RAPIER WEAVING MACHINE WITH GUIDING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING A RAPIER WEAVING MACHINE

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a rapier weaving machine, which includes an insert rapier head for inserting a weft yarn into a fabric, a receiver rapier head for receiving and holding the weft yarn and subsequently pulling the weft yarn out of the fabric in a movement direction, an opening element for opening the receiver rapier head in order to release the weft yarn, and a guiding device, positioned on the side of the receiver rapier head opposite the opening element, and comprising a guiding block for adjusting the movement direction of the receiver rapier head, and a rotatable guiding wheel for restraining the receiver rapier head when opening.

This disclosure further relates to a method for converting an existing rapier weaving machine into a rapier weaving machine according to this disclosure.

Claims

1. A rapier weaving machine, comprising: an insert rapier head for inserting a weft yarn into a fabric, a receiver rapier head for receiving the weft yarn from the insert rapier head, for holding the weft yarn, and subsequently pulling the weft yarn out of the fabric according to a direction of movement (A), an opening element for opening the receiver rapier head in order to release the weft yarn, and a guiding device positioned on the side of the receiver rapier head, which is opposite the side where the opening element is positioned, for restraining the receiver rapier head when opening this receiver rapier head, and comprising a guiding block for adjusting the direction of movement (A) of the receiver rapier head, wherein the guiding device of this rapier weaving machine comprises a guiding wheel positioned rotatably in the guiding device, for restraining the receiver rapier head by means of this guiding wheel when it is opened.

2. A method for converting a rapier weaving machine comprising an insert rapier head for inserting a weft yarn into a fabric, a receiver rapier head for receiving the weft yarn from the insert rapier head, for holding the weft yarn, and subsequently pulling the weft yarn out of the fabric according to a direction of movement (A), an opening element for opening the receiver rapier head in order to release the weft yarn, and a guiding device arranged on the side of the receiver rapier head, opposite the side where the opening element is positioned, for restraining the receiver rapier head, when opening this receiver rapier head, and comprising a guiding block for adjusting the direction of movement (A) of the receiver rapier head, wherein the guiding device is replaced by a guiding device that comprises a guiding block for adjusting the direction of movement (A) of the receiver rapier head, and a guiding wheel positioned rotatably in the guiding device for restraining the receiver rapier head by means of this guiding wheel when it is opened.

3. A method for converting a rapier weaving machine comprising an insert rapier head for inserting a weft yarn into a fabric, a receiver rapier head for receiving the weft yarn from the insert rapier head, for holding the weft yarn, and subsequently pulling the weft yarn out of the fabric according to a direction of movement (A), an opening element for opening the receiver rapier head in order to release the weft yarn, and a guiding device, positioned on the side of the receiver rapier head, opposite the side where the opening element is positioned, for restraining the receiver rapier head when opening this receiver rapier head, and comprising a guiding block for adjusting the movement direction (A) of the receiver rapier head, wherein the guiding device is converted into a guiding device that comprises a guiding block for adjusting the movement direction (A) of the receiver rapier head, and a guiding wheel, positioned rotatably in the guiding device, for restraining the receiver rapier head by means of this guiding wheel when it is opened.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] This invention is now explained in further detail based on the following description of at least one embodiment of a rapier weaving machine and of a method according to this invention. The purpose of this description is exclusively to provide clarifying examples and to indicate further advantages and particularities of the invention, and it can therefore not be interpreted as a limitation of the field of application of the invention or of the patent rights claimed in the patent claims.

[0016] In this description, reference numbers refer to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1, in a part of a rapier weaving machine according to this disclosure, the guiding device is shown in a top view;

[0018] FIG. 2, in a part of the rapier weaving machine of FIG. 1, guiding devices are shown in perspective;

[0019] FIG. 3, in a part of the rapier weaving machine of FIG. 1, guiding devices are shown in a side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The illustrated rapier weaving machine according to this disclosure comprise three insert rapier heads, not shown here, each of which is provided for inserting a weft yarn from a first side of the machine into a shed formed between warp yarns in this machine.

[0021] The three illustrated receiver rapier heads (2) are each provided in order to receive a weft yarn halfway through the shed from a corresponding insert rapier head, to hold it, and to pull it out of the shed on a second side of the machine, opposite from the first side. For these purposes, each receiver rapier head (2) is attached to a rapier rod (6), and is movable in the movement direction (A) by means of this rapier rod (6). Each receiver rapier head (2) and its corresponding rapier rod (6) jointly form a receiver rapier. In order to be able to receive a weft yarn and hold it, each receiver rapier head (2) comprises a fixed leg (8) and a movable leg (9), which has a hinged connection with the fixed leg (8) by means of a pivot pin (10). The legs (8, 9) jointly form a gripping element (clamping element) for gripping (clamping) the weft yarn.

[0022] On the second side of the machine, for each receiver rapier head, a depicted opening element (3) is positioned, which is movable to this receiver rapier head (2) and away from this receiver rapier head (2). When the receiver rapier head (2) moves out of the shed and arrives at the level of this opening element (3), the opening element (3) moves in the movement direction (B) towards the receiver rapier head (2) and engages the movable leg (9) in order to pivot this movable leg (9) relative to the fixed leg (8) in order to open the receiver rapier head (2). The weft yarn is thereby released.

[0023] A weft yarn inserted by means of an insert rapier head and a corresponding receiver rapier head is beaten against the already formed fabric by the reed of the rapier weaving machine in order to form the desired fabric.

[0024] The opening elements (3) are located on the second side of the machine, preferably as close as possible to the edge of the fabric, in order to keep the loose ends of the weft yarn as short as possible.

[0025] Each illustrated opening element (3) is provided with a rotatably positioned engaging wheel (7) in order to engage the movable leg (9) of the corresponding receiver rapier head (2) by means of this engaging wheel (7).

[0026] When a receiver rapier head (2) must be opened, the opening element (3), and therefore its engaging wheel (7) as well, move in the movement direction (B) toward the receiver rapier head (2) in order to push against the movable leg (9) of the receiver rapier head (2) and thus to open the receiver rapier head (2).

[0027] For these purposes, the opening elements (3) are controlled independently of each other by way of a servomechanism.

[0028] On the side of each receiver rapier head (2) opposite of the side on which the corresponding opening element (3) is positioned, a guiding device (1) according to this disclosure is positioned.

[0029] In order to adjust the movement direction (A) of a receiver rapier head (2) when this receiver rapier head (2) leaves the shed, each guiding device (1) is provided with a guiding block (4) with an engagement surface (11). Viewed in the movement direction (A) of the receiver rapier head (2), the engagement surface (11) is positioned obliquely toward the opening element (3). When leaving the fabric, the corresponding receiver rapier head (2) is pushed against the movement direction (B) of the opening element (3) by this engagement surface (11). When in use, the guiding block (4) is fixed positioned in the rapier weaving machine, whereby the position of this guiding block (4) is adjustable.

[0030] Viewed in the movement direction (A) of the receiver rapier head (2), a guiding wheel (5) is positioned is after the engagement surface (11) of each guiding device (1). This guiding wheel (5) is rotatably attached to the guiding block (4) and protrudes toward the opening element (3) relative to the engagement surface (11). The guiding wheel (5) guides the corresponding receiver rapier head (2) when the corresponding opening element (3) opens the receiver rapier head (2), thereby restraining the receiver rapier head (2). The guiding wheel (5) absorbs the impact of the opening element (3) on the receiver rapier head (2).

[0031] In order to limit the torsional load, this guiding wheel guide (5) is preferably positioned as close as possible to the point where the corresponding opening element (3) engages the receiver rapier head (2) in order to open the receiver rapier head (2).

[0032] In order to limit the friction between a receiver rapier and the corresponding guiding device (1) as much as possible when they contact each other, each receiver rapier is provided with a wear part (12) made from a material with a greater resistance to wear than the rest of the receiver rapier. This wear part (12) is attached above the connection of the receiver rapier head (2) to the rapier rod (6) of the receiver rapier. In order to limit the torsional load, this wear part (12) is preferably positioned as close as possible to the point at which the corresponding opening element (3) engages the receiver rapier head (2) in order to open the receiver rapier head (2).

[0033] Thus, in at least one embodiment, an existing rapier weaving machine comprises: [0034] at least one insert rapier head for inserting a weft yarn into a fabric; [0035] at least one receiver rapier head (2) for receiving the weft yarn from the insert rapier head, holding the weft yarn, and subsequently pulling the weft yarn out of the fabric in a movement direction (A); [0036] at least one opening element (3) for opening the receiver rapier head (2) to release the weft yarn; and [0037] at least one guiding device (1), positioned on the side of the receiver rapier head (2) opposite of the side where the opening element (3) is positioned, for restraining the receiver rapier head (2) when opening this receiver rapier head (2), wherein this guiding device comprises a guiding block (4) for adjusting the movement direction (A) of the receiver rapier head (2); [0038] can be converted into a rapier weaving machine according to this disclosure by providing each guiding block (4) with a rotatable guiding wheel (5) for restraining the corresponding receiver rapier head (2) when opening this receiver rapier head (2). Alternatively, this rapier weaving machine can also be converted into a rapier weaving machine according to this disclosure by replacing each of the aforementioned guiding device of this rapier weaving machine by a guiding device (1) that comprises such a guiding block (4) as well as such a such rotatable guiding wheel (5).