabric so that it cannot unravel when loops are cut into hooks, various cutting means further being disclosed for this later purpose.

These and other aspects of the invention will be readily apparent upon a detailed examination of the following specification and of the accompanying draw- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a warp knitting machine incorporating novel means for warp knitting pile fabric in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of means for applying water and oil to a yarn prior to knitting;

FIGS. 2A-2F illustrate the knitting sequence showing needles and yarn guides to form the pile fabric of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of portions of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of needle guides;

FIG. 5 illustrates the loop pile sequence and the interengagement therewith of a base knitted fabric employing one yarn for the base fabric;

FIG. 6 is shown similar to FIG. 5 wherein two yarns are used to form the base fabric;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation section showing novel means of the invention for heat setting for the pile fabric;

FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction of FIG. 8--8 of FIG. 7; v

FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary details of an alternate drive means for the roller apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 11-15 illustrate one form of cutting apparatus used to convert loops into hooks; I

FIG. 16 is a perspective illustration of an alternate form of cutter for converting a series of loops into hooks;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the cutter shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 18-18 ofFIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 19-19 ofFIG. 17;

FIG. 20 illustrates the interrelationship of the cutter plate and cam actuation mechanism shown in FIG. 16;

FIGS. 21 and 22 are details illustrating the position of the cutters in relation to loops during the cutting operation;

FIG. 23 is an alternate cutting apparatus as shown in perspective;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 shows the relationship of the apparatus of FIG. 23 to two adjacent loops during cutting thereof;

FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate alternate cutting heads suitable for use in the apparatus of FIG. 23;

FIG. 28 is another form of cutting apparatus;

FIGS. 29 and 30 are sequential illustrations of the apparatus of FIG. 28 cutting rows of loops; and taken on line 29-29 of FIG. 28;

FIGS. 31 and 32 are schematic illustrations of knitted pile fabric which can be produced according to the present invention;

FIGS. 33 and 34 illustrate the anchoring of loops and of hooks in a fabric base by means of plastic fully impregnating said base;

FIG. 35 illustrates anotherjmanner in which pile is anchored to the base fabric without impregnating said fabric and;

FIGS. 36 and 37 illustrate the looped portion of a hook and loop fastener.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2A of the drawings, a knitting machine modified in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated. The machine has yarn guide bars consisting of warp guides 1, 2 and 3.

Bars

1 and 3 are threaded with

base threads

5 and 7. Guide bar 2 is threaded with a yarn 6 which will become a looped pile in the form of series loops 6' as indicated in FIG. 2a. The aforementioned guide bars do not make any movement to the left or right and make forward and backward movements only (i.e., toward and away from the plane of the paper).

Between the battens is mounted a metallic lancette 8 whose upper part 8 is attached fixedly to the machine base. The lower end of the lancette 8 is free and the lancette extends throughout its length parallel to a guide plate 10.

As best seen in FIGS. 2A-2F, a row of needles 9 of the latched or flapped type is aligned on a needle base 30 to the left of the guide plate 10. The needles have a combined vertical and sideways flipping or pivotal action which is imparted by an articulated lever and camming system.

The knitting sequence according to FIGS. 2A-2F will be described as follows: At the start of thesequence FIG. 2A the needle 9 begins to rise. FIG. 2B shows the needle 9 fully risen with the

yarns

5, 6 and 7 having cleared the latch 9'. In FIG. 2C the needle 9 has moved to a somewhat horizontal position in front of the lancette 8, that is on the side thereof where it engages pile yarn'6 and the base fabric yarn 7. In FIG. 2D the needle has moved beyond the lancette 8 drawing with it

yarns

5 and 7 which are base fabric yarns and the pile yarn 6. By so doing, the pile yarn 6 is pulled around the lancette 8 to form a loop 6. FIG. 2E shows the movement of needle 9 in a downward direction with the latch 9 being closed by the preceding stitch so that all three

yarns

5, 6 and 7 are within the hook of the needle. In FIG. 2F the needle continues its downward direction to pull the yarns through the preceding stitch thereby forming a new stitch and completing the knitting sequence.

An example of the knitting pattern formed by the above process is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 6, the

. base thread 5 is the weft and the base 7 is the warp, the

two together forming the base knitted fabric pattern. The pile thread 6 forms the pile after being formed over the lancettes 8. The relative positions of the pile thread guide barsz2 and the iancette 8 as shown in the drawings 2A and 2F are so arrangedthat the guide bar 3 shiftsby one gradation so that the pilethread 6 goes over the lancette 8. That is, the latched needle knits the piles into the base pattern and then the pile thread alone goes over the Iancette so that the pile thread concette spacing and by varying the range of action or the number of yarn guide.

The portion of the knitting apparatus which causes the vertical and sideways flipping action of the needles 9 will now be described. The row of flapped needles 9 are installed in a needle base 30 supported by a pivotable mount 29. At, the approximate top of mount 29 a .pin 27 is provided, attached thereto in such a manner as to permit free rotation of mount 29. Also attached to the pin 27 is the lever 26 whose opposite end is rotatably attached to a shaft 25. At the approximate center of the lever 26 is a rotatable pin connection 24v connecting lever 18 thereto. The lower end of lever 18 is connected by pin 17 to cam follower support 16. The latter is rotatably connected to shaft 12 and has two

cam followers

50, 51 which traverse cams 53 and 54 (FIG. 3).

Cams

53 and 54 are affixed to drive shaft 13. The purpose of having the two

cams

53, 54 is to provide a positive engagement of

followers

50, 51

' lubricated before passingto the needles which will therewith at all times, resulting in a vertical actuation of lever 18.

To one end of the mount 29 which supports needle base 30, is a pin connection 28. An arm 60 is rotatably connected to mount 29 by means of the pin 28 at one end and at the other end thereof is rotatably connected to a bell crank 61 by a pin 62. Bell crank 61 is pivoted by pin 63 which is affixed to the machine structure. The

end of the bell crank opposite the pin conn'ection62- is rotatably connected to a pin connection 64 which joins the bell crank and a lever 23 whose opposite end is pivotedly connected to a second cam follower support 66. The latter has cam followers 67, 68 which positively engage cams 69, 70. The cam follower support 16 is pivoted about shaft 12 and cams 69, 70 are driven by shaft 13 (see FIG. 3). The purpose of cams 69, 7 0, cam

follower support 66 and the

connections

23, 61, 60

linking with the needle mount 29 is to provide a generally sideways motion to the mount 29 in concert with the generally vertical motion imparted to mount 29 by cam follower support 16 and connecting

linkage

18 and 26. Thus the needle mount support 29 is capableof imparting to the row of needles 9 the combined vertical and sideways or flipping. action as has been heretofore described in FIGS. 2A-2F.

The invention further includes novel means'of guidfact that the section 72a slants back from the guide 10 at the angle indicated provides a surface against which the knitting action takes place that is, as each new stitch is formed by the needles 9 as shown in FIG. 2F,

the old stitch will tend to be held against the top edges 72b of the plate 72 as the needles 9 pull the yarns through the preceding stitch. It has been found that by employing the guide plate 72 an optimum effect will be obtained in minimizing distance between the top of the needle 9 and the top of the guide plate 72 when utilizing a thick fiber, for example a mono-filament fiber for the piles 61, thereby increasing the density of the knitted fabric when utilizing thick fibers. As explained I above, the use of the plate 72 will assure accuracy of the needles, thereby making it possible to-ope'rate' at high efficiency and also making it possible to obtain a high density pile knitted fabric sheet utilizing thick fibers.

Referring to FIG. 2, a beam 200 containing yarn 201 is shown partially immersed in a water bath 202. After passing over guide roller 203 the yarn passes under a second guide roller 204 which causes the yarn to pass through an oil bath 205. The yarn thereafter passes to the needles. The purpose of the apparatus of FIG. 2 is to provide greater flexibility of yarns such as nylon for example by impregnating them first with water. Then, by coating them subsequently. with oil the yarns are prevent wear of the needles and will offset the harmful effects of water impregnated yarn upon the needles.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there has been illustrated further portions of the knitting apparatus of the present invention which are utilized to heat set fibers so that during a subsequent operation, the loops 6' may be cut to form resilient hooks. Accordingly, as the knitting action proceeds, a series of loops 6 will progress downwardly along each lancette 8 together with the backing or base fabric. As the pile loops 6' proceed down the plate 10, the knitted sheet consisting of both loops and base fabric, is pulled out by

pullout rollers

80, 81 provided at the lower part of the machine. Since the knitted sheet becomes free of the lancette 8, the sheet would ordinarily become relatively distorted especially since considerable force is necessary to withdraw from the lancette. The effect of the withdrawing force would also be felt upon the needles if transmitted thereto and would affect the knitting action. Consequently the present invention provides a fluted guide roller 82 at the upper end of the guide plate which engages the knitted pile 6' and which will stabilize the movement of the newly knitted sheet. At the same time the roller 82 performs the auxiliary function of feeding the newly knitted sheet in a downward direction along the lancettes 8.

As can best be seen with respect to FIG. 8, the roller 82 is supported by a shaft 82 supported by end bearings 83. The end of shaft 82 is driven by a chain 84 connected to a suitable source of power such as an electrical motor for example (not shown) which will be geared appropriately. A second roller 85 is located below the roller 82 and is joumalled and supported within

arms

86, 87 which are mounted to fixed

pivot shafts

88, 89. At their upper ends, the

arms

86, 87 are attached to an adjusting mechanism which includes a pair of adjusting screws 91 for moving the

arms

86, 87 toward or away from the knitted sheet. The function of the roller 85 is to contact the newly released pile loops as they pass from the lancette 8 and to cause the loops to be in an upstanding position. The roller 85 is driven by means of a chain link belt 92 which receives power from shaft 82' of roller 82.

FIGS. 9 and 10 disclose an alternate mechanism for driving the

rollers

82 and 85. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the needle mount 29 is connected to an arm 94 which has at its upper end a one-way clutch mechanism 95 interconnecting the arm 94 and shafts 82 of roller 82. The arrangement is such that as needle mount 29 moves, it will impart a one-way movement to the roller 82 through the agency of the arm 94 and clutch 95. The lower roller 85 is connected to the roller 82 by a chain link belt 92 and will therefore be driven at the same time.

Referring again to FIG. 7, the apparatus of the present invention includes an oil bath chamber 97 containing a quantity of oil 98 which is kept at an elevated temperature suitable for heat setting the particular fiber for instance nylon. The oil 98 is heated by a heater element 99 controlled by a thermostat 100. Oil is circulated by means of a screw type impellor 101 to maintain the oil at an even temperature throughout the chamber 97. After being heat set, the knitted sheet will pass into a lower chamber 102 which contains a quantity of oil maintained at a cooled temperature by a suitable means. The knitted sheet is picked up by rollers 81 103, and 104 and then passes out of the cooling oil as seen at the upper left of FIG. 7.

Since the heated oil in chamber 97 is positioned above the cool oil chamber 102, there will be very little tendency for the heat within chamber 97 to migrate downward. Both the heat chamber 97 and the cooling chamber 102 below are designed in accordance with the processing speed of the knitted sheet to effect a complete heat treatment of the sheet. It will be noted that the lancette 8 extends a considerable distance into the heated oil bath and this is done so that the fiber of the loops will have their shape heat set prior to their removal from the lancette.

Rollers

80, 81 will be driven by suitable motors. Roller 103 has protruding needles 103' so arranged as to allow the looped pile to penetrate into the needles which protects the pile from being pressed or crushed.

After being heat treated the sheet is ready for further processing to convert the loops of the pile into resilient hooks. It will be understood that this is done when it is desired to produce the hooked portion of a hook and loop fastener. To produce the loop portion of such a fastener, it is not necessary to heat treat the knitted sheet after it is produced by the described knitted action. Rather, the pile yarn 6 would most likely consist of a multi-filament instead of a single mono-filament and the looped pile would be processed by being napped or brushed to cause optimum disorientation of the pile. However, where it is desired to produce the hooked portion of the hook and loop fastener the pile thread will generally consist of a single mono-filament such as nylon fiber which must be heat treated prior to cutting to form hooks. The heat treating procedure has just been described. We shall now describe several embodiments of cutting apparatus for converting looped pile produced in accordance with the present invention into hooks.

One form of cutting apparatus is shown. in FIGS. 11-15. The apparatus comprises a central stationary toothed guide sandwiched between the upper and lower cutters 111,112. The guide 110 is anchored to the cutter frame 113. Spring biased nuts 114, secure the cutter plates 1 1 1, 112 by attachment to

bolts

116, 117 and by being held between upper and

lower plates

118, 119.

Oversize openings

120, 121 in

plates

112, 111 permit sideways movement of the cutter plates. Such movement is caused by a drive bar 122 whose tongue 122 engages within grooves of a similar shape in the

cutters

111, 112. As best seen in FIG. 15, each of the loops 6' will first be picked up by the toothed ends of the guide 110 which will hold the loops while the sideways action shears through one leg only of each upstanding loop.

With respect to the apparatus of FIGS. 16-20 the stationary guide support 132 supports the guides 136 which are projected parallel to one another at one end thereof, and the tip ends of the guides 136 are aligned on one straight line. The guides 136 are inserted into the loops whenthe cutting operation of the said loops is effected in order to firmly support the loops in a vertiically erected position. The support 131 of the movable cutting blades is positioned on top of the surface of the stationary guide 132 so that the support 131 of the movable cutting blades slide upon the surface of the stationary guide support 132 in a perpendicular direction to the straight line formed by the tip ends of the guide 136. The arrow shows the direction in the drawing which shall hereinafter be referred to as the forward direction.

The support 131 for the movable cutting blades further supports the cutting blades 135 which are projected in the forward direction and arranged parallel to one another on one end thereof. The relationship between the cutting blades 135 and the guides 136 is,

as shown in FIG. 17, such that the cutting blades 135 are projected into every other valley between the guides 136. Also, on both sides of the support 131 for the movable cutting blades, the wall guides 134, 134' are fixed so as to regulate the sliding direction of the support 131'. A sliding body 133 is installed upon the surface of the support 131 and wall guides 134, 134', and the sliding body 133 is actuated reciprocally in a parallel direction to the'straight line formed by the tip ends of the guides 136 shown by arrow in the drawing which direction shall hereinafter be referred to as the sidewise direction. Further, the wall guides 144, 144' are fixed to the wall guides 134, 134' of the support 131 of the movable blades in such a manner that the wall guides 144, 144 directly cover the surface of the sliding body 133 in order to regulate the reciprocal ac- I tion of the sliding body.

that'the cam is fitted into a cam channel 143 provided in such a manner that the cam channel is a pre-determined angle in a forward direction to the support 131 for'the movable blades. A wheel 140 is installed at the top end of the cam shaft 137, and the wheel 140 is screwed to the setting bolts 142, which are fixed to the sliding body 133, by set screws 141. In FIG. 18 a support base 149 is positioned so as to confront the cutting device, and the backing 148, which supports the loops 147 on a flat surface, is shifted in the direction of the arrow upon the support base 149 by suitable means. The support base 149 is borne by a base 152 through an adjusting screw 153. The inclination of the base 149 can be adjusted through screw 153, which centers on the end of the bearing 151.

FIG. 20 shows the mechanism for actuating in a sliding motion the support 131 for the movable blades in the forward direction. As mentioned above, when the sliding body 133 is reciprocally actuated in the sidewise direction, the eccentric cam 139 which is incorporated into the sliding body 133 through the cam shaft 137 will also tend to move reciprocally in the sidewise direction. However, as the eccentric cam 139 is fitted into the cam channel 143 in order to effect the reciprocal sidewise action of the eccentric cam 139, the support 131 for the movable cutting blades which contains the cam channel 133 is forced to move reciprocally in a forwarddirection so as to synchronize with the reciprocal action in a sidewise direction of the eccentric cam 139. As a result, the reciprocal action of the sliding body 133 in the sidewise direction will be synchronized, i.e., the reciprocal movement of the said sliding body 133 will be converted into the reciprocal action in the forward direction effected by the support 131 of the movable cutting blades. Further, by rotating the wheel 140, the eccentricity of the cam 139 can be arbitrarily selected so as to adjust the extent of insertion of the cutting blades 135 as and when required.

The cutting action of the device is shown move particularly in FIGS. 20-22. If the backing 148 shifts in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, the loops 137 on the surface thereof will also approach the said cutting device. At this stage, the cutting blades 135 are at their most recessed position (FIG. 20). The loop 137 then approaches nearer to the cutting device. The guides 136 corresponding to the loops 137 of each row will be inserted into the loops 137 so that the guides 136 will support the loops 137 in a vertically erected position. At the same time, due to the shifting of the support for the movable cutting blades, the cutting blades 135 proceed in the direction of the arrow, and the movable cutting blades 135 come into contact with the loops 137 which are already held in a vertically erected position by the guides 136, in such a way that the cutting blades 135 cut one side of the side portions of the loops in a manner similar to a sawing action (FIGS. 21 and 22). In this manner the cutting blades 135 complete their cutting action on reaching their most advanced position, and then the cutting blades 135 return themthis example, the support 154 for the movable cutting I blades is positioned between a pair of supports 155 and 155' for the stationary guides installed on the upper and lower parts with a pre-determined clearance between them. By reciprocal action in the sidewise direction of the sliding body 133, and by the same mechanism as in the cases of the cutting device described in the example of FIGS. 16-20, the support 154 for the movable cutting blades is actuated reciprocally in a forward direction (shown by the arrow in the drawing), and, as shown in FIG- 25 removes a portion of one of the two sides of the loop 158. The relationship between the cutting blades 159 and the guides 160,

, etc., of the cutting device in this example, is the same as that in the case of the cutting device in the example of FIGS. 16-20. In the cutting device of FIGS. 23-25, it is possible to remove whatever length is desired of the portion of one of the two sides of the loop 158 byarbitrarily selecting cutting blades 159 of a thickness corresponding to the distance between 160 and 160 which have been installed as a pair, thereby making it easy to produce various forms of hook shaped objects simply by adjusting the distance between 160 and 160' and the thickness of the cutting blades 159. FIGS. 26 and 27 show the differentshapes of cutting blades which may be employed in the cutting device. An arbitrary selection can be made as to the thickness and the shape of the blades according to the material, the density and the shape of the loops to be cut.

A final embodiment of a cutting device in conjunction with this invention is shown in FIGS. 28-30. In this embodiment, the support 161 for the stationary guides supports the guides 162 projected and aligned on one end thereof, the tip ends of these guides 162 being aligned on one straight line. These guides 162 are inserted into the loops during the cutting operation in order to support the loops firmlyin a vertically erected position. At every other valley of these guides 162, a number of rotating shafts 163 are provided parallel to one another, and a number of rotating cutting blades 164 are affixed to the lowest end of each one of the rotating shafts 163 close to the top surface of the said guides 162. These rotating shafts 163 are supported by a supporting board 165 which is located at the upper part of the said support 161 for the stationary guides. In the case of a cutting device in this actual example, the saidrotating cutting blades 164 are rotated by transmitting a rotating motion from a suitable motivating power through a pulley 167 to a row of gears 168 installed at the top end of each of the rotating shafts 163. By shifting the supporting board 167 in a forward direction after releasing the setting screw 166, it is possible to adjust the position of the rotating cutting blades 164. FIGS. 28 and 29 show the cutting mechanism progressively with respect to loops being cut. When the backing shifts in .the direction shown by arrow in the drawing, the loops 169 on the surface thereof will also approach the cutting device. When the loops 169 further approach the cutting device, the guides 162 corresponding to each row of the loops 169 are inserted into the'loops 169 in such a way that the guides 162 firmly maintain the loops 169 in a vertically erected position. When the loops 169 further approach the cutting device, the loops 169 finally come into contact with the rotating cutting blades 164 which rotate in the direction shown by the arrow in such a way that a side portion of the loops 169 is cut off. I

Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32 there have been illustrated different views of loop knitted fabric which may be produced in accordance with the knitting techniques of the present invention. As mentioned previously, itis possible to utilize such loop knitted fabric as the raw material for the hooked portion of a hook and loop fastener. However, if the loops of this raw material are cut in such a procedure, the loops will be released causing the knitted fabricto disintegrate. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure procedure so that the knitted fabric will not disintegrate when the loops are cut. One method to ensure such a procedure is to differentiate the material of the threads forming the pile from those materials of the threads forming the knitted fabric. Therefore, FIG. 32, shows a fabric employing multi-filament thread 172, for instance, and FIG. 31 shows a fabric employing mono-filament thread 172, for instance. By increasing the density of the multi-filament thread, the adherence of the piles to the base fabric which consists of the multi-filament thread is enhanced. However, there still is a possibility that the piles which are cut will be detached from'the knitted base fabric consisting of 1 the multi-filament threads. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 33, the base sheet of the knitted fabric consisting of the multi-filament threads 172 is immersed in a suitable resin material 174 in order to ensure a procedure whereby the piles 173 are permanently mingled into the multi-filament thread.

Thus the knitted base fabric knitted as shown in FIG. 33 is immersed in a resin solution. The resin applied to the knitted fabric isthen hardened by a suitable heat treatment applied thereafter.

When a knitted fabric such as shown in FIG. 31 is Therefore, the loops on the rear side must be pre-flattened onto the knitted fabric base sheet by a suitable method, e.g., by heat rollers, at first, then must be treated by immersion into a suitable resin as described above.

Thus, the loops of the rear side are firmly attached to the base fabric sheet in order to form a fastener base, and the front side loops are firmly attached to this fastener base.

Naturally, the pile which serves to constructthe loops and the multi-filament thread are affected by thermal shrinkage at the time of the heat treatment. Therefore, according to the extent of the shrinkage, the density of the knitted fabric of multi-filament thread and the size of the loops of the piles must be designed so as to take this heat shrinkage possibility into consideration. The loops suitably fixed by the above mentioned procedureare each cut at the top by-a suitable cutting method so as to become fastener pieces as shown in FIG. 34. As'these hooks 173' are, by means of the resin, fixed to the base fabric sheet which has been knitted with the multi-filament thread, the hooks will not be detached from the base sheet even with repeated use as a fastener.

An alternative method which may be employed and which possesses certain advantages is illustrated in FIG.

35. Here resin globules 175 secure the interstices of the fabric, the resin having been deposited at these points by using limited amounts of resin and depending upon capillary action to draw resin to the interstices. This method has the advantage of using less resin and permits the fabric to retain greater flexibility.

Aside from the above-mentioned method of fixin the loops to the base sheet by means of resin, another method is 'to employ a fiber which shrinks when ex-' posed to high temperature as the material for constructing the base sheet, and further, to inter-knit the pile thread into the knitted fabric-made of the fiber which shrinks when exposed to high temperature. By treating the pile knitted fabric under high temperature, the base sheet assumes a very dense form so that the piles adhere firmly to the base sheet and therefore, as mentioned above regarding resin treatment of the base sheet, the hooks will not be detached from the base sheet even with repeated use as fasteners.

The looped portion of the two confronting pieces forming the hook and loop fastener has the form shown in FIGS. 36 and 37 which shows the base sheet made of a knitted fabric. The'base sheet 176 made of a knitted fabric has a number of loops 177. The higher the density of the loops, the greater will be the fastening effect so that it is desirable to employ loops made of multifilament thread. FIG. 36 shows the looped piece with raised hair on the surface What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for warp knitting loop pile fabric suitable for use as part of a hook and loop type fastener comprising a warp knitting machine having a plurality of knitting needles, a plurality of stationary lancettes mounted in a fixed position adjacent to said needles, means for moving said needles in a knitting cycle about said lancettes to knit a base fabric and a series of loops as a pile connected to said base fabric, said lancettes extending beyond the point of knitting for a distance to maintain said loops in uniformity with respect to each other and said base fabric, a' chamber means positioned beneath said needles and surrounding at least a portion of the lancettes beyond the point of knitting, a heating -medium in said chamber means in the form of heated oil surrounding extended portions of said lancettes, roller means for drawing said base fabric and pile along said lancettes and through said heating zone, and drive means for driving said roller means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said roller means comprises two rollers wherein a first roller is positioned immediately adjacent to and below said needles for receiving newly formed fabric, and the second roller is positioned in said oil bath for drawing said fabric and loops from. said lancettes, and drive means for coordinating the rotary movement of said rollers.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a cooling medium is provided immediately below 'said heated oil for cooling said fabric, and means for moving said fabric therethrough.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for coordinating said movement of the roller comprises a linked belt drive.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for moving said roller comprises a one-way clutch actuated by movement of actuating-linkage for said needles.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with cutting means for cutting one upstanding leg cutter blade are held in slidable contact by spring mounted pins, and said reciprocating means comprises a plate' and means connecting said plate and cutter blade. i

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein additional .means are provided for adjusting said cutter in blade directions perpendicular to said reciprocal cutting movement. 7 i a 10. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said cutting means include a comb for receiving the loops of 'said loop pile prior to cutting and a plurality of rotary knives are provided for cutting an upstanding leg of each of said loops.

11. An apparatus for warp knitting loop pile fabric suitable for use as part of a hook and loop type fastener comprising a warp knitting machine having a plurality of knitting needles, a plurality of stationary lancettes mounted in a fixed position adjacent tov said needles, means for an actuating linkage connected to said needles, cam means for driving said linkage and said needles firstly in a general vertical direction, secondly in a general sideways direction wherein yarn is formed about said lancettes and finally in a vertical direction to complete each stitch, said base fabric being supported in part by a guide plate, a guide plate extension mounted to the upper end thereof, said guide plate extension having an upper surface portion which is sloped with respect 0 a horizontal plane, said guide plate ex tension further defining grooves between which each of said needles reciprocates vertically and further defining an angular grooved top section for guiding said needles 1 when each reciprocates in a sideways direction, thereby providing clearance and support adjacent to said lancettes for the formation of new stitches thereupon when said needles complete said sideways motion and pull each new stitch through a previous stitch, said guide plate extension further minimizing the distance between the top of the needle and the top of the guide plate such that relatively thick monofilament fibers will result in increased tightness of the fabric due to increased tightness in the stitches.

12. An apparatus for warp knitting loop pile fabric suitable for use as part of a hook and loop type fastener comprising a warp knitting machine having a plurality of knitting needles, a plurality of stationary lancettes mounted in a fixed position adjacent to said needles, means for actuating linkage connected to said needles, cam means for driving said linkage and said needles firstly in a generally vertical direction, secondly for pivoting said needles in a generally sideways and horizontal direction wherein yarn is formed about said. lancettes and finally in a vertical direction to complete each stitch, said lancettes extending beyond the point of knitting for a distance to maintain said loops inuniforrnity with respect to each other and said base fabric, a chamber means positioned beneath said needles and surrounding at least a portion of the lancettes beyond the point of knitting, a heating medium in said chamber means in the form of heated oil surrounding extended portions of said lancettes, and roller means for drawing said base fabric and pile along said lancettes and through said knitting zone, and drive means for driving said roller means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for warp knitting loop pile fabric suitable for use as part of a hook and loop type fastener comprising a warp knitting machine having a plurality of knitting needles, a plurality of stationary lancettes mounted in a fixed position adjacent to said needles, means for moving said needles in a knitting cycle about said lancettes to knit a base fabric and a series of loops as a pile connected to said base fabric, said lancettes extending beyond the point of knitting for a distance to maintain said loops in uniformity with respect to each other and said base fabric, a chamber means positioned beneath said needles and surrounding at least a portion of the lancettes beyond the point of knitting, a heating medium in said chamber means in the form of heated oil surrounding extended portions of said lancettes, roller means for drawing said base fabric and pile along said lancettes and through said heating zone, and drive means for driving said roller means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said roller means comprises two rollers wherein a first roller is positioned immediately adjacent to and below said needles for receiving newly formed fabric, and the second roller is positioned in said oil bath for drawing said fabric and loops from said lancettes, and drive means for coordinating the rotary movement of said rollers.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a cooling medium is provided immediately below said heated oil for cooling said fabric, and means for moving said fabric therethrough.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for moving said roller comprises a one-way clutch actuated by movement of actuating linkage for said needles.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with cutting means for cutting one upstanding leg of each said loops to form hooks.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said cutting means comprises a toothed comb For receiving said loops movement of said fabric toward said cutting means, a flat cutter blade slidably in contact with said comb and means for reciprocating said cutter blade with respect to said comb to cut the legs of said loops.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said comb and cutter blade are held in slidable contact by spring mounted pins, and said reciprocating means comprises a plate and means connecting said plate and cutter blade.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein additional means are provided for adjusting said cutter in blade directions perpendicular to said reciprocal cutting movement.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said cutting means include a comb for receiving the loops of said loop pile prior to cutting and a plurality of rotary knives are provided for cutting an upstanding leg of each of said loops.

11. An apparatus for warp knitting loop pile fabric suitable for use as part of a hook and loop type fastener comprising a warp knitting machine having a plurality of knitting needles, a plurality of stationary lancettes mounted in a fixed position adjacent to said needles, means for an actuating linkage connected to said needles, cam means for driving said linkage and said needles firstly in a general vertical direction, secondly in a general sideways direction wherein yarn is formed about said lancettes and finally in a vertical direction to complete each stitch, said base fabric being supported in part by a guide plate, a guide plate extension mounted to the upper end thereof, said guide plate extension having an upper surface portion which is sloped with respect to a horizontal plane, said guide plate extension further defining grooves between which each of said needles reciprocates vertically and further defining an angular grooved top section for guiding said needles when each reciprocates in a sideways direction, thereby providing clearance and support adjacent to said lancettes for the formation of new stitches thereupon when said needles complete said sideways motion and pull each new stitch through a previous stitch, said guide plate extension further minimizing the distance between the top of the needle and the top of the guide plate such that relatively thick monofilament fibers will result in increased tightness of the fabric due to increased tightness in the stitches.

12. An apparatus for warp knitting loop pile fabric suitable for use as part of a hook and loop type fastener comprising a warp knitting machine having a plurality of knitting needles, a plurality of stationary lancettes mounted in a fixed position adjacent to said needles, means for actuating linkage connected to said needles, cam means for driving said linkage and said needles firstly in a generally vertical direction, secondly for pivoting said needles in a generally sideways and horizontal direction wherein yarn is formed about said lancettes and finally in a vertical direction to complete each stitch, said lancettes extending beyond the point of knitting for a distance to maintain said loops in uniformity with respect to each other and said base fabric, a chamber means positioned beneath said needles and surrounding at least a portion of the lancettes beyond the point of knitting, a heating medium in said chamber means in the form of heated oil surrounding extended portions of said lancettes, and roller means for drawing said base fabric and pile along said lancettes and through said knitting zone, and drive means for driving said roller means.