Ribbon loom or the like

Abstract

A ribbon loom for manufacturing a ribbon tape or the like containing warp threads and weft thread loops inserted from one side of a warp shed. A first auxiliary thread is drawn through the weft thread loops and a second auxiliary thread disposed outside of the weft thread loops is knitted with each n-th stitch of the first auxiliary thread in order to secure the same. The ribbon loom comprises a weft thread insertion element, a knitting needle for tying the weft thread loops by means of at least one auxiliary thread and a thread guide for the second auxiliary thread constructed such that for knitting the second auxiliary thread it inserts such second auxiliary thread into said knitting needle, after the knitting needle has drawn a loop of the first auxiliary thread through the weft thread loop.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ribbon fabric or tape of the type having weft thread loops inserted from one side of the warp shed, these weft thread loops being tied at the other side of the warp shed by means of at least one auxiliary thread, a method for fabricating such ribbon fabric or tape, wherein weft thread loops inserted into the warp shed are tied by at least one auxiliary thread, and to a ribbon loom for the performance of the aforesaid method incorporating a weft thread insertion element, and a knitting needle for tying the weft thread loops by means of at least one auxiliary thread.

From German patent publication No. 1,760,739, published Dec. 30, 1971, it is known to the art to conjointly tie the individual weft thread loops of a ribbon fabric alternately with a first auxiliary thread, a second auxiliary thread and both auxiliary threads. In this regard, the auxiliary threads in each case are guided through the weft thread loops and serve for securing such weft thread loops. There are also known to the art ribbon fabrics, for instance from German patent publication No. 2,161,013, published June 7, 1973, wherein the weft thread loops are only tied by means of one auxiliary thread, and either only the auxiliary thread is knitted or in addition thereto also the weft thread loops with one another.

All of the heretofore known ribbon fabrics, where the weft thread loops are only tied by means of an auxiliary thread, even if there are alternately employed a number of auxiliary threads, or even if there are simultaneously also used a plurality of auxiliary threads, drawn however individually or conjointly in each case through the weft thread loops, have the drawback that in the case of destruction of a stitch or mesh the entire ribbon fabric unravels or disintegrates. If the weft threads and the auxiliary threads are interhooked or crocheted with one another, then the ribbon fabric is indeed secured against unravelling or disintegration upon damaging of the selvedge or edge, but however the ribbon fabric is associated with two drawbacks. Firstly, the thickness and the appearance of the edge is dependent upon the thickness and the structure of the weft thread, and secondly, the marginal or edge region at the side of the knitting needle of such ribbon fabric is many-fold looser than the remaining region, having a negative effect upon the load-bearing capability, life and appearance of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for fabricating ribbon fabric or tape in a manner which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art constructions.

Yet a further significant object of the present invention aims at the provision of a new and improved construction of apparatus for fabricating ribbon fabrics or tapes, which apparatus is extremely simple in construction and design, highly reliable in operation, relatively economical to manufacture, easy to use, and not readily subject to breakdown or malfunction.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the invention provides the following:

(a) an improved ribbon fabric or tape of the previously mentioned type which is manifested by the features that a first auxiliary thread is drawn through the weft thread loops, and a second auxiliary thread, disposed outside of the weft thread loops, is knitted with each n-th stitch or mesh of the first auxiliary thread in order to secure the latter:,

(b) a method of the previously mentioned type for producing such ribbon fabric or tape, which is manifested by the features that only the first auxiliary thread is drawn through the weft thread loops and at each n-th stitch or mesh is knitted together with the second auxiliary thread which is located outside of the weft thread loops; and (c) a ribbon loom of the previously mentioned type for the performance of the aforesaid method which is manifested by the features that a thread guide for the second auxiliary thread is constructed such that for knitting the second auxiliary thread it inserts such into the knitting needle, after such has drawn a loop of the first auxiliary thread through the weft thread loop.

It has been surprisingly found that by virtue of the knotting or tying of the weft thread loops with a first auxiliary thread and due to its knotting or tying with a second auxiliary thread there is produced a ribbon fabric or tape which, upon damage of a stitch or mesh, cannot detach and unravel. By means of the second auxiliary thread which is not guided through the weft thread loops and exclusively knitted with the first auxiliary threads for securing the same, the auxiliary threads are mutually additionally clamped. Upon rupture of a stitch of both the first auxiliary thread as well as the second auxiliary thread and upon pulling at such ruptured auxiliary threads there cannot arise any opening or disintegration of the ribbon fabric or tape, quite to the contrary, the auxiliary threads tend to mutually clamp more intensely.

Such ribbon fabric or tape which is secured against undesired unravelling or disintegration is especially of extraordinary importance for use with seat belts of various types of transportation means, such as vehicles, aircraft and so forth.

By virture of the fact that the weft thread loops are located in an undulated or serpentine configuration in the ribbon fabric or tape and are not mutually knitted, there is possible an increased weft density or set of the weft, so the stability of the ribbon fabric or tape can be improved. It has also been surprisingly found that by means of the existing tying technique of the weft thread loops there is obtained a ribbon fabric or tape, the density of which at the marginal region or selvedge is exactly as good as in the intermediate region. In this way there is produced a greater load-carrying capability, service life and improved appearance of the ribbon fabric.

Furthermore, it is possible to draw the first and possibly also the second auxiliary thread by means of a weft thread between the warp threads, i.e., into the ribbon fabric or tape. Consequently, there is not only produced an especially well-protected knitted edge, rather there can be hardly easily determined which edge of the ribbon fabric or tape has been woven and which has been knitted.

The advantages of the new and improved ribbon fabric or tape are already then realized when the second auxiliary thread is knitted with each n-th stitch, wherein n is greater than 2. However, it is even more advantageous if the second auxiliary thread is knitted at least with each second stitch, preferably with each stitch of the first auxiliary thread. In the last-mentioned case the knitted edge is especially uniform and closed and secured extremely well.

The first auxiliary thread which ties the weft thread loops is preferably stronger than the second auxiliary thread, which only has assigned to it a securing function. It is of advantage if the second auxiliary thread is bulky or puffy, so that an increased frictional contact exists between the individual auxiliary threads and there is further rendered more difficult any drawing-out of the auxiliary threads.

The new and improved ribbon fabric or tape is especially suitable for technological uses, for instance as belts or straps. Such belts or straps can be employed, for instance, for Venetian blinds, shutters, packaging purposes, transport purposes and so forth. They can also be elastically constructed. It is particularly advantageous to use the ribbon fabric or tape for seat belts for motor vehicles. Seat belts employed in motor vehicles, as is known, are especially exposed to considerable load or wear, particularly at their selvedges or edges due to their continuous actuation or use and the deflection or twisting thereof, so that selvedge or edge damage can easily arise. In the case of safety seat belts fabricated with heretofore known needle looms, such, as a general rule tended to open or unravel, whereas in the case of safety seat belts produced from the ribbon fabrics or tapes of the present invention, even upon damage to the selvedge or edges, such unravelling or the like cannot arise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the loom structure of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1 is a sectional and top plan view of a ribbon fabric or tape showing the same during the manufacture thereof;

FIG. 2 illustrates in side view the manufacture of the ribbon fabric or tape of FIG. 1 during the phase of drawing-in the loop of the first auxiliary thread and the insertion of the second auxiliary thread into the knitting needle;

FIG. 3 also is a side view showing the manufacture of the ribbon fabric or tape of FIG. 2 during the phase of sloughing of the half-stitch and the beating-up of the weft by the reed;

FIG. 4 illustrates the manufacture of the ribbon fabric or tape, analogous to the showing of FIG. 2, illustrating a modified thread, guide for the second auxiliary thread;

FIG. 5 illustrates the manufacture of the ribbon fabric or tape according to FIG. 4 during the phase shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates the manufacture of the ribbon fabric or tape, analogous to the showing of FIG. 2, with a further modified thread guide for the second auxiliary thread;

FIG. 6A is a top plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 illustrates the manufacture of the ribbon fabric or tape according to FIG. 6 in the phase shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7A is a top plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 illustrates a weft thread insertion element at one side of the tape;

FIG. 9 illustrates the drive and control of the first thread guide for the auxiliary thread; and

FIG. 10 shows details of the first auxiliary thread guide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B which show a rotatable main drive shaft 102 to which there are connected (so as to be driven by shaft 102) a weft needle drive 400, a reed drive 600 and a shed forming drive 108. Here, reference numeral 4 designates the warp threads, numeral 112 the warp shed and numeral 114 the woven ribbon.

The weft needle drive 400 and the reed drive 600 are both powered by a disc 160 which is mounted on the shaft 102 for rotation with the same, and which is provided at diametrically opposite locations with crank pins 118 and 120. The disc 160 has radial slots 220 in which these crank pins 118, 120 can be shifted towards and away from the axis of rotation of shaft 102, and arrested at desired locations by means known per se : and hence not here further illustrated.

The crank pin 118 is articulated to a rod 124 which in turn is articulated to one end of a swing arm 126, the other end of which is articulated to a rod 128 which connects it to another swing arm 130 (see Fig. 1B). Swing arm 126 has longitudinally extending guide slots 140, 142 in which the pivots 136 and 138 which connect it to the rods 124 and 128, respectively, can be moved lengthwise and arrested (by means known per se) at desired locations; this permits selection of the effective length of the swing arm 126 and enables the starting position and stroke of the needle 9 to be adjusted. The swing arm 130 is mounted on a shaft 132 for rotation therewith, and the needle 9 is carried and driven by the shaft 132 (see especially FIG. 1B).

The reed drive 600, on the other hand, has a rod 144 which is articulated to the crank pin 120 and the other end of which is articulated via pivot 152 to one end of a swing arm 146 which carries at its other end the reed 14. The end of swing arm 146 to which rod 144 is coupled is provided for the arrestable pivot 152 with a longitudinal guide slot 150 similar to and for the same purposes as those in swing arm 126 (except that here, of course, the stroke and position of reed 14 are being adjusted).

The loom further has an auxiliary shaft 156 which is coupled to the main shaft 102 via a single-stage transmission 154; shaft 156 powers the shed-forming drive 108. The transmission 154 has a worm 158 which is mounted on and turns with the main shaft 102, and which meshes with worm wheel 160a mounted on the auxiliary shaft 156 for rotation with the same. The drive ratio of the transmission 154 is currently preferred to be 1:8 but can be changed to another desired ratio by exchanging the worm wheel 160a for a different one. Shaft 156 is inclined relative to the shaft 102, preferably at an angle of 90.degree. . The shaft 156 carries a plurality of eccentrics 162 which drive, in a manner and for purposes known per se and not forming part of the invention, other shafts of the loom (not shown).

The weft needle drive 400 and the reed drive 600 in FIGS. 1A and 1B operate for instance, counter to one another, by virtue of the manner in which they are connected to the disc 160. A drive 70 for the operating needle of the loom is shown in FIG. 1B. It includes an eccentric cam 172 which is mounted on main shaft 102 for rotation with the same. A follower 174 mounted on one end of a double-armed lever 176 tracks the cam 172 under the influence of a biasing spring 178.

The ribbon fabric or tape illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be seen to comprise weft thread loops 1 which are inserted from the weaving side 2 into a warp shed 3 between the warp threads 4. At the knitting side 5 there are tied the weft thread loops 1 by means of a first auxiliary thread 6. A second auxiliary thread 7 is knitted with each stitch or mesh of the first auxiliarly thread 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the second auxiliary thread 7 is located at one side, in the illustrated embodiment at the upper side, of the weft thread. Furthermore, FIGS. 1 to 3 schematically illustrate the ribbon loom for manufacturing a ribbon fabric or tape. This ribbon loom contains a conventional weft thread insertion element 9 which continuously inserts from the weaving side 2 of the ribbon fabric, during a to-and-fro movement A, weft thread loops 1 into the alternate warp sheds 3 of the warp threads 4. At the knitting side 5 of the ribbon fabric or tape a knitting needle 10, constructed as a tongue needle, carries out a to-and-fro movement B, in order to draw the first auxiliary thread 6 through the weft thread loop 1 and to knit such together with the second auxiliary thread 7 with the half-stitch 11 of the first auxiliary thread 6 and the second auxiliary thread 7. A thread guide 12 carries out an up-and-down movement C and serves for guiding the first auxiliary thread 6. A thread guide 13 is connected by a brace 30 with reed 14 of the ribbon loom and carries out its to-and-fro movement F.

The thread guide 13 of the second auxiliary thread 7 is constructed such that it guides the second auxiliary thread --with respect to a reference plane E--E defined by the knitting needle 10 and the ribbon fabric to be produced-- for insertion of the second auxiliary thread 7 into the knitting needle 10 at one side of the reference plane. During the start of the forward stroke of the knitting needle 10 the thread guide 13 forces the second auxiliary thread 7 to the other side of the reference plane E--E. The thread guide 13 for the second auxiliary thread 7 contains a guide 15 which is preferably constructed as a lengthwise guide. The latter possesses a guide edge 16 and is preferably augmented by a bracket 17 into a guide slot 18. The thread guide 13 is connected by a brace 30 and arranged with respect to the reed 14 such that during the beating-up action of the reed it approximately extends in the direction of the knitting needle 10, as best seen by referring to FIG. 3. The elongate guide 15 is furthermore advantageously constructed such that in the beat-up position of the reed 14 this guide extends from the latter in a sickle-like arc towards the reference plane E--E.

The mode of operation of the ribbon loom and thus the fabrication of the ribbon fabric or tape or the like occurs as follows:

By means of the weft thread insertion element 9 a weft thread loop 1 is inserted from the weaving side 2 of the ribbon fabric or tape into the warp shed 3 until reaching the position illustrated in FIG. 1. Then the thread guide 12 of the first auxiliary thread 5 engages from below into the inserted weft thread loop 1, as shown in FIG. 2. The knitting needle 10 is then displaced to such an extent that it engages the first auxiliary thread 6 and during its retraction can draw a loop 19 through the weft thread loop 1. The thread guide 13 of the second auxiliary thread 7 upwardly leads the second auxiliary thread 7, which is guided below the knitting needle 10, so that this second auxiliary thread 7 bears under pretension or pre-stress at the knitting needle 10 and during the rearward movement of such knitting needle 10 arrives in the open or hook-like needle head 20. During the rearward movement thread guide 12 for the first auxiliary thread 6 by lowering the thread guide 12, so that it arrives outside of the operable range of movement of the weft thread insertion element 9 and the thread guide 13 of the second auxiliary thread 7, which thread guide 13 rocks or pivots forwardly together with the reed 14.

During the course of the rearward movement of the knitting needle 10 the half-stitch 11 of the first auxiliary thread 6 and the second auxiliary thread 7 closes the tongue 21, and the knitting needle 10 draws the loop 19 of the first auxiliary thread and a loop 22 of the second auxiliary thread 7 which is forming through the half-stitch 11, and thus forms a new half-stitch while sloughing the old half-stitch, which retains its head connection and thus becomes a stitch 8. During this movement the reed 14 beats the weft thread loop 1 against the fabric. Also the thread guide 13 of the second auxiliary thread 7 is thus moved forwardly and presses the second auxiliary thread 7 to the other side of the reference plane E--E. Consequently, the knitting needle 10, during the forward movement, can travel over the second auxiliary thread 7, so that such during the retraction of the thread guide 13 comes to bear from below at the knitting needle 10. In the meantime also the warp shed 3 has changed and there can begin a new work cycle.

Since the guide 15 for the second auxiliary thread 7 is rigidly connected by brace 30 with the reed 14 and thus carries out its movement F, there is accomplished at such ribbon loom a knitting of the second auxiliary thread with each stitch or mesh 8 of the first auxiliary thread 6.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further exemplary embodiment of a ribbon loom, the construction of which, apart from the thread guide for the second auxiliary thread 7, corresponds to the construction of the ribbon loom of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 discussed above. Hence, generally the same or analogous components have been designated by the same reference characters as used during the description of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. The modified thread guide 13.sub.1 of the ribbon loom of FIGS. 4 to 5 is constructed analogous to the thread guide 12 of the first auxiliary thread 6, however the thread guide 13.sub.1 does not engage into the weft thread loop 1, rather is disposed between the weft thread loop 1 and the setting-on place of the ribbon fabric or tape i.e. the location of beat-up of the weft thread loop. The thread guide 13.sub.1 of the second auxiliary thread 7 has a not particularly referenced guide opening and carries out an up-and-down movement C.sub.1. Analogous to the operation of the thread guide 13 of the ribbon loom of FIGS. 1 to 3, the thread 13.sub.1 also retains the second auxiliary thread 7 after sloughing of the stitch below the reference plane E--E, as will be apparent from the showing of FIG. 5, so that the knitting needle 10 can travel over the second auxiliary thread 7. In order to insert the second auxiliary thread 7 into the open knitting needle 10 the thread guide 13.sub.1 lifts the auxiliary thread 7 past the reference plane E--E, so that the second auxiliary thread 7 again bears under pretension or pre-stress from below against the knitting needle 10. The thread guide 13.sub.1 of the ribbon loom can be equipped with its own drive, so that it can be controlled in such a manner that the second auxiliary thread 7 only is knitted with each n-th stitch or mesh 8 of the first auxiliary thread 6. In the event that the second auxiliary thread 7 should be knitted with each stitch 8 of the first auxiliary thread 6, then the thread guide 13.sub.1 of the second auxiliary thread 7 can be combined or connected with the thread guide 12 of the first auxiliary thread 6.

FIGS. 6, 6A, 7 and 7A show a further exemplary embodiment of a ribbon loom, which apart from the thread guide 13.sub.2 for the second auxiliary thread 7, is constructed analogous to the ribbon loom of FIGS. 1 to 5, so that again, as a matter of convenience the same or analogous components have been designated with the same reference characters and the prior disclosure again is applicable with regard to this modification.

As to the differences which should be here indicated, the thread guide 13.sub.2 of the second auxiliary thread 7, for the ribbon loom of FIGS. 6, 6A, 7 and 7A, is coupled with the knitting needle 10 and possesses a guide cam 23. The guide cam portion 24 which is disposed before and at the start of the needle head is located at one, namely the lower side of the reference plane E--E. The therewith merging or following guide cam portion 25, confronting the shaft 26 of the knitting needle 10, is located at the other, upper side of the reference plane E--E. The thread guide 13.sub.2 carries out the same movement B.sub.1 as the knitting needle 10. With this ribbon loom the second auxiliary thread 7 is guided such that it always bears against the guide cam portions 24 and 25. Since the guide cam portions, in the embodiment under discussion, are situated at the top, the second auxiliary thread 7 is guided downwardly below the reference plane E--E.

The mode of operation of this thread guide 13.sub.2 for the second auxiliary thread 7 is analogous to what has been disclosed for the above-considered exemplary embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A, the second auxiliary thread 7, after the sloughing of the stitch 8 from the knitting needle 10, contact- ingly bears against the guide cam portion 24 which is located beneath the reference plane E--E. Consequently, it is possible for the knitting needle 10, during the forward stroke, to travel over the second auxiliary thread 7. Since the knitting needle 10 entrains the thread guide 13.sub.2 of the second auxiliary thread 7, the second auxiliary thread 7 arrives from the guide cam portion 24 at the guide cam portion 25, which is located over the reference plane E--E, so that the second auxiliary thread 7 can be brought from below into contact with the knitting needle 10. Hence, analogous to the above-described ribbon looms there can be ensured that the second auxiliary thread 7 can be positively brought into contact or engagement with the knitting needle 10.

Since the thread guide 13.sub.2 for the second auxiliary thread 7 is coupled with the knitting needle 10, it carries out its movement, so that with this ribbon loom the second auxiliary thread 7 is knitted with each stitch of the first auxiliary thread 6.

It will thus be observed, by referring to FIGS. 6, 6A, 7 and 7A that during the phase, as evidenced by FIGS. 6 and 6A, where the needle head 20 of the knitting needle 10 has drawn the loop 19 of the auxiliary thread 6 through the loop of the weft thread 1, the second auxiliary thread 7 still is in contact with the upper guide cam 25 (see FIGS. 6 and 6A) of the guide cam 23 of the thread guide 13.sub.2. During further retraction of the knitting needle 10 and the thread guide 13.sub.2 the second auxiliary thread 7 travels along the guide cam portion 25 towards the inclined surface, identified by reference numeral 28 in FIGS. 6A and 7A, and which serves to interconnect the guide cam portion 25 with the guide cam portion 24. Due to the friction of the auxiliary thread 7 upon the guide cam portion 25 there is however delayed any sliding-off of the auxiliary thread 7 over the inclined surface 28, so that the tip of the needle head 20 can seize the second auxiliary thread 7 before such has slid over the inclined surface 28 onto the guide cam portion 24. In this way there is possible seizing of the auxiliary thread 7 without any relative movement between the knitting needle 10 and the thread guide 13.sub.2.

In the further characteristic position in which the knitting needle 10 along with the thread guide 13.sub.2 is forwardly moved again out of the rearward position into the forward position (FIGS. 7 and 7A), the auxiliary thread 7 bears at the lower guide cam portion 24. The needle head 20 of the knitting needle 10 thus can travel over the auxiliary thread 7 during the forward movement, before such auxiliary thread has slid over the inclined surface 28 towards the upper guide cam portion 25. This mode of operation is still further augmented in as much as the upward sliding movement of the auxiliary thread 7 over the inclined surface 28 is delayed, on the one hand, due to the friction of the auxiliary thread 7 upon the lower guide cam portion 24 and, on the other hand, due to the resistance which prevails during the upward sliding motion along the inclined surface 28.

There is thus possible a faultless functioning of the thread guide 13.sub.2 even if no relative movement exists between the knitting needle and such thread guide.

FIG. 8 shows the weft thread insertion element 9 at one side of the ribbon fabric or tape. This insertion element 9 is fastened at a shaft 31 and driven by a rotating eccentric 32 which is coupled by a connecting rod 33 with an arm 34 of the weft thread inserting element 9. The reciprocating knitting needle 10 is fastened at a swing lever 35 having a follower 36 which cooperates with a driven cam 37. A spring 38 biases the lever 35 against the cam 37.

FIG. 9 shows the independent drive and control means 39 and 40 of the first thread guide 12 for the first auxiliary thread and the second thread guide 13.sub.1 for the second auxiliary thread of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5. The first thread guide is mounted on a swing arm 41 pivotally arranged on an axle 42. The swing arm 41 comprises a follower 43 biased against a driven cam 44 by a spring 45. The second thread guide 13.sub.1 is mounted on a swing arm 46 pivotally arranged on the axle 42. Swing arm 46 comprises also a follower 47 biased against a driven cam chain 48 by a spring 49. This cam chain 48 is driven by a wheel 50 fastened at a drive shaft 51. The cam chain 48 is exchangeable by cam chains with various control characters. Therefore, it is possible to alter the control character such that the second thread guide will be effective only each n-th time of the action of the first thread guide so that the second auxiliary thread is knitted with each n-th time of the action of the first auxiliary thread.

FIG. 10 shows the first auxiliary thread guide 12 constructed and driven in the same way as that of FIG. 9. The second thread guide 13.sub.1 is, however, not independently arranged and driven but directly fastened at the first thread guide 12 by means of a connecting arm 52. Therefore, the second thread guide 13.sub.1 is simultaneously driven with the first thread guide 12. That means that the second auxiliary thread is knitted with each (n=1) stitch of the first auxiliary thread.

With all of the illustrated variant constructions of the thread guide, the guide cams or thread guide movements, respectively, are to be structured or controlled such that the knitting needle 10 travels below the second auxiliary thread 7 and during the rearward travel is inserted from above downwardly into the hook of the knitting needle.

The ribbon looms can be equipped with transport devices for the first and second auxiliary threads, rendering possible a different feed of the first auxiliary thread and the second auxiliary thread. In this way there can be achieved the result that the first auxiliary thread has imparted to it a pre-feed or pre-transport, i.e., is at a lower tensional stress than the second auxiliary thread. Consequently, there is facilitated drawing-in of the stitch of the auxiliary threads between the warp threads of the fabric.

While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

Claims

1. A ribbon loom for manufacturing a ribbon tape or the like containing warp threads and weft thread loops inserted from one side of a warp shed, wherein a first auxiliary thread is drawn through the weft thread loops and a second auxiliary thread disposed outside of the weft thread loops is knitted with each n-th stitch of the first auxiliary thread in order to secure the same, said ribbon loom comprising:

a weft thread insertion element;

a knitting needle for tying the weft thread loops by means of at least one auxiliary thread;

a thread guide for the second auxiliary thread constructed such that for knitting the second auxiliary thread it inserts such second auxiliary thread into said knitting needle, after the knitting needle has drawn a loop of the first auxiliary thread through the weft thread loop;

wherein the thread guide of the second auxiliary thread is constructed such thread, with respect to a reference plane defined by the knitting needle and the ribbon tape to be produced, for the insertion into the knitting needle at one side of the reference plane and during the start of a forward stroke of the knitting needle at the other side of the reference plane;

further including a reed, the thread guide of the second auxiliary thread being connected with the reed, said thread guide possessing a guide member which in a beat-up position of the reed is located at the side of the reference plane where there is guided the second auxiliary thread during the start of the forward stroke of the knitting needle;

wherein said guide member comprises a lengthwise guide; and

wherein the lengthwise guide possesses a guide slot.

2. A ribbon loom for manufacturing a ribbon tape or the like containing warp threads and weft thread loops inserted from one side of a warp shed, wherein a first auxiliary thread is drawn through the weft thread loops and a second auxiliary thread disposed outside of the weft thread loops is knitted with each n-th stitch of the first auxiliary thread in order to secure the same, said ribbon loom comprising:

a weft thread insertion element;

a knitting needle for tying the weft thread loops by means of at least one auxiliary thread;

a thread guide for the second auxiliary thread constructed such that for knitting the second auxiliary thread it inserts such second auxiliary thread into said knitting needle, after the knitting needle has drawn a loop of the first auxiliary thread through the weft thread loop;

wherein the thread guide of the second auxiliary thread is constructed such that it guides the second auxiliary thread, with respect to a reference plane defined by the knitting needle and the ribbon tape to be produced, for the insertion into the knitting needle at one side of the reference plane and during the start of a forward stroke of the knitting needle at the other side of the reference plane;

further including a reed, the thread guide of the second auxiliary thread being connected with the reed, said thread guide possessing a guide member which in a beat-up position of the reed is located at the side of the reference plane where there is guided the second auxiliary thread during the start of the forward stroke of the knitting needle;

wherein said guide member comprises a lengthwise guide; and

wherein the lengthwise guide, in a beat-up position of the reed, extends from such reed in a substantially sickle-like arc towards the reference plane.

3. A ribbon loom for manufacturing a ribbon tape or the like containing warp threads and weft thread loops inserted from one side of a warp shed, wherein a first auxiliary thread is drawn through the weft thread loops and a second auxiliary thread disposed outside of the weft thread loops is knitted with each n-th stitch of the first auxiliary thread in order to secure the same, said ribbon loom comprising:

a weft thread insertion element;

a knitting needle for tying the weft thread loops by means of at least one auxiliary thread;

a thread guide for the second auxiliary thread constructed such that for knitting the second auxiliary thread it inserts such second auxiliary thread into said knitting needle, after the knitting needle has drawn a loop of the first auxiliary thread through the weft thread loop;

wherein the thread guide of the second auxiliary thread is constructed such that it guides the second auxiliary thread, with respect to a reference plane defined by the knitting needle and the ribbon tape to be produced, for the insertion into the knitting needle at one side of the reference plane and during the start of a forward stroke of the knitting needle at the other side of the reference plane; and

wherein said knitting needle has a needle head, the thread guide of the second auxiliary thread being coupled with the knitting needle and comprising a guide cam, said thread guide having a guide cam part serving for the insertion of the second auxiliary thread into the knitting needle and arranged at the other side of the reference plane.