Overview
ISO 8640-4:1996 - Textile machinery and accessories - Flat warp knitting machines - Vocabulary - Part 4: Stitch bonding machines and stitch bonding devices - is an ISO vocabulary standard that defines the basic terms and illustrated definitions specific to stitch bonding machines and stitch bonding devices. It covers devices fitted to tricot machines, Raschel machines and crochet galloon machines used to produce textile surfaces or composite structures by piercing substrates with compound needles and forming stitches from fed threads and/or fibres.
Key topics
This part of the ISO 8640 series focuses on terminology and includes illustrated working-principle descriptions rather than prescriptive technical requirements. Major technical topics and terms defined include:
- Stitch bonding elements - e.g., penetrating compound needle (needle with hook-shaped end and movable tongue), supporting elements that prevent material slippage.
- Supporting element variants - supporting pin (with eyelet), supporting sinker (laminar), supporting plate (comb-type).
- Insertion and stuffing elements - insertion sinker for fibre-web processing; stuffing element to guide/press fibres into needle hooks.
- Weft and pattern feed devices - devices for weft insertion, weft-guiding elements, weft compensators, weft positioners and transporting devices, and hooks for weft pickup.
- Pattern thread devices - pattern-thread displacement devices and random pattern feeders for stitch-bonded patterns.
- Web handling devices - web let-off, web compensating devices, web compression devices for fibre webs.
- Basic fabric feed - sheet-form feed and expanding devices for substrate presentation.
- Illustrations of working principles for different arrangements (note: figures show principles, not exhaustive machine designs).
Applications
ISO 8640-4:1996 is primarily a vocabulary standard used to:
- Ensure consistent terminology across technical documentation, specifications, manuals and drawings for stitch bonding technology.
- Support communication between machine designers, textile engineers, equipment manufacturers, OEMs, and suppliers of tricot/Raschel machinery and stitch-bonding attachments.
- Aid standards writers, translators and technical trainers who prepare instructional materials, safety documentation and procurement specifications.
- Facilitate research, quality assurance and cross-border procurement by reducing ambiguity in product descriptions and requirements.
Related standards
Part of the ISO 8640 series prepared by ISO/TC 72 (Textile machinery). Related parts include:
- ISO 8640-2 - Warp let-off, fabric take-up and batching
- ISO 8640-3 - Pattern devices
- ISO 8640-7 - Driving mechanisms, supports and knitting elements
Using ISO 8640-4:1996 helps organizations working with flat warp knitting and stitch bonding machines adopt a common, industry-recognized vocabulary for clearer specifications, maintenance and development of stitch-bonded textiles and composites.