Method and apparatus for making biased fabric

An apparatus for producing a fabric in which the structural fibers are skewed from the fabric centerline, comprising:

• means for axially feeding a tube of fabric in a first linear direction;
• carrying means displaced from said feeding means in the first direction for moving the tube of fabric in the first linear direction and for rotating the tube,
• said carrying means including roll means for engaging the inside of the tube of fabric to simultaneously transport the tube of fabric linearly and rotate the tube;
• means disposed adjacent said carrying means for cutting the moving and rotating tube of fabric at an angle skewed from said first direction to produce a strip of fabric;
• means disposed adjacent said carrying means for supporting the cut strip of fabric;
• and
• take-up means disposed adjacent said supporting means and skewed at an angle from said first direction for engaging and gathering the cut strip of fabric.

A system adapted for processing a woven tube of unbiased fabric to produce a flat strip of biased fabric, in which the structural fibers are oriented at a skewed angle to the fabric marginal edges, the system comprising:

• a fabric feeding station having means for holding a roll of said tube of unbiased fabric, said holding means being operable for permitting fabric take-off in a first linear direction and for rotating said tube of fabric as it moves in said first linear direction;
• a fabric slitting station disposed proximate the feeding station in the first direction including
• roll means for engaging the inside of the tube of fabric to transport the fabric linearly in the first direction and simultaneously rotate the tube of fabric,
• cutting means disposed beneath the roll means for slitting the tube of fabric at an acute angle in a helix around the tube of fabric to produce a strip of biased fabric in which the structural fibers are oriented at a skewed angle relative to the longitudinal edges of the strip of fabric, and
• support means disposed beneath said roll means and extending outwardly therefrom in a second direction for supporting the strip of fabric for movement in the second direction;
• and
• a fabric winding station disposed proximate said slitting station in said second direction, including a mandrel for rolling up the strip of fabric.

An apparatus for producing a fabric in which the structural fibers are skewed from the fabric centerline, comprising:

• means for axially feeding a tube of fabric in a first linear direction;
• carrying means displaced from said feeding means in the first direction, including roll means for engaging the inside of the tube of fabric, for moving the tube of fabric in the first linear direction and for rotating the tube;
• means disposed below said carrying means for cutting the moving and rotating tube of fabric at an angle skewed from said first direction to produce a strip of fabric, the cutting means being operable for slitting the moving and rotating tube of fabric at said skewed angle around the tube of fabric;
• means disposed below said carrying means for supporting the cut strip of fabric;
• and
• take-up means disposed adjacent said supporting means and skewed at an angle from said first direction for engaging and gathering the cut strip of fabric.