Apparatus and method for manufacturing a non-woven composite fabric

An apparatus for forming a nonwoven fabric product having warp and weft yarns substantially perpendicular, said apparatus comprising, in combination: - a system (62¿) bearing warp yarns, which includes a cylindrical support structure elongated substantially extending the length of said warp yarns and having a substantially cylindrical outer low friction surface; A endless conveyor extending along the length of said warp yarns and movable along the length of said support structure; - A supply of warp yarns (78¿) which are located parallel elongate juxtaposed on said endless conveyor, moveable along the length of said support structure and having an adhesive coating at least on their exposed surfaces, preferably only on their exposed surfaces; - A delivery system for weft yarn including: a drum (130¿) mounted for rotation about said support structure, said endless conveyor and said warp yarns, power means for rotating said drum around said support structure, said endless conveyor and said warp yarns, at least one source of supply (206¿) of said weft yarn mounted on said drum to rotate with it, and a guidance system for delivering said weft yarn from said source of supply of said weft yarn to said outer surface coated with adhesive said warp yarns by rotating said drum so that said weft yarn is wrapped about said warp yarns in substantially perpendicular relationship with them; - A driven system that is operatively connected to said endless belt for moving said warp yarns along the length of said support structure and through said delivery system hilode frame.