GB2093869A - An apparatus and method for producing a self-lined fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-lined unitary fabric having a flexible lining of non-woven fibrous batting disposed beneath a layer of fill yarn is formed on a stitch-through machine having means for supplying the lining material to the machine, means 13a, 13b for withdrawing the lining material from the supply means 11, and means 14, 15 for independently supporting and guiding the lining material 12 to the work zone 19 of the machine independently of the fill layer 24 and applying said lining material to the fill yarn layer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An apparatus and method for producing a selflined fabric This invention relates to self-lined composite fabrics of novel functional and aesthetic design. More particularly, it relates to a novel self-lined fabric which may be produced on a stitch-through type machine such as, for example, a Malimo machine and to an apparatus and method for use in making the fabric. The fabric is self-lined by one of its own components and is useful among other things in decorative applications such as draperies where it is desired to provide such fabrics with a lining or backing which forms an integral part of the whole fabric structure. So-called Malimo fabrics typically comprise a layer of substantially parallel warp yarn elements or ends on a flexible substrate such as a layer of substantially parallel textile filling elements or ends. The warp yarn elements are affixed to the flexible substrate by laying one on top of the other and joining them into an integrated structure by means of relatively fine knitting threads. In the case where the flexible substrate is a layer of textile filling elements, a more or less open mesh fabric can be obtained by controlling the spacing between the individual warp yarn elements and/or the individual filling elements. This and other "stitch-through" type fabric structures can be obtained on machines of the "Malimo" type, using methods and equipment described in U.S.Patent Specifications Nos. 2,890,579; 3,030,786; 3,253,426; 3,274,806; 3,279,221;3,309,900; 3,389,583; 3,392,078; 3,440,840; 3,452,561; 3,457,738; 3,460,599; 3,540,238; 3,541,812; 3,567,565; and 3,592,025 and U.S. Reissue Patent Specification No. 25,749. The ability to readily mass-produce a basic fabric in a variety of patterns is extremely important to the commercial success of the fabric. While self-lined fabric can be produced on the "Malimo" machines at a very high rate of speed, much attention has been given to augmenting this desirable feature with design flexibility with respect to, for example, the density, gauge, and colour combination of the fabric components, the spacing between them, and the purposeful omission of one or more of such components. However, a need has existed for Malimo fabrics of still greater design flexibility, not only with respect to the creation of unusual visual effects but also with respect to achieving new and useful functional features by incorporating additional components into the fabric.For example, extensive use has been sought in the decorative fabric industry for thin sheets of elastomeric foam, made from either natural rubber or synthetic polymeric materials. In one type of structure, the fabric layers are normally attached to the foam by spaced-spart quilting stitches. Considerable interest has also been shown in bonded fabrics, where a layer of a conventional fabric is bonded to a thin sheet of elastomeric foam by means of an adhesive to form a composite fabric having the limited extensibility and hard exterior surface of the conventional fabric and the insulating properties of the foam layer. While quilted or bonded laminates of fabric and elastomeric foam are useful for some purposes, such conventional composite fabric construction suffer certain serious drawbacks which limit the number of applications in which they can be used. In the case of bonded laminates, the interposition of an adhesive between the foam and fabric layers creates problems both in processing and in the end use of the fabric. For example, extreme care must be observed in the selection of a suitable adhesive, and in the application thereof to the foam to insure proper bonding in order that the flexibility and insulating properties of the foam are retained. Also, the extensibility of a laminate of this type is limited by the stretch properties of the fabric portion of the laminate and by the nature of the adhesive used. Another drawback in the manufacture and use of conventional laminates of fabric and elastomeric foam is manifested in the fact that the elastomeric foams presently available are somewhat fragile and difficult to handle in the thicknesses ordinarily used for fabric purposes. It is recognized that polyurethane foams tear rather easily and lack adequate resistance to the effects of heat, oxidation and sunlight, which ultimately contribute to the disintegration of such backing materials. Also, whether the foam is bonded to a conventional fabric by adhesive, or loosely joined therewith, as by the use of quilting stitches, the resulting fabric has a hand which is more characteristic of the foam than of the fabric joined with it, thereby effectively precluding the use of such composite "fabrics" in applications where the hand must be predominantly that of the fabric component. It is in the decorative drapery or casement fabric field that the shortcomings of prior techniques for combining functional backing materials with ornamental textile fabric structures are particularly significant. This situation has become more noticeable in recent years during which the demand for decorative drapery fabrics possessing thermal insulating properties has increased markedly in the face of rising home and office heating expenses and energy costs. While the use of alternative methods for producing textile fabric structures containing a layer of functional sheeting material (e.g., elastomeric foam) interposed between layers of textile elements has been disclosed in the art, e.g., in U.S. Patent Specification Nos. 3,274,805 and 3,274,806 the search for other novel types of fabric constructions which differ from those heretofore developed still continues. One such novel construction is a full-fashion decorative Malimo-type fabric containing an integral functional component positioned at the back of the fabric.Such a construction would provide practical as well as aesthetically useful'composite fabrics in which a component lining material performs a definite function (e.g., thermal insulation) either per se or through special posttreatment (e.g., resin back-coating which also provides a convenient way of achieving a "blackout" effect when desired) without interfering with the decorative function of the remaining components of the fabric which are positioned in front of the lining or backing component. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide decorative fabrics such as are produced on stitch-through type machines wherein such fabrics are self-lined. The present invention provides a self-lined fabric made on a stitch-through type machine, said fabric having a front surface and a rear surface and comprising: a flexible layer of fill yarn; a flexible lining material disposed beneath the layer of fill yarn so as to constitute the rear surface of the fabric, said lining material being composed of a nonwoven fibrous batting capable of being stitched-through without substantial loss of strength by knitting thread and secured thereby to the overlying layer of fill yarn and having a degree of fibre interengagement providing sufficient tensile strength to withstand substantially unsupported drawing thereof through a said stitch-through type machine;a single system of knitting thread courses comprising a multiplicity of warpwise looped stitches which engage and hold together the lining material and layer of fill yarn by loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and by laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind together into an integrated unitary textile fabric structure the lining and layer of fill yarn. The fabric of the invention achieves an unusual and heretofore unattainable combination of functional utility and decorative visual effect of aesthetically pleasing appearance through the unique placement of the functional lining of flexible material which is disposed behind or beneath the ornamental layers of flexible fill yarn layer and any textile warp yarn elements. In this way, the lining material performs its function (e.g., thermal, acoustic or optical insulation) without interfering with or obstructing the ornamental effect of the fill yarn layer and any outer layer of warp yarn elements. The adjacent warp yarn elements, when employed in the present fabric construction, can be laid on the fill yarn layer and lining components of the fabric in either mutually contacting relationship or can be spaced apart from one another in the weft direction at any predetermined distance. Desirably, such warp yarn elements are substantially spaced apart in order to amplify and enhance the visual effect of the open-weave "look" characteristics of fabrics produced in stitch-through type machines. In addition, the warp yarn elements can be laid on the interstratum and lining in a substantially rectilinear or straight line fashion parallel to the warp direction; alternatively, as described in U.S.Patent Specification No. 3,672,187 the warp yarn or "design" elements (so called because of the aesthetically pleasing appearance and ornamental effect which they impart in the fabric) can be caused to follow non-rectilinear paths along the warp direction, and/or in a twisted configuration in the manner disclosed in applicant's copending application No. 23,462 filed May 26, 1978, which disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. This application (No. 23,462) discloses inter alia: a fabric made on a stitch-through type machine such as a Malimo machine, including a flexible substrate, at least two yarn design elements laid on the substrate in the warp direction, and knitting thread forming a multiplicity of warpwise loop chains which bind together into an integrated structure the substrate and the design elements and to secure the substrate and design elements against relative displacement, the improvement in combination therewith wherein a plurality of adjacent design elements are twisted at spaced intervals along the warp direction while providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance corresponding to the twisted configuration of said design elements;and a method of forming the above fabric on a stitch-through type machine such as a Malimo machine having a comb-like sinker bar, a comb-like retainer pin bar, the sinker bar and the retainer pin bar defining an elongated work zone for fabric formation between them, a row of pronged needled reciprocatingly movable through said zone and a row of knitting thread guides co-acting with the needles for forming a multiplicity of warpwise knitting thread loop chains, comprising the steps of: (a) delivering a flexible substrate to the elongated work zone; (b) delivering conjointly with and in superimposed relation to the substrate at least two yarn design elements to the work zone in the warp direction;(c) twisting a plurality of adjacent design elements at spaced time intervals at a location upstream in the warp direction from the work zone; and (d) forming a series of warpwise knitting thread loop chains to bind together the substrate and design elements at the work zone into an integrated structure having an aesthetically pleasing appearance corresponding to the twisted configuration of said design elements. The flexible layer of fill yarn of the fabric of the present invention can be one or more layers of textile filling elements running in a general weftwise direction with respect to any warp yarn elements overlaid thereon, or any other flexible fill yarn layer capable of being stitched-through, without substantial loss of strength, by knitting thread according to procedures such as those described in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,672,187 and now familiar to those skilled in the art of stitch-through fabric construction. In the case of fabrics having the open-mesh "home spun" appearance characteristic of casement or drapery fabrics, the use of a flexible fill yarn layer in the form of a layer of more or less spaced-apart textile filling elements is especially advantageous. The flexible lining or backing material component of the fabric of the invention is a layer of non-woven spun fibrous batting. The use of such lining material is particularly advantageous because of the ease with which a non-woven spun fibrous lining can be back-coated with a thin layer of polymer, e.g., acrylic or urethane foam, to impart effective thermal insulating or barrier properties while retaining the desired casementlike "feel" and "look" of the composite fabric as a whole. The non-woven spun fibrous batting may be, for example, continuous filament, carded and cross-weft batting. The knitting thread used to bind together into an integrated textile fabric structure any warp yarn elements, the flexible fill yarn layer and the lining material can be any thread heretofore used in stitch-through fabric construction and is applied to the fabric components by means of the mechanical stitching elements conventionally employed on stitch-through type machines. These elements and their mode of operation are well known to those skilled in the art and include a comb-like sinker bar and comb-like retainer pin bar, which together define an elongated space or work zone for fabric formation between them.The stitching elements include additionally a row of pronged or bearded pointed needles and corresponding closing wires the combination of which is caused to move in a reciprocating fashion through the aforesaid work zone in coaction with a row of knitting thread guides for forming a multiplicity of warp-wise knitting thread loop chains. In a preferred mode of operation of the machine, alternate loops in each chain are formed with a different knitting thread, and each thread forms a series of warpwise loop chains.The loops chains formed can be any type familiar to those skilled in the art, although loop chains of the type characteristic of the well-known half-tricot stitch configuration are preferred when the fabric includes warp yarn elements because of the normally greater structural integrity imparted to the overall fabric by the half-tricot stitch knitting thread network, in such cases the fabric components are engaged and held together by the knitting thread on the rear side of the fabric by the loops of the half-tricot stitch network and on the front surface by the diagonal laps formed by the knitting thread. In this way the warp yarn elements are "lapped" around the fill yarn layer and lining material by the knitting thread to achieve an integrated fabric structure.In cases where the composite fabric of the invention involves only said flexible layer of fill yarn (i.e. without any overlaid warp-yarn elements) and lining material, the knitting thread can be employed in either the half-tricot or chain loop chain configuration to form an article of manufacture having acceptable structural integrity. In one embodiment of the fabric of the invention, at least two warp yarn elements can be laid on the substrate along non-rectilinear paths in the warp direction thereby creating a design effect which serves to augment the aesthetically pleasing appearance of the fabric. More particularly, such warp yarn "design elements" can include portions of substantial length extending diagonally, relative to the warp direction, along straight lines or curving substantially uniformly. The design elements can be disposed in groups composed of at least two adjacent elements following a substantially identical pattern. Alternatively, adjacent design elements can be laid on the flexible substrate to form different patterns, e.g., wherein they form the same pattern but one is reversed relative to the other.This fabric design feature and an apparatus and method for achieving it, which can be practiced in conjunction with the present invention, are described respectively in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,672,187 particularly at column 1, line 31 through column 3, line 44, and U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,677,034, particularly at column 1, line 44 through column 8, line 22, which disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. The improved fabric of the present invention is made possible by a unique process utilizing a novel apparatus in conjunction with stitch-through type machines. The apparatus performs the function, never heretofore achieved, of continuously supplying and guiding the flexible substrate lining material to the work zone of the stitch-through type machine such that the flexible fill yarn layer is laid on top of the lining material and any warp yarn elements are laid on top of the fill yarn layer, and all three components of the fabric are secured together by knitting thread to form an integral textile structure in a continuous operation.In its essential features the apparatus comprises, in combination, means for continuously supplying lining material to the stitch-through machine, means for continuously withdrawing lining material from the supply means, and means for continuously guiding the withdrawn lining material to the work zone of the machine independently of the other fabric components and applying the lining material to the flexible fill yarn layer and optional warp yarn elements so that the fill yarn layer is interposed between the lining material and the warp yarn elements. In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, the means for supplying the lining material to the machine is a supply roll or beam of said material, the means for withdrawing the lining material from the supply means comprises two or more driven feed rolls, and the means for ndependently guiding the withdrawn lining material to the work zone of the machine and applying said material to the flexible fill yarn layer and any warp yarn elements comprises a smooth slide plate, e.g., of polished metal such as brass or stainless steel, disposed upstream from the work :one of the machine and adapted to receive the ining material in sliding contact therewith and to direct said material to the work zone at a point such that the fill yarn layer is interposed between the lining material and any warp yarn elements in a continuous operation. A process for producing a preferred fabric of the present invention includes the steps of (a) delivering a flexible lining material to the above-described elongated work zone of the stitch-through type machine; (b) delivering a flexible fill yarn layer to the work zone conjointly with and in superimposed relation to the lining material; and (c) delivering a plurality of textile design elements (warp yarn elements) to the work zone conjointly with and in superimposed relation to the lining material and interstratum; and (d) binding together the superimposed lining material, fill yarn layer and warp yarn elements at the work zone of the machine by warp-wise knitting thread loop chains to form an integrated structure which is the fabric of the present invention in greige form.Such greige goods are suitable for further processing to finished fabric according to art-recognized procedures, e.g., dyeing, drying, resinating, and the like. It is a feature of the present apparatus and method that the lining material is delivered to the work zone of the stitch-through machine independently of the flexible fill yarn layer component. In this way, it has been discovered that each of the fabric components can adjust itself to the forces exerted by the stitching elements without mutual distortion. Whereas conventional wisdom suggests applying the lining material to the filling hooks of the machine followed by overlaying the fill yarn layer onto the same hooks as a means of delivering these two components to the work zone of the machine, such an approach has in fact been found to result in distortion of the assembled fabric. In the above new method, knitting thread is employed in the manner described hereinabove to form a multiplicity of warpwise loop chains to bind together the warp yarn elements, interstratum and lining material with the loops appearing on the rear surface of the composite fabric. Usually, alternate loops on each chain are formed with a different knitting thread, and each thread forms a series of warpwise loop chains, preferably in the manner of a half-tricot stitch configuration, or, in cases where the fabric is made up of fill yarn layer and lining material without a top layer of warp yarn elements, a chain stitch configuration. It is a further feature of the invention that the present method can be carried out in the manner described above while at the same time guiding the warp yarn "design" elements back-and-forth in a direction substantially parallel to the rows of stitching elements to thereby cause each design element to move back-and-forth within the elongated work zone past a plurality of needles. Equipment and procedure for imparting this additional design feature to the fabric of the invention are described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,677,034. In using this procedure, the design elements are guided back and forth in reciprocating motion whereby a pattern of design elements is formed on the fabric in which substantial lengths of each design element extend diagonally, relative to the warp direction.For example, the design elements can be guided back and forth at either constant or, more desirably, varying speed, e.g., sinusoidally, so as to form a pattern in which substantial lengths of the design elements are laid on the substrate in a corresponding straight line or, e.g., uniformly, curved fashion. In a further variant, two groups of design elements can be delivered to the elongated work zone and guided back and forth therein independently or in corresponding phase relation to each other, thereby forming a pattern of design elements on the fabric in which the two groups of design elements form different or substantially identical patterns, respectively.In the former case, one group of design elements can be maintained in phased but opposite relation to the other group, whereby a pattern of design elements is formed in which the two groups of elements form identical patterns, but one is reversed relative to the other. In yet another embodiment, the design elements can be given a periodic "twist" configuration in the manner described in applicant's aforesaid copending application No. 23.462 filed May 26, 1978. Further preferred aspects of the present invention will appear from the following description by way of example, of some preferred embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a photograph of the top surface of a preferred embodiment of the self-lined fabric of the present invention composed of flexible lining or backing material in the form of a fibrous nonwoven batting, and a flexible fill yarn layer (without any warp yarn elements overlaid thereon), and showing the relative disposition of the lining material and fill yarn layer; Fig. 2 is a photograph of the fabric of Fig. 1 as viewed from the underside; Fig. 3 is a photograph of an enlarged portion of the fabric as viewed in Fig. 2 showing how the fibrous non-woven batting is stitched-through by the knitting thread;Fig. 4 is a photograph of the top surface of a preferred self-lined fabric of the invention wherein the flexible lining material is made up of a fibrous non-woven batting which has been coated on the exposed back surface with an acrylic-type foam resin; Fig. 5 is a photograph of the fabric of Fig. 4 as viewed from the underside; Fig. 6 is a photograph of an enlarged portion of the fabric as viewed in Fig. 5 showing the detailed appearance of the stitched-through non-woven backed fabric after coating with acrylic-type foam resin; and Fig. 7 is a partially schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. In the following description, the corresponding elements as shown in each figure of the drawings are given the same reference number, and letter suffixes are added to designate specific ones of these elements where necessary. In the embodiment depicted in the photograph of Fig. 1, wherein the scale at the left is graduated in inches, the fabric comprises a flexible fill yarn layer of spaced-apart textile filling elements 50 laid on a flexible lining material 51 composed of a continuous fibrous non-woven batting to provide a self-lined fabric according to the present invention. The selvage of the layer of spaced-apart filling elements extends laterally beyond the edge of flexible lining material in keeping with the aforementioned feature of the process of the invention whereby the lining material is delivered to the work zone of the machine independently of the fill yarn layer, the latter being applied to the filling hooks exclusive of the lining material.The filling elements 50 and lining material 51 are secured in their relative positions by means of knitting thread 52 which forms parallel rows of warp-wise loop chains applied in a chain-stitch configuration as depicted in Figs. 2 and 3, which also show more clearly the placement and appearance of the non-woven lining material 51. As may be seen in Fig. 2 which shows the underside of the fabric i.e. the lining material side, the loops of the knitting thread courses 52 appear on said lining material side. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, a composite fabric, which is made of a layer of filling elements 53 secured to a non-woven backing or lining material by means of thread 54 in a chainstitch configuration, is back-coated with a flexible acrylic-type foam resin 55 as can be seen by reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Referring to Fig. 7 there is illustrated an embodiment of the apparatus 10 and method for producing a self-lined fabric of the present invention in a stitch-through type machine such as a Malimo machine (partially shown in schematic) wherein the apparatus feeds in lining material between the filling chains of a Malimo-type _ machine under controlled tension in order to form a novel fabric with warp and filling yarns and a lining material stitch-bonded to the warp and filling yarns in one continuous operation. A beam or. roll 11 of lining is adapted to supply lining material 12 to the machine by means of driven feed rolls 13a and 13b which coact to withdraw the lining material from the supply roll.Guide rolls 14a, 14b and 14c serve to govern the pathway followed by the lining material 12 beneath the machine operator's platform 31 and direct the lining material to guide plate 15 over which the lining material passes in sliding contact therewith on its way to the work zone or stitching point 16 of the machine independently of the other feed components of the fabric. The entrance end 17 of guide plate 15 is bevelled.or sloped downward to smoothen the initial contact between the plate and moving lining material. Likewise, the exit end 18 of the guide plate 16 is bevelled or sloped downward to direct the travelling lining material toward the work zone of the machine while preventing the lining material from undergoing abrupt changes in direction or contact with abrasive or sharp edges.The guide plate 15 is made of a smooth, wear-resistant material, preferably ceramic or polished metal or steel. The work zone 16 of the machine defines the location where the stitching elements, e.g., sewing needles, closing wires, sewing thread guides, sinker bars and retainer pin bars, coact in mutual synchronization to join the fabric components into an integral textile structure. These stitching elements are denoted by reference numeral 19. The warp yarn feed component of the fabric is made up of a plane or parallel yarn ends 20 which are supplied to the machine by any convenient means (not shown), e.g., from a beam or creel, and fed to the work zone of the machine in the direction of the yarn axes by guide roll 21. The fill yarn layer component of the fabric produced by the apparatus of Fig. 7 is made up of a plane of parallel textile filling yarns which are supplied to the machine from one or more creels (not shown) and fed to the work zone of the machine in a direction substantially perpendicular to the filling yarn axes by means of a pair of opposed parallel rows of filling hooks, each row being fitted to a chain drive which is driven by rollers 23a-23d on a circular pathway denoted by reference numeral 24.The textile filling elements of the fill yarn layer are applied to the filling hooks by means of filling yarn carrier 25 which comprises a set of reeds mounted on a reciprocating carriage and through which the filling elements pass while the filling carriage passes back and forth between the rows of fillinq hooks. It is a feature of the apparatus and method of the invention that the lining material 12 is fed to the work zone 16 of the machine so that the fill yarn layer of filling elements is disposed between the layer of warp yarn elements and lining material at the point where the fabric components are joined together with knitting thread into an integral textile structure by the stitching elements 19. The self-lined fabric produced in the work zone of the machine is withdrawn therefrom along the pathway indicated by reference numeral 26 and is directed by means of driven rolls 27-30 to an appropriate fabric take-up facility (not shown) for further processing. The foregoing examples are presented for the purpose of illustrating the invention and its advantages without limitation to specific features or embodiments. It is understood that changes and variations can be made in the fabric of the invention without departing from the scope

Claims (12)

thereof as defined in the following claims. CLAIMS

1. An apparatus for producing a self-lined fabric having a front surface and a rear surface and comprising: a flexible layer of fill yarn; a flexible lining material disposed beneath the layer of fill yarn so as to constitute the rear surface of the fabric, said lining material being composed of a .nonwoven fibrous batting capable of being stitched-through without substantial loss of strength by knitting thread and secured thereby to the overlying layer of fill yarn and having a degree of fibre interengagement providing sufficient tensile strength to withstand substantially unsupported drawing thereof through a said stitch-through type machine; a single system of knitting thread courses comprising a multiplicity of warpwise looped stitches which engage and hold together the lining material and layer of fill yarn by loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and by laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind together into an integrated unitary textile fabric structure the lining and layer of fill yarn, in a stitch-through type machine, said apparatus comprising, in combination, means for supplying a said flexible lining material to the machine, means for withdrawing the lining material from the supply means, and means for independently supporting and guiding the withdrawn lining material to the work zone of the machine and applying said material to the flexible fill yarn layer so that the fill yarn layer is disposed atop the lining material.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the means for supplying the lining material comprises a supply roll of said lining material.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means for withdrawing lining material from the supply means comprises a plurality of driven feed rolls.

4. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the means for supporting and guiding the withdrawn lining material to the work zone of the machine and applying said material to the flexible fill yarn layer comprises a smooth slide plate disposed upstream of the work zone of the machine and adapted to receive the lining material in sliding contact therewith and to direct said lining material to the work zone at a point such that the fill yarn layer is disposed atop the lining material.

5. An apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the smooth slide plate is made of polished metal.

6. A method of forming a self-lined fabric having a front surface and a rear surface and comprising: a flexible layer of fill yarn; a flexible lining material disposed beneath the layer of fill yarn so as to constitute the rear surface of the fabric, said lining material being composed of a nonwoven fibrous batting capable of being stiched-through without substantial loss of strength by knitting thread and secured thereby to the overlying layer of fill yarn and having a degree of fibre interengagement providing sufficient tensile strength to withstand substantially unsupported drawing thereof through a said stitch-through type machine; a single system of knitting thread courses comprising a multiplicity of warpwise looped stitches which engage and hold together the lining material and layer of fill yarn by loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and by laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surfaces to bind together into an integrated unitary textile fabric structure the lining and layer of fill yarn, on a stitch-through type machine having a comb-like sinker bar, a comblike retainer pin bar, the sinker bar and the retainer pin bar defining an elongated work zone for fabric formation between them, a row of pointed needles reciprocatingly movable through said zone and a row of knitting thread guides coating with the needles for forming a multiplicity of warp-wise knitting thread loop chains, comprising the steps of: (a) delivering a said flexible lining material to the elongated work zone; and (b) delivering a said flexible fill yarn layer to the elongated work zone conjointly with and in superimposed relation to the lining material; and (c) forming a series of warp-wise knitting thread loop chains to bind together the lining material and fill yarn layer at the work zone into an integrated fabric structure.

7. A method according to Claim 6 wherein the thread forms a series of warp-wise loop chains or a half-tricot stitch by alternating two threads in a loop series.

8. A method according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the flexible fill yarn layer interposed between the lining material and optional warp yarn elements comprises at least one layer of textile filling elements.

9. An apparatus for producing a self-lined fabric according to Claim 1 substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Fig. 7.

10. A method of forming self-lined fabric according to Claim 6 substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 3, and Figs. 4 to 6, alone or in combination with Fig. 7, of the accompanying drawings. New claims filed on 24 March 1982 with further amendments on 2 April 1982, 5 April 1982 Superseded claims 1-4, 6-10 New or amended claims:- 1. An apparatus producing a self-lined fabric having a front surface and a rear surface and comprising: a flexible layer of fill yarn; a flexible lining fabric disposed beneath the layer of fill yarn so as to constitute the rear surface of the fabric, said lining fabric being composed of a nonwoven fibrous batting capable of being stitched-through without substantial loss of strength by knitting thread and secured thereby to the overlying layer . of fill yarn and having a degree of fibre interengagement providing sufficient tensile strength to withstand substantially unsupported drawing thereof through a stitch-through type machine; a single system of knitting thread courses comprising a multiplicity of warpwise looped stitches which engage and hold together the lining fabric and layer of fill yarn by loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and by laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind together into an integrated unitary textile fabric structure the lining and layer of fill yarn, in a stitch-through type machine, said apparatus comprising a said stitch-through type machine having means for feeding a said fill yarn layer to the work zone of the machine, and, in combination, means for supplying a said flexible lining fabric to the machine and including a supply of said flexible lining fabric, means for withdrawing the lining fabric from the supply means, and means for independently supporting and guiding the withdrawn lining fabric to the work zone of the machine, said supporting and guiding means being formed and arranged in relation to said feeding means and work zone and stitching means at said work zone so that, in use of said apparatus, said flexible fill yarn layer is disposed in continuous relation with respect to the lining fabric in said work zone so that knitting thread is stitched through said lining fabric and fill yarn layer to bind them together in a single stitching step into a said integrated unitary textile fabric structure having the lining fabric at a rear surface and the fill yarn layer at a front surface thereof with stitching being effected from said rear surface..

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the means for supplying the lining fabric comprises a supply roll of said lining fabric. 3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means for withdrawing lining fabric from the supply means comprises a plurality of driven feed rolls.

4. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the means for supporting and guiding the withdrawn lining fabric to the work zone of the machine and applying said fabric to the flexible fill yarn layer comprises a smooth slide plate disposed upstream of the work zone of the machine and adapted to receive the lining fabric in sliding contact therewith and to direct said lining fabric to the work zone at a point such that the fill yarn layer is disposed in contiguous relation with respect to the lining fabric in said work zone. 6. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein is provided means for guiding warp yarn elements to the elongate work zone, said warp yarn element guiding means being arranged in relation to said work zone and stitching means so that, in use of said apparatus, said warp yarn elements form design elements on said front surface of said integrated fabric structure in which structure they are bound together with the lining fabric and fill yarn layer by said knitting thread. 7. A method of forming a self-lined fabric having a front surface and a rear surface and comprising: a flexible layer of fill yarn; a flexible lining fabric disposed beneath the layer of fill yarn so as to constitute the rear surface of the fabric, said lining fabric being composed of a nonwoven fibrous batting capable of being stitched-through without substantial loss of strength by knitting thread and secured thereby to the overlying layer of fill yarn and having a degree of fibre interengagement providing sufficient tensile strength to withstand substantially unsupported drawing thereof through a stitch-through type machine; a single system of knitting thread courses comprising a multiplicity of warpwise looped stitches which engage and hold together the lining fabric and layer of fill yarn by loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and by laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind together into an integrated unitary textile fabric structure the lining and layer of fill yarn, on a stitch-through type machine having a comb-like sinker bar, a comb-like retainer pin bar, the sinker bar and the retainer pin bar defining an elongated work zone for fabric formation between them, a row of pointed needles reciprocatingly movable through said zone and a row of knitting thread guides coating with the needles for forming a multiplicity of warpwise knitting thread loop chains, comprising the steps of: (a) delivering a said flexible lining fabric to the elongated work zone of a said machine; and (b) delivering a said flexible fill yarn layer to the elongated work zone conjointly with and in contiguous relation to the lining fabric said lining fabric and fill yarn layer being disposed in said work zone relative to said needles and knitting thread guides so that knitting thread can be stitched through said lining fabric and fill yarn layer to bind them together in a single stitching step into a said integrated unitary textile fabric structure having the lining fabric at a rear surface and the fill yarn layer at a front surface thereof with stitching being effected from said rear surface, and said lining fabric being supported and guided independently of said fill yarn layer upstream of said elongated work zone; and (c) forming a series of warp-wise knitting thread loop chains to bind together the lining fabric and fill yarn layer at the work zone into a said integrated unitary textile fabric structure.

8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein the thread forms a half-tricot stitch by alternating two threads in a loop series. - 9. A method according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the flexible fill yarn layer interposed between the lining fabric and optional warp yarn design elements comprises at least one layer of spaced-apart elongate textile filling elements. 10. A method according to any one of Claims 7 to 9 which method includes the step of delivering warp yarn elements to the elongated work zone conjointly with and in contiguous relation to the fill yarn layer for stitching by said knitting thread in a said single stitching step at said front surface of said integrated fabric structure to form design elements therein.

11. An apparatus for producing a self-lined fabric according to Claim 1 substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Fig. 7.

12. A method of forming self-lined fabric according to Claim 7 substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 3, and Figs. 4 to 6, alone or in combination with Fig. 7, of the accompanying drawings.