System and method for producing a continuous fabric strip for a use in manufacturing paint roller covers

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6502779
  • Patent Number
    6,502,779
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, May 24, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 7, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A system and method for producing a spool having a continuous fabric strip is disclosed which produces an extended length fabric strip made from a plurality of seamed standard lengths of the fabric, the extended length fabric strip being spirally wound upon a hollow core with consecutive windings of the extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on the hollow core. In the preferred embodiment, the standard length fabric strips are joined together at their respective contiguous ends using a small strip of heat-activated seaming tape. The winding operation simultaneously controls both the lateral position at which the extended length fabric strip is wound onto the core and the rotation of the core to achieve the tight and highly compact winding operation, with the speed of the winding operation being controlled according to the amount of the extended length fabric strip which is available at any given time. The extended length fabric strip is suitable for use in the manufacture of paint roller covers.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Field of the Invention




The present invention relates generally to a system and method for producing a spool having a continuous fabric strip wound thereupon, and more particularly to a system and method for producing an extended length strip of pile fabric made from a plurality of seamed standard lengths of the pile fabric, the extended length strip of pile fabric being spirally wound upon a hollow core with consecutive windings of the fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the fabric strip overlaying each other on the hollow core.




The two inventions which have had the greatest impact on paint application are the invention of the paint roller in the 1930's and the development of water-based paint in the late 1940's. While water-based paints are easy to mix, apply, and clean up, there is little doubt that the paint roller has been the greatest single time saving factor in the paint application process, allowing large surfaces to be painted with a uniform coat of paint quickly and easily. Typically, paint rollers are comprised of two components, namely a handle assembly and a paint roller cover for installation onto the handle assembly.




The handle assembly consists of a grip member having a generally L-shaped metal frame extending therefrom, with the free end of the metal frame having a rotatable support for a pain roller cover mounted thereon. The paint roller cover consists of a thin, hollow cylindrical core which fits upon the rotatable support of the handle, with a plush fabric being secured to the outer diameter of the paint roller cover. The core may be made of either cardboard or plastic material, with which material is used for the core generally being determined based upon the selling price of the paint roller cover. The plush fabric is typically applied as a strip which is spirally wound onto the outer surface of the core, and which may be secured either by using adhesive or by the application of heat during the manufacturing process to bond the fabric strip to the core. In either event, adjacent windings of the fabric strip are located close adjacent each other, to provide the appearance of a single continuous plush fabric covering on the core.




Typically, the plush fabric is a dense knitted pile fabric, which is manufactured in segments which are approximately sixty inches wide by thirty to fifty yards long (depending on fabric weight). As these segments are taken off the manufacturing line, they are slit into two and seven-eighths inch wide strips, which are wound into rolls which are then provided to the paint roller cover manufacturer for use in the manufacture of paint roller covers. Each of the sixty inches wide by thirty to fifty yard long segments will yield twenty such rolls, with each roll being thirty to fifty yards long.




The knitted pile fabric may be knitted from natural fibers such as wool or mohair, synthetic fibers such as polyester, acrylic, nylon, or rayon, or from a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. The knitting is typically performed on a circular sliver knitting machine, which produces a tubular knitted fabric backing with a knit-in pile. The backing is typically made of synthetic yarns, with the pile being made of a desired natural or synthetic fiber, or a blend of different fibers. The tubular knitted pile fabric is then slit to produce an extended segment of fabric which is typically sixty inches wide by thirty to fifty yards long, as mentioned above.




The knitted pile fabric segment is then tensioned longitudinally and transversely, and is then back coated (on the non-pile side of the backing) with a stabilized coating composition such as a clear acrylic polymer. The coating composition which is coated onto the non-pile side of the backing is then processed, typically by heat, to produce such a stabilized knitted pile fabric segment. The heating operation dries and bonds the coating composition to the backing, producing a fabric which is essentially lint-free.




The coated knitted pile fabric can then be subjected to a shearing operation to achieve a uniform pile length, with the sheared fibers being removed by vacuum, electrostatically, or by any other known removal technique. The pile density, the nap length, and the stiffness of the fibers are varied based upon customer specifications and the particular characteristics of the paint roller cover which are desired.




The coated, sheared knitted pile fabric segment is then slit into a plurality of two and seven-eighths inch wide knitted pile fabric strips, of which there are typically twenty for a sixty inch wide fabric segment. The knitted pile fabric strips are rolled onto a core to produce twenty rolls of knitted pile fabric strips, each of which is thirty to fifty yards long. In the past, these eighty foot long rolls of knitted pile fabric strips would then be shipped to a paint roller cover manufacturer.




The paint roller cover manufacturer manufactures the paint roller covers by using a hollow cylindrical core made of cardboard or thermoplastic material which has the knitted pile fabric strip spirally wound around the core. The knitted pile fabric strip may be retained on the core using either an adhesive or by thermally bonding the knitted pile fabric strip in place on a thermoplastic cover. For examples of this manufacturing process see U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,688, to Musch et al., or U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,047, to Garcia.




It will be appreciated by those knowledgeable about the manufacturing of paint roller covers that one of the biggest inefficiencies in the manufacturing process is the necessity to halt the winding operation whenever the end of a segment of the knitted pile fabric strip is reached. A new knitted pile fabric strip must then be either started on the winding machine, or the new knitted pile fabric strip must be seamed to the old knitted pile fabric strip. This takes substantial manual labor, and increased the paint roller cover manufacturer's cost of manufacturing.




It is accordingly the primary objective of the present invention that it provide both a system and a method for the manufacture of knitted pile fabric strips of a substantially extended length for use by paint roller cover manufacturers in their manufacture of paint roller covers. It is a closely related objective that the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention function as if they were one complete knitted pile fabric strip rather than a knitted pile fabric strip assembled from a plurality of shorter knitted pile fabric strips. It is also a primary objective that the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are supplied in an easy to use configuration which the paint roller cover manufacturers will find to be convenient in their manufacture of paint roller covers, without requiring any revision of their manufacturing processes or a substantial investment in new equipment.




It is an additional objective that the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention be manufacturable at minimal additional cost as compared to knitted pile fabric strips of conventional length. It is a further objective of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention that they be packaged in a configuration which is convenient to ship despite the extended length of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips. It is a related objective of the present invention that the form in which the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention is stored for shipment be as compact as possible to thereby require the minimum volume of packaging for shipment.




The apparatus used by the system and method of the present invention to manufacture the extended length knitted pile fabric strips must also be of construction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should also require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. In order to maximize the market appeal of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention, the system of the present invention used to manufacture them and its cost of operation must both be as inexpensive as possible to thereby afford the knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention the broadest possible market. Finally, it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed above are overcome by the present invention. With this invention, a plurality of rolls of standard knitted pile fabric strips are joined together at their respective contiguous ends. Each of the seaming operations is performed at a seaming station using a small strip of heat-activated seaming tape which is placed over the seam on the back sides of the contiguous knitted pile fabric strips, and then heat and pressure are applied by the seaming station to create the seam. The extended length knitted pile fabric strip is then packaged appropriately for shipping into a compact, efficient configuration which is easy to ship and easy to use.




Typically, the plush fabric is a dense knitted pile fabric, which is manufactured in segments which are approximately sixty inches wide by thirty to fifty yards long. As these segments are taken off the manufacturing line, they are slit into two and seven-eighths inch wide strips, which are wound into rolls which are then provided to the paint roller cover manufacturer for use in the manufacture of paint roller covers. Each of the sixty inches wide by thirty to fifty yards long segments will yield twenty such rolls, with each roll being thirty to fifty yards long. The rolls may be temporarily stored in a segmented temporary storage container or on a dispensing stand.




The path of the knitted pile fabric strips goes from the storage container or dispensing stand, through a seaming station and then to a fabric strip accumulating station. The path continues from the accumulating station to a winder station where the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is wound onto a core which is typically a hollow cylindrical cardboard or plastic take-up core. The extended length knitted pile fabric strips is wound to produce a spool of knitted pile fabric strip in which the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is spirally wound on the cylindrical take-up core with consecutive windings of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip overlaying each other on the cylindrical take-up core.




The knitted pile fabric strips are unrolled and placed into the system of the present invention, passing first through the seaming station. The seaming station is used to quickly seam together the contiguous ends of consecutive knitted pile fabric strips. The small strip of seaming tape is activated by heat, with the abutting ends of consecutive knitted pile fabric strips being placed upside-down (so the backing is facing up) with the seaming tape being placed over the abutting ends. Pressure and heat is then applied by the seaming station to activate the seaming tape, thereby joining the consecutive knitted pile fabric strips together.




The extended length knitted pile fabric strip is then drawn into the accumulator station by a motorized roller drive which is actuated by an operator to draw the remaining portion of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips into the accumulator station. The motorized roller drive is located on the top of a slide which extends downwardly at an angle, ending in an accumulation bin. Located at a location near the bottom of the slide is a first photodetector, and located higher up the slide is a second photodetector.




As the motorized roller drive brings the extended length knitted pile fabric strip into the accumulator, the accumulator bin at the bottom of the slide will fill up first, following which the extended length knitted pile fabric strip will begin to accumulate on the slide itself, from the bottom upward. Until the extended length knitted pile fabric strip begins to accumulate in the slide, both the first and the second photodetector are unobstructed. As the slide begins to fill up after the accumulator bin is full, first the first photodetector and then the second photodetector will be obstructed. The photodetectors are used to operate the winder station.




The extended length knitted pile fabric strips travels from the accumulator station to the winder station, where it first passes over a series of rollers and then onto a guide arm which feeds the extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto the cylindrical take-up core onto which it is wound. A third photodetector is located on the guide arm to detect whether or not the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is present thereupon. The winder station has large circular discs located at each end of the cylindrical take-up core.




The lateral movement of the guide arm is controlled by a first servo drive, thus controlling the position on the cylindrical take-up core onto which the extended length knitted pile fabric strips is wound. The rotation of the cylindrical take-up core is controlled by a second servo drive. By controlling the first and second servo drives, the winding of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto the cylindrical take-up core can be precisely controlled to produce a tight winding in which the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is spirally wound onto the cylindrical take-up core with consecutive windings of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip overlaying each other on the cylindrical take-up core.




Thus, by operating the winder station with a computer-controlled operating system, the movement of the first and second servo drives can be coordinated to produce the desired winding operation, taking into account the physical parameters of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip. Thus, the width and thickness of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip will determine the relative operation of the first and second servos. In addition, as progressive layers of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip are wound onto the cylindrical take-up core, the relative movements of the first and second servos will also have to be varied.




The overall speed of the winding operation is controlled by the three photodetectors. As long as both the first and second photodetectors in the accumulator are obstructed by the accumulated extended length knitted pile fabric strip, the winding operation will operate at high speed. When only the first photodetector is obstructed, the winding operation will occur at a lower speed. Whenever the third photodetector is not obstructed, the winding operation will immediately stop. In the preferred embodiment, the winding operation will only occur when an operator is feeding additional seamed-together knitted pile fabric strips into the accumulator, so the third photodetector should only be unobstructed when the winding operation is complete.




Following the completion of the winding operation onto a cylindrical take-up core, apparatus unrelated to the present invention would be used to secure the extended length knitted pile fabric strip roll. One end of the apparatus supporting the cylindrical take-up core will then be retracted, allowing the extended length knitted pile fabric strip roll to be removed from the winder station. The extended length knitted pile fabric strip roll may then be packaged for delivery in a box or in plastic film, and shipped to a paint roller manufacturer.




It may therefore be seen that the present invention teaches both a system and a method for the manufacture of knitted pile fabric strips of a substantially extended length for use by paint roller cover manufacturers in their manufacture of paint roller covers. The extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention function as if they were one complete knitted pile fabric strip rather than a knitted pile fabric strip assembled from a plurality of shorter knitted pile fabric strips. The extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are supplied in an easy to use configuration which the paint roller cover manufacturers will find to be convenient in their manufacture of paint roller covers, without requiring any revision of their manufacturing processes or a substantial investment in new equipment.




The extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are manufacturable at little additional cost as compared to knitted pile fabric strips of conventional length. Further, the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are packaged in a configuration which is convenient to ship despite the extended length of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips. This shipment configuration of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention is as compact as possible to thereby require a minimized volume of packaging for shipment.




The apparatus used by the system and method of the present invention to manufacture the extended length knitted pile fabric strips is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The system of the present invention used to manufacture the extended length knitted pile fabric strips and its cost of operation are relatively inexpensive, thereby affording the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention the broadest possible market and maximizing their market appeal. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.











DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




These and other advantages of the present invention are best understood with reference to the drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is an exploded isometric view showing a roll of coated, sheared, knitted pile fabric segment (shown in phantom lines) which is slit to produce twenty rolls of strips of knitted pile fabric strips, which are stored in a segmented temporary storage container;





FIG. 2

is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of a system for manufacturing the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention showing the path (from right to left) of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip from the segmented temporary storage container of

FIG. 1

to a seamer station, then to a fabric strip accumulator station, and finally to a winder station;





FIG. 3

is a side plan view of the segmented temporary storage container, the seamer station, and the fabric strip accumulator station illustrated in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is an isometric view of a portion of the segmented temporary storage container and the seamer station illustrated in

FIG. 3

showing two knitted pile fabric strips with their adjacent ends abutting;





FIG. 5

is an isometric view similar to the view illustrated in

FIG. 4

, but with the seam being made on the seamer station;





FIG. 6

is a close-up exploded view of a portion of the seamer station illustrated in

FIG. 4

, showing the placement of a strip of heat-activated seaming tape on the seam between the contiguous ends of two consecutive knitted pile fabric strips forming a part of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip;





FIG. 7

is a side plan view similar to that illustrated in

FIG. 6

, showing the placement of the strip of heat-activated seaming tape on the seam between the contiguous ends of two consecutive knitted pile fabric strips forming a part of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip;





FIG. 8

is an isometric view of the accumulator station showing a motorized roller drive for drawing the extended length knitted pile fabric strip into the accumulator station, a slide having accumulation detectors located thereon, and an accumulation bin at the bottom of the slide;





FIG. 9

is a side plan view of a portion of the accumulator station illustrated in

FIG. 8

showing the motorized roller drive and the top of the slide;





FIG. 10

is an isometric view of the accumulator station illustrated in

FIG. 8

showing the lower portion of the slide and the accumulation bin at the bottom of the slide, and also showing two photodetector transmitters and receivers located in the slide at two locations, with portions of the accumulated extended length knitted pile fabric strip shown as obstructing the lower photodetector in the slide;





FIG. 11

is an isometric view similar to that illustrated in

FIG. 10

, but with portions of the accumulated extended length knitted pile fabric strip shown as obstructing both the lower and upper photodetectors in the slide;





FIG. 12

is a cross-sectional view of the slide illustrated in

FIG. 11

at the location of the upper photodetector, showing how portions of the accumulated extended length knitted pile fabric strip obstruct the upper photodetector in the slide;





FIG. 13

is a side plan view of the lower portion of the slide, the accumulation bin at the bottom of the slide, and the winder station illustrated in

FIG. 2

, showing both the lower and upper photodetectors to be unobstructed;





FIG. 14

is an enlarged view of a portion of the winder station showing a photodetector used to detect the presence or absence of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip available for winding;





FIG. 15

is an isometric view similar of the lower portion of the slide, the accumulation bin at the bottom of the slide, and the winder station illustrated in

FIG. 13

, showing the extended length knitted pile fabric strip being wound onto a cylindrical take-up core mounted between two discs;





FIG. 16

is a front plan view of the winder station illustrated in

FIGS. 13 and 15

, showing how one of the discs and support apparatus retaining one side of the cylindrical take-up core can be retracted to remove the cylindrical take-up core from the winder station when the cylindrical take-up core is full;





FIG. 17

is a plan view of a portion of a full cylindrical take-up core and how it is engaged by one of the discs and the support apparatus; and





FIG. 18

is a plan view similar to that illustrated in

FIG. 17

, but with the disc and the support apparatus retracted to allow the full cylindrical take-up core to be removed from the winder station.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




The preferred embodiment of the present invention involves manufacturing extended length knitted pile fabric strips from a plurality of standard length knitted pile fabric strips which are joined together at their respective contiguous ends. Referring first to

FIG. 1

, as the manufactured knit pile segment comes off of the manufacturing line, it is typically approximately sixty inches wide and between thirty and fifty yards long, and may be rolled into a single roll


30


as shown in phantom lines. More typically, as the manufactured knit pile segment comes off of the manufacturing line, it is slit into a plurality of two and seven-eighths inch wide strips, typically twenty such knitted pile fabric strips if the segment is approximately sixty inches wide. Preferably, all of the strips are wound onto a common axis, yielding twenty adjacent rolls of knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t.






For convenience, the twenty rolls of knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t


may be temporarily stored in a segmented temporary storage container


34


, which has twenty recesses


36




a,




36




b,




36




c,


. . . and


36




t


located therein for receiving the knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t,


respectively. The segmented temporary storage container


34


represents a convenient way to transport the knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t


from the point of their manufacture to the location at which a plurality of them will be combined to produce the extended length knitted pile fabric strip of the present invention. It will of course be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are many other ways of transporting knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t


to the desired location.




Referring next to

FIG. 2

, the operation of the system and method of the present invention used to manufacture the extended length knitted pile fabric strips is illustrated in its entirety. The operation moves from right to left as viewed in

FIG. 2

, with the segmented temporary storage container


34


being located on the right to allow the knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t


to be dispensed from it. From the segmented temporary storage container


34


the path of knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b


,


32




c,


. . . and


32




t


is to a seaming station illustrated generally at


38


, an accumulator station indicated generally at


40


, and a winding station illustrated generally at


42


.




Referring now generally to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, and more particularly to

FIGS. 4-7

, the function and operation of the seaming station


38


will now be discussed. As best shown in

FIGS. 2-5

, the knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t


are dispensed one at a time from the segmented temporary storage container


34


, and pass through the seaming station


38


. As each of the knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t


comes to an end, the end of the particular knitted pile fabric strip (the knitted pile fabric strip


32




e


is shown in FIGS.


2


and


4


-


7


), the beginning of another of the knitted pile fabric strips


32




a,




32




b,




32




c,


. . . and


32




t


(the knitted pile fabric strip


32




f


is shown in FIGS.


2


and


4


-


7


) is taken from the segmented temporary storage container


34


and brought to the seaming station


38


.




Referring now particularly to

FIGS. 4-7

, the seaming operation is illustrated in some detail. The backing side of each of the knitted pile fabric strips


32




e


and


32




f


are facing upwardly, with the pile sides of the knitted pile fabric strips


32




e


and


32




f


facing down. The ends of the knitted pile fabric strips


32




e


and


32




f


are brought together in abutting fashion on a table


44


which is a part of the seaming station


38


. As shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, the sides of the table


44


have guide segments


46


and


48


located at the rear edge of the table


44


at the right and left sides, respectively, and guide segments


50


and


52


located at the front edge of the table


44


at the right and left sides, respectively. The guide segments


46


,


48


,


50


, and


52


are used to precisely align the knitted pile fabric strip


32




e


and


32




f


as they are attached together.




A strip of heat-activated seaming tape


54


is placed on the abutting ends of the knitted pile fabric strips


32




e


and


32




f


as best shown in

FIGS. 6 and 7

. It will be noted that the length of the strip of heat-activated seaming tape


54


is approximately the same as the width of the knitted pile fabric strip


32


(although it could be slightly shorter as well). An example of a material which may be used for the strip of heat-activated seaming tape


54


is Unimark Tape, which is a woven cloth thermal seaming tape manufactured by Unitherm, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio.




The strip of heat-activated seaming tape


54


is placed in position on the backing side of the knitted pile fabric strips


32




e


and


32




f.


The seaming operation is performed by pressing the strip of heat-activated seaming tape


54


and the adjacent ends of the knitted pile fabric strips


32




e


and


32




f


between a high temperature head


56


on the seaming station


38


and the table


44


of the seaming station


38


as shown in

FIGS. 5 and 7

. It will be noted from

FIGS. 4 and 5

that the high temperature head


56


will fit between the ends of the guide segments


46


and


48


at the rear of the table


44


and between the guide segments


50


and


52


at the front of the table


44


. In the preferred embodiment, it has been found that an optimal seaming operation is performed with the high temperature head


56


at approximately 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately three seconds. A bonding press which may be utilized by the seaming station


38


is the Model 907 Digital Automatic Flat Head Press, manufactured by Insta Graphic Systems, of Cerritos, Calif.




As portions of the knitted pile fabric strips pass through the seaming station


38


, they are accumulated by the accumulator station


40


, which is best shown in FIGS.


3


and


8


-


12


. Following a seaming operation, the accumulator station


40


is used to draw and accumulate most of the length of the knitted pile fabric strip which has just been seamed onto the preceding knitted pile fabric strip to form an extended length knitted pile fabric strip. Thus, the accumulator station


40


has two major components—a drive system which upon actuation by an operator draws the knitted pile fabric strip from the segmented temporary storage container


34


(

FIG. 3

) into the accumulator station


40


, and an accumulation area into which the knitted pile fabric strip is temporarily stored before it is drawn into the winding station


42


(shown in FIG.


2


).




The major components of the accumulator station


40


are a stand


58


, a roller drive system


60


, a slide


62


, and an accumulator bin


64


. The roller drive system


60


is supported at the top of the stand


58


. The slide


62


has one end thereof located near the top of the stand


58


, and extends downwardly at an angle with its other end being located at the same level as the bottom of the stand


58


. The details of the stand


58


are not significant, other than the fact that the stand


58


must function to support the roller drive system


60


and the one end of the slide


62


in fixed positions.




The details of the roller drive system


60


are best shown in

FIGS. 8 and 9

. A drive roller


66


is rotatably mounted in a fixed horizontal position at the top of the slide


62


. A driven roller


68


is located in a horizontal position above the drive roller


66


, with the extended length knitted pile fabric strip passing between the drive roller


66


and the driven roller


68


. The driven roller


68


may be mounted with its ends located in U-shaped channels


70


and


72


as shown, or in any other suitable manner. The U-shaped channels


70


and


72


allow the driven roller


68


to move up and down according to the thickness of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip passing between it and the drive roller


66


. In the preferred embodiment, the drive roller


66


and the driven roller


68


are made of rubber, with the driven roller


68


having sufficient weight to maintain pressure exerted by it against the extended length knitted pile fabric strip and the drive roller


66


.




The roller drive system


60


is operated by an electric motor


74


, which drives a drive pulley


76


through a gear reduction system


78


. The electric motor


74


and the gear reduction system


78


are mounted in the stand


58


below the top thereof. The drive pulley


76


drives a driven pulley


80


mounted on one end of the drive roller


66


with a belt


82


.




The operation of the electric motor


74


is controlled by an accumulator control switch


84


, which may be mounted on the side of the stand


58


. Preferably, the accumulator control switch


84


is a single pole, single throw “on-off” switch which the operator turns on and off to control the operation of the electric motor


74


. Located near the top of the stand


58


on the side thereof which faces the seaming station


38


is a guide member


86


, which functions to guide the extended length knitted pile fabric strip to a location between the drive roller


66


and the driven roller


68


.




The slide


62


is mounted onto the stand


58


with its upper end just below the drive roller


66


, so that the extended length knitted pile fabric strip will be directed onto the surface of the slide


62


as is drawn into the accumulator station


40


by the roller drive system


60


. The slide


62


has a bottom surface


88


and upwardly extending side walls


90


and


92


, which together form a U-shaped configuration which will guide the extended length knitted pile fabric strip down the slide


62


. Located at the bottom of the slide


62


is the accumulator bin


64


, which functions to store an accumulated portion of the length of the extended knitted pile fabric strip.




Two photodetectors are located in the slide


62


, with a first photodetector being located a short distance above the bottom of the slide


62


and a second photodetector being located nearly half way up the slide


62


. Each of these two photodetectors consists of a light source and a light detector, with one of these elements for each photodetector being mounted in the slide side wall


90


and the other element of that photodetector being mounted in the slide side wall


92


. The photodetectors are mounted approximately halfway up each of the slide side walls


90


and


92


.




Thus, the first photodetector consists of a light source


94


mounted in the slide side wall


90


and a light detector


96


mounted in the slide side wall


92


directly opposite the light source


94


. Similarly, the second photodetector consists of a light source


98


mounted in the slide side wall


90


and a light detector


100


mounted in the slide side wall


92


directly opposite the light source


94


. The light sources


94


and


98


are oriented to direct light onto the light detectors


96


and


100


, respectively, and the light detectors


96


and


100


are oriented to detect light directed onto them from the light sources


94


and


98


, respectively.




Note that the first and second photodetectors are located sufficiently high enough in the slide


62


so that they will not be obstructed by the extended length knitted pile fabric strip unless and until it begins to accumulate in the slide


62


itself, as best shown in FIG.


12


. Due to the pitch of the slide


62


, the extended length knitted pile fabric strip will not begin to accumulate in the slide


62


until the accumulator bin


64


is full, at which time the extended length knitted pile fabric strip will begin to accumulate in the slide


62


, from the bottom upwards.




Thus, as the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is accumulated in the accumulator station


40


, the accumulator bin


64


will fill up first, as shown in

FIG. 13

, in which the accumulator bin


64


is essentially full and the extended length knitted pile fabric strips is just beginning to accumulate in the bottom of the slide


62


. As the extended length knitted pile fabric strip continues to accumulate, it will accumulate up to the first photodetector, blocking light emitted from the light source


94


from reaching the light detector


98


, as shown in FIG.


10


. As even more of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip accumulates, it will accumulate up to the second photodetector, blocking light emitted from the light source


98


from reaching the light detector


100


, as shown in FIG.


11


.




The purpose of the first and second photodetectors is thus to detect how much of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is located in the accumulator station


40


. The system and method of the present invention use this information to control the operation of the winding station


42


, by varying the speed at which the winding station


42


operates according to how much of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is located in the accumulator station


40


and thus is available to the winding station


42


. This will be described in greater detail below, in conjunction with a description of the operation of the system and method of the present invention.




Referring next to

FIGS. 13 through 18

, the winding station


42


is illustrated in detail. The function of the winding station


42


is to wind the extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto a cylindrical take-up core


102


(shown in FIGS.


17


and


18


), particularly in a highly efficient and compact fashion. The winding station


42


thus performs three functions which are all directed toward winding the extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto the take-up core in the desired manner. The first function is a pre-tensioning of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip, the second function is controlling the lateral position at which the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is wound onto the take-up core, and the third function is controlling the rotation of the take-up core as the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is wound onto it.




The pretensioning function is performed by four rollers which are all mounted parallel to each other. Referring particularly to

FIGS. 13 and 15

, first and second roller support structures


104


and


106


are used to support four rollers


108


,


110


,


112


, and


114


. The first and second roller support structures


104


and


106


are located on the side of the winding station


42


facing the accumulator station


40


.




The rollers


110


and


112


are spaced apart and are located on opposite sides of the first and second roller support structures


104


and


106


, approximately sixty percent of the height of the first and second roller support structures


104


and


106


. The roller


110


is located on the side of the first and second roller support structures


104


and


106


facing the accumulator station


40


, and the roller


112


is located on the opposite side of the first and second roller support structures


104


and


106


. The roller


108


is mounted so that it is spaced away from the first and second roller support structures


104


and


106


, and is located slightly lower than the level of the rollers


110


and


114


. The roller


112


is centrally located at the top of the first and second roller support structures


104


and


106


.




The path of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip leads from the accumulator bin


64


in the accumulator station


40


onto the top of the roller


108


, and then under the roller


110


, over the top of the roller


112


, and under the roller


114


. From the roller


114


, the extended length knitted pile fabric strip enters the mechanism which controls the lateral position at which the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is wound onto the take-up core. It will thus be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the four rollers


108


,


110


,


112


, and


114


perform a pre-tensioning of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip at it passes therethrough.




The next portion of the winding station


42


is the mechanism which controls the lateral position at which the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is wound onto the take-up core


102


(FIGS.


17


and


18


). This function is accomplished by providing a strip guide carriage


116


which is driven laterally on a track member


118


which is supported at the top of two track support members


120


and


122


in a position at approximately the same height as the roller


114


. It may be seen that the track member


118


is open on the top side thereof, thereby defining a U-shaped cross section, with a portion of the strip guide carriage


116


extending down into the interior of the U. The track member


118


is mounted in a position which is parallel to the four rollers


108


,


110


,


112


, and


114


.




A servo motor


124


drives a drive screw


126


through a gear reduction system


128


, with the servo motor


124


and the gear reduction system


128


being mounted on the track support member


120


. The drive screw


126


extends through a portion of the strip guide carriage


116


to thereby drive it laterally back and forth on the track member


118


as the drive screw


126


rotates. The servo motor


124


is highly precise in its operation, and can be driven to precisely position the strip guide carriage


116


on the track member


118


, and may provide a feedback signal to indicate where the strip guide carriage


116


is on the track member


118


at any given time.




Mounted onto and extending from the strip guide carriage


116


is an irregular guide member


130


which extends around the portions of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip which extend between the roller


110


and the roller


112


, and between the roller


112


and the roller


114


. When viewed from above, the irregular guide member


130


will appear to have a highly extended U-shape. When viewed from the side, it may be seen that the irregular guide member


130


extends upwardly as it moves away from the strip guide carriage


116


toward the segments of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip which it guides, guiding them at a location nearer the roller


112


than the rollers


110


and


114


.




It may also be seen that the width of the irregular guide member


130


is such that it accommodates the width of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip therein. As the irregular guide member


130


is moved laterally with movement of the strip guide carriage


116


on the track member


118


, the irregular guide member


130


will tend to guide the extended length knitted pile fabric strip to move laterally on the rollers


108


,


110


,


112


, and


114


. Looking more closely at the strip guide carriage


116


itself, it may be seen that it has an internal width which closely accommodates and guides the extended length knitted pile fabric strip therein. The upper surface of the strip guide carriage


116


presents a U-shaped configuration with the extended length knitted pile fabric strip being accommodated within the U.




Located in the strip guide carriage


116


and extending between its lateral sides at locations spaced away from the bottom of the U are three guide rollers


132


,


134


, and


136


. From the detailed view of

FIG. 14

, it may be seen that the extended length knitted pile fabric strip passes under the guide rollers


132


,


134


, and


136


on the bottom of the U formed in the top of the strip guide carriage


116


. Thus, as the strip guide carriage


116


moves laterally on the track member


118


, it will serve to control the lateral position at which the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is wound onto the take-up core


102


(FIGS.


17


and


18


).




Located on the side of the track support members


120


and


122


opposite the accumulator station


40


are two channel support members


138


and


140


which support a U-shaped channel


142


which is located slightly lower than the track member


118


. The U-shaped channel


142


is mounted parallel to the track member


118


with its open side facing upwardly. Located in the U-shaped channel


142


is a flexible wiring guide


144


which has one end fastened to the strip guide carriage


116


. The flexible wiring guide


144


carries wiring to the strip guide carriage


116


for use with a third photodetector carried by the strip guide carriage


116


.




The third photodetector consists of a light source


146


and a light detector


148


both mounted onto the strip guide carriage


116


, as shown in FIG.


14


. The light source


146


is mounted in the bottom of the strip guide carriage


116


and the light detector


148


is mounted in the top of the strip guide carriage


116


. The light source


146


is oriented to direct light onto the light detector


148


, and the light detector


148


is oriented to detect light directed onto it from the light source


146


. It may be seen that the third photodetector will function to detect the presence or absence of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip in the strip guide carriage


116


.




The next portion of the winding station


42


is the mechanism which controls the rotation of the take-up core


102


as the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is wound onto it. This function is accomplished by removably supporting the take-up core and rotating it to wind the extended length knitted pile fabric strip thereupon. Located at the end of the winding station


42


opposite the accumulator station


40


are two winder support members


150


and


152


which are used to support the take-up core


102


, the mechanism rotating it, and the mechanism releasably retaining it.




Referring now to FIGS.


13


and


15


-


18


, located on top of the winder support member


150


is a hydraulic support member


154


having a rotatable core support member


156


extending therefrom. The distal end of the core support member


156


has an end disc


158


mounted thereupon at a location near the end thereof, and a distal portion which is configured and arranged to fit closely within an end of the take-up core


102


(as best shown in FIGS.


17


and


18


). It may be seen that the core support member


156


may be extended (as shown in

FIG. 17

) to retain the take-up core


102


in position in the winding station


42


or retracted (as shown in

FIG. 18

) to allow a full take-up core


102


to be removed and an empty take-up core


102


to be installed.




The other end of the take-up core


102


is supported by a core support member


160


which is rotatably mounted on the winder support member


152


using bearing mounts


162


and


164


. The distal end of the core support member


160


has an end disc


166


mounted thereupon at a location near the end thereof, and a distal portion (not shown) which is identical to that of the core support member


156


(shown in

FIG. 18

) and is configured and arranged to fit closely within an end of the take-up core


102


.




The take-up core


102


is rotated by a servo motor


168


, which drives a drive pulley


170


through a gear reduction system


172


. The servo motor


168


and the gear reduction system


172


are mounted on the winder support member


152


. The drive pulley


170


drives a driven pulley


174


mounted on an end of the core support member


160


with a belt


176


. The servo motor


168


is highly precise in its operation, and can be driven to precisely rotate the take-up core


102


, and may provide a feedback signal to indicate the rotational position of the take-up core


102


is at any given time since beginning to wind the extended length knitted pile fabric strip on the take-up core


102


.




Completing the construction of the winding station


42


is a control system


178


which is mounted on the channel support member


138


. The control system


178


is used to control the operation of the winding station


42


, and has as inputs the first and second photodetectors on the accumulator station


40


, a winder control switch


180


(shown in

FIG. 3

mounted near the accumulator control switch


84


) which allows an operator to stop the winding process on the winding station


42


, the third photodetector on the winding station


42


, and winding process selection elements


182


which are located on the control system


178


.




The operation of the winding station


42


to wind the extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto the take-up core


102


may now be explained briefly in a manner which will at once be understood by those skilled in the art. By using the winding process selection elements


182


to enter into the control system


178


parameters such as the physical characteristics of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip being wound, the control system


178


will properly control the winding process. The most important of these characteristics relates to the thickness of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip, since the width is standard. The winding process selection elements


182


can be set up to allow the selection of a particular weight or style of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip being wound, to indicate the start of the winding of a new take-up core


102


, or other parameters which will provide the same information (a style number or name, for example).




The other factor is where the winding is started (i.e., where the strip guide carriage


116


is when the winding process begins). It may be desirable to start with the strip guide carriage


116


guiding the extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto the take-up core


102


at an end thereof, but the control system


178


can also operate even if the winding is started in the center of the take-up core


102


. This is so because the winding process basically involves a mathematically-based control which is designed to ensure that the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is spirally wound onto the cylindrical take-up core


102


with consecutive windings of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip overlaying each other on the cylindrical take-up core


102


.




Then, by using the control system


178


to automatically control the operation of the servo motor


124


and the servo motor


168


, the winding operation can be precisely controlled. Since the control system


178


will always know where the winding process is, the servo motor


124


and the servo motor


168


can be operated to control the lateral position of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip as it is wound onto the take-up core


102


to ensure that it is spirally wound with consecutive windings of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip being located close adjacent each other and with consecutive rows of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip overlaying each other, the spacing between rotations being mathematically determined based on the inputs supplied by the winding process selection elements


182


.




The speed of the winding operation is affected by the inputs from the first and second photodetectors in the accumulator station


40


. If the inputs from them indicate that both the first and second photodetectors are blocked (indicating the presence of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip in the accumulator bin


64


and up the slide


62


to the level of the second photodetector), the winding operation will proceed at its fastest speed. If the inputs from the first and second photodetectors indicates that only the first photodetector is blocked (indicating the presence of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip in the accumulator bin


64


and only at the lower portion of the slide


62


), the winding operation will proceed at a medium speed.




If the inputs from the first and second photodetectors indicates that neither the first photodetector is blocked (indicating a diminished supply of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip in the accumulator bin


64


only), the winding operation will proceed at a slow speed. The operator of the system can stop the winding operation by using the winder control switch


180


on the accumulator station


40


at any time. Thus, when the operator is going to take a break and will not be seaming additional segments of knitted pile fabric strips, the winding operation will be stopped. When the end of the extended length knitted pile fabric strip is reached, the winding operation will proceed at the slow speed until the extended length knitted pile fabric strip moves through the third photodetector; when the third photodetector is not blocked, the winding operation will be finished.




It may therefore be appreciated from the above detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention that it teaches both a system and a method for the manufacture of knitted pile fabric strips of a substantially extended length for use by paint roller cover manufacturers in their manufacture of paint roller covers. The extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention function as if they were one complete knitted pile fabric strip rather than a knitted pile fabric strip assembled from a plurality of shorter knitted pile fabric strips. The extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are supplied in an easy to use configuration which the paint roller cover manufacturers will find to be convenient in their manufacture of paint roller covers, without requiring any revision of their manufacturing processes or a substantial investment in new equipment.




The extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are manufacturable at little additional cost as compared to knitted pile fabric strips of conventional length. Further, the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are packaged in a configuration which is convenient to ship despite the extended length of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips. This shipment configuration of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention is as compact as possible to thereby require a minimized volume of packaging for shipment.




The apparatus used by the system and method of the present invention to manufacture the extended length knitted pile fabric strips is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The system of the present invention used to manufacture the extended length knitted pile fabric strips and its cost of operation are relatively inexpensive, thereby affording the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention the broadest possible market and maximizing their market appeal. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the extended length knitted pile fabric strips of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.




Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A method for producing an extended length knitted pile fabric strip from a plurality of fabric strips, comprising:joining a plurality of fabric strips together at their respective ends to produce an extended length fabric strip; removably supporting a take-up core member for rotation at a controlled rate to thereby control rotational displacement of said take-up core member; supplying said extended length fabric strip to be wound onto said take-up core member; controlling the lateral position at which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to be wound thereupon and varying said lateral position with respect to said take-up core member; and winding said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of fabric strip while simultaneously controlling both the rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position in which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member.
  • 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said fabric strips are between thirty and fifty yards long.
  • 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said extended length fabric strip comprises between three and ten of said fabric strips.
  • 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said fabric strips each having ends and opposite pile and backing sides, and wherein said joining step comprises:bringing contiguous ends of two fabric strips being joined together so that they abut each other, said fabric strips being joined being located with said pile sides facing downwardly to expose said backing sides thereof; placing a strip of heat-activated seaming tape over the abutting ends of the two fabric strips being joined on said backing sides thereof; and applying heat and pressure to said heat-activated seaming tape and the portions of said fabric strips being joined adjacent thereto to thereby cause said heat-activated seaming tape to join said fabric strips together.
  • 5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said applying heat and pressure step is performed using a bonding press.
  • 6. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said applying heat and pressure step is performed at a temperature of approximately 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately three seconds.
  • 7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said take-up core member is made of cardboard or thermoplastic material.
  • 8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling step comprises:guiding said extended length fabric strip in a manner which restricts its lateral movement as it is being wound onto said take-up core member, said extended length fabric strip being moved laterally with respect to said take-up core member as said take-up core member is rotated to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other.
  • 9. A method as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising:determining the relative relationship between the lateral position at which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member of said extended length fabric strip and the rotational displacement of said take-up core member based upon the width and thickness of said fabric strips, the outer diameter of said take-up core member, and the position on said take-up core member at which said winding step begins.
  • 10. A method as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising:varying the rate of rotational displacement of said take-up core member based at least in part upon the amount of said extended length fabric strip which has been made by joining said plurality of fabric strips together.
  • 11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said varying step comprises:accumulating the portion of said extended length fabric strip which has been made by joining said plurality of fabric strips together in an accumulator and detecting whether said accumulator has more or less than a particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein, said extended length fabric strip being removed from said accumulator to be wound onto said take-up core member; and rotating said take-up core member at a higher rate of rotational displacement if said accumulator has more than said particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein and rotating said take-up core member at a lower rate of rotational displacement if said accumulator has less than said particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein.
  • 12. An extended length knitted pile fabric strip roll produced in accordance with the method of claim 1.
  • 13. A method for producing an extended length knitted pile fabric strip from a plurality of knitted pile fabric strips, comprising:joining a plurality of knitted pile fabric strips together at their respective ends to produce an extended length knitted pile fabric strip; removably supporting a hollow cylindrical take-up core member for rotation at a controlled rate to thereby control rotational displacement of said take-up core member; accumulating the portion of said extended length fabric strip which has been made by joining said plurality of fabric strips together in an accumulator and detecting whether said accumulator has more or less than a particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein; supplying said extended length knitted pile fabric strip from said accumulator to be wound onto said take-up core member; controlling and guiding said extended length fabric strip in a manner which restricts its lateral movement and controls its lateral position as it is presented to said take-up core member to be wound onto said take-up core member, said extended length fabric strip being moved laterally with respect to said take-up core member as said take-up core member is rotated to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other; winding said extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of knitted pile fabric strip while simultaneously controlling both the rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position in which said extended length knitted pile fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length knitted pile fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length knitted pile fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member; and rotating said take-up core member at a higher rate of rotational displacement if said accumulator has more than said particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein and rotating said take-up core member at a lower rate of rotational displacement if said accumulator has less than said particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein.
  • 14. An extended length knitted pile fabric strip roll produced in accordance with the method of claim 13.
  • 15. A method for producing an extended length fabric strip from a plurality of fabric strips, comprising:joining a plurality of fabric strips together at their respective ends to produce an extended length fabric strip; supplying said extended length fabric strip to be wound onto a take-up core member; and winding said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of fabric strip while simultaneously controlling both the rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position in which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core whereby said extended length fabric strip is substantially spirally wound on said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member.
  • 16. A system for producing an extended length fabric strip from a plurality of fabric strips, comprising:a seamer station for joining a plurality of fabric strips together at their respective ends to produce an extended length fabric strip; a winder support which removably supports a take-up core member for rotation at a controlled rate to thereby control rotational displacement of said take-up core member; a guide member which is used to supply said extended length fabric strip to be wound onto said take-up core member; a lateral position controller to vary the lateral position of said guide member from which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to be wound thereupon; and a motorized winder to rotate said take-up core member to thereby wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of fabric strip, the amount of rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position of said guide member being simultaneously controlled to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member.
  • 17. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein said seamer station comprises:a bonding press capable of applying heat and pressure to the contiguous ends of two fabric strips suitable to bond a strip of heat-activated seaming tape thereto to thereby cause said heat-activated seaming tape to thereby join said two fabric strips together.
  • 18. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein said winder support comprises:a first support member for supporting a first end of said take-up core member; and a second support member for supporting a second end of said take-up core member, said second support member being retractable to allow said take-up core member to be removed from said winder support and to allow a new take-up core member to be installed on said winder support.
  • 19. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein said guide member comprises:a carriage member defining a path through which said extended length fabric strip may pass as it is being wound onto said take-up core member, said carriage member being located sufficiently close to said take-up core member that lateral movement of said carriage member will vary the location on said take-up core member at which said extended length fabric strip is wound; and wherein said lateral position controller comprises: a carriage track upon which said carriage member is mounted for axial movement in a direction parallel to said take-up core member; and a drive mechanism for moving said carriage member laterally on said track to thereby adjust the location on said take-up core member at which said extended length fabric strip is wound.
  • 20. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein said guide member comprises:a detector for determining the presence or absence of said extended length fabric strip in said guide member, said detector facilitating the stoppage of rotation of said take-up core member when the entire extended length fabric strip has passed therethrough and been wound onto said take-up core member.
  • 21. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein said lateral position controller comprises:a first highly precise drive system for varying the position of said guide member; and wherein said motorized winder comprises: a second highly precise drive system for rotating said take-up core member.
  • 22. A system as defined in claim 21, additionally comprising:a control system for operating said first and second highly precise drive systems, said control system automatically determining the interrelationship between said first and second highly precise drive systems based upon the width and thickness of said fabric strips, the outer diameter of said take-up core member, and the position on said take-up core member at which said winding step begins.
  • 23. A system as defined in claim 16, additionally comprising:a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart rollers through which said extended length fabric strip must pass to reach said guide member, said extended length fabric strip passing over each of said plurality of rollers, said plurality of rollers acting to pre-tension said extended length fabric strip prior to it reaching said guide member, said extended length fabric strip being moveable laterally on each of said plurality of rollers as it passes thereupon, such lateral movement being caused by lateral movement of said guide carriage as it is moved by said lateral position controller.
  • 24. A system as defined in claim 16, additionally comprising:an accumulator for accommodating the portion of said extended length fabric strip which has been made joined at said seamer station, said extended length fabric strip being removed from said accumulator to be wound onto said take-up core member.
  • 25. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein said accumulator comprises:at least one detector for determining whether said accumulator has more or less than a particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein.
  • 26. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein said accumulator comprises:a slide having an upper end and a lower end; a motorized drive for drawing said extended length fabric strip into said accumulator when said motorized drive is operating, said motorized drive being located at the top end of said slide and providing said extended length fabric strip to said slide at the top end of said slide, the portion of said extended length fabric strip drawn into said accumulator moving down said slide through the force of gravity; and an accumulator bin located at said bottom end of said slide, said portion of said extended length fabric strip drawn into said accumulator moving down said slide into said accumulator bin, said extended length fabric strip moving out of said accumulator bin as it is wound on said take-up core member.
  • 27. A system as defined in claim 26, additionally comprising:a first detector mounted in said slide near the bottom thereof for detecting accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip in said slide at the location of said first detector; and a second detector mounted in said slide at an location intermediate said top and bottom ends thereof for detecting accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip in said slide at the location of said second detector.
  • 28. A system as defined in claim 27, additionally comprising:a rotation speed controller for varying the rate at which said extended length fabric strip is wound onto said take-up core member, said rotation speed controller operating at a high speed when both said first and second detectors detect accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip at their respective locations, at a medium speed when said first detector detects accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip at its respective location but said second detector does not detect accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip at its respective location, and at a low speed when neither of said first and second detectors detects accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip at their respective locations.
  • 29. A system as defined in claim 27, wherein each of said first and second detectors comprise:a light source mounted at a first side of said slide and a light detector being located at an opposite side of said slide, said light source being oriented to direct light onto said light detector and said light detector being oriented to detect light directed onto it from said light source.
  • 30. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein said motorized drive comprises:a first roller operated by a motor; and a second roller located close adjacent said first roller, said extended length fabric strip located between said first and second rollers and being drawn into said accumulator whenever said first roller is driven to rotate by said motor.
  • 31. A system for producing an extended length fabric strip from a plurality of fabric strips, comprising:a seamer station for joining a plurality of fabric strips together at their respective ends to produce an extended length fabric strip; a winder support which removably supports a take-up core member for rotation at a controlled rate to thereby control rotational displacement of said take-up core member; an accumulator for accommodating the portion of said extended length fabric strip which has been made joined at said seamer station, said extended length fabric strip being removed from said accumulator to be wound onto said take-up core member; a guide member which is used to supply said extended length fabric strip to be wound onto said take-up core member; a lateral position controller to vary the lateral position of said guide member from which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to be wound thereupon, said lateral position controller being operable to precisely vary the position of said guide member; a motorized winder to rotate said take-up core member to thereby wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of fabric strip, said motorized winder being operable to precisely rotate said take-up core member, the amount of rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position of said guide member being simultaneously controlled to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member; and a control system for operating said lateral position controller and said motorized winder, said control system automatically determining the interrelationship between said lateral position controller and said motorized winder.
  • 32. A system for producing an extended length fabric strip from a plurality of fabric strips, comprising:a seamer station for joining a plurality of fabric strips together at their respective ends to produce an extended length fabric strip; and a winding station at which said extended length fabric strip is wound onto a take-up core member to produce a spool of fabric strip, said winding station being operable to simultaneously control the amount of rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position of said extended length fabric strip whereby said extended length fabric strip is substantially spirally wound on said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member.
  • 33. A method as defined in claim 32, additionally comprising:determining the relative relationship between the lateral position at which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member of said extended length fabric strip and the rotational displacement of said take-up core member based upon the width and thickness of said fabric strips, the outer diameter of said take-up core member, and the position on said take-up core member at which said winding step begins.
  • 34. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein said determining step comprises:using a computer-controlled operating system to operate and control the lateral position at which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member of said extended length fabric strip and the rotational displacement of said take-up core member to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member.
  • 35. A method as defined in claim 32, additionally comprising:varying the rate of rotational displacement of said take-up core member based at least in part upon the amount of said extended length fabric strip which has been made by joining said plurality of fabric strips together.
  • 36. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein said varying step comprises:accumulating the portion of said extended length fabric strip which has been made by joining said plurality of fabric strips together in an accumulator and detecting whether said accumulator has more or less than a particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein, said extended length fabric strip being removed from said accumulator to be wound onto said take-up core member; and rotating said take-up core member at a higher rate of rotational displacement if said accumulator has more than said particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein and rotating said take-up core member at a lower rate of rotational displacement if said accumulator has less than said particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein.
  • 37. A method for winding an extended length fabric strip onto a take-up core member comprising:providing said extended length fabric strip formed from a plurality of fabric strips; removably supporting said take-up core member for rotation at a controlled rate to thereby control rotational displacement of said take-up core member; controlling the lateral position at which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to be wound thereupon and varying said lateral position with respect to said take-up core member; and winding said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of fabric strip while simultaneously controlling both the rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position in which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member.
  • 38. A method as defined in claim 37, wherein said controlling step comprises:guiding said extended length fabric strip in a manner which restricts its lateral movement as it is being wound onto said take-up core member, said extended length fabric strip being moved laterally with respect to said take-up core member as said take-up core member is rotated to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other.
  • 39. An extended length knitted pile fabric strip roll produced in accordance with the method of claim 37.
  • 40. A method for winding an extended length fabric strip onto a take-up core member comprising:supplying said extended length knitted pile fabric strip to be wound onto said take-up core member; removably supporting a cylindrical take-up core member for rotation at a controlled rate to thereby control rotational displacement of said take-up core member; controlling and guiding said extended length fabric strip in a manner which restricts its lateral movement and controls its lateral position as it is presented to said take-up core member to be wound onto said take-up core member, said extended length fabric strip being moved laterally with respect to said take-up core member as said take-up core member is rotated to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other; winding said extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of knitted pile fabric strip while simultaneously controlling both the rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position in which said extended length knitted pile fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length knitted pile fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length knitted pile fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length knitted pile fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member; and rotating said take-up core member at a higher rate of rotational displacement if said accumulator has more than said particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein and rotating said take-up core member at a lower rate of rotational displacement if said accumulator has less than said particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein.
  • 41. An extended length knitted pile fabric strip roll produced in accordance with the method of claim 40.
  • 42. A system for winding an extended length fabric strip onto a take-up core, said system comprising:a guide member which is used to supply said extended length fabric strip to be wound onto said take-up core member; a lateral position controller to vary the lateral position of said guide member from which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to be wound thereupon; and a motorized winder to rotate said take-up core member to thereby wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of fabric strip, the amount of rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position of said guide member being simultaneously controlled to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member.
  • 43. A system as defined in claim 42, wherein said winder support comprises:a first support member for supporting a first end of said take-up core member; and a second support member for supporting a second end of said take-up core member, said second support member being retractable to allow said take-up core member to be removed from said winder support and to allow a new take-up core member to be installed on said winder support.
  • 44. A system as defined in claim 42, wherein said guide member comprises:a carriage member defining a path through which said extended length fabric strip may pass as it is being wound onto said take-up core member, said carriage member being located sufficiently close to said take-up core member that lateral movement of said carriage member will vary the location on said take-up core member at which said extended length fabric strip is wound; and wherein said lateral position controller comprises:a carriage track upon which said carriage member is mounted for axial movement in a direction parallel to said take-up core member; and a drive mechanism for moving said carriage member laterally on said track to thereby adjust the location on said take-up core member at which said extended length fabric strip is wound.
  • 45. A system as defined in claim 42, wherein said guide member comprises:a detector for determining the presence or absence of said extended length fabric strip in said guide member, said detector facilitating the stoppage of rotation of said take-up core member when the entire extended length fabric strip has passed therethrough and been wound onto said take-up core member.
  • 46. A system as defined in claim 42, wherein said lateral position controller comprises:a first highly precise drive system for varying the position of said guide member; and wherein said motorized winder comprises:a second highly precise drive system for rotating said take-up core member.
  • 47. A system as defined in claim 46, additionally comprising:a control system for operating said first and second highly precise drive systems, said control system automatically determining the interrelationship between said first and second highly precise drive systems based upon the width and thickness of said fabric strips, the outer diameter of said take-up core member, and the position on said take-up core member at which said winding step begins.
  • 48. A system as defined in claim 42, additionally comprising:a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart rollers through which said extended length fabric strip must pass to reach said guide member, said extended length fabric strip passing over each of said plurality of rollers, said plurality of rollers acting to pre-tension said extended length fabric strip prior to it reaching said guide member, said extended length fabric strip being moveable laterally on each of said plurality of rollers as it passes thereupon, such lateral movement being caused by lateral movement of said guide carriage as it is moved by said lateral position controller.
  • 49. A system as defined in claim 42, additionally comprising:an accumulator for storing a portion of said extended length fabric strip which has been made by joining a plurality of fabric strips together at their respective ends, said extended length fabric strip being removed from said accumulator to be wound on to said take-up core member.
  • 50. A system as defined in claim 49, wherein said accumulator comprises:at least one detector for determining whether said accumulator has more or less than a particular amount of said extended length fabric strip contained therein.
  • 51. A system as defined in claim 50, additionally comprising:a first detector mounted at a first location in said accumulator for detecting a first amount of said extended length fabric strip stored in said accumulator at the location of said first detector; and a second detector mounted at a second location in said accumulator for detecting a second, larger amount of accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip stored in said accumulator at the location of said second detector.
  • 52. A system as defined in claim 51, additionally comprising:a rotation speed controller for varying the rate at which said extended length fabric strip is wound onto said take-up core member, said rotation speed controller operating at a high speed when both said first and second detectors detect accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip at their respective locations, at a medium speed when said first detector detects accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip at its respective location but said second detector does not detect accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip at its respective location, and at a low speed when neither of said first and second detectors detects accumulated portions of said extended length fabric strip at their respective locations.
  • 53. A system for winding an extended length fabric strip onto a take-up core comprising:a winder support which removably supports said take-up core member for rotation at a controlled rate to thereby control rotational displacement of said take-up core member; a guide member which is used to supply said extended length fabric strip to be wound onto said take-up core member; a lateral position controller to vary the lateral position of said guide member from which said extended length fabric strip is presented to said take-up core member to be wound thereupon, said lateral position controller being operable to precisely vary the position of said guide member; a motorized winder to rotate said take-up core member to thereby wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member to produce a spool of fabric strip, said motorized winder being operable to precisely rotate said take-up core member, the amount of rotational displacement of said take-up core member and the lateral position of said guide member being simultaneously controlled to thereby substantially spirally wind said extended length fabric strip onto said take-up core member with consecutive windings of said extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of said extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on said take-up core member; and a control system for operating said lateral position controller and said motorized winder, said control system automatically determining the interrelationship between said lateral position controller and said motorized winder.
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