A weft threads saving device for shuttle-less weaving machines comprises a comb (2), a temple (3), a guiding plane (6), a fixed blade (4), a movable blade (5) of a shear (17), a fabric winding cylinder (8) and a suction system (7) connected both to the guiding plane (6) and to the fixed blade (4) of the shear (17).

This method is for weaving a fabric with warp yarns and in-woven weft yarns (34) on a weaving loom which comprises, amongst others, a weft selector (28) and a weft insertion mechanism (20), for drawing-in a weft yarn from a pick-up position into the shed, along a weft insertion axis (Y20) and in a forward direction, the weft insertion mechanism including a gripper (40) openable at the pick-up position. This method includes at least the following steps: opening the gripper; positioning a movable carriage (102) of the weft selector so that the gripper (40) is aligned with a selected weft yarn (34); clamping the weft yarn in the selected distribution channel (130), with the clamp (164) of this channel; moving the weft yarn (34) along the selected distribution channel (130) toward the gripper (40), while the gripper is opened, by moving the clamp along the selected distribution channel; catching the selected weft yarn with the gripper at the pick-up position; drawing-in the weft yarn with the weft insertion mechanism, from the pick-up position into the shed, along the weft insertion axis and in the forward direction; and cutting the weft yarn. The weft selector defines several selectable distribution channels (130) parallel to the weft insertion axis (Y20), each selectable distribution channel including a forward guiding member (126), for guiding a weft yarn toward the gripper, and a clamp (164).

An elastic woven fabric comprising weft and warp yarns, the weft yarns including elastic composite yarns each of which comprises an elastic core yarn and a sheath yarn covering the elastic core yarn, and the warp yarns including chemical fiber yarns and/or natural fiber yarns. Each of the elastic composite yarns is in a form of a singly-covered yarn in which the elastic core yarn is covered by a single layer of the sheath yarn helicoidally wound around a periphery of the elastic core yarn, a number of turns of the sheath yarn per 1 meter of the elastic core yarn being in a range of 1,000 to 2,500 T/m. A stretching magnification ratio of each of the elastic composite yarns, in the elastic woven fabric in a weaving process, is retained equal to or less than 1.30 folds based on the elastic composite yarn before weaving.

A weft thread cutting device for shuttleless looms is placed between a fabric edge, a comb and a warp mouth, on one side, and a weft thread selector, on the other side. Weft threads, coming from a plurality of eyelets, join at a vertex located at the fabric edge and at the beating line of the comb. The weft thread cutting device has a rotating disk with a cutting edge, configured to cut the weft threads by a motor which keeps the rotating disk in rotation, and a step control motor, which, through a rotating shaft provided with an eccentric, controls motion of a hinged lever swinging with respect to a longitudinal axis of the step control motor. The hinged lever is shaped, at one end, in the form of two arms, respectively resting on the surfaces of two elastic plates, and is connected, at the other end, to the eccentric.

A wearable, nanoconductor technology for smart electronic applications. A novel nano-scale geometry is achieved for nanoconductor circuits on the order of the size of a single thread or smaller, which are easily integrated with clothing and provide smart applications for wearable electronics. The nano-scale fibers provide improved material characteristics and the fixed geometry and orientation of the nanoconductor structures allow easier interface of nanoconductor electronics integrated with the clothing or with electronics external to the weave of the clothing. Novel electronic circuits based on the size and fixed geometries of the nanoconductor fibers which allow configurable functions that can be employed for different uses through logic circuit configuration or serial programming during wear are disclosed.

This method is for weaving a fabric with warp yarns and in-woven weft yarns (34) on a weaving loom which comprises, amongst others, a weft selector (28) and a weft insertion mechanism (20), for drawing-in a weft yarn from a pick-up position into the shed, along a weft insertion axis (Y20) and in a forward direction, the weft insertion mechanism including a gripper (40) openable at the pick-up position. This method includes at least the following steps: opening the gripper; positioning a movable carriage (102) of the weft selector so that the gripper (40) is aligned with a selected weft yarn (34); clamping the weft yarn in the selected distribution channel (130), with the clamp (164) of this channel; moving the weft yarn (34) along the selected distribution channel (130) toward the gripper (40), while the gripper is opened, by moving the clamp along the selected distribution channel; catching the selected weft yarn with the gripper at the pick-up position; drawing-in the weft yarn with the weft insertion mechanism, from the pick-up position into the shed, along the weft insertion axis and in the forward direction; and cutting the weft yarn. The weft selector defines several selectable distribution channels (130) parallel to the weft insertion axis (Y20), each selectable distribution channel including a forward guiding member (126), for guiding a weft yarn toward the gripper, and a clamp (164).

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.

A weft thread cutting device for shuttleless looms is placed between a fabric edge, a comb and a warp mouth, on one side, and a weft thread selector, on the other side. Weft threads, coming from a plurality of eyelets, join at a vertex located at the fabric edge and at the beating line of the comb. The weft thread cutting device has a rotating disk with a cutting edge, configured to cut the weft threads by a motor which keeps the rotating disk in rotation, and a step control motor, which, through a rotating shaft provided with an eccentric, controls motion of a hinged lever swinging with respect to a longitudinal axis of the step control motor. The hinged lever is shaped, at one end, in the form of two arms, respectively resting on the surfaces of two elastic plates, and is connected, at the other end, to the eccentric.

A weaving apparatus comprising a shuttleless 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.

A wearable, nanoconductor technology for smart electronic applications. A novel nano-scale geometry is achieved for nanoconductor circuits on the order of the size of a single thread or smaller, which are easily integrated with clothing and provide smart applications for wearable electronics. The nano-scale fibers provide improved material characteristics and the fixed geometry and orientation of the nanoconductor structures allow easier interface of nanoconductor electronics integrated with the clothing or with electronics external to the weave of the clothing. Novel electronic circuits based on the size and fixed geometries of the nanoconductor fibers which allow configurable functions that can be employed for different uses through logic circuit configuration or serial programming during wear are disclosed.