Three-dimensional fabric woven by interlacing threads with rotor driven carriers
AssigneeThree-D Composites Research Corporation
InventorsMakoto Tsuzuki, Masahiko Kimbara, Kenji Fukuta, Akihiko Machii
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Abstract
A three-dimensional fabric is woven by disposing a large number of contiguous rotors in columns and rows in an area in which carriers move about, with a carrier holding a thread being held between a pair of adjoining rotors. One of the paired rotors turns to move the carrier held between them while using the other rotor as a guide to help the transfer of the carrier. The carrier is caused to move along a predetermined path by repeating the above cycle.
Claims10
In a method of weaving a three-dimensional fabric by interlacing threads held by a large number of bobbin- or thread-carriers adapted to move about along predetermined paths of a traveling surface thereof, the improvement which comprises the steps of:
- a) providing a large number of contiguous rotors that are adapted to be independently turned in two directions on said carrier traveling surface;
- b) providing a plurality of recesses on each rotor so that a pair of adjoining rotors can hold one of the carriers therebetween;
- c) shaping the recesses so that when one of the paired adjoining rotors rotate while holding the carrier the recesses on the other rotor serve as a guide to help a transfer of the carrier;
- d) fitting a grip of the carrier formed of two cylindrical surfaces between the recesses of the rotors to hold the carrier therebetween;
- e) moving the carrier by independently turning one of the paired rotors in increments of .+-.90.degree. holding the carrier to be moved;
- f) causing a large number of carriers to move along the predetermined paths of said traveling surface by repeating a cycle of movement with a large number of rotors in predetermined sequence;
- g) whereby the movement of the rotors and the movement of the carriers allow the threads held by the rotors and carriers to be woven into a three-dimensional fabric by crossing or engaging a thread contained by one of the rotors with that of the other rotors which are part of the large number of said contiguous rotors.
In an apparatus for weaving a three-dimensional fabric by interlacing threads held by a large number of bobbin- or thread-carriers adapted to move about along predetermined paths within a traveling surface thereof, the improvement which comprises a carrier driver that moves the carriers, said carrier driver comprising:
- a) a large number of drive units for driving in two directions and disposed in a carrier traveling surface;
- b) the drive units carrying rotors that are turned by said drive units in .+-.90.degree. increments about their central axis in the carrier traveling surface, the rotors being disposed contiguous to one another in the carrier traveling surface;
- c) each rotor having a plurality of recesses adapted to hold a carrier between a pair of adjoining rotors;
- d) the carrier, having a grip, said grip being formed by two arched surfaces centered on the rotating axes of adjoining rotors to fit between the recesses thereof;
- and
- e) the recesses on the rotor being shaped so that when one of the paired adjoining rotors turns while holding the carrier the recesses on the other rotor serve as a guide to help a transfer of the carrier;
- such that when one of the rotors holding the carrier turns to move the carrier, over the recesses on the other rotor serving as a transfer guide, the desired three-dimensional fabric is woven by way of a repetition of this cycle with many rotors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.