Embodiments disclosed herein provide approaches for attaching scan control and other electronic chips to textiles, e.g., on a loom as part of a real-time manufacturing process.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide approaches for attaching scan control and other electronic chips to textiles, e.g., on a loom as part of a real-time manufacturing process.

A shuttleless weaving loom with a weft insertion device. A transfer device and retaining disc are connected to the weft insertion device such that the retaining disc holds the weft fiber in a fixed orientation as it traverses through the shed of the loom. A plurality of sensors which are part of a microcircuit are mounted on the retaining disc for measurement of the weft fiber's position. A signaling circuit is mounted on the shuttleless loom and an electrical connector is connected to the signaling circuit to allow for external monitoring or display of the weft fiber's position. The measurements from the plurality of sensors are communicated through the electrical connector to an external device such that the position and orientation of the weft fiber can be monitored or displayed as the weft insertion device travels through the shuttleless loom.

Weaving equipment may include warp strand positioning equipment that positions warp strands and weft strand positioning equipment that inserts weft strands among the warp strands to form fabric. The fabric may include insulating strands and conductive strands. The conductive strands may be coupled to electrical components. The warp strand positioning equipment may position the warp strands to form a shed. Component insertion equipment may be used to insert electrical components into the shed. The weaving equipment may have a reed. The reed may be used to help position an electrical component in the fabric. The weaving equipment may have take-down equipment and individually controllable warp fiber positioning and tensioning devices.

Weaving equipment may include warp strand positioning equipment that positions warp strands and weft strand positioning equipment that inserts weft strands among the warp strands to form fabric. The fabric may include insulating strands and conductive strands. The conductive strands may be coupled to electrical components. The warp strand positioning equipment may position the warp strands to form a shed. Component insertion equipment may be used to insert electrical components into the shed. The weaving equipment may have a reed. The reed may be used to help position an electrical component in the fabric. The weaving equipment may have take-down equipment and individually controllable warp fiber positioning and tensioning devices.

A textile machine (4) for a weaving loom having an input shaft which is coupled to a weaving loom. The drive mechanism is driven by the input shaft to move frames or collars of the weaving loom through a sequence of predefined positions. The electronic control device is programmed to monitor the change in position of each frame or collar during each step of the predefined sequence of positions and to count the number of times each frame or collar reproduces a particular configuration.

A textile machine (4) for a weaving loom having an input shaft which is coupled to a weaving loom. The drive mechanism is driven by the input shaft to move frames or collars of the weaving loom through a sequence of predefined positions. The electronic control device is programmed to monitor the change in position of each frame or collar during each step of the predefined sequence of positions and to count the number of times each frame or collar reproduces a particular configuration.

Electrical components may have plastic packages. Contacts may be formed on exterior surfaces of the plastic packages. A plastic package for an electrical component may have an elongated shape that extends along a longitudinal axis. A first groove may run parallel to the longitudinal axis on a lower surface of the plastic package. A second groove may run perpendicular to the first groove on an opposing upper surface of the plastic package. The electrical components may be coupled to fibers in a fabric such as a woven fabric. A first solder connection may be formed between the first groove and a first fiber such as a weft fiber. A second solder connection may be formed between the second groove and a second fiber such as a warp fiber.

Electrical components may have plastic packages. Contacts may be formed on exterior surfaces of the plastic packages. A plastic package for an electrical component may have an elongated shape that extends along a longitudinal axis. A first groove may run parallel to the longitudinal axis on a lower surface of the plastic package. A second groove may run perpendicular to the first groove on an opposing upper surface of the plastic package. The electrical components may be coupled to fibers in a fabric such as a woven fabric. A first solder connection may be formed between the first groove and a first fiber such as a weft fiber. A second solder connection may be formed between the second groove and a second fiber such as a warp fiber.

A weaving apparatus using devices for the processing and/or treatment of threads or yarns, comprising a system for the management of threads or yarns. The spools are associated with a respective marker and the apparatus comprises at least one reader of the marker, a storage device functionally associated with the at least one reader being provided.