Woven fabric, loom, and method for manufacturing woven fabric

Abstract

To provide a novel branched woven fabric having a higher strength than conventional branched woven fabrics formed by sewing.SOLUTION: A woven fabric 1000 comprises: a center weft yarn 1001; a first woven fabric piece 1100 formed by a third warp yarn group 1030, a first warp yarn group 1010 and a first weft yarn group 1110 with the center weft yarn 1001 as a starting point; a second woven fabric piece 1200 formed by a first warp yarn group 1010, a second warp yarn group 1020 and a second weft yarn group with the center weft yarn as a starting point; and a third woven fabric piece 1300 formed by the second warp yarn group 1020, the third warp yarn group 1030 and a third weft yarn group 1130 with the center weft yarn as a starting point. The first woven fabric piece 1100, the second woven fabric piece 1200 and the third woven fabric piece 1300 are branched into three with the center weft yarn as a center.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a woven fabric, a loom, and a method for manufacturing a woven fabric, and more particularly to a woven fabric having a trifurcated or more branched structure, a loom for weaving such a woven fabric, and a method for manufacturing such a woven fabric. [Background technology]

[0002] Woven fabrics (fabrics woven like cloth) have traditionally been used as materials for clothing and membranes used in construction, but when using pieces of fabric to create fabrics with a trifurcated or more trifurcated structure, a method is used in which two or more pieces of fabric are sewn together. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, when two or more pieces of fabric are sewn together to form a fabric with a three-pronged or more than three-pronged branch structure (hereinafter referred to as a "branched fabric"), there is a problem in that the strength of the sewn portion is low. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present invention provides a novel woven fabric having continuous yarns between adjacent fabric pieces forming a bifurcated fabric structure, and a manufacturing method and loom therefor. The present invention provides a novel bifurcated woven fabric having higher strength than conventional sewn bifurcated woven fabrics.

[0005] The present invention provides the following: (Item 1) A central weft thread; a first woven fabric piece formed from the central weft as a starting point and including a third warp group, a first warp group, and a first weft group; a second woven fabric piece formed from a first warp group, a second warp group, and a second weft group, with the central weft as a starting point; a third woven fabric piece formed from a second warp group, a third warp group, and a third weft group, with the central weft as a starting point; A woven fabric in which the first woven fabric piece, the second woven fabric piece, and the third woven fabric piece are trifurcated around the central weft. (Item 2) A woven fabric in which N pieces of woven fabric are branched into N branches around a central weft, The center weft; a first woven fabric piece formed from the central weft as a starting point and the Nth warp group, the first warp group, and the first weft group; a second woven fabric piece formed from a first warp group, a second warp group, and a second weft group, with the central weft as a starting point; a (N-1)th woven fabric piece formed from the (N-2)th warp group, the (N-1)th warp group, and the (N-1)th weft group, with the central weft as a starting point; The woven fabric has at least an Nth woven fabric piece formed of an (N-1)th warp group, an Nth warp group, and an Nth weft group, with the central weft as a starting point, N is an integer equal to or greater than 4. (Item 3) a plurality of first warps constituting the first warp group are arranged from the tip of the first woven fabric piece to the tip of the second woven fabric piece via the central weft; a plurality of second warps constituting the second warp group are arranged from the tip of the second woven fabric piece to the tip of the third woven fabric piece via the central weft; Item 1. The woven fabric according to item 1, wherein a plurality of third warp yarns constituting the third warp group are arranged from the tip of the third woven fabric piece to the tip of the first woven fabric piece via the central weft yarn. (Item 4) Item 4. The woven fabric according to item 1 or 3, wherein the plurality of first warp yarns, the plurality of second warp yarns, and the plurality of third warp yarns are repeatedly arranged in this order along the direction of the center weft yarn. (Item 5) A loom for producing a woven fabric in which a first woven fabric piece formed of a first warp group, a third warp group, and a first weft group, a second woven fabric piece formed of the first warp group, a second warp group, and a second weft group, and a third woven fabric piece formed of the second warp group, the third warp group, and a third weft group are branched around a central weft, a substantially horizontal base axis on which the central weft can be arranged; a first fixing member capable of fixing the first warp group and the third warp group; a second fixing member capable of fixing the first warp group and the second warp group; a third fixing member capable of fixing the second warp group and the third warp group; a first heald member for forming a gap between the first warp group and the third warp group; a second heald member for forming a gap between the first warp group and the second warp group; a third heald member for forming a gap between the second warp group and the third warp group; a first reed member for moving the first weft inserted into a gap between the first warp group and the third warp group toward the central weft; a second reed member for moving the second weft inserted in the gap between the first warp group and the second warp group toward the central weft; a third reed member for moving the third weft inserted in the gap between the second warp group and the third warp group toward the central weft; Equipped with the first fixed member, the second fixed member, and the third fixed member are spaced a predetermined distance apart in the radial direction around the base shaft and are also arranged at positions spaced a predetermined distance apart in the circumferential direction of the base shaft. (Item 6) Item 6. The loom according to item 5, wherein at least one of the first heald member, the second heald member, and the third heald member is configured to move only one warp group. (Item 7) 7. The loom according to item 5 or 6, wherein at least one of the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member has a tapered slit into which the plurality of warp threads constituting one warp group and the plurality of warp threads constituting the other warp group can be inserted and fixed. (Item 8) 8. The loom according to any one of items 5 to 7, wherein the base shaft is configured to be rotatable. (Item 9) Item 9. The loom according to item 8, further comprising a rotation prevention mechanism that fixes the rotational position of the base shaft. (Item 10) 10. The loom according to any one of items 5 to 9, wherein at least one cloth presser member for pressing down the first woven fabric piece, the second woven fabric piece, or the third woven fabric piece is disposed between the central weft and the first fixing member, between the central weft and the second fixing member, or between the central weft and the third fixing position. (Item 11) the first reed member has a first slit through which a plurality of first warp threads constituting the first warp thread group can be inserted, and a second slit through which a plurality of third warp threads constituting the third warp thread group can be inserted, the second reed member has a third slit through which a plurality of first warp threads constituting the first warp thread group can be inserted, and a fourth slit through which a plurality of second warp threads constituting the second warp thread group can be inserted, the third reed member has a fifth slit through which a plurality of second warp threads constituting the second warp thread group can be inserted, and a sixth slit through which a plurality of third warp threads constituting the third warp thread group can be inserted, The loom according to any one of items 5 to 10, wherein the pattern in which the first slits and the second slits of the first reed member are arranged, the pattern in which the third slits and the fourth slits of the second reed member are arranged, and the pattern in which the fifth slits and the sixth slits of the third reed member are arranged are different from each other. (Item 12) A method for producing the woven fabric according to any one of items 1 to 4 using a loom, The manufacturing method includes: positioning the central weft along a substantially horizontal base axis of the loom; disposing the first warp group from a first stationary member of the loom to a second stationary member of the loom via the central weft; disposing the second warp group from the second stationary member to a third stationary member of the loom via the central weft; a step of disposing the third warp group from the third fixing member to the first fixing member via the central weft; forming the first woven fabric piece by inserting the first weft between the first warp group and the third warp group between the first fixing member and the central weft and moving the first weft toward the central weft; forming the second woven fabric piece by inserting the second weft between the first warp group and the second warp group between the second fixing member and the central weft and moving the second weft toward the central weft; forming the third woven fabric piece by inserting the third weft between the second warp group and the third warp group between the third fixing member and the central weft and moving the third weft toward the central weft; A manufacturing method comprising: (Item 13) a step of providing a gap between the first warp group and the third warp group by moving only one of the first warp group and the third warp group when inserting the first weft between the first warp group and the third warp group; a step of providing a gap between the first warp group and the second warp group by moving only one of the first warp group and the second warp group when inserting the second weft between the first warp group and the second warp group; a step of providing a gap between the second warp group and the third warp group by moving only one of the second warp group and the third warp group when inserting the third weft between the second warp group and the third warp group; Item 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising any one of the steps: (Item 14) Item 14. The manufacturing method according to item 12 or 13, further comprising a step of winding up the first woven fabric piece, the second woven fabric piece, and the third woven fabric piece formed around the central weft by rotating the base shaft. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The present invention provides a novel branched woven fabric having greater strength than conventional sewn branched woven fabrics, as well as a manufacturing method and loom for such a branched woven fabric. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a woven fabric 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the specific structure of the woven fabric 1000 shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a device (loom 100) for weaving the woven fabric 1000 shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the loom 100 shown in FIG. 3 separated into the housing 10 and the components for weaving cloth (the winding member 101 and weaving mechanisms 110, 120, 130). [Figure 5] 5 is a plan view showing directions D1 to D3 in which pieces of woven fabric 1100, 1200, 1300 are woven by first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 included in the loom 100 shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a winding section (base shaft) 101 shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the winding section (base shaft) 101 shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the loom 100 shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 9] 5 is a diagram illustrating a fixing member (first yarn fixing member) 110d constituting the first weaving mechanism 110 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 10] 5 is a diagram for explaining a heald member (first heald member) 110 constituting the first weaving mechanism 100a shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 11] 5 is a diagram illustrating a reed member (first reed member) 110b constituting the first weaving mechanism 100a shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 12] 5 is a diagram for explaining the positional deviation of the first threading slit 11b and the second threading slit 12b between the reed members 110b, 120b, and 130b of the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 13] 5 is a diagram for explaining a presser foot (first presser foot) 110c constituting the first weaving mechanism 110 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 14] 5 is a plan view for explaining a side wall frame 20a that constitutes the housing 10 shown in FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a perspective view for explaining a method for producing the woven fabric 1000 shown in FIG. 1 using the loom 100 shown in FIG. 3, showing a preparation step for starting to weave a weft yarn with a warp yarn group. [Figure 16] 16 is an enlarged perspective view showing warp threads 1011, 1021, and 1031 of three warp thread groups 1010, 1020, and 1030 stretched in the preparation step shown in FIG. 15 together with a central weft thread 1001. FIG. [Figure 17] 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the movements of a first heald member 110a and a first reed member 110b in a first initial step in a first weaving mechanism 110. FIG. [Figure 18] 1 is a perspective view showing a first piece of woven fabric 1100 formed in a first initial step on a first weaving mechanism 110. FIG. [Figure 19]This is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 have woven the woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, and 1300 to the first weaving length (the length at which each reed member 110b, 120b, and 130b does not interfere with the locking plate 112 of the winding member 101). [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a woven cloth piece 1100 has been woven by a first weaving mechanism 110 until it exceeds a second weaving length (a length corresponding to the distance from the base shaft 101 to the first presser foot 110c). [Figure 21] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the weaving lengths of the woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, and 1300 in the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130, respectively, exceed the second weaving length. [Figure 22] 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement of a first heald member 110a and a first reed member 110b in a state where a first presser foot member 110c is attached to a first weaving mechanism 110. FIG. [Figure 23] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which pieces of woven fabric 1100, 1200, and 1300 woven by first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130, respectively, are wound around a winding member 101. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention will be described below.Unless otherwise specified, it should be understood that the terms used in this specification are used in the meanings generally used in the relevant field.Therefore, unless otherwise defined, all technical terms and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs.In the event of any discrepancy, this specification (including definitions) shall prevail.

[0009] In this specification, the term "about" refers to a range of ±10% of the following number.

[0010] [Branched woven fabric] The present invention relates to a novel bifurcated woven fabric having continuous yarns between adjacent fabric pieces that form a bifurcated fabric structure.

[0011] The woven fabric of the present invention is A central weft thread; a first woven fabric piece formed by a third warp group, a first warp group, and a first weft group, starting from a central weft; a second woven fabric piece formed by a first warp group, a second warp group, and a second weft group, starting from a central weft; a third woven fabric piece formed by a second warp group, a third warp group, and a third weft group starting from a central weft; The first woven fabric piece, the second woven fabric piece, and the third woven fabric piece are branched into three parts around the central weft.

[0012] The branched woven fabric of the present invention has three trifurcated pieces of woven fabric, each of which is connected by a warp thread from a single warp thread group, thereby increasing the joining strength compared to when the woven fabric pieces are sewn together.

[0013] The branched woven fabric of the present invention is a woven fabric that branches three ways around a central weft thread into a first woven fabric piece, a second woven fabric piece, and a third woven fabric piece, and the other configurations are not limited as long as each warp thread of the three warp thread groups is shared by two of the three woven fabric pieces.

[0014] For example, it is preferable that the multiple first warps constituting the first warp group are arranged from the tip of the first woven fabric piece via the central weft to the tip of the second woven fabric piece, the multiple second warps constituting the second warp group are arranged from the tip of the second woven fabric piece via the central weft to the tip of the third woven fabric piece, and the multiple third warps constituting the third warp group are arranged from the tip of the third woven fabric piece via the central weft to the tip of the first woven fabric piece.

[0015] This allows the warp threads (weaving yarns) of one warp group to be continuous from one tip of adjacent woven fabric pieces that form a branched fabric structure to the other tip of the adjacent woven fabric piece, effectively increasing the strength of the woven fabric having a branched fabric structure.

[0016] It is also preferable that the first warp thread, the second warp thread, and the third warp thread are repeatedly arranged in this order along the direction of the central weft thread to form a first warp thread group including a plurality of first warp threads, a second warp thread group including a plurality of second warp threads, and a third warp thread group including a plurality of third warp threads.

[0017] By repeatedly arranging the warp threads of the first to third warp thread groups in a predetermined order along the direction of the central weft thread in this manner, the two warp threads can be arranged more evenly in each piece of woven fabric, thereby reducing variation in the strength of the pieces of woven fabric.

[0018] Therefore, the basic principle of the present invention is that in a woven fabric in which three or more pieces of woven fabric are branched into three or more branches, one piece of woven fabric and the two pieces of woven fabric adjacent to it on both sides share the warp threads, and it is also applicable to a woven fabric in which the pieces are branched into four or more branches.

[0019] In other words, the present invention is not limited to a woven fabric that branches into three branches around a central weft, but may also be a woven fabric in which four or more (N:N≧4) woven fabric pieces branch into four or more (N:N≧4) branches around a central weft, in which one woven fabric piece and the woven fabric piece adjacent to it on one side share the warp threads of one warp group, and one woven fabric piece and the woven fabric piece adjacent to it on the other side share the warp threads of another warp group.

[0020] Figure 1 is an oblique view illustrating a branched woven fabric 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1(a) shows the state in which the trifurcated woven fabric 1000 is placed on a surface such as a table T, and Figure 1(b) shows the state in which the three woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, and 1300 that form the trifurcated part of the woven fabric 1000 are stretched out.

[0021] 1(a) and 1(b), the woven fabric 1000 of the first embodiment has a central weft 1001 and three woven fabric pieces, 1100, 1200, and 1300, and has a trifurcated structure in which the first woven fabric piece 1100, the second woven fabric piece 1200, and the third woven fabric piece 1300 are branched into three parts around the central weft 1001. As mentioned above, the present invention is not limited to trifurcated woven fabrics, but also includes woven fabrics branched into four or more parts.

[0022] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the specific structure of the woven fabric 1000 shown in Figure 1, where Figure 2(a) shows an enlarged view of the R1 portion of Figure 1(b), and Figures 2(b), 2(c), and 2(d) show one warp thread 1011, 1021, and 1031 in each of the first, second, and third warp thread groups 1010, 1020, and 1030.

[0023] The first woven fabric piece 1100 is woven with a first warp group 1010, a third warp group 1030, and a first weft group 1110, starting from a central weft 1001 (FIG. 2(a)).

[0024] Here, the multiple warp threads (first warp threads) 1011 included in the first warp thread group 1010 have a first portion 1011a that constitutes one warp thread of the first woven fabric piece 1100 and a second portion 1011b that constitutes the other warp thread of the second woven fabric piece 1200 (FIG. 2(b)). The first portion 1011a and the second portion 1011b of the first warp thread 1011 are separated by a portion that is hooked onto the central weft thread 1001.

[0025] The second woven fabric piece 1200 is woven with a first warp group 1010, a second warp group 1020, and a second weft group 1120, starting from a central weft 1001 (FIG. 2(a)).

[0026] Here, the multiple warp threads (second warp threads) 1021 included in the second warp thread group 1020 have a first portion 1021a that constitutes one warp thread of the second woven fabric piece 1200 and a second portion 1021b that constitutes the other warp thread of the third woven fabric piece 1300 (FIG. 2(c)). The first portion 1021a and the second portion 1021b of the second warp thread 1021 are separated by a portion that is hooked onto the central weft thread 1001.

[0027] The third woven fabric piece 1300 is woven with a second warp group 1020, a third warp group 1030, and a third weft group 1130, starting from a central weft 1001 (FIG. 2(a)).

[0028] Here, the multiple warp threads (third warp threads) 1031 included in the third warp thread group 1030 have a first portion 1031a that constitutes one warp thread of the third woven fabric piece 1300 and a second portion 1031b that constitutes the other warp thread of the first woven fabric piece 1100 (FIG. 2(d)). The first portion 1031a and the second portion 1031b of the third warp thread 1031 are separated by a portion that is hooked onto the central weft thread 1001.

[0029] In other words, the first woven fabric piece 1100 has a structure in which the first parts 1011a of the multiple first warp threads 1011 included in the first warp thread group 1010 and the second parts 1031b of the multiple third warp threads 1031 included in the third warp thread group 1030 are woven with the multiple first weft threads 1111 of the first weft thread group 1110.

[0030] The second woven fabric piece 1200 has a structure in which first portions 1021a of multiple second warp threads 1021 included in the second warp thread group 1020 and second portions 1011b of multiple first warp threads 1011 included in the first warp thread group 1010 are woven with multiple second weft threads 1121 of the second weft thread group 1120.

[0031] The third woven fabric piece 1300 has a structure in which first portions 1031a of a plurality of third warp threads 1031 included in the third warp thread group 1030 and second portions 1021b of a plurality of second warp threads 1021 included in the second warp thread group 1020 are woven with a plurality of third weft threads 1131 of the third weft thread group 1130.

[0032] In the woven fabric 1000 having the first to third woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, and 1300 branched into three branches, the first warp threads 1011 constituting the first warp group 1010 are arranged from the tip of the first woven fabric piece 1100 to the tip of the second woven fabric piece 1200 via the central weft 1001. The second warp threads 1021 constituting the second warp group 1020 are arranged from the tip of the second woven fabric piece 1200 to the tip of the third woven fabric piece 1300 via the central weft 1001. The third warp threads 1031 constituting the third warp group 1030 are arranged from the tip of the third woven fabric piece 1300 to the tip of the first woven fabric piece 1100 via the central weft 1001.

[0033] With this configuration, the warp threads (woven threads) of one warp group can be continuous from one tip of adjacent woven fabric pieces that form a branched fabric structure to the other tip of the adjacent woven fabric piece, which effectively increases the strength of the woven fabric having a branched fabric structure compared to when the woven fabric pieces are sewn together.

[0034] Furthermore, in the three-pronged woven fabric 1000, it is preferable that the multiple first warp threads 1111 of the first warp thread group 1010, the multiple second warp threads 1121 of the second warp thread group 1020, and the multiple third warp threads 1131 of the third warp thread group 1030 are repeatedly arranged in this order along the direction of the central weft thread 1001.

[0035] By repeatedly arranging the warp threads of the first to third warp thread groups in a predetermined order along the direction of the central weft thread in this manner, the two warp threads can be arranged more evenly in each piece of woven fabric, thereby reducing variation in the strength of the pieces of woven fabric.

[0036] [loom] The present invention also provides a loom for weaving the branched woven fabric of the present invention, which is a loom for producing a branched woven fabric having a first woven fabric piece formed from a first warp group, a third warp group, and a first weft group, a second woven fabric piece formed from the first warp group, a second warp group, and a second weft group, and a third woven fabric piece formed from the second warp group, the third warp group, and a third weft group, with a central weft at the center.The loom has at least a substantially horizontal base shaft on which the central weft can be positioned, a first weaving mechanism for weaving the first woven fabric piece, a second weaving mechanism for weaving the second woven fabric piece, and a third weft weaving mechanism for weaving the third woven fabric piece, and other configurations may be optional.

[0037] For example, in one embodiment, the first weaving mechanism, the second weaving mechanism, and the third weaving mechanism are each spaced a predetermined distance apart in the radial direction around the base axis and equally spaced apart in the circumferential direction, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0038] The spacing between weaving mechanisms in the circumferential direction may be changed depending on the number of weaving mechanisms provided, or the distance between adjacent weaving mechanisms may be varied. Furthermore, the positions at which the weaving mechanisms are spaced apart in the radial direction around the base axis may also be arbitrary for each weaving mechanism.

[0039] The first weaving mechanism, the second weaving mechanism, and the third weaving mechanism each have the same configuration and include a fixing member capable of fixing a warp group and a weft group, a heald member for forming a gap between the warp group and the weft group, and a reed member for moving the weft inserted in the gap between the warp group and the weft group toward the central weft.

[0040] The first, second, and third weaving mechanisms differ from each other in that they use different warp and weft threads. Specifically, the first weaving mechanism weaves a first weft thread between a first warp group and a third warp group, the second weaving mechanism weaves a second weft thread between the first warp group and a second warp group, and the third weaving mechanism weaves a third weft thread between the second warp group and the third warp group.

[0041] As a result, the first warp group is shared between the first woven fabric piece woven with the first weaving mechanism and the second woven fabric piece woven with the second weaving mechanism, the second warp group is shared between the second woven fabric piece woven with the second weaving mechanism and the third woven fabric piece woven with the third weaving mechanism, and the third warp group is shared between the third woven fabric piece woven with the third weaving mechanism and the first woven fabric piece woven with the first weaving mechanism, thereby obtaining the novel woven fabric of the present invention.

[0042] Therefore, the loom of the present invention is not limited in any other configuration as long as it weaves three warp groups with three weft groups so that each of the three warp groups is shared by two of the three woven fabric pieces.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an apparatus (loom 100) for weaving the three-pronged woven fabric 1000 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the loom 100 shown in FIG. 3 separated into the housing 10 and the mechanism for weaving the fabric.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 relative to the base shaft 101 in the loom 100 shown in FIG. 3 and the weaving directions D1 to D3 by the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130.

[0045] (Base) The base shaft in the present invention is a member configured to position and fix a central weft. The base shaft may be configured to be rotatable or non-rotatable. However, by configuring the base shaft to be rotatable, a woven fabric piece that is being woven in a direction away from the base shaft can be wound onto the base shaft while being woven, and each weaving mechanism can weave a woven fabric piece that is longer than the distance from the base shaft to the heald member.

[0046] Furthermore, if the base shaft is rotatable, it is preferable to further provide a rotation prevention mechanism that fixes the rotational position of the base shaft, because if the base shaft around which the woven fabric piece is wound is not fixed, the tension applied to the warp threads during weaving the woven fabric piece will cause the base shaft to rotate in the direction opposite to the winding direction, causing the wound woven fabric piece to be unwound.

[0047] The means for rotating the base shaft may be any means, for example, it may be manual or may be powered by a driving source such as a motor.

[0048] In the case where the base shaft is rotatable, the base shaft is preferably provided with a locking plate for locking the woven fabric pieces. The number of locking plates may be arbitrary, but is preferably set to match the number of fabric pieces to be woven by the loom.

[0049] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the base shaft (including the winding portion) 101 shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the base shaft 101 shown in FIG.

[0050] The base shaft 101 is fixed substantially horizontally to the housing and is a member for positioning and fixing a central weft 1001 that serves as a reference when the three weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 start weaving the fabric pieces 1100, 1200, and 1300, respectively.

[0051] The base shaft 101 has a pair of side plates 111 provided at both ends and locking plates 112 attached to them. The pair of side plates 111 are structured to be rotatably supported by the left and right side wall frames 20a, 20b that constitute the housing 10, respectively. Each base shaft 101 is formed with a thread insertion hole 111a through which the central weft thread 1001 passes. The pair of side plates 111 are formed with three fitting grooves 111b at equal intervals around the rotation center thereof.

[0052] The base shaft 101 is not limited to the one in which the three fitting grooves 111b formed in the side plate 111 are arranged at equal intervals around the rotation center, but may be arranged at unequal intervals around the rotation center. Also, instead of the side plate 111 rotatably supported by the housing 10 (for example, the side wall frames 20a and 20b), the base shaft may be one including three side plates fixed non-rotatably to the side wall frames 20a and 20b.

[0053] As shown in Figure 7, mating protrusions 112a are formed on both ends of the locking plate 112, and the locking plate 112 can be attached to a pair of side plates 111 by fitting the mating protrusions 112a on both ends into the mating grooves 111b of the pair of side plates 111.

[0054] Since the base shaft 101 has three locking plates 112, when the base shaft 101 rotates, the three locking plates 112 each lock three pieces of woven fabric, thereby making it possible to efficiently wind up three pieces of woven fabric.

[0055] The loom 100 may also include a rotation prevention mechanism that engages with the rotatable main shaft 101 to prevent rotation of the main shaft. The rotation prevention mechanism may have any configuration as long as it can prevent rotation of the main shaft. For example, it may be a brake on a drive means that rotates the main shaft, or a rotation prevention device (stopper) 102 that prevents rotation of the main shaft. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the rotation prevention device may have a claw portion that can be fitted into a locking plate 112 and a shaft portion that can abut against the presser foot 110c shown in FIG. 5.

[0056] Next, the first to third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 will be described.

[0057] (weaving mechanism) FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the loom 100 shown in FIG.

[0058] The loom 100 of the present invention has three weaving mechanisms (first weaving mechanism 110, second weaving mechanism 120, and third weaving mechanism 130) arranged around a base shaft, but the first to third weaving mechanisms basically have the same structure. Therefore, only the first weaving mechanism will be described in detail.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5, the first weaving mechanism 110 is a mechanism that weaves a first woven fabric piece 1100 in a predetermined direction away from the base axis 101 (weaving direction D1) using warp threads 1011 of the first warp group 1010, warp threads 1031 of the third warp group 1030, and weft threads 1111 of the first weft group 1110, and as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 8, it has multiple members for weaving these warp threads and weft threads, basically a first heald member 110a, a first reed member 110b, and a first fixed member 110d.

[0060] In addition, if necessary, a first presser foot 110c for pressing down the first woven fabric piece and a shuttle 103 for weaving in the weft (first weft) 1111 of the first weft group 1110 may be selectively provided (see FIG. 8). The angle of the weaving direction D1 (the angle relative to the horizontal) may be any angle.

[0061] The specific structure of each of the members 110a to 110d that make up the first weaving mechanism 110 will now be described.

[0062] (fixing member) The fixing member in this invention is any member capable of fixing each of the two warp thread groups that make up a piece of woven fabric. The loom of this invention has fixing members corresponding to the number of branches in the woven fabric to be manufactured. The fixing member has any structure for fixing the warp threads. For example, it may be a member that simply presses down the warp threads from above, or it may be composed of slits into which threads can be inserted and a pressing member that presses down the inserted warp threads from above, or it may fix the warp threads by tapered slits into which threads can be inserted and fixed, or it may have pins around which threads can be wound and fixed.

[0063] Figure 9 is a diagram for explaining the first fixing member (first yarn fixing member) 110d constituting the first weaving mechanism 110 shown in Figure 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the yarn is fixed by inserting it into a tapered slit. Figure 9(a) is an enlarged view showing the first yarn fixing member 110d shown in Figure 4 in an upright position, and Figures 9(b) and 9(c) are a front view (viewed from the A9 direction) and a side view (viewed from the B9 direction) of the first yarn fixing member 110d shown in Figure 9(a).

[0064] The first fixing member 110d is capable of fixing the first warp thread group 1010 and the third warp thread group 1030, and in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first fixing member 110d is a first fixing member 110d that clamps the warp threads 1011 of the first warp thread group 1010 (specifically, the first part 1011a of the warp threads 1011) and the warp threads 1031 of the third warp thread group 1030 (specifically, the second part 1031b of the warp threads 1031) between the gaps between the comb-shaped teeth to secure the threads.

[0065] 9, the first fixing member 110d has a line clip main body 10d made of a rectangular plate and fixing pieces 13d formed on both sides of the line clip main body 10d. The fixing pieces 13d are fitted into parts of the side wall frames 20a, 20b, and are fixed to the housing 10 by the fitting of the fixing pieces 13d into the side wall frames 20a, 20b.

[0066] The thread stopper body 10d is provided with tapered slits (first V-shaped grooves 11d in FIG. 9) for fixing the warp threads 1011 of the first warp group 1010 (specifically, the first portions 1011a of the warp threads 1011) and tapered slits (second V-shaped grooves 12d in FIG. 9) for fixing the warp threads 1031 of the third warp group 1030 (specifically, the second portions 1031b of the warp threads 1031), which are alternately arranged along the side in the longitudinal direction (the direction of the central axis of the base shaft 101). This method of fixing threads with tapered slits has the advantage that the threads can be fixed by the simple operation of pushing them into the slits.

[0067] 9 shows a V-shaped groove as the tapered slit, but is not limited to this. For example, a tapered slit in the present invention also includes a substantially U-shaped slit in which a portion of the inner wall of the U-shaped slit is narrowed at a portion of the lower side of the slit.

[0068] (heald parts) The heald member is any member capable of separating two warp groups that make up a piece of woven fabric and forming a gap through which a weft thread can pass. The loom of the present invention has heald members corresponding to the number of branches of the woven fabric to be manufactured. The heald member has any structure for separating the two warp groups that make up the piece of woven fabric, and may be configured to move only one of the two warp groups, or may be configured to move both of the two warp groups.

[0069] However, if the heald member is configured to move only one of the two warp groups, the warp tension can be kept low. This is because, in this case, the warp threads of the other warp group do not need to be moved and can be fixed at a constant tension, preventing an increase in tension on the other warp threads due to their movement. Furthermore, in this case, although the tension of the warp threads of the moving warp group will change due to their movement, if the necessary tension is generated only when the weft thread is passed through, that is, when the tension is greatest, it is possible to prevent a tension smaller than the necessary tension from being generated at other times, preventing the tension of the warp threads, which are already tensioned at the necessary tension, from becoming even greater due to the movement of the warp threads.

[0070] The means for moving the heald members may take any form, such as manual or by power from a drive source such as a motor.

[0071] Figure 10 is a diagram for explaining the heald member (first heald member) 110 constituting the first weaving mechanism 100a shown in Figure 4. Figure 10(a) is an enlarged view showing the first heald member 110a shown in Figure 4 in an upright position, and Figures 10(b) and 10(c) are a front view (viewed from the A10 direction) and a top view (viewed from the B10 direction) of the first heald member 110a shown in Figure 10(a).

[0072] The first heald member 110a is a member for forming a gap between the warp thread 1011 of the first warp thread group 1010 (specifically, the first part 1011a of the warp thread 1011) and the warp thread 1031 of the third warp thread group 1030 (specifically, the second part 1031b of the warp thread 1031).

[0073] The first heald member 110a has a heald body 10a made of a rectangular plate and guide pieces 13a formed on both sides of the heald body 10a. The guide pieces 13a are parts that engage with parts of the side wall frames 20a, 20b, and the engagement between the guide pieces 13a and the side wall frames 20a, 20b causes the first heald member 110a to move in a predetermined direction relative to the housing 10 (specifically, a direction intersecting the plane of the woven fabric piece).

[0074] The heald body 10a has threading holes 11a through which the warp threads 1011 of the first warp group 1010 (specifically, the first portions 1011a of the warp threads 1011) are passed and threading slits 12a through which the warp threads 1031 of the third warp group 1030 (specifically, the second portions 1031b of the warp threads 1031) are passed, which are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction (the direction of the central axis of the base shaft 101). Here, the first warp threads 1011 passed through the threading holes 11a move in accordance with the movement of the first heald member 110a, whereas the third warp threads 1031 passed through the threading slits 12a do not move even when the first heald member 110a moves.

[0075] (reed member) The reed member is any member capable of moving a weft inserted into the gap between two warp groups constituting a piece of woven fabric toward the central weft. The loom of the present invention has reed members corresponding to the number of branches of the woven fabric to be manufactured. The reed member may be any structure capable of moving a weft inserted into the gap between two warp groups constituting a piece of woven fabric toward the central weft.

[0076] For example, the thread pushing member may be a flat plate (such as a ruler) that simply pushes the weft inserted in the gap between the two warp groups toward the central weft, or may have a thread-through opening that allows the warp threads of the two warp groups to pass through, as shown in Figure 11. Here, the thread-through opening may be a long, narrow slit that forms an elongated hole for passing each warp thread through, or a wide slit that forms a wide, elongated hole for passing multiple adjacent warp threads through.

[0077] Furthermore, when a reed member having a thread-through opening is used in the loom of the present invention, the warp threads of the three warp thread groups are repeatedly arranged in a predetermined order along the central weft thread, so that the positions of the thread-through openings (slits) between the reed members used in the three weaving mechanisms are shifted to match the positions of the warp threads woven by each weaving mechanism.

[0078] That is, the first reed member (reed member in the first weaving mechanism) has a first slit through which a plurality of first warps constituting the first warp group can be inserted, and a second slit through which a plurality of third warps constituting the third warp group can be inserted, the second reed member (reed member in the second weaving mechanism) has a third slit through which a plurality of first warps constituting the first warp group can be inserted, and a fourth slit through which a plurality of second warps constituting the second warp group can be inserted, and the third reed member (reed member in the third weaving mechanism) has a fourth slit through which a plurality of first warps constituting the first warp group can be inserted, and a fourth slit through which a plurality of second warps constituting the second warp group can be inserted. The reed member in the first reed member has fifth slits through which the multiple second warp threads constituting the second warp group can be inserted, and sixth slits through which the multiple third warp threads constituting the third warp group can be inserted, and the pattern in which the first slits and second slits of the first reed member are arranged, the pattern in which the third slits and fourth slits of the second reed member are arranged, and the pattern in which the fifth slits and sixth slits of the third reed member are arranged are all different patterns.

[0079] Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating the reed member (first reed member) 110b constituting the first weaving mechanism 100a shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 11(a) is an enlarged view showing the first reed member 110b shown in Fig. 4 in an upright position, and Fig. 11(b) and Fig. 11(c) are a front view (viewed from the A11 direction) and a top view (viewed from the B11 direction) of the first reed member 110b shown in Fig. 11(a).

[0080] The first reed member 110b is a member for moving the weft (first weft) 1110 (see Figure 2) of the first weft group 1110 inserted in the gap between the first warp group 1010 and the third warp group 1030 toward the central weft 1001 (see Figure 2).

[0081] The first reed member 110b has a reed body 10b made of a rectangular plate-like body, and L-shaped guide pieces 14b extending from both sides of the reed body 10b in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the reed body 10b. The L-shaped guide pieces 14b are parts that engage with parts of the side wall frames 20a, 20b, and the engagement between the L-shaped guide pieces 14b and the side wall frames 20a, 20b guides the first reed member 110b so that it slides in a predetermined direction relative to the housing 10.

[0082] The first reed member 110b is provided with first threading slits 11b, through which the warp threads 1011 of the first warp group 1010 (specifically, the first portions 1011a of the warp threads 1011) pass, and second threading slits 13b, through which the warp threads 1031 of the third warp group 1030 (specifically, the second portions 1031b of the warp threads 1031) pass, alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction (the direction of the central axis of the base shaft 101). Here, the first warp threads 1011 passed through the first threading slits 11b move within the first threading slits 11b in accordance with the movement of the first heald member 110a.

[0083] The third warp thread 1031 threaded through the second threading slit 12b does not move even if the first heald member 110a moves.

[0084] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the positional deviation of two threading slits corresponding to two warp threads between the reed members 110b, 120b, and 130b of the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 shown in FIG.

[0085] In the woven fabric 1000, as shown in FIG. 2, the warp threads 1011 of the first warp group 1010, the warp threads 1021 of the second warp group 1020, and the warp threads 1031 of the third warp group 1030 are arranged in this order along the central weft 1001. However, as shown in FIG. 12, in the first weaving mechanism 110, the warp threads 1011 of the first warp group 1010 and the warp threads 1031 of the third warp group 1030 are used to weave the first woven fabric piece 1100, whereas in the second weaving mechanism 120, the warp threads 1011 of the first warp group 1010 and the warp threads 1021 of the second warp group 1020 are used to weave the second woven fabric piece 1200.

[0086] For this reason, in the second reed member 120b constituting the second weaving mechanism 120, a threading slit 12b for passing the second warp thread 1021, which is not provided in the first reed member 110b, is provided instead of a threading slit 13b for passing the third warp thread 1031, and as a result, the arrangement patterns of the threading slits are different between the second reed member 120b and the first reed member 110b.

[0087] Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the first weaving mechanism 110 uses warp threads 1011 of the first warp group 1010 and warp threads 1031 of the third warp group 1030 to weave the first woven fabric piece 1100, while the third weaving mechanism 130 uses warp threads 1021 of the second warp group 1020 and warp threads 1031 of the third warp group 1030 to weave the third woven fabric piece 1300.

[0088] For this reason, in the third reed member 130b constituting the third weaving mechanism 130, a threading slit 12b for passing the second warp thread 1021, which is not provided in the first reed member 110b, is provided instead of the threading slit 11b for passing the first warp thread 1011, and as a result, the arrangement patterns of the threading slits are different between the second reed member 120b and the first reed member 110b.

[0089] (Cloth holding member) The presser foot in the present invention is a member that presses down the surface of the woven fabric piece so that the surface of the woven fabric piece is parallel to the base axis. It is preferable that the loom of the present invention has presser foot members corresponding to the number of branches of the woven fabric to be manufactured.

[0090] In the loom, it is preferable that at least one cloth presser member for pressing down the first woven fabric piece, the second woven fabric piece or the third woven fabric piece is arranged between the central weft thread and the first fixing member, between the central warp thread and the second fixing member or between the central thread and the third fixing member.

[0091] By attaching the presser foot in this manner, it is possible to prevent the surface of the fabric piece from tilting relative to the base axis, and to finish the fabric piece into a flat, distortion-free piece. The presser foot also serves to ensure a wide range of reed movement even after the fabric piece has been wound by the winding member 101.

[0092] Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining the presser foot (first presser foot) 110c constituting the first weaving mechanism 110 shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 13(a) is an enlarged view showing the first presser foot 110c shown in Fig. 4 in an upright position, Fig. 13(b) is an exploded perspective view of the first presser foot 110c shown in Fig. 13(a), and Fig. 13(c) is a schematic diagram for explaining the function of the presser foot 110c shown in Fig. 13(a).

[0093] The first cloth pressing member 110c is attached to the housing 10 when the weaving length of the first woven cloth piece 1100 woven from the base axis 101 along the first weaving direction D1 reaches a certain length, and presses the surface of the first woven cloth piece 1100 to prevent the woven surface of the first woven cloth piece 1100 from tilting from a plane parallel to the axis of the base axis 101.

[0094] When this first cloth pressing member 110c is attached, the first reed member 110b cannot get closer to the base shaft 101 than the first cloth pressing member 110c, so the first reed member 110b is attached when the first woven cloth piece 1100 has been woven to a length longer than the distance between the base shaft 101 and the first cloth pressing member 110c attached to the housing 10.

[0095] The first presser foot member 110c includes a presser foot body 10c made of a rectangular vertical plate and a reinforcing piece 11c made of a rectangular horizontal plate incorporated into the presser foot body 10c. The presser foot body 10c has a main body notch 10c1 cut into it from one vertical side, and the reinforcing piece 11c has a reinforcing piece notch 11c1 cut into it from one horizontal side.

[0096] As shown in Figure 13(b), this first cloth pressing member 110c is assembled by aligning the main body notch 10c1 and the reinforcing piece notch 11c1 opposite each other and fitting them together so that a portion of the cloth pressing body 10c is accommodated in the reinforcing piece notch 11c1 and a portion of the reinforcing piece 11c is accommodated in the main body notch 10c1 (see Figure 13(a)).

[0097] By attaching such a cloth pressure member to a loom, the cloth surface of the woven fabric piece can be made to align with the direction of reed movement even after the woven fabric piece is wound by the winding member 101, thereby ensuring a wide range of reed movement (see Figure 13(c)).

[0098] (Housing 10) The housing may be of any shape as long as it can accommodate a base shaft for placing a central weft thread that serves as the starting point of the trifurcated woven fabric, a first loom for weaving the first piece of woven fabric that constitutes the trifurcated woven fabric, a second loom for weaving the second piece of woven fabric, and a third loom for weaving the third piece of woven fabric.

[0099] In one embodiment, the housing includes a pair of sidewall frames and a connecting frame that connects the pair of sidewall frames, but the present invention is not limited to this. Furthermore, the sidewall frames and the connecting frame can be connected by any means. For example, they may be fastening means such as bolts or screws, or may be fitting means such as protrusions, recesses, or holes.

[0100] Similarly, the means for connecting the base shaft and each component of the weaving mechanism (for example, the fixing member and the presser foot member) to the housing may be any means.

[0101] Furthermore, the housing may be connected to the reed member and / or the heald member in any manner that allows the reed member and / or the heald member to slide. For example, the housing may have slits that allow a portion of the reed member or the heald member to slide therein, or the housing may have a linear slide mechanism that allows the reed member and / or the heald member to slide.

[0102] Next, the housing 10 that houses the base shaft 101 and the first to third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 will be described in detail.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 10 includes a pair of side wall frames 20a, 20b and a connecting frame 20, and these side wall frames 20a and 20b are connected by the connecting frame 20 so that a space is formed between these side wall frames 20a, 20b to accommodate the base shaft 101 and the three weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130.

[0104] The pair of left and right side wall frames 20a, 20b are structured to be capable of supporting the base shaft 101 and the members constituting the three weaving mechanisms 110, 120, 130, which will be described in detail below.

[0105] Figure 14 is a plan view for explaining the side wall frames 20a, 20b that constitute the housing 10 shown in Figure 5, where Figure 14(a) shows the inner surface of the side wall frame 20a on the left side of the paper in Figure 4, and Figure 14(b) shows the outer surface of the side wall frame 20b on the right side of the paper in Figure 4.

[0106] The left and right side wall frames 20a, 20b that make up the housing 10 have a symmetrical structure, so only the left side wall frame 20a shown in FIG. 14(a) will be described.

[0107] The side wall frame 20a has a plurality of fitting holes 20a formed therein that fit into the protrusions at one end of the connecting frame 20.

[0108] The side wall frame 20a has a roughly equilateral triangular frame structure, with first, second, and third heald guide portions 31, 32, and 33 formed at the three vertices 21, 22, and 23, respectively, that slidably support the first, second, and third heald members 110a, 120a, and 130a.

[0109] Here, the first, second and third heald guide portions 31, 32 and 33 are specifically guide grooves formed in the respective vertices so as to be parallel to the bases facing the vertices 21, 22 and 23, and the guide pieces 13a of each heald member 110a, 120a and 130a are supported slidably within these guide grooves.

[0110] At the tip of each of the vertices 21 to 23, first, second and third line stopper attachments 51, 52 and 53 for fixing the first, second and third line stopper members 110d, 120d and 130d are formed.

[0111] Here, the first, second and third line stopper attachment portions 51, 52 and 53 are specifically fitting holes formed at the tip ends of the vertices 21, 22 and 23, and the fixing pieces 13d of each line stopper member 110d, 120d and 130d are fitted into these fitting holes, thereby attaching the line stopper members 110d, 120d and 130d to the side wall frame 20a.

[0112] In addition, in the side wall frame 20a, first, second, and third first reed guide portions 41, 42, and 43 are formed between each vertex portion 21 to 23 and the center portion, respectively, to slidably support the first, second, and third reed members 110b, 120b, and 130b.

[0113] Here, the first, second and third reed guide portions 41, 42 and 43 are specifically guide grooves formed between each vertex portion 21, 22 and 23 of the side wall frame 20a and the center portion, extending from the center portion toward each vertex portion, and the guide pieces 14b of each reed member 110b, 120b and 130b are supported slidably within these guide grooves.

[0114] In addition, first, second and third cloth pressure support portions 61, 62 and 63 that detachably support the first, second and third cloth pressure members 110c, 120c and 130c are formed in a portion of the inner surface of the side wall frame 20a between the center and each heald guide portion 31, 32 and 33.

[0115] The first, second and third presser foot support portions 61, 62 and 63 are each formed of a groove portion that detachably holds the end of a presser foot member having a T-shaped side surface.

[0116] The side wall frame 20a is configured to rotatably support a side plate 111a that constitutes the base shaft 101 at its center.

[0117] The other side wall frame 20b has the same structure as side wall frame 20a, and a base shaft 101 is rotatably supported between the two side wall frames 20a and 20b connected by connecting frame 20, and heald members 110a, 120a, 130a and reed members 110b, 120b, 130b of the first to third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, 130 are slidably supported therebetween, and thread stop members 110d, 120d, 130d of the first to third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, 130 are fixed thereto. In addition, presser foot members 110c, 120c, 130c of the first to third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, 130 are detachably attached between these side wall frames 20a, 20b.

[0118] [Manufacturing method] The present invention also provides a method for producing the branched woven fabric of the present invention, which method comprises using a loom to produce the woven fabric described above, This method is positioning a central weft thread along a substantially horizontal base axis of the loom; disposing a first group of warps from a first stationary member to a second stationary member of the loom via a central weft; a step of disposing a second warp group from the second fixing member to a third fixing member via a central weft; a step of disposing a third warp group from the third fixing member to the first fixing member via the central weft; forming a first woven fabric piece by inserting a first weft between the first warp group and the third warp group between the first fixing member and the central weft and moving the first weft toward the central weft; forming a second woven fabric piece by inserting a second weft between the first warp group and the second warp group between the second fixing member and the central weft and moving the second weft toward the central weft; forming a third woven fabric piece by inserting a third weft between the second warp group and the third warp group between the third fixing member and the central weft and moving the third weft toward the central weft; The above-mentioned problems have been solved by providing a manufacturing method comprising the steps of:

[0119] In this way, the method for producing the woven fabric of the present invention involves arranging the warps of the first to third warp groups from one of the first to third fixing members (the first, second, and third fixing members) to the other (the second, third, and first fixing members) of two of the first to third fixing members via a central weft, and weaving one weft group between the two warp groups between the central weft and each fixing member, so that other configurations are not limited and can be arbitrary.

[0120] For example, when weaving one weft group (weft thread) between two warp groups between a central weft thread and one fixed member, only one of the two warp groups may be moved, or both of the two warp groups may be moved.

[0121] Here, when only one of the two warp groups is moved, the tension of the warp can be kept low as described above.

[0122] The first, second and third fabric pieces formed around the central weft may be wound by rotating a base shaft, in which case the first to third fabric pieces can be formed longer than the distance between the central weft and the fixed member.

[0123] Thus, the method for producing the woven fabric of the present invention is not limited to a method for producing a woven fabric that includes three pieces of woven fabric and has a trifurcated structure, but in the description of the manufacturing method of the following embodiment, the method of the present invention will be assumed to produce a woven fabric that has three pieces of woven fabric that are trifurcated.

[0124] In addition, in the loom used in the method of the present invention, the heald members in each of the first to third weaving mechanisms move one of the two warp groups to form a gap for weaving the weft group into the two warp groups, and the base shaft is configured to be rotatable so that the formed woven fabric piece can be wound up.

[0125] Next, a method for manufacturing the woven fabric 1000 shown in FIG. 1 using the loom 100 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

[0126] FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a method for weaving the woven fabric 1000 shown in FIG. 1 using the loom 100 shown in FIG. 3, and shows the preparation process from first tensioning the central weft thread to completing tensioning the warp threads.

[0127] (preparation process) First, as shown in Fig. 15(a), a central weft 1001 is passed through the thread insertion hole 111a of a pair of side plates 111 rotatably attached to the housing 10, and the central weft 1001 is stretched between the pair of side plates 111. In this state, warps (first to third warps) 1011, 1021, 1031 of the first to third warp groups 1010, 1020, 1030 are stretched.

[0128] At this time, the multiple warp threads of each of the first, second, and third warp thread groups 1010, 1020, and 1030 are repeatedly arranged in a predetermined order in the direction of the central weft thread 1001 (i.e., in the direction from one side plate 111 to the other side plate 111), as shown in Figure 16.

[0129] FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view showing warp threads 1011, 1021, and 1031 of the three warp thread groups 1010, 1020, and 1030 stretched in the process shown in FIG.

[0130] (Tension state of warp threads 1011, 1031 in the first weaving mechanism 110) When three warp thread groups 1010, 1020, and 1030 are tensioned on the loom 100, the first portion 1011a of the first warp thread 1011 and the second portion 1031b of the third warp thread 1031 are positioned between the central weft thread 1001 and the first thread stop member 110d of the first weaving mechanism 110 (see Figures 5 and 16).

[0131] At this time, the first portion 1011a of the first warp thread 1011 passes through the threading hole 11a of the first heald member 110a and then passes through the threading slit (first slit) 11b of the first reed member 110b. Also, the second portion 1031b of the third warp thread 1031 passes through the threading slit 12a of the first heald member 110a and then passes through the threading slit (second slit) 13b of the first reed member 110b (see FIGS. 5, 10, and 11).

[0132] The first portion 1011a of the first warp thread 1011 and the second portion 1031b of the third warp thread 1031 are fixed by the first thread stopper member 110d of the first weaving mechanism 110 on the front side of the first heald member 110a (the side opposite the base shaft 101) (see Figure 5).

[0133] (Tension state of warp threads 1011, 1031 in the second weaving mechanism 120) When the three warp thread groups 1010, 1020, and 1030 are tensioned on the loom 100, the second part 1011b of the first warp thread 1011 and the first part 1021a of the second warp thread 1021 are positioned between the central weft thread 1001 and the second thread stop member 120d of the second weaving mechanism 120 (see Figures 5 and 16).

[0134] At this time, the second portion 1021a of the second warp thread 1021 passes through the threading hole 11a of the second heald member 120a and then passes through the threading slit (fourth slit) 12b of the second reed member 120b. Also, the second portion 1011b of the first warp thread 1011 passes through the threading slit 12a of the second heald member 120a and then passes through the threading slit (third slit) 11b of the second reed member 110b (see FIGS. 5, 10, and 11).

[0135] The second portion 1011b of the first warp thread 1011 and the first portion 1021a of the second warp thread 1021 are fixed by the second thread stopper member 120d of the second weaving mechanism 120 on the front side of the second heald member 120a (the side opposite the base shaft 101) (see Figure 5).

[0136] (Tension state of warp threads 1021, 1031 in the third weaving mechanism 130) When three warp thread groups 1010, 1020, and 1030 are tensioned on the loom 100, the first portion 1031a of the third warp thread 1031 and the second portion 1021b of the second warp thread 1021 are positioned between the central weft thread 1001 and the third thread stop member 130d of the third weaving mechanism 130 (see Figures 5 and 16).

[0137] At this time, the first portion 1031a of the third warp thread 1031 passes through the threading hole 11a of the third heald member 130a and then passes through the threading slit (sixth slit) 13b of the third reed member 130b. The second portion 1021b of the second warp thread 1021 passes through the threading slit 12a of the third heald member 130a and then passes through the threading slit (fifth slit) 12b of the third reed member 130b (see FIGS. 5, 10, and 11).

[0138] The second portion 1031a of the third warp thread 1031 and the second portion 1021b of the second warp thread 1021 are fixed by the third thread stopper member 130d of the third weaving mechanism 130 on the front side of the third heald member 130a (the side opposite the base shaft 101) (see Figure 5).

[0139] Thereafter, one locking plate 112 is attached to the pair of side plates 111 as shown in FIG. 15(a).

[0140] When weaving is first performed with the first weaving mechanism 110, the locking plate 112 is positioned on the opposite side of the first weaving mechanism 110 across the central weft 1001 so that it is parallel to the first portion 1011a of the stretched first warp thread 1011 and the second portion 1031b of the stretched third warp thread 1031. Figure 15(b) shows the state in which the locking plate 112 is attached to the pair of side plates 111 in this manner.

[0141] (First initial step) After the preparation process is completed, only one locking plate is attached to the base shaft, and then the first initial weaving process is performed in one of the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms (for example, the first weaving mechanism), in which the reed member is woven to a length that does not interfere with the locking plate on the base shaft. This first initial weaving process will now be described.

[0142] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining the movements of the first heald member 110a and the first reed member 110b in the first initial step in the first weaving mechanism 110. As shown in FIG.

[0143] 15 and 16, when weaving is performed with the first weaving mechanism 110 in a state in which warp threads 1011, 1021, and 1031 of three warp thread groups 1010, 1020, and 1030 are stretched inside the loom 100 (see FIG. 5), as shown in FIG. 17(a), when the first heald member 110a is moved in the X1 direction, the first portion 1011a of the first warp thread 1011 is pushed down as the first heald member 110a moves, and is separated from the second portion 1031b of the third warp thread 1031. This creates a gap between the first portion 1011a of the first warp thread group 1010 and the second portion 1031b of the third warp thread 1031, allowing a weft thread to be inserted between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups. At this time, the shuttle 103 holding the first weft thread 1111 can be passed through the gap between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups, between the central weft thread 1001 and the first reed member 110b, thereby inserting the weft thread between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups.

[0144] 17(b), the first reed member 110b is moved toward the central weft 1001, thereby packing the inserted weft toward the central weft 1001. In the first initial step, the reed member 110b needs to be moved very close to the central weft 1001, so the first presser foot 110c, which would interfere with the movement of the reed member, is not attached, and further, for the same reason, only one locking plate 112 is attached to the pair of side plates 111.

[0145] Next, with the first reed member 110b returned to a position (standby position) close to the first heald member 110a, as shown in Figure 17(c), the first heald member 110a is moved in the X2 direction, and as the first heald member 110a moves, the first portion 1011a of the first warp thread 1011 is lifted. As a result, with the first heald member 110a positioned below, the weft thread inserted between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups is woven in.

[0146] At this time, the first part 1011a of the first warp thread group 1010 is positioned above the third part 1021b of the third warp thread 1031, and a gap is formed between these warp threads. By passing the shuttle 103 holding the first weft thread 1111 through this gap, the weft thread is inserted between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups.

[0147] Then, as shown in Figure 17(d), the first reed member 110b is moved toward the central weft 1001, thereby packing the inserted weft toward the central weft 1001, and then the first reed member 110b is returned to the standby position, and the first heald member 110a is moved again in the X1 direction.

[0148] By repeating the up and down movement of the first heald member 110a, the insertion of the shuttle, and the reciprocating movement of the first reed member 110b in this manner, the warp threads of the two warp thread groups are woven with the weft threads, and the first woven fabric piece 1100 is formed.

[0149] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a first woven fabric piece 1100 (indicated by a thick two-dot chain line) formed by the first weaving mechanism 110 in the first initial step.

[0150] As shown in Figure 18, when the first woven cloth piece 1100 is woven in the first initial step of weaving using the first weaving mechanism 110 to the extent that the reed member does not interfere with the locking plate, the locking plate 112 is moved to a position for performing the initial step of weaving using another weaving mechanism (the second weaving mechanism 120 or the third weaving mechanism 130), and a weaving operation similar to the first initial step of weaving using the first weaving mechanism 110 is performed.

[0151] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 after the first initial step has been completed.

[0152] (Second initial step) After the first initial step is completed by the three weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130, the three weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 sequentially perform the second initial step of weaving the woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, and 1300 to the distance to the first presser foot 110c, with the three locking plates 112 attached to the pair of side plates 111. Figure 20 is a perspective view showing the state in which the woven fabric piece 1100 has been woven by the first weaving mechanism 110 to the distance to the first presser foot 110c in the second initial step.

[0153] When the second initial step is completed in the three weaving mechanisms 110, 120, 130 and the length of the woven fabric piece in each weaving mechanism exceeds the second weaving length, the cloth presser members 110c, 120c, 130c are attached to each weaving mechanism.

[0154] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the weaving lengths of the woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, 1300 are woven by the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, 130, respectively, up to the positions of the presser foot members 110c, 120c, 130c.

[0155] By attaching the cloth presser member in this manner, it is possible to prevent the surface of the woven cloth piece from tilting relative to the base axis 101, and the woven cloth piece can be finished into a flat cloth piece without distortion.

[0156] Thereafter, each weaving mechanism 110, 120, 130 repeats the operation of weaving woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, 1300 from the cloth pressure members 110c, 120c, 130c to the standby positions of the reed members 110b, 120b, 130b (positions close to the heald members 110a, 120a, 130a), and winding up the three woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, 1300 on the base shaft 101 as a winding member, thereby producing a woven fabric 1000 having a structure in which three woven fabric pieces of a predetermined length are branched into three branches.

[0157] (main process) After the second initial step is completed, the weaving operation of the main step of weaving the first woven cloth piece 1100 with the first presser foot 110c attached to the first weaving mechanism 110 will be described. Figure 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement of the first heald member 110a and the first reed member 110b with the first presser foot 110c attached to the first weaving mechanism 110.

[0158] 22(a), when the first heald member 110a is moved in the X1 direction, the first portion 1011a of the first warp thread 1011 is pushed down as the first heald member 110a moves, and is separated from the second portion 1031b of the third warp thread 1031. In this state, the shuttle holding the first weft thread 1111 is passed through the gap between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups, between the central weft thread 1001 and the first reed member 110b, to insert the weft thread between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups.

[0159] Next, as shown in FIG. 22(b), the first reed member 110b is moved toward the first cloth presser member 110c, thereby packing the inserted weft yarn toward the end of the first woven fabric piece 1100 that has already been woven.

[0160] Next, with the first reed member 110b returned to a position (standby position) close to the first heald member 110a, the first heald member 110a is moved in the X2 direction as shown in Figure 22(c), and as the first heald member 110a moves, the first portion 1011a of the first warp thread 1011 is lifted. As a result, the weft thread inserted between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups is finally woven in.

[0161] In this state, a gap is created between the first part 1011a of the first warp thread group 1010 and the second part 1031b of the third warp thread 1031, and by passing the shuttle holding the first weft thread 1111 through this gap, the weft thread is inserted between the warp threads of the two warp thread groups.

[0162] 22(d), the first reed member 110b is moved toward the first presser foot member 110c, thereby packing the inserted weft yarn toward the already woven first woven fabric piece 1100. After that, the first reed member 110b is returned to the standby position, and the first heald member 110a is moved again in the X1 direction.

[0163] By repeating the up and down movement of the first heald member 110a, the insertion of the shuttle, and the reciprocating movement of the first reed member 110b in this manner, the warp threads of the two warp groups are woven with the weft threads, and the first woven fabric piece 1100 is formed from the first cloth pressing member 110c toward the first thread stopping member 110d.

[0164] When the first weaving mechanism 110 weaves the first woven fabric piece 1100 up to just before the standby position of the first woven fabric piece 1100, another weaving mechanism, for example, the second weaving mechanism 120, weaves the second woven fabric piece 1200 up to just before the standby position of the second reed member 120b using a similar weaving operation to the first weaving mechanism 110, and then the remaining weaving mechanism, for example, the third weaving mechanism 130, weaves the third woven fabric piece 1300 up to just before the standby position of the third reed member 130b using a similar weaving operation to the second weaving mechanism 120.

[0165] When the weaving operations in each of the weaving mechanisms 110, 120, 130 have been performed up to this state, the weaving operations in each of the weaving mechanisms become impossible, so the portion of each of the woven cloth pieces 1100, 1200, 1300 from the cloth presser member to the reed member is wound around the base shaft 101.

[0166] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which pieces of woven fabric 1100, 1200, and 1300 woven by the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130, respectively, are wound onto the winding member 101. As shown in FIG.

[0167] When the woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, 1300 woven by the first, second, and third weaving mechanisms 110, 120, and 130 are wound up by the winding member 101, as shown in Figure 23, a rotation prevention device 102 can be attached to the locking plate 112 of the winding member 101 to prevent the wound woven fabric pieces from being unwound.

[0168] When winding up the woven fabric pieces 1100, 1200, 1300 formed by each weaving mechanism 110, 120, 130, the warp threads are released from the thread-stopping members 110d, 120d, 130d of each weaving mechanism, and after winding up, the warp threads are again fixed to the thread-stopping members of each weaving mechanism.

[0169] In this way, in this embodiment 1, the weaving yarn can be made continuous between adjacent woven fabric pieces that form a branched fabric structure, thereby obtaining a novel branched woven fabric that has higher strength than conventional sewn branched woven fabrics.

[0170] Also provided are novel woven fabrics having continuous yarns between adjacent woven pieces forming a bifurcated fabric structure, and methods and looms therefor.

[0171] As described above, the present invention has been illustrated using preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention should not be construed as being limited to these embodiments. It is understood that the scope of the present invention should be interpreted only by the claims. It is understood that a person skilled in the art can implement an equivalent scope based on the description of the present invention and common general technical knowledge from the description of specific preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that the contents of the documents cited in this specification should be incorporated by reference into this specification as if the contents themselves were specifically set forth in this specification. [Industrial Applicability]

[0172] The present invention is useful because it can provide a novel branched woven fabric having higher strength than conventional sewn branched woven fabrics, as well as a manufacturing method and loom for such a branched woven fabric. [Explanation of symbols]

[0173] 1000 woven fabric 1100 First piece of fabric 1200 Second piece of fabric 1300 Third Fabric Piece 1001 Center weft 1010 First warp group 1011 Warp threads of the first warp group (first warp threads) 1011a First portion of first warp thread 1011b Second part of the first warp thread 1020 Second warp group 1021 Warp threads of the second warp group (second warp threads) 1021a First part of second warp thread 1021b Second part of the second warp 1030 Third warp group 1031 Warp threads of the third warp group (third warp threads) 1031a First part of the third warp thread 1031b Second part of the third warp 1110 First weft group 1111 Weft of the first weft group (first weft) 1120 Second Weft Group 1121 Weft of the second weft group (second weft) 1130 Third Weft Group 1131 Weft of the third weft group (third weft) 100 Looms 101 Winding member 111 Side panel 111a Thread insertion hole 111b Fitting groove 112 Locking plate 112a Fitting protrusion 102 Rotation stopper 103 Shuttle 110 First Weaving Mechanism 110a first heald member 10a heddles 11a Threading hole 12a Threading slit 13a Guide piece 110b First reed member 10b Reed body 11b, 12b, 13b Threading slits 14b Guide piece 110c first presser foot 10c Presser foot body 11c Reinforcement piece 110d First thread stopper member 10d thread stopper body 11d First fixed slit 12d Second fixed slit 13d fixed piece 120 Second Weaving Mechanism 120a second heald member 120b second reed member 120c second presser foot 120d Second thread stopper member 130 Third Weaving Mechanism 130a third heald member 130b third reed member 130c third presser foot 130d Third thread stopper member 10. Cabinet 20 Connecting Frame 20a, 20b Side wall frame 31 First heddle guide 32 Second heddle guide 33 Third heddle guide 41 First reed guide section 42 Second reed guide section 43 Third reed guide section 51 First thread stopper fixing part 52 Second thread stopper fixing part 53 Third thread stopper fixing part 61 First presser foot fixing part 62 Second presser foot fixing part 63 Third presser foot fixing part

Claims

1. A central weft thread; a first woven fabric piece formed from the central weft as a starting point and including a third warp group, a first warp group, and a first weft group; a second woven fabric piece formed from a first warp group, a second warp group, and a second weft group, with the central weft as a starting point; a third woven fabric piece formed by a second warp group, a third warp group, and a third weft group, with the central weft as a starting point; The woven fabric is trifurcated into the first woven fabric piece, the second woven fabric piece, and the third woven fabric piece, centered on the central weft yarn.

2. A woven fabric in which N pieces of woven fabric are branched into N branches around a central weft, The center weft; a first woven fabric piece formed from the central weft as a starting point and an Nth warp group, a first warp group, and a first weft group; a second woven fabric piece formed from a first warp group, a second warp group, and a second weft group, with the central weft as a starting point; a (N-1)th woven fabric piece formed of an (N-2)th warp group, an (N-1)th warp group, and an (N-1)th weft group, with the central weft as a starting point; The woven fabric has at least an Nth woven fabric piece formed of an (N-1)th warp group, an Nth warp group, and an Nth weft group, with the central weft as a starting point, N is an integer of 4 or more.

3. a plurality of first warps constituting the first warp group are arranged from the tip of the first woven fabric piece to the tip of the second woven fabric piece via the central weft; a plurality of second warps constituting the second warp group are arranged from the tip of the second woven fabric piece to the tip of the third woven fabric piece via the central weft, The woven fabric according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of third warp yarns constituting the third warp group are arranged from the tip of the third woven fabric piece to the tip of the first woven fabric piece via the central weft yarn.

4. The woven fabric according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the plurality of first warp threads, the plurality of second warp threads, and the plurality of third warp threads are repeatedly arranged in this order along the direction of the central weft.

5. A loom for producing a woven fabric in which a first woven fabric piece formed of a first warp group, a third warp group, and a first weft group is branched around a central weft, a second woven fabric piece formed of the first warp group, a second warp group, and a second weft group, and a third woven fabric piece formed of the second warp group, the third warp group, and a third weft group, a substantially horizontal base axis on which the central weft can be arranged; a first fixing member capable of fixing the first warp group and the third warp group; a second fixing member capable of fixing the first warp group and the second warp group; a third fixing member capable of fixing the second warp group and the third warp group; a first heald member for forming a gap between the first warp group and the third warp group; a second heald member for forming a gap between the first warp group and the second warp group; a third heald member for forming a gap between the second warp group and the third warp group; a first reed member for moving the first weft inserted into a gap between the first warp group and the third warp group toward the central weft; a second reed member for moving the second weft inserted in the gap between the first warp group and the second warp group toward the central weft; a third reed member for moving the third weft inserted in the gap between the second warp group and the third warp group toward the central weft; Equipped with the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member are spaced a predetermined distance apart in the radial direction around the base shaft, and are also arranged at positions spaced a predetermined distance apart in the circumferential direction of the base shaft.

6. 6. The loom of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first heald member, the second heald member, and the third heald member is configured to move only one group of warp threads.

7. 7. The loom according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member has a tapered slit into which a plurality of warp threads constituting one warp group and a plurality of warp threads constituting the other warp group can be inserted and fixed.

8. The loom according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the base shaft is configured to be rotatable.

9. The loom according to claim 8, further comprising a rotation prevention mechanism that fixes the rotational position of the base shaft.

10. The loom according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein at least one presser member for pressing down the first woven fabric piece, the second woven fabric piece, or the third woven fabric piece is disposed between the central weft and the first fixing member, between the central weft and the second fixing member, or between the central weft and the third fixing position.

11. the first reed member has a first slit through which a plurality of first warp threads constituting the first warp thread group can be inserted, and a second slit through which a plurality of third warp threads constituting the third warp thread group can be inserted, the second reed member has a third slit through which a plurality of first warp threads constituting the first warp thread group can be inserted, and a fourth slit through which a plurality of second warp threads constituting the second warp thread group can be inserted, the third reed member has a fifth slit through which a plurality of second warp threads constituting the second warp thread group can be inserted, and a sixth slit through which a plurality of third warp threads constituting the third warp thread group can be inserted, A loom according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the pattern in which the first slits and second slits of the first reed member are arranged, the pattern in which the third slits and fourth slits of the second reed member are arranged, and the pattern in which the fifth slits and sixth slits of the third reed member are arranged are all different patterns.

12. A method for producing the woven fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 4 using a loom, The manufacturing method includes: positioning the central weft along a substantially horizontal base axis of the loom; disposing the first warp group from a first stationary member of the loom to a second stationary member of the loom via the central weft; disposing the second warp group from the second stationary member to a third stationary member of the loom via the central weft; a step of disposing the third warp yarn group from the third fixing member to the first fixing member via the central weft yarn; forming the first woven fabric piece by inserting the first weft between the first warp group and the third warp group between the first fixing member and the central weft and moving the first weft toward the central weft; forming the second woven fabric piece by inserting the second weft between the first warp group and the second warp group between the second fixing member and the central weft and moving the second weft toward the central weft; forming the third woven fabric piece by inserting the third weft between the second warp group and the third warp group between the third fixing member and the central weft and moving the third weft toward the central weft; A manufacturing method comprising:

13. a step of providing a gap between the first warp group and the third warp group by moving only one of the first warp group and the third warp group when inserting the first weft between the first warp group and the third warp group; a step of providing a gap between the first warp group and the second warp group by moving only one of the first warp group and the second warp group when inserting the second weft between the first warp group and the second warp group; a step of providing a gap between the second warp group and the third warp group by moving only one of the second warp group and the third warp group when inserting the third weft between the second warp group and the third warp group; The method of claim 12 further comprising any one of the steps:

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising a step of winding up the first woven fabric piece, the second woven fabric piece, and the third woven fabric piece formed around the central weft by rotating the base shaft.

Images