Method for face-to-face weaving of fabrics with figure warp threads

Abstract

A method for face-to-face weaving of two at least partially pile-free fabrics (I), (II) in which weft threads (101-104),(201-204) are inserted between warp threads (1a-14a,1b-14b) of warp thread systems with figure warp threads (1a-8a),(1b-8b) that are allocated to respective fabrics (I,II) and are either pattern-determining in that fabric or are incorporated therein, whereby at least one set (1a,1b), . . . (8a,8b) of two identical figure warp threads is provided per pair of neighbouring warp thread systems, while the two figure warp threads of each set belong to a different warp thread system (1a-14a), (1b-14b) and are allocated to a different fabric (I,II), so that each set of figure warp threads per pair of neighbouring warp thread systems provides a figure warp thread in both fabrics (I,II) to determine the pattern.

Claims

1. A method for the production of fabrics which are at least partially pile-free, comprising: in each consecutive weft insertion cycle on a face-to-face weaving machine, inserting one or more weft threads into a shed between warp threads of a number of warp thread systems lying alongside one another, wherein each warp thread system, comprises one or more figure warp threads and each figure warp thread is allocated to one of the fabrics, positioning the warp threads in each shed in such a way that two fabrics are woven above one another with at least one zone in which each figure warp thread corresponding to a desired pattern is either pattern-determining in the fabric to which this figure warp thread is allocated or is incorporated into that fabric in a non-pattern-determining way, wherein in at least one pair of two warp thread systems lying alongside one another, providing two or more sets of two figure warp threads with the same appearance, the appearance of the figure warp threads of each set in the two or more sets being different form the appearance of the figure warp threads of each other set in the two or more sets, whereby the figure warp threads with the same appearance of each set belong to a different warp thread system of the pair and are, respectively, allocated to a different fabric, so that for each set of two figure warp threads with the same appearance, per pair of warp thread systems, a figure warp thread with said appearance is available in both fabrics to determine the pattern in said zones.

2. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, further comprising, in at least one pair of two warp thread systems lying alongside one another, binding at least one of the figure warp threads of said sets alternately into the one and into the other fabric over at least one weft thread, and then cutting the at least one of the figure warp threads between the fabrics so that at least one pile zone is created in each fabric.

3. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, characterized in that a number of warp thread systems comprise at least one additional figure warp thread that does not belong to a set of figure warp threads and alternately binding the at least one additional figure warp thread into the one and the other fabric over at least one weft thread and then cutting the at least one additional figure warp thread between the fabrics so that at least one pile zone is created in each fabric.

4. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 2, characterized in that two fabrics are woven above one another with at least one pile-free zone in which each figure warp thread, corresponding to a desired pattern, is either pattern-determining in the fabric or is incorporated into the fabric in a non-pattern-determining way, while each fabric further comprises at least one pile zone.

5. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, characterized in that an even number of sets of figure warp threads is provided per pair of two warp thread systems lying alongside one another, and that an equal number of figure warp threads is allocated to each per warp thread system.

6. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, characterized in that the figure warp threads of the warp thread systems lying alongside one another are drawn through the weaving reed in the same order alongside one another.

7. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, characterized in that each warp thread system comprises n figure warp threads with mutually differing appearance, whereby n is an even number and whereby each figure warp thread belongs to a respective set of figure warp threads, and in each pair of a first and a second warp thread system lying alongside one another, in the first warp thread system, n/2 figure warp threads are allocated to the top fabric, and n/2 other figure warp threads are allocated to the bottom fabric, and in the second warp thread system, n/2 figure warp threads with the same appearance as the figure warp threads that were allocated to the bottom fabric in the first warp thread system are allocated to the top fabric, and n/2 figure warp threads with the same appearance as the figure warp threads that were allocated to the top fabric in the first warp thread system are allocated to the bottom fabric.

8. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 7, characterized in that n=8 and that the eight figure warp threads of each pair of a first and a second warp thread system lying alongside one another are allocated to the fabrics according to one of the following allocation plans, whereby the allocation of each of these eight figure warp threads with first, second, third, . . . eighth appearance is always indicated in each allocation plan for both warp thread systems in the same order by means of a sequence of eight letters T or B, where T indicates the top fabric and B the bottom fabric: TABLE-US-00002 First warp Second warp Allocation thread system thread system plan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A T B T B B T B T B T B T T B T B B T T T T B B B B B B B B T T T T C T T B B B B T T B B T T T T B B D B T T B B T T B T B B T T B B T.

9. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, further comprising positioning the warp threads in each shed in such a way that two fabrics are woven above one another with at least one figure warp thread in said zone(s) running pattern-determining over at least one weft thread of the respective fabric at the fabric surface.

10. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, further comprising inserting at least one additional weft thread in a number of weft insertion cycles, and positioning the warp threads in each shed in such a way that two fabrics are woven above one another with one or more additional weft threads in said zone(s) running predominantly at the fabric surface to create a pattern-determining effect in the fabric.

11. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 10, further comprising inserting at least one additional weft thread in a number of weft insertion cycles, and positioning the warp threads in each shed in such a way that two fabrics are woven above one another with at least one figure warp thread in said zone(s) running over at least one additional weft thread to form a rib.

12. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 10, characterized in that the additional weft threads are thicker than the other weft threads of the fabric.

13. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, further comprising inserting a loop weft thread in a number of weft insertion cycles, providing distancers to keep the loop weft threads at a distance from the other weft threads in the fabrics being created, and positioning the warp threads in each shed in such a way that two fabrics are woven above one another with at least one figure warp thread in said zone(s) that is bound into the fabric alternately over one or more weft threads and runs over at least one loop weft thread of the fabric in question, and removing the loop weft threads so that the figure warp thread forms pile loops.

14. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, characterized in that the warp threads are positioned in each shed in such a way that two fabrics are woven above one another with bound first weft threads on a first level and bound second weft threads on a second level, and with figure warp threads that are non-pattern-determining running between the first and the second weft threads.

15. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, characterized in that the warp thread systems contain at least one tension warp thread per fabric, and that the warp threads are positioned in each shed in such a way that two fabrics with bound tension warp threads are woven above one another.

16. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, further comprising in a first production phase allocating each figure warp thread to one of the fabrics according to a first allocation plan, followed by allocating in a second production phase each figure warp thread to one of the fabrics according to a second allocation plan, wherein the figure warp threads that are allocated to a different fabric according to the second allocation plan than according to the first allocation plan are pile forming brought to the other fabric between the two production phases.

17. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 16, characterized in that a first pair of fabrics and a second pair of fabrics are produced in the first and the second production phases, respectively, further comprising allowing the figure warp threads that are allocated to a different fabric according to the second allocation plan to form pile in a transition fabric and later removing the transition fabric.

18. The method for the production of fabrics according to claim 1, characterized in that the appearance of the figure warp threads is predominantly determined by their color.

19. A face-to-face weaving machine comprising a number of warp thread systems, lying alongside one another, each of which comprising one or more figure warp threads, weft insertion devices provided to insert one or more weft threads into a shed between the warp threads in each consecutive weft insertion cycle, and shed forming devices provided to position the warp threads in each shed and to thereby allocate each figure warp thread to one of the fabrics, so that two at least partially pile-free fabrics are woven above one another with at least one zone in which each figure warp thread corresponding to a desired pattern is either pattern-determining in the fabric to which this figure warp thread is allocated or is incorporated into that fabric in a non-pattern-determining way, wherein in at least one pair of two warp thread systems lying alongside one another, two or more sets of two figure warp threads with the same appearance are provided, the appearance of the figure warp threads of each set in the two or more sets being different from appearance of the figure warp threads of each other set in the two or more sets, whereby the figure warp threads with the same appearance of each set belong to a different warp thread of the pair, and the shed forming devices are provided to allocate the two figure warp threads of each set to a different fabric, so that for each set of two figure warp threads with the same appearance, per pair of warp thread systems, a figure warp thread with said appearance is available in both fabrics to determine the pattern in said zones.

20. The face-to-face weaving machine according to claim 19, characterized in that an even number of sets of figure warp threads are provided per pair of two warp thread systems lying alongside one another, and that an equal number of figure warp threads is allocated to each fabric per warp thread system.

21. The face-to-face weaving machine according to claim 19, characterized in that the figure warp threads of the warp thread systems lying alongside one another are drawn through the weaving reed in the same order alongside one another.

22. The face-to-face weaving machine according to claim 19, characterized in that each warp thread system comprises n figure warp threads with mutually differing appearance, whereby n is an even number and whereby each figure warp thread belongs to a respective set of figure warp threads, and that in each pair of a first and a second warp thread system lying alongside one another, in the first warp thread system, n/2 figure warp threads are allocated to the top fabric, and n/2 other figure warp threads are allocated to the bottom fabric, and in the second warp thread system, n/2 figure warp threads with the same appearance as the figure warp threads that were allocated to the bottom fabric in the first warp thread system are allocated to the top fabric, and n/2 figure warp threads with the same appearance as the figure warp threads that were allocated to the top fabric in the first warp thread system are allocated to the bottom fabric.

23. The face-to-face weaving machine according to claim 22, characterized in that n=8 and that the eight figure warp threads of each pair of a first and a second warp thread system lying alongside one another are allocated to the fabrics according to one of the following allocation plans, whereby the allocation of each of these eight figure warp threads with first, second, third, . . . eighth appearance is always indicated in each allocation plan for both warp thread systems in the same order by means of a sequence of eight letters T or B, where T indicates the top fabric and B the bottom fabric: TABLE-US-00003 First warp Second warp Allocation thread system thread system plan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A T B T B B T B T B T B T T B T B B T T T T B B B B B B B B T T T T C T T B B B B T T B B T T T T B B D B T T B B T T B T B B T T B B T.

24. The face-to-face weaving machine according to claim 19, characterized in that it is provided for operation with a method comprising in each consecutive weft insertion cycle on the face-to-face weaving machine, inserting one or more weft threads into a shed between warp threads of a number of warp thread systems lying alongside one another, wherein each warp thread system comprises one or more figure warp threads and each figure warp thread is allocated to one of the fabrics, positioning the warp threads in each shed in such a way that two fabrics are woven above one another with at least one zone in which each figure warp thread corresponding to a desired pattern is either pattern-determining in the fabric to which this figure warp thread is allocated or is incorporated into that fabric in a non-pattern-determining way, wherein in at least one pair of two warp thread systems lying alongside one another, providing at least one set of two figure warp threads with the same appearance, whereby the figure warp threads with the same appearance of each set belong to a different warp thread system of the pair and are, respectively, allocated to a different fabric, so that for each set of two figure warp threads with the same appearance, per pair of warp thread systems, a figure warp thread with said appearance is available in both fabrics to determine the pattern in said zones.

25. A fabric that is at least partially pile-free and in which one or more figure warp threads determine a pattern, wherein the fabric is woven according to the method according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is now explained in further detail in the following description of five possible weaving methods in which reference numbers are used to refer to the attached FIGS. 1 to 5, each of which presents two schematic cross-sectional views in the warp direction of a face-to-face woven fabric during face-to-face weaving following the method according to this invention, whereby in the two cross-sectional views in each figure, the warp threads of two warp thread systems lying alongside one another are shown in relation to a series of weft threads in each case, and whereby

(2) FIG. 1 presents cross-sectional views of a face-to-face woven fabric with floating figure warp threads; and

(3) FIG. 2 presents cross-sectional views of a face-to-face woven fabric with a zone in which cut pile is formed and a zone with floating figure warp threads;

(4) FIG. 3 presents cross-sectional views of a face-to-face woven fabric with a zone in which cut pile is formed, a zone in which pile loops are formed and a zone with floating figure warp threads; and

(5) FIG. 4 presents cross-sectional views of a face-to-face woven fabric with a zone in which ribs are formed over additional weft threads, and a zone in which a weft effect is created with additional weft threads; and

(6) FIG. 5 presents cross-sectional views of a face-to-face woven fabric with two zones in which cut pile and a weft effect created by means of additional weft threads are formed, and a zone lying between these two zones in which ribs are formed over additional weft threads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) The face-to-face woven fabric according to the figures is produced on a two rapier face-to-face weaving machine (FIGS. 1 and 2) or on a three rapier face-to-face weaving machine (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5), whereby in each consecutive weft insertion cycle, two weft threads (101, 102), (201,202) or three weft threads (101, 102, 103 or 104) (201, 202, 203 or 204) are inserted above one another at respective weft insertion levels into a shed between warp threads (1a-14a),(1b-14b) of a series of warp thread systems, whereby each warp thread system comprises the following 14 warp threads: Eight figure warp threads (1a-8a), (1b-8b) with mutually differing appearance, for example with different colours, Two tension warp threads (9a, 10a), (9b, 10b), and Four binding warp threads (11a, 12a, 13a, 14a), (11b, 12b, 13b, 14b).

(8) The weaving machine has a jacquard machine for positioning of the figure warp threads (1a-8a), (1b-8b). The other warp threads (9a, 10a), (9b, 10b), (11a, 12a, 13a, 14a), (11b, 12b, 13b, 14b) are positioned in each shed, for example by means of weaving frames. These shed forming devices are controlled in such a way that each warp thread (1a-14a),(1b-14b) is brought into each shed in such a position relative to the two or three weft insertion levels that the warp threads and the weft threads (101, 102), (201,202) inserted at the levels in the consecutive weft insertion cycles take up the relative positions shown schematically in the figures for the warp threads (1a-14a),(1b-14b) of two warp thread systems lying alongside one another. As can be clearly seen in the figures, these warp threads and weft threads thereby form two fabrics (I, II) above one another.

(9) The warp threads (1a-14a), (1b-14b) of the different warp thread systems are always drawn through the reed openings between two dents of the weaving reed in the same order. The 14 warp threads of the different warp thread systems are hereby drawn in each case through a respective reed opening and separated from the warp threads of adjacent warp thread systems by the reed dents. As already explained above, the warp threads of each warp thread system can also be spread over two or more reed openings, or warp threads of several warp thread systems can be drawn together through the same reed opening. The drawing sequence of the figure warp threads through the heddle eyelets of the heddles that are positionable by means of the jacquard machine is also the same for the different warp thread systems. The numbering of the figure warp threads has absolutely nothing to do with the order of this draw.

(10) During the face-to-face weaving, the top sides of the fabrics are facing towards one another. The other side of each fabric is referred to as the back side. The top side of a fabric is also referred to in this patent application as a pattern side.

(11) True in all figures is also that the weft threads (101, 201) that are brought in at the top insertion level during consecutive weft insertion cycles (also referred to in this patent application as weaving cycles) are bound into each warp thread system by two binding warp threads (11a, 12a), (11b, 12b) so that a top fabric (I) is formed. The weft threads (102, 202) that are brought in at the bottom insertion level during consecutive weft insertion cycles (or weaving cycles) are bound in each time under the top fabric by two other binding warp threads (13a, 14a), (13b, 14b) so that a bottom fabric (II) is formed. If three weft threads are inserted above one another in each weaving cycle, there is a top, a middle and a bottom insertion level.

(12) In the top fabric, the one binding warp thread (11a) of each warp thread system runs alternately above two weft threads (201, 101) that are inserted at the top insertion level in a first and a following second weaving cycle (the weft threads furthest left in each cross section of the figures are inserted above one another during a first weaving cycle), and under two weft threads (201, 101) that are inserted at the top insertion level in a following third and a following fourth weaving cycle. The other binding warp thread (12a) runs alternately under the two weft threads (101, 201) of the first and second weaving cycle and over the two weft threads (101, 201) of the third and fourth weaving cycle. In the bottom fabric (II), this takes place in a corresponding manner for the two binding warp threads (13a, 14a) relative to the weft threads (102, 202) of the bottom fabric.

(13) In the second warp thread system, the two binding warp threads (11b, 12b) in the top fabric (I) and the two binding warp threads (13b, 14b) in the bottom fabric (II) have an identical course relative to the respective weft threads (101, 201), (102, 202) in these fabrics.

(14) As a result, the two binding warp threads (11a, 12a), (11b, 12b) and (13a, 14a), (13b, 14b), respectively, of each fabric (I, II) intersect after two weaving cycles each time, and in each case two weft threads (101, 201) are bound into the consecutive openings between two intersections of these binding warp threads.

(15) In each warp thread system, a tension warp thread (9a), (9b) in the top fabric is positioned alternately above the top insertion level and between the top insertion level and the insertion level below (the bottom or middle level, depending on whether there are two or three insertion levels), so that two consecutive weft threads (101, 201) in the top fabric (I) each run respectively above and below the taut tension warp thread (9a), (9b). In each warp thread system, another tension warp thread (10a), (10b) in the bottom fabric (II) is positioned alternately below the bottom insertion level and between the bottom insertion level and the insertion level above (the top or middle level, depending on whether there are two or three insertion levels), so that two consecutive weft threads (102, 202) in the bottom fabric (II) each run respectively above and below the taut tension warp thread (10a),(10b). As a result, the weft threads (101, 201), (102, 202) of each fabric are divided over two levels, whereby alternately a weft thread (102), (201) on the top side and a weft thread (101), (202) on the back side runs relative to the tension warp threads (9a),(9b),(10a),(10b) of the fabric. The term outer weft is also used for a weft thread running on the back side of the tension warp threads. A weft thread running on the top side of the tension warp threads is referred to as an inner weft.

(16) The two weft threads that are bound into respective openings between two binding warp threads (11a, 12a), (11b, 12b); (13a, 14a), (13b, 14b) are each time bound in at different levels in the respective fabric.

(17) The pattern is formed in these fabrics according to the different figures by means of figure warp threads that float on the fabric surface (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), form cut pile (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5), form pile loops (FIG. 3), or form ribs (FIGS. 4 and 5) or by combining several of these possibilities in the same fabric.

(18) In all the methods, four figure warp threads (1a-4a) with mutually differing colours are allocated to the top fabric (I) and four other figure warp threads (5a-8a) with four other mutually differing colours are allocated to the bottom fabric (II) in the first warp thread system (the top system in the figures). The figure warp threads allocated to a fabric are incorporated into this fabric when they are non-pattern-determining.

(19) In the second warp thread system (the bottom system in the figures), four figure warp threads (1b-4b) with the same respective mutually differing colours as the four figure warp threads that were allocated to the top fabric (I) in the first warp thread system are now allocated to the bottom fabric. Vice versa, four figure warp threads (5b-8b) with the same respective mutually differing colours as the four figure warp threads that were allocated to the bottom fabric (II) in the first warp thread system are then allocated to the top fabric (I). As a result and seen over the two warp thread systems, eight colours are now available in each fabric to be used as pattern-determining figure warp thread.

(20) In other words, according to all the figures there are two warp thread systems (1a-14a), (1b-14b) lying alongside one another in which there is a total of eight sets of two identical figure warp threads (1a,1b), (2a,2b), (3a,3b), (4a,4b), (5a; 5b), (6a,6b), (7a,7b), (8a,8b), whereby the colour of each set of figure warp threads differs from the colour of the other sets of figure warp threads, and whereby the two figure warp threads of each set belong to the first and the second warp thread system, respectively, and are also allocated to a different fabric. With eight figure warp threads per warp thread system, per pair of warp thread systems lying alongside one another, eight colours are made available per fabric for the formation of a pattern in the fabrics.

(21) The pattern in the fabrics in FIG. 1 is determined in that on the top side of each fabric in each warp thread system, two figure warp threads (3a),(4a);(5a),(6a); (3b),(4b);(5b),(6b) have several parts that run (float) over a number of weft threads at the fabric surface.

(22) This pattern formation for one floating part of each pattern-determining figure warp thread (3a), (4a) in the top fabric (I) is explained in detail below.

(23) In the first warp thread system, in the top fabric (I), a figure warp thread (3a) with a first colour runs on the fabric surface over the weft threads (101) on the pattern side that are inserted in the third, fifth and seventh weaving cycle, and a figure warp thread (4a) with a second colour runs on the fabric surface over the weft threads (101) on the pattern side that are inserted in the fifth, seventh and ninth weaving cycle.

(24) As far as necessary it should be pointed out that the weft threads shown in the figures vertically above one another are each inserted during the same weaving cycle, and that the weft threads of the consecutive weaving cycles are shown in order from left to right in the figures.

(25) In the second warp thread system, in the top fabric (I), a figure warp thread (6b) with a third colour runs on the fabric surface over the weft threads (101) on the pattern side that are inserted in the third, fifth and seventh weaving cycle, and a figure warp thread (4a) with a fourth colour runs on the fabric surface over the weft threads (101) on the pattern side that are inserted in the fifth, seventh and ninth weaving cycle.

(26) The figure warp threads are bound over a weft thread (201) on the back side of the fabric (I) immediately before they start to float and immediately after floating.

(27) These two figure warp threads are prevented from running parallel at the transition from their incorporated state to their floating state and vice versa. The one figure warp thread (3a),(6b) runs on the fabric surface over the weft threads of the third to seventh weaving cycle, while the other figure warp thread (4a), (5b) runs on the fabric surface over the weft threads of the fifth to ninth weaving cycle. As a result, the figure warp threads intersect one another so that they come to lie better alongside one another and there is less chance that they run over one another and mask one another.

(28) The two figure warp threads (3b, 4b) of the second warp thread system with the same colours as the figure warp threads (3a, 4a) inserted into the first warp thread system to float on the fabric surface of the top fabric (I) float in the second warp thread system in the same manner on the fabric surface of the bottom fabric (II). The two figure warp threads (5b, 6b) with the same colours as the figure warp threads (5a, 6a) inserted into the first warp thread system to float on the fabric surface of the bottom fabric (II) float in the second warp thread system also in the same manner on the fabric surface of the top fabric (I).

(29) In FIG. 1 it is easy to follow how other parts of figure warp threads contribute to the forming of the pattern in the top and bottom fabric.

(30) The figure warp threads that do not participate in the forming of the pattern are incorporated taut into the fabric to which they have been allocated and run together with the tension warp threads (9a, 10a), (9b, 10b) between the two levels in which the weft threads are bound into the fabrics.

(31) In the method illustrated in FIG. 2, a pattern is formed on a right portion of the fabrics with two floating figure warp threads (1a), (2a) that run over several weft threads (101) on the fabric surface as described above.

(32) In the first warp thread system, a figure warp thread (5a) with a first colour that is allocated to the bottom fabric is bound, from the first weaving cycle in consecutive weaving cycles, alternately over an outer weft (102) of the bottom fabric (II) and an outer weft (201) of the top fabric (I), and from the weft thread (102) of the fifth weaving cycle in the bottom fabric (II) is incorporated into this bottom fabric. A figure warp thread (4a) with a second colour that is allocated to the top fabric (I) is first incorporated into the top fabric (I) and then runs successively over the outer weft (201) of the sixth weaving cycle in the top fabric (I), the outer weft (102) of the seventh weaving cycle in the bottom fabric (II) and the outer weft (201) of the eighth weaving cycle in the top fabric (I) and is then incorporated back into the top fabric (I).

(33) In the second warp thread system, a figure warp thread (4b) with the second colour that is now allocated to the bottom fabric (II) is bound, from the first weaving cycle in consecutive weaving cycles, alternately over an outer weft (102) of the bottom fabric and an outer weft (201) of the top fabric (I), and from the weft thread (102) of the fifth weaving cycle in the bottom fabric (II) is incorporated into this bottom fabric (II). A figure warp thread (5b) with the first colour that is now allocated to the top fabric (I) is first incorporated into the top fabric (I) and then runs successively over the outer weft (201) of the sixth weaving cycle in the top fabric (I), the outer weft (102) of the seventh weaving cycle in the bottom fabric (II) and the outer weft (201) of the eighth weaving cycle in the top fabric and is then incorporated back into the top fabric (I).

(34) The figure warp threads (5a), (4a), (4b), (5b) running between the two fabrics (I, II) are then cut between the fabrics so that upright pile legs are formed on the fabrics (cut pile).

(35) The cut pile is formed in the warp thread systems lying alongside one another alternately with warp threads of a first colour and a second colour. In this way the appearance of the zone with cut pile is determined by a mixing effect of different colours. By making use of this mixing effect, a sharp demarcation of this zone is also possible. The first and also the last pile leg of this zone are indeed each bound over the same weft thread.

(36) The sawtooth pattern is prevented in that the figure warp threads that form a zone with cut pile are each allocated to the same fabric in the consecutive warp thread systems, and hence bound in at the edges of the pile zone into the same fabric over the same weft thread. The pile zone is formed by a combination of two different coloured figure warp threads (5a), (4b) and (4a), (5b). The pile zone exhibits a mixing effect determined by the colour combination. This allows a pile zone with a straight demarcation to be produced (without a sawtooth pattern) because the first and the last pile leg of each pile-forming figure warp thread of the warp thread systems are bound over the same weft thread. This last pile leg can have the one or the other colour, depending on the fabric and the warp thread system in question.

(37) Some figure warp threads (3a), (6a), a relatively long section of which is not pattern-determining and is thus incorporated into the fabric to which they are allocated, are occasionally laid over one weft thread (101), (202) on the pattern side. These figure warp threads can be visible at this point from above the fabrics and are thus to a limited extent pattern-determining.

(38) In the method according to FIG. 3, a top lancet (L.sub.1a), (L.sub.1b) and a bottom lancet (L.sub.2a), (L.sub.2b) is provided in each warp thread system between the two fabrics being created during weaving. The face-to-face weaving machine is a three rapier weaving machine with a middle rapier that inserts a loop weft thread (103), (203) into a middle insertion level during the consecutive weaving cycles. The top and the bottom rapier each insert weft threads in a top and bottom insertion level, respectively, which together with the binding warp threads and the tension warp threads form a top and a bottom fabric as explained above.

(39) The pattern is formed in the fabrics from left to right by means of cut pile, pile loops and figure warp threads running on the fabric surface.

(40) In the first warp thread system, a figure warp thread (4a) with a first colour that is allocated to the top fabric is alternately bound over an outer weft (102) of the bottom fabric (II) and over an outer weft (201) of the following weaving cycle into the top fabric (I). From the outer weft (201) of the fourth weaving cycle in the top fabric, this figure warp thread is incorporated into the top fabric.

(41) In the second warp thread system, a figure warp thread (4b) with the first colour that is now allocated to the bottom fabric is alternately bound over an outer weft (102) of the bottom fabric (II) and over an outer weft (201) of the following weaving cycle into the top fabric (I). From the outer weft (102) of the fifth weaving cycle in the bottom fabric (II), this figure warp thread (4b) is incorporated into the bottom fabric.

(42) Because these figure warp threads (4a),(4b) are incorporated into different fabrics, the figure warp thread (4b) that is allocated to the bottom fabric forms one pile leg more than the figure warp thread (4a) allocated to the top fabric. The first figure warp thread (4b) must indeed return from the fourth outer weft (201) in the top fabric (I) to the bottom fabric (II) in order to be incorporated there, and the other figure warp thread (4a) does not. Because the transition between pile formation and non-pile-forming incorporation (and vice versa) does not take place the same in the consecutive warp thread systems, the edges of a pile zone running in the weft direction have a more or less jagged course.

(43) To the right of this pile zone, other figure warp threads (2a), (6a); (6b), (2b) are used to create pile loops in both fabrics. For this, in the first warp thread system a figure warp thread (2a) with a first colour allocated to the top fabric is allowed to run immediately after binding over the outer weft (201) of the fourth weaving cycle, first forming a loop over two loop weft threads (103) of consecutive weaving cycles, this figure warp thread (4a) is then allowed to bind over an outer weft (201) of the following weaving cycle and then to run back forming a pile loop over one loop weft thread (103) of the following weaving cycle, to allow it to finally run taut after binding over an outer weft (201) into the top fabric between the weft threads bound on two levels.

(44) In an identical manner, but one weaving cycle later, a figure warp thread (6a) with a second colour allocated to the bottom fabric is allowed to run in the bottom fabric, first forming a pile loop over two pile weft threads, and immediately thereafter forming a pile loop over one loop weft thread before being incorporated into the top fabric.

(45) In the second warp thread system, exactly the same happens, but the pile loops in the top fabric are now produced with a figure warp thread (6b) with the second colour allocated to the top fabric, while the pile loops in the bottom fabric are now produced with a figure warp thread (2b) with the first colour allocated to the bottom fabric. The colours are thus reversed. This shows that when seen per pair of warp thread systems, each different colour is available in both fabrics, although only one figure warp thread per colour is provided per warp thread system.

(46) To the right of the zone where pile loops are formed, a zone is formed in which other figure warp threads (1a),(8a); (8b),(1b) are pattern-determining since they float over one or more weft threads (101),(202) at the fabric surface. In the first warp thread system in the top and bottom fabric respectively, a figure warp thread (1a) with a first colour allocated to the top fabric and a figure warp thread (8a) with a second colour allocated to the bottom fabric are used for this.

(47) In the second warp thread system, the colours are reversed: in the top and bottom fabric respectively, a figure warp thread (8b) with the second colour allocated to the top fabric and a figure warp thread (1b) with the first colour allocated to the bottom fabric are used.

(48) In the method according to FIG. 4, a three rapier face-to-face weaving machine is used, whereby the middle rapier inserts an additional weft thread (104), (204) at a middle insertion level in the consecutive weaving cycles. The top and the bottom rapier each insert weft threads in a top and bottom insertion level, respectively, that together with the binding warp threads (11a, 12a), (13a,14a), (11b,12b), (13b,14b) and the tension warp threads (9a, 10a), (9b, 10b) form a top (I) and a bottom (II) fabric as explained above. The additional weft threads (104),(204) are thicker than the other weft threads and run on the top sides of the fabrics facing towards one another and are not bound into the fabrics by binding warp threads.

(49) Here a zone with a rib structure is created in which figure warp threads (1a),(4a), (5b),(8b); (5a),(8a), (1b),(4b) run over the thicker additional weft threads (104), (204) to form ribs.

(50) For this, a figure warp thread (4a) with a first colour allocated to the top fabric is allowed to run alternately over an outer weft (101) of the top fabric (I) and a thicker additional weft thread (204) in the first warp thread system. After producing two ribs, this figure warp thread is incorporated from the outer weft of the fifth weaving cycle into the back side of the top fabric (I). This figure warp thread is furthermore used again to produce a wider rib over the thicker weft threads (204) that are inserted in the eighth and tenth weaving cycles, after which the figure warp thread (4a) is bound over an outer weft (101), and further is incorporated running taut between the weft threads (101),(201) bound in at two levels.

(51) In the same way, a second figure warp thread (1a) with a second colour allocated to the top fabric is allowed to form a wider rib in the top fabric (I) over the thicker weft threads (204) inserted in the sixth and eighth weaving cycles.

(52) In an identical manner, a figure warp thread (5a) with a third colour allocated to the bottom fabric is first allowed to form two ribs in the bottom fabric (II) over the thicker weft threads (104) inserted in the first and third weaving cycle, and to then form a wider rib over the weft threads (104) inserted in the seventh and ninth weaving cycle, and a figure warp thread (8a) with a fourth colour allocated to the bottom fabric is also allowed to form a wider rib over the weft threads (104) inserted in the fifth and seventh weaving cycle.

(53) In the second warp thread system, exactly the same happens, but the ribs in the top fabric (I) are now produced with figure warp threads (5b), (8b) with the third and fourth colour, respectively, allocated to the top fabric (I), while the ribs in the bottom fabric are now produced with figure warp threads (4b), (1b) with the first and second colours, respectively, allocated to the bottom fabric (II). The colours are thus reversed. Per pair of warp thread systems, each different colour is available in both fabrics.

(54) In a zone on the right side of the cross-sectional views shown in FIG. 4, the thicker weft threads (104),(204) are not masked by figure warp threads, so that these run clearly visibly on the fabric surface and can create an additional pattern-determining effect in the fabrics with their colour and thickness.

(55) In the method according to FIG. 5, a three rapier face-to-face weaving machine is also used, whereby the middle rapier inserts an additional thicker weft thread (104), (204) in the consecutive weaving cycles as in the method according to FIG. 4.

(56) Two pile zones with cut pile are formed in the fabric with an intermediate zone where ribs are formed in the manner described by reference to FIG. 4. The ribs are formed in the top fabric using figure warp threads (2a),(1a) with a first and a second colour, respectively, and in the bottom fabric using figure warp threads (7a),(8a) with a third and a fourth colour, respectively. In the second warp thread system, these colours are reversed.

(57) In the left pile zone, a figure warp thread (5a) with a certain colour allocated to the top fabric is bound in alternately over an outer weft (102) of the top fabric (I) and over an outer weft of the bottom fabric (II) in the first warp thread system. In the second warp thread system, a figure warp thread (5b) with the same colour that now is allocated to the top fabric is alternately bound into the top fabric (I) over an outer weft (102) of the bottom fabric (II) and over an outer weft of the top fabric (I). Because these figure warp threads are incorporated alternately into the top fabric and into the bottom fabric in consecutive warp thread systems, the demarcation of the pile zone is not perfectly straight (sawtooth pattern) as explained above by reference to FIG. 3.

(58) In the right pile zone in FIG. 5, pile is formed in the same way in the first warp thread system by a figure warp thread (3a) with a certain colour allocated to the top fabric, and in the second warp thread system pile is formed by a pile warp thread with the same colour allocated to the bottom fabric. A sawtooth pattern is formed again here. The figure warp threads running between the two fabrics are then cut between the two fabrics so that upright pile legs or cut pile are formed on the fabrics.

(59) Sawtooth forming can be prevented by the use of a method according to FIG. 2 or by providing a separate figure warp thread in each warp thread system for the formation of cut pile, whereby the respective separate figure warp threads are always incorporated into the same fabric by the consecutive warp thread systems.

(60) Depending on the pile density and the masking capacity of the figure warp threads that form cut pile, the additional thicker weft threads (104), (204) are more or less visible between the pile legs of the fabrics and form a background effect in these pile zones.

(61) Finally we should emphasise that according to some embodiments of this invention, fabrics can be woven with a particularly large variation in appearance in relation to the number of figure warp threads per warp thread system, whereby by preference it is not only the appearance (such as the colour) of the figure warp threads themselves that provide the variation, but also the variation in the fabric structure, such as i.a. the presence of floating figure warp threads or a rib structure, pile loops or cut pile produced by means of these figure warp threads, or by a combination of two or more of these possibilities, whether or not in combination with a weft effect.