Importance

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Abstract

A circular loom comprises weft ribbon shuttle assemblies and a control system for detecting the position of one of the shuttle assemblies at spaced points about the periphery of the loom, and then presetting warp ribbon-setting air cylinders in advance of each of the shuttle assemblies for subsequent passage of the shuttle assemblies through the resultant warp sheds without engaging the warp ribbons. Electrical brakes control warp and weft tension in a uniform manner. The shuttle assemblies are driven by a gearing from a motor mounted independently of the shuttle assemblies. In a fabric-forming position, each weft ribbon slides transversely under a fabric-forming ring with the longitudinally moving warp shed and into the plane of the formed fabric in engagement with an annular inner surface of the ring, essentially without any twist about a transverse axis of the weft. Pulling of the formed fabric from the fabric-forming ring is controlled by synchronizing speed of a fabric-pulling mechanism with the speed of the shuttle assembly drive motor, at a rate dependent upon the width of the weft ribbons. Prior to reaching the fabric-pulling mechanism, the tubular fabric is slit longitudinally and finally is wound upon a take-up reel in an essentially relaxed condition without any significant tension in the fabric. The loom is preprogrammed for a plurality of different weave patterns, each of which can readily be selected by operation of a respective switch on a control console.

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First Claim