Three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing method and apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a multiaxis three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing method and apparatus which serves to increase the density of a weave in a three dimensional woven fabric product. A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing method according to the present invention is characterized by including a step of forming a 4-axis yarn laminate LB of a desired thickness by using warps X, wefts Y, and a set of bias yarns B 1, B 2 to laminate a plurality of warp layers, a plurality of weft layers, and a plurality of layers each comprising the set of bias yarn layers, and a vertical yarn stitching step of stitching vertical yarns Z into the 4-axis yarn laminate from one surface of it in its laminating direction, and in that a three-dimensional woven fabric is formed by stitching the vertical yarn to fasten the warps X, wefts Y, and set of bias yarns B 1, B 2 together.

1 . A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing method characterized by comprising a step of forming a 4-axis yarn laminate of a desired thickness by using warps, wefts, and a set of bias yarns to laminate a plurality of warp layers, a plurality of weft layers, and a plurality of layers of a set of bias yarns each, and a vertical yarn stitching step of stitching vertical yarns Z into said 4-axis yarn laminate from one surface of said 4-axis yarn laminate in its laminating direction, and in that a three-dimensional woven fabric is formed by stitching the vertical yarns to fasten said warps, wefts, and set of bias yarns together.  
     
     
         2 . A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing apparatus characterized by comprising 4-axis yarn laminate forming means for forming a 4-axis yarn laminate by operating in forming warp layers, weft layers, and layers of a set of bias yarns each on a frame comprising yarn guard switching means around an outer periphery of the frame, to route a plurality of yarns supplied by a yarn supplying source in a direction in which the warp layers are formed, in a direction in which the weft layers are formed, and in a direction in which the layers of a set of bias yarns each are formed, respectively, to distributively direct said plurality of yarns, and vertical yarn stitching means for stitching vertical yarns into said 4-axis yarn laminate from one surface of said 4-axis yarn laminate in its laminating direction to allow said vertical yarns to fasten said warps, wefts, and set of bias yarns together.  
     
     
         3 . A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said yarn guard switching means comprises a large number of yarn guard pins attached to the outer periphery of the frame so as to extend in a lateral direction.  
     
     
         4 . A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said vertical yarn stitching means comprises a stitching head provided with a plurality of vertical yarn stitching needles and vertical yarn feeding means, and a needle guide plate that guides said plurality of vertical yarn stitching needles, and in that the apparatus further comprises controlled driving means for driving said vertical stitching means and said needle guide plate in a controlled manner so that when said vertical yarn stitching means lowers, said needle guide plate lowers before said vertical yarn stitching means to press said 4-axis yarn laminate and so that when said vertical yarn stitching means elevates, said needle guide plate leaves said 4-axis yarn laminate after said vertical yarn stitching means.  
     
     
         5 . A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing apparatus according to any one of  claims 2  to  4 , characterized in that said vertical yarn stitching means comprise fastening yarn inlaying means for inlaying a fastening yarn at the other surface of said 4-axis yarn laminate in its laminating direction so that the fastening yarn intertwines with said vertical yarns, every time the vertical yarns are stitched.  
     
     
         6 . A three-dimensional woven fabric manufacturing apparatus according to any one of  claims 2  to  5 , characterized in that the plurality of vertical yarn stitching needles of said vertical yarn stitching means each comprises a through-hole that penetrates the vertical yarn stitching needle in its axial direction so that the vertical yarn is inlaid and guided through said throughhole.