Guide device for a rapier bar and rapier weaving machine comprising such a guide device

Abstract

A guide device including a guide (1) with one or more guide elements (2) for guiding a rapier bar (3) in a rapier weaving machine, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit (5) through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations (7) for cooling the rapier bar (3) by compressed air, and wherein this guide device is provided with a cooling circuit (8) through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar (3) by coolant. In addition, an assembly of a rapier bar (3), drive (4) and such a guide device. Furthermore, a rapier weaving machine including such an assembly.

Claims

1. Guide device comprising a guide with one or more guiders for guiding a rapier bar in a rapier weaving machine, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier bar by means of compressed air, wherein the guide device is provided with a cooling circuit through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar by means of coolant.

2. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the guide comprises one or more subcircuits of the cooling circuit.

3. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the guide extends in a longitudinal direction along a length for guiding the rapier bar and in that the guide device comprises at least one air-guiding zone (Z) in which the perforations are arranged, wherein this air-guiding zone (Z) is provided in the guide and extends over a shorter length than this length (L) of the guide, viewed in the longitudinal direction.

4. Guide device according to claim 3, wherein the cooling circuit extends along virtually the entire length (L) of the guide, viewed in the longitudinal direction.

5. Guide according to claim 1, wherein the guide comprises several guiders elements.

6. Guide device according to claim 3, wherein the guide comprises several guiders, and wherein at least one of the guiders is configured as an air-guide, in which the air-guiding zone (Z) is arranged.

7. Guide device according to claim 2, wherein the guide comprises several guiders, and wherein each guider comprises a subcircuit of the cooling circuit.

8. Guide device according to claim 7, wherein the subcircuits are mutually coupled by one or more couplings which are arranged substantially outside the guide.

9. Guide device according to claim 5, wherein the guiders are at least partly arranged one behind the other, viewed in the longitudinal direction.

10. Guide device according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the guiders is arranged in the guide device so as to be displaceable along the longitudinal direction.

11. Guide device according to claim 10, wherein the air-guide is fixedly arranged in the guide device.

12. Guide device according to claim 3, wherein the guide comprises exactly one guider which extends in the longitudinal direction along a length (L), wherein the length of the air-guiding zone (Z) is virtually half the length (L) of the guider.

13. Assembly of a rapier bar, a driver for driving this rapier bar and a guide device comprising a guide with one or more guiders for guiding this rapier bar, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier bar by means of compressed air, wherein this assembly is provided with a cooling circuit through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar by means of coolant.

14. Assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling circuit of the assembly forms part of the guide device, and in that the guide device comprises a guide with one or more guiders for guiding a rapier bar in a rapier weaving machine, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier bar by means of compressed air, wherein the guide device is provided with a cooling circuit through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar by means of coolant.

15. Assembly according to claim 13, wherein the guide device comprises a guide with one or more guiders for guiding a rapier bar in a rapier weaving machine, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier bar by means of compressed air, wherein the guide device is provided with a cooling circuit through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar by means of coolant, wherein the guide extends in a longitudinal direction along a length (L) for guiding the rapier bar and in that the guide device comprises at least one air-guiding zone (Z) in which the perforations are arranged, wherein this air-guiding zone (Z) is provided in the guide and extends over a shorter length than this length (L) of the guide, viewed in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the air-guiding zone (Z) extends at least at the location of the driver.

16. Assembly according to claim 15, wherein the air-guiding zone (Z), viewed in the longitudinal direction, extends virtually along the remaining length of the guide on one side of the driver.

17. Assembly according to claim 13, wherein the guide comprises several guiders elements, at least one guider of which is a guider in which the cooling circuit partly extends and which is arranged on a side of the rapier bar which is opposite the side of the rapier bar on which the other guiders are arranged.

18. Rapier weaving machine for weaving a fabric, wherein this rapier weaving machine comprises an assembly according to claim 13.

19. Rapier weaving machine according to claim 18, wherein the guide device of the assembly of this rapier weaving machine is a guide comprises a guide with one or more guiders for guiding a rapier bar in a rapier weaving machine, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier bar by means of compressed air, wherein the guide device is provided with a cooling circuit through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar by means of coolant, wherein the guide extends in a longitudinal direction along a length (L) for guiding the rapier bar and in that the guide device comprises at least one air-guiding zone (Z) in which the perforations are arranged, wherein this air-guiding zone (Z) is provided in the guide and extends over a shorter length than this length (L) of the guide, viewed in the longitudinal direction, and in that the air-guiding zone (Z) extends on the side of the fabric to be woven, at least at the end of the guide.

20. Rapier weaving machine according to claim 19, wherein the assembly comprises a rapier bar, a driver for driving this rapier bar and a guide device comprising a guide with one or more guiders for guiding this rapier bar, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier bar by means of compressed air, wherein this assembly is provided with a cooling circuit through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar by means of coolant, wherein the guide device comprises a guide with one or more guiders for guiding a rapier bar in a rapier weaving machine, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier bar by means of compressed air, wherein the guide device is provided with a cooling circuit through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar by means of coolant, wherein the guide extends in a longitudinal direction along a length (L) for guiding the rapier bar and in that the guide device comprises at least one air-guiding zone (Z) in which the perforations are arranged, wherein this air-guiding zone (Z) is provided in the guide and extends over a shorter length than this length (L) of the guide, viewed in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the air-guiding zone (Z) extends at least at the location of the driver, wherein the air-guiding zone (Z), viewed in the longitudinal direction, extends virtually along the remaining length of the guide on one side of the driver, and wherein said side of the driver is turned towards the fabric to be woven.

21. Rapier weaving machine according to claim 19, wherein the assembly comprises a rapier bar, a driver for driving this rapier bar and a guide device comprising a guide with one or more guiders for guiding this rapier bar, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier bar by means of compressed air, wherein this assembly is provided with a cooling circuit through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar by means of coolant, wherein the guide comprises several guiders, at least one guider of which is a guider in which the cooling circuit partly extends and which is arranged on a side of the rapier bar which is opposite the side of the rapier bar on which the other guiders are arranged, and wherein the at least one guider in which the cooling circuit partly extends and which is arranged on the side of the rapier bar opposite the side of the rapier bar on which the other guiders are arranged, is arranged near the end of the guide on the side of the fabric to be woven.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The present disclosure will now be explained in more detail by means of the following description of a preferred embodiment of a guide device for a rapier bar according to the present disclosure. The sole aim of this description is to provide illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and features of the disclosure, and can thus not be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the disclosure or of patent rights defined in the claims.

(2) In this description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a first guide for a guide device according to the present disclosure in side view, together with a rapier bar which is guided thereby and a toothed drive wheel for driving this rapier bar;

(4) FIG. 2 shows the part of the guide from FIG. 1 which is arranged on the side of the rapier bar opposite the side in which the toothed drive wheel engages, separately in bottom view and partly in longitudinal section, cut through at the location of the air circuit along BB in FIG. 4;

(5) FIG. 3 shows the part from FIG. 2 of the guide from FIG. 1 separately, in longitudinal section, cut through the cooling circuit along AA in FIG. 4;

(6) FIG. 4 shows the part from FIG. 2 of the guide from FIG. 1 separately in side view, in which dashed lines illustrate the cooling circuit and the air circuit;

(7) FIG. 5 shows the part from FIG. 2 of the guide from FIG. 1 separately in top view, in which dashed lines illustrate the cooling circuit and the air circuit;

(8) FIG. 6 shows a first guide element of the guide from FIG. 1 separately in side view, in which dashed lines illustrate a subcircuit;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a second guide element of the guide from FIG. 1 which is configured as an air-guide element, separately in side view, in which dashed lines illustrate a subcircuit and the air circuit;

(10) FIG. 8 shows a second guide for a guide device according to the present disclosure in longitudinal section, cut through the air circuit along BB in FIG. 11;

(11) FIG. 9 shows the guide from FIG. 8 in longitudinal section, cut through the cooling circuit along AA in FIG. 11;

(12) FIG. 10 shows the guide from FIG. 8 in bottom view, in which dashed lines illustrate the cooling circuit and the air circuit;

(13) FIG. 11 shows the guide from FIG. 8 in side view, in which dashed lines illustrate the cooling circuit and the air circuit;

(14) FIG. 12 shows the part C of the bottom view from FIG. 10 in more detail;

(15) FIG. 13 shows the part D of the bottom view from FIG. 10 in more detail;

(16) FIG. 14 shows a third guide for a guide device according to the present disclosure in front view;

(17) FIG. 15 shows the guide from FIG. 14 in rear view;

(18) FIG. 16 shows the guide from FIG. 14 in perspective, viewed from the top;

(19) FIG. 17 shows the guide from FIG. 14 in perspective, viewed from the bottom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(20) In this detailed description, the terms front, rear, top, bottom and side refer to the respective side of the guide (1), viewed in a rapier weaving machine, with respect to a fabric which is woven therewith, which extends substantially horizontally during weaving. In this case, a front view is a view of this guide (1) seen from the fabric. The illustrated guides (1) may be rotated through 90° or 180° in other types of rapier weaving machines and/or for guiding a second rapier bar (3) in a double-face weaving machine.

(21) In the figures, various embodiments of guides (1) of guide devices according to the present disclosure are illustrated. By means of each of these guides (1), the movement of a corresponding rapier bar (3) in a rapier weaving machine may be guided.

(22) In addition to the illustrated guide (1), corresponding guide devices also comprise a support structure (not shown) by means of which this guide (1) is attachable to a rapier weaving machine. In order to be able to attach the guides (1) to the support structure, each of these guides (1) is provided with mounting slots (15).

(23) Furthermore, these guide devices may also comprise one or more additional corresponding guides (1) for guiding one or more additional rapier bars (3).

(24) By means of the illustrated guides (1), the movement trajectory of a rapier bar (3) in a rapier weaving machine is guided. In this case, the rapier bar (3) is driven in the rapier weaving machine by means of drive means (4) to introduce a rapier with a weft yarn in a shed between warp yarns in order to form a fabric. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the rapier bar (3) is to this end provided with a gear rack and the drive means comprise a gear wheel (4) which engages in this gear rack. Alternatively, it would, for example, also be possible to provide a flexible rapier band which bends around the gear wheel instead of such a rapier bar (3).

(25) In the illustrated embodiments, the movement trajectory of the rapier bar (3) is guided by the guide (1) on only one side. In this case, this is the side opposite the side on which the gear wheel (4) engages with the rapier bar (3). In alternative embodiments, it is also possible to guide the movement trajectory of the rapier bar (3) on several sides.

(26) If a said rapier band is provided instead of the illustrated rapier bar, the movement trajectory only has to be provided for the part of the illustrated guide (1) between the gear wheel (4) and the fabric. Additional cooling may then also be provided in the complete arc where the gear wheel (4) and the rapier band engage with each other.

(27) In the first embodiment which is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the guide (1) comprises a first guide element (2) which is configured as an air-guide element (10) and a second guide element (2) in which this air-guide element (10) is accommodated. To this end, this second guide element (2) is provided with a receiving cavity (20) corresponding with the air-guide element (10). In the mounted position, a front part (18) of this second guide element (2) extends in front of the air-guide element (10) and a rear part (19) of this second guide element (2) extends behind the air-guide element (10).

(28) Instead of accommodating the air-guide element (10) in a cavity (20) in such a second guide element (2), it would also be possible to attach one or more separate guide elements (2) in front of and/or behind the air-guide element (10) in order to form an alternative guide (1). In this case, such separate guide elements (2) may be securely fitted with respect to the air-guide element (10) or be arranged so as to be displaceable with respect to this air-guide element (10). In this case, these may be arranged so as to adjoin the air-guide element (10) or may be arranged at an intermediate distance from this air-guide element (10). One or more of such separate guide elements (2) may also be configured as an air-guide element (10).

(29) In addition to said two guide elements (2), the guide (1) in the first embodiment also comprises a third guide element (2) which, in the mounted position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is arranged on the side of the guide rod (3) opposite the other guide elements (2) of this guide.

(30) By designing the guide (1) in the form of various guide elements (2), it is possible to produce one guide element (2) (in the illustrated first embodiment the air-guide element) for different types of guides (1) in an identical manner, while it is also possible to produce different types of guides (1) by supplementing this guide element (2) with other guide elements, for example having different cooling options and/or different dimensions and/or different guiding options, etc.

(31) In the second embodiment, which is illustrated in FIGS. 8-13, and in the third embodiment, which is illustrated in FIGS. 14-17, the guide (1) comprises exactly one guide element (2). This guide element (2) is provided for guiding a rapier bar (3) in a similar way to the guide (1) from FIG. 1 without an additional guide element (2) which is arranged on a side of the rapier bar (3) opposite the other guide elements (2). However, in alternative embodiments, this guide element (2) could also be supplemented with such an additional guide element (2). The illustrated guide element (2) is configured as an air-guide element (10).

(32) In the illustrated embodiments, the guides (1) are provided to be fixedly arranged in a rapier weaving machine. In alternative embodiments, it is also possible to arrange one or more guide elements (2) of such a guide (1) so as to be displaceable in a direction along the movement trajectory of the rapier bar (3), so that the movement trajectory of this rapier bar (3) may be guided over a longer distance.

(33) Each illustrated air-guide element (10) is provided with an air circuit (5) which is produced by the following: drilling a main channel (21) in the longitudinal direction of the air-guide element (10) via the front side (second and third embodiment) or rear side (first embodiment) of the corresponding air-guide element (10) and closing this main channel (21); optionally, via the side wall of this air-guide element (10), drilling side channels (22) which end in this main channel (21) and closing these side channels (22) (first embodiment); drilling, via the top side of this air-guide element (10), an access channel (23) which ends in the main channel (21); and drilling, via the bottom side of this air-guide element (10), channels (7) which end in the main channel (21) (second and third embodiment) and/or the side channels (22) (first embodiment) and which form perforations (7) in the bottom side of the air-guide element (10).

(34) Alternatively and/or additionally, such channels (21, 22, 23, 7) could also be 3D-printed and/or be produced via extrusion and/or pultrusion.

(35) Instead of producing perforations (7) when drilling channels, it would also be possible to provide one or more relatively large apertures in the underside of the guide element (2) which connect to one or more compressed-air channels in this guide element (2). A membrane may be attached in such apertures which is provided with the necessary perforations.

(36) In the illustrated embodiments, a connection (12) is provided on the access channel (23) in order to couple the air-guide element (10) with the central compressed-air device of the rapier weaving machine. When forcing compressed air through the resulting air circuit by means of the central compressed-air device, air is thus forced through the perforations (7) in order to cool the rapier bar (3) by means of this compressed air.

(37) The access channel (23) is preferably provided as close as possible to the rear side of the corresponding guide element (10), so that the connection (12) with the central compressed-air device may be provided as close as possible to this central compressed-air device. In FIG. 4, the connection (12) is coupled to a compressed-air line (6) in order to couple it to the central compressed air device.

(38) In the various embodiments, the perforations (7) are arranged in an air-guiding zone (Z) which has a shorter length (1) than the length (L) along which the guide (1) extends.

(39) In the first embodiment, several rows and columns of these perforations (7) are arranged centrally in an air-guiding zone (Z) in the bottom surface of the air-guide element (10). In this embodiment, this air-guiding zone (Z) is situated at the location of the gear wheel (4).

(40) In the second and in the third embodiment, the length 1 of the air-guiding zone (Z) is virtually half the length (L) of the guide. In these embodiments, in each case, on the one hand, at the location of the gear wheel (4) a larger concentration of these perforations is present and, on the other hand, at the location of the end (14) of the guide (1) on its front side, as may be seen in FIGS. 12, 13 and 17. These are parts of the guide (1) where the friction with the rapier bar (3) is greater than in the other parts of the guide (1).

(41) Furthermore, several water channels (17) are drilled into each illustrated guide element (2) via the ends and side walls of these guide elements (2) and these water channels (17) are closed. Furthermore, access channels (24) to these water channels (17) are drilled in order together to form a water circuit (8) in this guide element (2). In this case, subcircuits (8a, 8b, 8c) are formed in each case in the first embodiment which are mutually couplable to external couplings (11), as may be seen in FIG. 4, in order together to form a water circuit (8) in the guide (1). In the second and the third embodiment, one single water circuit (8) is provided.

(42) In the illustrated embodiments, the water circuit (8) in each case extends over virtually the entire length (L) of the guide (1).

(43) Instead of drilling the water channels (17) and the access channels (24), these may alternatively and/or additionally also be 3D-printed and/or be produced via extrusion and/or pultrusion.

(44) Each of the water circuits (8) is provided with two connections (13) in order to be able to couple this water circuit (8) with water lines (9) (see FIG. 4) in order to incorporate this in the central water circuit of the rapier weaving machine. These connections (13) are preferably provided as close as possible to the rear side of the guides (1) in order thus to keep the connections with the central water circuit as far as possible from the fabric to be woven. In order to reduce the risk of the fabric becoming caught thereon, these connections (13) are preferably arranged in the rear side of the guide (1), as is the case with the third embodiment. Both connections (13) may interchangeably be used as an inlet or as an outlet for the water circuit (8).

(45) When water from the central water circuit flows through the water circuit (8), the rapier bar (3) may be water-cooled.

(46) The air-guide element (10) from the first embodiment is furthermore provided with cooling ribs (25) in order to increase the cooling surface of this air-guide element (10).