Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to multi-ply fabrics formed by weaving two or more plies of woven fabrics that consist of weft and warp yarns.

In particular, the present invention relates to multi-ply woven fabric knitting structure with soft touch, high hydrophilicity, eliminating shrinkage problem and increasing water absorbency by using 3 warp yarns between wefts.

State of the Art

Today, multi-ply fabrics are formed as a result of weaving a group of weft yarns and a group of warp yarns and combining of two separate fabrics, one under the other. Multi-ply fabric structures can be used in winter clothes and for upholstery purposes, since they are thicker and weigh more than single-ply fabric structures.

Two fabric textures are joined to each other by means of warp or weft with additional yarn connection, or by using the alternating-face double-ply fabric knitting method. An alternating-face fabric texture with a different colour and pattern on the front and back is obtained by using these types of knitting. Double-layered fabric knits are generally used for weaving thick, heavy blanket and upholstery fabrics.

While two double-ply fabrics are woven on top of each other, if the warp of the lower fabric joins the weft of the upper fabric, it is called warp joined double-ply fabric; if the weft of the lower fabric joins the warp of the upper fabric, it is called a weft joined double-ply fabric. Both fabrics can be woven on the same warp, with the same weaving draft and different armures.

It is essential that the links are not visible on the surface. However, sometimes the links of the bottom weft can also be used as patterning.

According to the double-layer joining methods, double-ply fabrics are classified as follows;

- Self-joining double-ply fabrics

- Mid-joining double-ply fabrics

- Two-faced (alternating) double-ply fabrics Features of double-layer knitting:

• The upper and lower yarn movements are drawn according to predetermined proportions in double-layered knitting. Warp and weft ratios can be the same or different. For example; warp ratio = 1/1 (one upper warp-one lower warp), weft ratio = 2/1 (two upper weft-one lower weft) or warp and weft ratio = 1/1.

• In double-ply fabrics, the upper and lower knits are usually the same. Flowever, since both layers are formed separately, different knitting methods can also be used.

• When weaving draft is performed for double-ply fabrics, usually the upper fabric warps are grouped into the front frames and the lower fabric warps are grouped into the rear frames. Weaving draft and armure plans are drawn according to this process.

• In case different knitting patterns will be used for the upper and lower fabric, the warp and weft numbers of the knits used should be equalized according to the given ratio.

Double-ply fabric formation:

• The upper and lower sheds are formed respectively according to the weft ratio determined during the weaving of double-ply fabrics.

• While the upper shed is being opened, some of the upper warps are located above and some below according to the knit to be woven. All of the lower warps are below. Upper weft yarn is inserted through the shedding.

• While the lower shed is being opened, some of the lower warps are located above and some below according to the knit to be woven. All of the upper warps are above. The bottom weft yarn is inserted through the shedding.

• Lifting marks are shown as solid squares when drawing the armure plan. In this case, all the upper warps are on the lower wefts during weaving process. A lifting sign (/) is drawn at the intersection points of the upper warps and lower wefts during the drawing of double layered knits, after the upper and lower knits are placed.

Multi-ply fabrics produced in the prior art have low hydrophilicity and hard touch.

In the state of the art, the loop withdrawing problem of the fabrics is seen in the structures of multi layered fabrics, such as sharp-pointed objects or objects with a jagged structure, pulling the yarn from the fabric surface.

In the state of the art, the water absorbency ratio of woven multi-layered fabrics is low. This does not meet the desired demand.

As a result of the researches made in the literature, various structures are encountered regarding said multi-ply fabric structures. One of them is the utility model with application numbered TR2004/02386 titled “Multi-ply fabric production method and multi-ply fabric obtained with this method”. In the summary of the invention with classification class D05C 17/00, it is stated that “The present invention relates to a method for producing fabrics with one or more plies used in the production of curtains, drapes and similar home textile products and to the multi-ply fabric obtained as a result of this method. The production method of the invention is characterized by comprising the following process steps; overlapping and stretching the desired number of top layer fabrics on the bench from the back; securing fabrics together by sparse stitching over the lines of the pattern; making embroidery on these lines; cutting and removing of one or a plurality of upper layer fabrics from a patterned area.”

In the above mentioned application, wefts are inserted into a warp yarn so as to form the multi-ply structure. Therefore, these applications can be referred as an example to some disadvantages mentioned above.

As a result; parallel to the developing technology in the multi ply fabrics, developments are made, therefore new configurations are required in order to eliminate abovementioned disadvantages and bring solution to current systems.

Aim of the Invention

The invention relates to multi ply fabrics which are different from the structures used in the state of the art, are developed to solve said disadvantages and bring some additional advantages.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate the loop withdrawing problem by forming an 8-ply fabric by inserting 3 warp yarns instead of one warp yarn from the weft string.

Another aim of the invention is to increase the water absorption volume of the woven fabric by passing through the same point with 3 warp yarns from the same weft yarn in the woven fabric knitting structure.

Another aim of the invention is to increase the softness of the touch of the multi-ply fabric by means of the warp yarns meeting at the same point.

The structural and characteristic features of the present invention will be understood clearly by the following drawings and the detailed description made with reference to these drawings. Therefore the evaluation shall be made by taking these figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Brief Description of the Figures Clarifying the Invention

Figure -1 shows the schematic view of the multi-ply woven fabric knitting structure that consists of triple warp yarns. Reference Numbers

A. Multi-ply woven fabric knitting structure

AA. Bottom weft yarn

UA. Upper weft yarn

AC. Lower warp yarn

UC. Upper warp yarn

Detailed Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the inventive multi ply woven fabric knitting structure (A) is described only for clarifying the subject matter in a manner such that no limiting effect is created.

Said multi-ply woven fabric knitting structure (A) consists of the lower warp yarn (AC) on the lower section of the fabric and the upper warp yarn (UC) on the upper section thereof. It also consists of the lower weft yarn (AA) and the upper weft yarn (UA) inserted between these warp yarns.

The upper weft yarns (UA) forming the upper fabric and the lower weft yarns (AA) forming the lower fabric are seen in the multi-ply woven fabric knitting structure (A), whose woven structure is shown in Figure 1.

While forming the upper fabric, the first two upper weft yarns (UA) are inserted under the 3 upper warp yarns (UC). The next two weft yarns are inserted in the same direction, but the 3 upper warp yarns (UC) are moved to the bottom to be combined with the lower fabric.

While forming the lower fabric, the first two lower weft yarns (AA) are inserted under the 3 lower warp yarns (AC). While the next lower weft yarn (AA) is being inserted, 3 upper warp yarns (UC) and 3 lower warp yarns (AC) remain under this weft thread. At this point, the warp yarns that form the upper and lower fabrics are connected to each other and the fabrics are connected to each other. While the 4th lower weft yarn (AA) is being inserted, the 3 upper warp yarns (UC) are moved to their own position and passed over the upper weft yarn (UA).

These movements are repeated continuously so as to create a double-ply fabric structure. In this weaving process, 8- ply woven fabric is formed by using 3 upper warp yarns (UC), 3 lower warp yarns (AC), 1 upper weft yarn (UA) and 1 lower weft yarn (AA).

Since said upper warp yarns (UC) and lower warp yarns (AC) are used on the lower and upper surfaces, they form a multi-ply fabric structure by connecting the two fabrics. In addition, the following is provided by using 3 warp yarns as the invention; • a more frequent appearance is obtained,

• fabric touch softens,

• hydrophilicity increases,

• shrinkage problem is eliminated and

• the water absorbency of the fabric increase.