Weaving equipment may include warp strand positioning equipment that positions warp strands and weft strand positioning equipment that inserts weft strands among the warp strands to form fabric. One or more of the warp strands may be selectively modified along its length using a warp strand modification unit. The warp strand modification unit may be interposed between the fabric and a reed, may be interposed between the fabric and the warp strand positioning equipment, may be mounted to the reed, or may be incorporated elsewhere in the weaving equipment. Warp strand modifications may include adding segments of metallic paint coatings or other conductive coatings, adding insulating coatings, applying other liquids to segments of the warp strand, modifying the stretchiness of warp strands, removing material from segments of the warp strand, and attaching electrical components to the warp strand.

A system for treatment of thread includes a weft thread printer having an intake positioned to receive a weft thread from a source, as well as an encoder that is configured to detect a length of the weft thread as the weft thread moves through the weft thread printer along a travel path. The system also includes a printhead positioned to apply coatings of a plurality of colors to the weft thread and yield a treated weft thread, as well as an outlet positioned to pass the treated weft thread to a loom.

A system for treatment of thread includes a weft thread printer having an intake positioned to receive a weft thread from a source, as well as an encoder that is configured to detect a length of the weft thread as the weft thread moves through the weft thread printer along a travel path. The system also includes a printhead positioned to apply coatings of a plurality of colors to the weft thread and yield a treated weft thread, as well as an outlet positioned to pass the treated weft thread to a loom.

A weaving machine includes a yarn winding mechanism for winding and unwinding undyed yarns, and a yarn coloring mechanism including a hot roller, inner and outer layer color paper tape winding devices for winding and unwinding inner and outer layer color paper tapes, respectively, and a packing paper winding device for winding and unwinding a packing paper. The inner and outer layer color paper tapes are configured to clamp therebetween the undyed yarns. A squeezing device includes a closed loop belt movably pressing the packing paper against the hot roller such that inks of the inner and outer layer color paper tapes are transferred to the undyed yarns. A back-end system is configured to weave or wind the dyed yarns.

A method of fabricating a woven fiber preform that is impregnated with a matrix-precursor resin, the resin, in the raw state, presenting a glass transition temperature Tg.sup.0, includes: impregnating yarns or strands with the resin; feeding a loom with the impregnated yarns or strands maintained at a temperature in the range Tg.sup.0 to Tg.sup.0+10 C.; and weaving the yarns or strands in the loom in order to obtain the resin-impregnated woven fiber preform.

A method of fabricating a woven fiber preform that is impregnated with a matrix-precursor resin, the resin, in the raw state, presenting a glass transition temperature Tg.sup.0, includes: impregnating yarns or strands with the resin; feeding a loom with the impregnated yarns or strands maintained at a temperature in the range Tg.sup.0 to Tg.sup.0+10 C.; and weaving the yarns or strands in the loom in order to obtain the resin-impregnated woven fiber preform.

A method of fabricating a woven fiber preform that is impregnated with a matrix-precursor resin, the resin, in the raw state, presenting a glass transition temperature Tg.sup.0, includes: impregnating yarns or strands with the resin; feeding a loom with the impregnated yarns or strands maintained at a temperature in the range Tg.sup.0 to Tg.sup.0+10 C.; and weaving the yarns or strands in the loom in order to obtain the resin-impregnated woven fiber preform.

A method of fabricating a woven fiber preform that is impregnated with a matrix-precursor resin, the resin, in the raw state, presenting a glass transition temperature Tg.sup.0, includes: impregnating yarns or strands with the resin; feeding a loom with the impregnated yarns or strands maintained at a temperature in the range Tg.sup.0 to Tg.sup.0+10 C.; and weaving the yarns or strands in the loom in order to obtain the resin-impregnated woven fiber preform.

A weaving machine includes a yarn winding mechanism for winding and unwinding undyed yarns, and a yarn coloring mechanism including a hot roller, inner and outer layer color paper tape winding devices for winding and unwinding inner and outer layer color paper tapes, respectively, and a packing paper winding device for winding and unwinding a packing paper. The inner and outer layer color paper tapes are configured to clamp therebetween the undyed yarns. A squeezing device includes a closed loop belt movably pressing the packing paper against the hot roller such that inks of the inner and outer layer color paper tapes are transferred to the undyed yarns. A back-end system is configured to weave or wind the dyed yarns.

A weaving machine includes a yarn winding mechanism for winding and unwinding undyed yarns, and a yarn coloring mechanism including a hot roller, inner and outer layer color paper tape winding devices for winding and unwinding inner and outer layer color paper tapes, respectively, and a packing paper winding device for winding and unwinding a packing paper. The inner and outer layer color paper tapes are configured to clamp therebetween the undyed yarns. A squeezing device includes a closed loop belt movably pressing the packing paper against the hot roller such that inks of the inner and outer layer color paper tapes are transferred to the undyed yarns. A back-end system is configured to weave or wind the dyed yarns.