Loom and Method for Guiding a Woven Fabric in a Loom

Abstract

The invention relates to various mutually combinable embodiments of a weaving machine or loom that comprises at least one guide device with at least one guide unit (32, 34) for the contacting guidance of a woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14). In this regard, according to an embodiment, a control unit (15) is provided, which is embodied for controlling at least one drive (38, 39) for the at least one guide unit (32, 34), wherein for the actuation the control unit (15) processes informations that are related to the woven fabric structure in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), and/or informations regarding the position of the warp threads (80a, 80b) in the open loom shed. The invention also relates to methods for guiding a woven fabric in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14).

Claims

1. Weaving machine (1), preferably gripper weaving machine, with a shed forming device (5) for opening and closing a loom shed (9) that is formed by a plurality of warp threads (80, 80a, 80b), with a weft insertion device (7) with a weft insertion means (8) for inserting weft threads through an open loom shed (9), with a weaving reed (10) for beating-up inserted weft threads against the woven fabric edge as well as with a drawing-off device (12) for drawing-off the woven fabric (82), characterized by at least one guide device (30) with at least one guide unit (32, 34), which extends at least partially over the woven fabric width and which comprises respectively at least one guide section (33, 35) that is positionable essentially in the woven fabric thickness direction (G) for the contacting guidance of the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), wherein at least one upper guide unit (32) for guiding the woven fabric (82) on its top surface (84) and/or at least one lower guide unit (34) for guiding the woven fabric (82) on its bottom surface (85) are provided, and a control unit (15), which is embodied for controlling at least one drive (38, 39), which is connected with the at least one guide unit (32, 34) for changing the position of at least one of its guide sections (33, 35) essentially in the woven fabric thickness direction (G), wherein the control unit (15), for the stated actuation, processes informations that are related to the woven fabric structure in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), and/or informations regarding the position of the warp threads (80, 80a, 80b) in the open loom shed (9).

2. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the control unit (15) acquires the stated informations that are related to the woven fabric structure in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) from one or more of the following sources: from a pattern draft (26), which is stored in a storage unit (25) and in which the stated informations are directly or indirectly stored and which is accessed by the control unit (15); from a second storage unit (28) that is provided in addition to a pattern draft (26), which is stored in a first storage unit (25) and in which the weave pattern design is stored, wherein the second storage unit is read-out promptly, preferably simultaneously, with the informations in the pattern draft (26) by the control unit (15); from an algorithm (29), which produces the stated informations for the control unit (15) during the producing of the pattern draft (26) and stores them in the pattern draft (26), or which calculates the stated informations from the pattern draft (26) that does not yet contain these informations during the running weaving operation and provides them to the control unit (15); and/or from one or more sensors (50), for example at least one optical sensor and/or at least one ultrasonic sensor for analyzing the woven fabric surface, wherein the stated at least one sensor (50) is arranged in front of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), preferably on the end face of the weaving reed (10), and/or stationarily between the guide device (32, 34) and the weaving reed (10) and/or below the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) and/or above the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14).

3. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more sensors (55), for example embodied as optical sensors, are provided for analyzing the position of the warp threads (80, 80a, 80b) in the open loom shed (9), wherein the results of the analysis are processed as the stated informations by the control unit (15) for actuating a the at least one stated drive (38, 39).

4. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is embodied in such a manner so that it is able to actuate the at least one drive (38, 39) based on the stated informations, so that the woven fabric (82) as a whole in the area of the reed beat-up (14) is shiftingly displaced in the woven fabric thickness direction (G), in order to guide a weft insertion means (8) for the weft thread to be inserted, preferably embodied as a gripper, in a collision-free manner through the loom shed (9), for example with essentially the same spacing distance to the upper and lower warp threads (80, 80a, 80b) forming the open loom shed (9).

5. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is embodied in such a manner so that it is able to actuate the at least one drive (38, 39) based on the stated informations, so that the woven fabric (82) is guided in a contacting manner on its top and/or bottom surface (84, 85) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), without thereby necessarily having to shiftingly displace the woven fabric (82) as a whole in the woven fabric thickness direction (G).

6. Weaving machine (1), preferably gripper weaving machine, according to claim 1, with a shed forming device (5) for opening and closing a loom shed (9) formed by a plurality of warp threads (80, 80a, 80b), with a weft insertion device (7) with a weft insertion means (8) for inserting weft threads through an open loom shed (9), with a weaving reed (10) for beating-up inserted weft threads against the woven fabric edge as well as with a drawing-off device (12) for drawing-off the woven fabric (82), characterized by at least one guide device (30) with at least two guide units (32, 34), which extend at least partially over the woven fabric width and which comprise respectively at least one guide section (33, 35) that is positionable essentially in the woven fabric thickness direction (G) for contacting guidance of the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), wherein at least one upper guide unit (32) for guiding the woven fabric (82) on its top surface (84) and at least one lower guide unit (34) for guiding the woven fabric (82) on its bottom surface (85) are provided, and wherein the stated at least two guide units (32, 34) are connected with respectively at least one drive (38, 39) connected with a control unit (15) in such a manner so that they are movable both equi-directionally as well as counter-directionally in the woven fabric thickness direction (G).

7. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide sections (33, 35) of at least one upper and at least one lower guide unit (32, 34) are positionable as follows in the woven fabric thickness direction (G) by means of the drive or drives (38, 39): the guide sections (33, 35) of both guide units (32, 34) equi-directionally in respectively the same direction; the guide sections (33, 35) of both guide units (32, 34) counter-directionally in opposite directions; the guide sections (35) of only one guide unit (34) in one direction, while the other guide unit (32) remains stationary; and/or the guide sections (33) of only one guide unit (32) in one direction, while the guide sections (35) of the other guide unit (34) on the other side of the woven fabric (82) are moved along followingly in a passive manner, wherein this passive guide unit (34) is impinged upon by a force, for example produced by a spring.

8. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the at least one guide unit (32, 34) is embodied as a rigid profile member extending in the weft direction, as a passive or actively driven roller, or as a circulating continuous belt.

9. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the stated lower and/or upper side guide units (32, 34) is arranged in the area of at least one of the lateral lengthwise edges (86) of the woven fabric (82) extending in the warp direction (KR) and/or in the area of the section of the woven fabric (82) adjoining such a lengthwise edge (86) toward the center of the woven fabric.

10. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one guide section (33, 35) of the at least one guide unit (32, 34), preferably all of the guide sections (33, 35) of all of the guide units (32, 34), is arranged in such a manner so that it contacts the woven fabric (82) on its top and/or bottom surface (84, 85) within an area having the spacing distance (d) of 0 to 100 mm, preferably within an area having the spacing distance (d) of 0 to 50 mm, measured from the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) in the woven fabric lengthwise direction GR.

11. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more guide units (32, 34) are positionable in the woven fabric thickness direction (G) according to one of the following possibilities: contacting the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) only from the top surface (84); contacting the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) only from the bottom surface (85); contacting the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) both from the top as well as the bottom surface (84, 85).

12. Weaving machine (1), preferably gripper weaving machine, according to claim 1, with a shed forming device (5) for opening and closing a loom shed (9) formed by a plurality of warp threads (80, 80a, 80b), with a weft insertion device (7) with a weft insertion means (8) for inserting weft threads through an open loom shed (9), with a weaving reed (10) for beating-up inserted weft threads against the woven fabric edge as well as with a drawing-off device (12) for drawing-off the woven fabric (82), characterized by at least one guide device (130; 230; 330) with at least one guide unit (132; 232; 332), which extends at least partially over the woven fabric width and which comprises respectively at least one guide section (133; 233; 333) that is preferably positionable essentially in the woven fabric thickness direction (G) for the contacting guidance of the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), wherein at least one upper guide unit (132; 232; 332) for guiding the woven fabric (82) on its top surface (84) and/or at least one lower guide unit for guiding the woven fabric (82) on its bottom surface (85) are provided, wherein one or more guide sections (133; 233; 333) of at least one guide unit (132; 232; 332) overall comprise a profiled shape (136; 236; 336) in the weft direction (SR).

13. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the profiled shape (136; 236; 336) of the at least one guide section (133; 233; 333) of the at least one guide unit (132; 232; 332) is realized according to at least one of the following configurations: continuous profiled shape (136) as seen in the weft direction (SR); individual actuators (237) arranged one behind another in the weft direction (SR) with respective allocated guide partial sections (233a) which all together form a guide section (233), wherein the individual actuators (237) and therewith also their guide partial sections (233a) are separately adjustable essentially in the woven fabric thickness direction (G), wherein the guide partial sections (233a) are preferably covered with a flexible sheath (238), which cover the transitions between the guide partial sections (233a); a continuous roller with a rotation axis extending essentially parallel to the weft direction (SR), wherein the roller comprises a continuous profiled shape forming the guide section; a roller (337) with a rotation axis (339) extending essentially parallel to the weft direction (SR), wherein the roller (337) comprises segments (338) arranged one behind another in the weft direction (SR) with at least partially different diameter and/or an arrangement eccentric to the rotation axis (339); a roller built-up of individual segments arranged one behind another in the weft direction (SR), wherein one or more of the individual segments are respectively rotatable about the lengthwise axis of the roller extending in the weft direction and/or respectively about an axis extending eccentrically to this lengthwise axis.

14. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one elastic element (238) is arranged on at least one of the guide sections (233), for example embodied as a hose impinged with compressed air or as a spring suspension, wherein the at least one elastic element (238) preferably extends over the woven fabric width.

15. Weaving machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the guide sections (132) comprises a contour that extends with a curve or bend in the weft direction (SR) for the guidance of a woven fabric (82) that extends with a corresponding curve or bend in the weft direction (SR).

16. Method for guiding a woven fabric (82) in a weaving machine (1), preferably a gripper weaving machine, wherein the method encompasses the following steps: the woven fabric (82) is guided on its top and/or bottom surface (84, 85) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) by at least one guide device (30), wherein the guide device (30) comprises at least one guide unit (32, 34), extending at least partially over the woven fabric width, with respectively at least one guide section (33, 35) that is positionable in the woven fabric thickness direction (G), wherein an upper guide unit (32) guides the top surface (84) of the woven fabric (82) and/or a lower guide unit (34) guides the bottom surface (85) in the woven fabric thickness direction (G), a control unit (15) controls at least one drive (38, 39) connected with the at least one guide unit (32, 34) for changing the position of at least one guide section (33. 35) in the woven fabric thickness direction (G), wherein informations that are related to the woven fabric structure in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), and/or informations regarding the position of the warp threads (80, 80a, 80b) in the open loom shed (9) are provided to the control unit (15) for the stated actuation.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the control unit (15) acquires the stated informations from one or more of the following sources: from a pattern draft (26), which is stored in a storage unit (25) and in which the stated informations are directly or indirectly stored and which is accessed by the control unit (15); from a second storage unit (28) that is provided in addition to a pattern draft (26), which is stored in a first storage unit (25) and in which the weave pattern design is stored, wherein the second storage unit is read-out promptly, preferably simultaneously, with the informations in the pattern draft (26) by the control unit (15); from an algorithm (29), which produces the stated informations for the control unit (15) during the producing of the pattern draft (26) and stores them in the pattern draft (26), or which calculates the stated informations from the pattern draft (26) that does not yet contain these informations during the running weaving operation and provides them to the control unit (15); from one or more sensors (50), for example at least one optical sensor and/or at least one ultrasonic sensor for analyzing the woven fabric surface, whereby the stated at least one sensor (50) is arranged in front of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) preferably on the end face of the weaving reed (10) and/or stationarily between the guide device (32, 34) and the weaving reed (10) and/or below the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) and/or above the woven fabric (82) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14); and/or from one or more sensors (55), for example embodied as optical sensors, for analyzing the position of the warp threads (80, 80a, 80b) in the open loom shed (9).

18. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the control unit (15) actuates the at least one drive (38, 39) based on the stated informations in such a manner'so that the woven fabric (82) in the area of the reed beat-up is shiftingly displaced in the woven fabric thickness direction (G) in order to guide a weft insertion means (8) for the weft thread to be inserted, preferably embodied as a gripper, in a collision-fee manner through the open loom shed (9), for example with essentially equal spacing distance (a1, a2) to the upper and lower warp threads (80, 80a, 80b) forming the open loom shed (9).

19. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the control unit (15) actuates the at least one drive (38, 39) based on the stated informations in such a manner so that the woven fabric (82) is guided in a contacting manner on its top and/or bottom surface (84, 85) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14), without thereby necessarily shiftingly displacing the woven fabric (82) as a whole in the woven fabric thickness direction (G).

20. Method for guiding a woven fabric (82) in a weaving machine (1), wherein the method encompasses the following steps: the woven fabric (82) is guided on its top and/or bottom surface (84, 85) in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane (14) by at least one guide device (30), wherein the guide device (30) comprises at least one guide unit (32, 34), extending at least partially over the woven fabric width, with at least respectively one guide section (33, 35) that is positionable in the woven fabric thickness direction (G), wherein an upper guide unit (32) guides the top surface (84) of the woven fabric (82) and/or a lower guide unit (34) guides the bottom surface (85) in the woven fabric thickness direction (G), wherein the stated at least two guide units (32, 34) are connected with at least one drive (38, 39) in such a manner so that they are movable both equi-directionally as well as counter-directionally in the woven fabric thickness direction (G).

Description

[0048] In the following, the invention is explained in further detail in connection with drawings. The figures are to be considered simply as example embodiments, wherein individual features can also be combined with other embodiments. The same reference characters designate the same elements or elements with the same effects. It is shown by:

[0049] FIG. 1 a schematic side view of essential parts of a weaving machine;

[0050] FIG. 2 a schematic side view of a part of a first embodiment of a weaving machine in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane with merely one guide unit (without warp threads, without woven fabric);

[0051] FIG. 3 a schematic side view of a part of a second embodiment of a weaving machine in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane with two guide units (without warp threads, without woven fabric);

[0052] FIG. 4 the schematic side view according to FIG. 3, now with warp threads and woven fabric;

[0053] FIG. 5 the schematic side view according to FIG. 4, with lowered woven fabric;

[0054] FIGS. 6-9 four alternatives for the provision of informations for the control unit;

[0055] FIG. 10 a schematic side view of a part of a weaving machine with a sensor for analysis of the woven fabric surface;

[0056] FIG. 11 a schematic side view of a part of a weaving machine with a sensor for analysis of the open loom shed;

[0057] FIG. 12 a schematic side view of a part of a weaving machine with a spring-loaded lower guide unit;

[0058] FIG. 13 a schematic side view of a part of a weaving machine with a woven fabric with thickness variations in the warp direction;

[0059] FIG. 14 a schematic side view of a part of a weaving machine with height-movable or height-drivable rollers as guide units;

[0060] FIG. 15 a schematic side view of a part of a weaving machine with height-movable or height-drivable, continuous circulating bands or belts as guide units;

[0061] FIG. 16 a perspective view of a guide device;

[0062] FIG. 17 a top plan view onto a woven fabric with various guide devices, and

[0063] FIGS. 18-22 various embodiments of guide units in longitudinal section (section in the weft direction).

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a possible embodiment of a weaving machine 1. A plurality of warp threads 80 extending next to one another is supplied for example from a warp beam 2 (alternatively from a creel), and is guidingly supplied in the warp direction KR (see arrow) over a backrest roller or whip roll 3, as well as after passing a warp stop-motion 4, to a shed-forming device 5, of which the shed forming means preferably are formed of heddles 6 which are movable opposite one another and oscillate in a known manner, in order to open or to close a loom shed 9. According to a preferred embodiment, the shed forming device 5 is of the Jacquard type.

[0065] A weft insertion device 7 (merely indicated) comprises a weft insertion means 8, which here is embodied as a thread gripper and transports weft threads through the open loom shed 9. Furthermore, the weaving machine 1 comprises a weaving reed 10, by means of which an inserted weft thread can be beat-up against the so-called interlacing point 11 of the already-produced woven fabric 82. For this purpose, the weaving reed 10 is supported rotatably about an axis 10a. The finished woven fabric 82 is drawn off, for example—especially for thicker woven fabrics—horizontally, by means of a drawing-off or take-off device 12, which is merely schematically indicated, or alternatively for being wound or rolled-up on a cloth beam (not shown).

[0066] A control unit 15 is connected with various drives and controls these. In this regard, a drive 16 is connected with the warp beam 2, a drive 17 is connected with the shed forming device 5, a drive 18 is connected with the weaving reed 10, and a further drive 19 is connected with the drawing-off device 12. This drive concept is selected merely as an example, other concepts are possible without further ado. The control unit 15 further acquires sensor data, here indicated for the warp stop-motion 4, in order to ensure the trouble-free operation of the weaving machine 1. In that regard, the mentioned apparatuses are connected with the control unit 15 by means of signal-transmitting lines or cables, as is indicated by the dotted lines.

[0067] The present invention relates to a guidance of the woven fabric 82 by means of one or more guide devices in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane. The shed forming device 5 as described and shown in FIG. 1, the weft insertion device 7 with the weft insertion means 8, the weaving reed 10 as well as the drawing-off device 12 are also present in the weaving machine or weaving machines 1 according to the invention.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a guide device 30, which encompasses a lower guide unit 34 that is L-shaped in cross-section, which comprises a guide section 35 for contacting the bottom surface of a woven fabric. Thereby, the lower guide section 34 guides the woven fabric in the immediate vicinity of the weaving reed beat-up plane 14, that is to say in the plane of the beat-up of the weaving reed 10 (illustrated in FIG. 2 with continuous solid strokes or lines in the open shed position and with dashed lines during the beat-up against the fabric edge; in several figures the beat-up weaving reed 10 is illustrated in dashed lines, and not in others, in order to make the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 more clearly recognizable). Optionally and illustrated with dashed lines, an upper guide unit 32 which is L-shaped in cross-section, with a guide section 33 is present, which is embodied rigid and immovable in the present example. If present, the upper guide unit 32 serves for the guidance of the top surface of the woven fabric.

[0069] The lower guide unit 34 is connected with a drive 39, which is connected with the control unit 15, which actuates the drive 39 in such a manner so that the lower guide unit 34 is driven in the arrow direction f2, that is to say in the woven fabric thickness direction, in order to thereby guide the woven fabric from its bottom surface. It is of course also possible (not illustrated), that an upper guide unit 32 is driven in the woven fabric thickness direction G by a drive connected with the control unit 15, whereby optionally for example a rigid lower guide unit 34 can be present.

[0070] In FIG. 3 a guide device 30 is illustrated, which in the present case encompasses two guide units 32, 34 lying above one another. The upper guide unit 32 is positioned above a woven fabric (not illustrated in FIG. 3), while the lower guide unit 34 is arranged below the woven fabric. In the illustrated example embodiment, which is not to be interpreted in a limiting or constraining manner, both guide units 32, 34 are embodied L-shaped in the cross-section, whereby each one of the guide units 32, 34 comprises two guide sections 33 or 35 facing toward one another, which for the contacting with the woven fabric in the immediate or direct vicinity of the weaving reed beat-up plane 14. The weaving reed beat-up plane 14 is that plane at which the weaving reed 10 beats-up against the woven fabric 82 after the insertion of a weft thread.

[0071] Both guide units 32, 34 are furthermore connected with a drive 38 or 39, which in turn are connected with the control unit 15. The control unit 15 actuates the two drives 38, 39 in such a manner so that these can be driven the guide units 32, 34 toward one another or in opposite directions as well as in the respective same direction, as this is indicated by the respective arrows f1 and f2 (corresponding to the above described second aspect of the invention). With woven fabric 82 clamped in place (see FIG. 4), this is the woven fabric thickness direction G, which extends parallel to the weaving reed beat-up plane 14.

[0072] The upper and/or the lower guide units 32, 34 preferably extend in the weft direction over the entire woven fabric width. Alternatively, an extension over only a part of the woven fabric is also possible. Also, several upper and/or lower guide units 32, 34 extending next to one another in the weft direction can be realized.

[0073] In FIG. 3 a spacing distance d is illustrated not-to-scale, measured from the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 in the direction of the woven fabric lengthwise direction GR (here extending parallel to the warp direction KR). This spacing distance d indicates the preferred area or region in which the guide units 32, 34 guide the woven fabric 82 in a contacting manner, wherein the stated guidance does not need to take place over the entire area or region, but rather can lie within this area or region. The area with the spacing distance d from the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 extends preferably 0 to 100 mm, especially preferably between 0 to 50 mm, in the woven fabric lengthwise direction GR.

[0074] In FIG. 4, the same cut-out section of the weaving machine 1 is illustrated as in FIG. 3, but this time with warp threads 80a, 80b and woven fabric 82. In the case illustrated here, the woven fabric is relatively thick, for example thicker than 10 mm or even thicker than 20 mm or still thicker, wherein thicknesses up to 100 mm or even more are possible. The layer-wise weaving of the weft threads is indicated by the meandering-shaped course or progression 89, wherein the loom sheds 9 in this simplest case are alternately switched from the top to the bottom or from the bottom to the top, so that the weft sequence or progression results sequentially in the vertical direction. The thus-produced woven fabric 82 is built up layer by layer.

[0075] FIG. 4 represents the state of the guide units 32, 34 in their neutral position, that is to say without the position of the guide units 32, 34 changed in the woven fabric thickness direction G. In FIG. 4, the upper layer of the woven fabric 82 is just being produced, whereby the weft insertion means 8 is being guided through the open loom shed 9. The loom shed 9 is produced by upper warp threads 80a and lower warp threads 80b, for example in the case of a shed forming device embodied as a Jacquard machine, by actuation of the actuators for the corresponding heddles. As can be seen further in FIG. 4, the position 11a—the use of the term “interlacing point” would be misleading here; with thicker woven fabrics it more involves an “interlacing or binding edge” that extends vertically and in the plane of the illustration in a sectional view—, which in the present case is the starting point of the warp threads 80a, 80b in the direction of the open loom shed 9, due to the relatively large thickness of the woven fabric 82 comprises a large spacing distance to the neutral shed nF which extends in the warp direction KR at the height of the weft insertion means 8. This in turn is the basis of a relatively large spacing distance a1 of the weft insertion means to the upper warp threads 80a or a relatively small spacing distance a2 to the lower warp threads 80b. Due to the small spacing distance a2 there is a great danger that the weft insertion means 8 will collide with the lower warp threads 80b during the travel through the open loom shed 9, which would lead to a stoppage of the weaving process and to damages of the woven fabric 82 as well as the supplied warp threads 80.

[0076] It is further to be mentioned that the course of the two illustrated warp threads 80a, 80b shown in FIG. 4 represents merely an example, because the two warp threads 80a, 80b do not necessarily run together in the position 11a. Instead, depending on the woven fabric 82, it is also possible that an upper warp thread 80a is beat-up against the woven fabric 82 further downward, while a lower warp thread 80b is beat-up above this upper warp thread 80.

[0077] According to the invention, the woven fabric 82 is shifted or displaced in the woven fabric thickness direction G by means of at least one guide unit 32, 34, so that the weft insertion means 8 can be guided in a collision-free manner through the open loom shed 9. In FIG. 4, both guide units 32, 34 are being shifted or displaced downwardly (see arrows f1, f2), so that the position 11a lies at essentially the height of the neutral shed nF and the spacing distances a1 and a2 to the weft insertion means 8 are essentially of the same size, as this is illustrated in FIG. 5. Thereby the weft insertion means 8 can pass through the open loom shed 9 in a collision-free manner.

[0078] Thus, in other words, when an upper (or the uppermost) layer of the woven fabric 82 is just being woven corresponding to the weave pattern design stored in the pattern draft, corresponding to the example of FIG. 4, then the woven fabric 82 is lowered with the aid of the guide units 32, 34 due to the informations corresponding thereto, which is then effectuated by the control unit 15 by actuation of the drives 38, 39 (see FIG. 5).

[0079] For the corresponding actuation of the guide units 32, 34 (according to the above described first aspect of the invention) the control unit 15 processes informations that are related to or associated with the structure of the woven fabric 82 in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane 14. These informations for example contain the position of the warp threads that are next to be inserted into the woven fabric 82, which is especially of great importance for thicker woven fabrics, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. In these figures it is illustrated that the control unit 15 is connected with a storage unit 25, which holds ready the informations for the control unit 15, which transforms these into commands or instructions to the drives 38, 39 for positioning the guide units 32, 34 in the woven fabric thickness direction G. Specific embodiments of this arrangement are illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9.

[0080] The pattern draft 26 for the woven fabric 82 is stored in the storage unit 25 according to FIG. 6. According to an embodiment, not only the weave pattern design is stored in the pattern draft 26 itself, but also additionally the stated informations, which for example include, that the layer to be woven currently is the uppermost layer in the woven fabric 82 and therefore the guide units 32, 34 is to be lowered by half of the woven fabric thickness in the woven fabric thickness direction G, in order to enable a collision-free travel of the weft insertion means 8 through the open loom shed 9. The informations can also be stored in the pattern draft 26 as direct control instructions, which are transformed by the control unit 15 into control commands for the drives 38, 39. Thereby, all of these informations are related to the momentary or current woven fabric structure at the woven fabric edge 83 or in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane 14.

[0081] According to an alternative illustrated schematically in FIG. 7, in addition to the weave pattern design, separate informations are stored in the pattern draft that is stored in the storage unit 25, wherein these separate informations for example involve indices that refer to a data track 27 that is similarly stored in the storage unit 25, wherein the data track 27 contains the stated informations for the control unit 15 for the following actuation of the drives 38, 39. In this regard, the informations in the data track 27 are correspondingly synchronized with the instructions for the shed forming device 5 and the weft insertion device 7. Then, upon reading out the pattern draft 26, via the indices the data track 27 is read out essentially simultaneously by the control unit 15.

[0082] A further alternative is illustrated in FIG. 8. There, a second storage unit 28 is provided, in addition to a first storage unit 25 in which the pattern draft 26 defining the weave pattern design is stored. The informations related to the woven fabric structure in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 are stored in this second storage unit 28. The control unit 15 accesses these informations and processes them—synchronized with the actual momentary woven fabric position on the woven fabric edge 83 or on the weaving reed beat-up plane 14—for actuating the drives 38, 39 for the guide units 32, 34.

[0083] According to a further alternative, which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 9, the control instructions for the drives 38, 39 are calculated by a correspondingly embodied algorithm 29 directly from the pattern draft 26, that is to say from the electronically stored weave pattern design that is stored in the storage unit 25. Such a calculation is advantageously carried out continuously during the weaving operation, whereby the algorithm 29 is, for example, processed by the control unit 15 (as indicated in FIG. 9) or from a different—not illustrated—processor unit, which then further transfers the corresponding informations to the control unit 15. According to an alternative, the algorithm is already utilized when establishing the pattern draft 26, in order to introduce or store stated informations for actuating the drives 38, 39 into the pattern draft 26 already in advance, which are then successively called-up by the control unit 15 during the weaving operation.

[0084] In FIG. 10, an alternative according to the invention is illustrated, of how the control unit 15 receives the stated informations for actuating the drives 38, 39. In the variant shown in FIG. 10, a sensor 50 is arranged above the top surface 84 of the woven fabric 82 and is connected with the control unit 15. The sensor 50 is embodied, for example, as an ultrasonic sensor or as an optical sensor, and senses or detects the top surface of the woven fabric 82, which is indicated by the ray cone 51. Especially from the spacing distance of the top surface of the woven fabric 82 to the sensor 50, the control unit can determine whether the woven fabric 82 must be lowered or displaced upwardly by means of the guide units 32, 34 for an interference-free weaving operation.

[0085] The arrangement of the sensor 50 is merely exemplary. Alternatively or additionally, a sensor can detect or sense the bottom surface 85 of the woven fabric 82. More than one or two sensors are also possible. Again alternatively or additionally, one or more sensors can be arranged on the end face of the weaving reed 10 and/or stationarily between one or both guide devices 32, 34 and the weaving reed 10, wherein the stated at least one sensor is then arranged in front of the weaving reed beat-up plane.

[0086] An alternative for the control of the drives 38, 39 is illustrated in FIG. 11. Here, a sensor 55 is provided, which analyzes the position of the warp threads 80 (80a, 80b) in the open loom shed 9. For this purpose, the sensor 55 is preferably embodied as an optical sensor, especially preferably as a camera, which is arranged laterally from the loom shed 9 and detects the open loom shed 9 in the weft direction (thus perpendicularly to the plane of the paper), which is indicated by the area 56 detected the open loom shed 9 in the weft direction. The optical sensor analyzes the open loom shed 9 and particularly determines the position of the warp threads 80a, 80b in the loom shed 9, in order to especially recognize a possible collision of the weft insertion means 8 with the warp threads 80a, 80b. The sensor 55 transmits the measurement results or—after calculation—the analysis results to the control unit 15 (see dashed line), which then processes the results in order to actuate the drives 38, 39.

[0087] In FIG. 12, the guidance of a woven fabric 82 in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 is illustrated, wherein the upper guide unit 32 is being actively positioned by a drive 38 in the woven fabric thickness direction G, while the lower guide unit 34 passively follows along. For this, the lower guide unit 34 is, for example, impinged upon with a spring force from one or more springs 20, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 12. If the upper guide unit 32 is moved upwardly, then the spring force presses the lower guide unit 34 from below against the woven fabric 82, so that a contact always exists between lower guide unit 34 and woven fabric 82. Such an arrangement especially has the advantage of a simple construction. It is of course also possible that the lower guide unit 34 is actively positioned by means of a drive, while the upper guide unit 32 is passively guided in a following manner.

[0088] FIG. 13 shows an example in which the woven fabric 82 is woven with thickness variations in the warp direction KR, in order to satisfy special requirements for the later application of the woven fabric 82. In order that the woven fabric 82 can always be guided in the woven fabric thickness direction G in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 during the weaving process, the two guide units 32, 34 are followingly guided under constant adaptation to the respective woven fabric thickness, including the necessary counter-running or contrary motion of the two guide units 32, 34 in the woven fabric thickness direction G, effectuated by control commands from the control unit 15 to the drives 38, 39 (also see the arrows f1 and f2). But a positioning of the two guide units 32, 34 in a common direction is also possible, especially if a woven fabric structure that swings or oscillates upwards or downwards in the warp direction KR is to be woven, for example with a constant woven fabric thickness.

[0089] A counter-running or counter-direction motion of the two guide units 32, 34 relative to the woven fabric thickness direction G with a changing woven fabric thickness in the warp direction KR can also be realized by means of at least one active guide unit 32 or 34 from one woven fabric side and at least one passive, for example spring-loaded, guide unit 34 or 32 from the other woven fabric side.

[0090] The adaptational fitting of the guide units 32, 34 to the woven fabric thickness in the warp direction KR can also, without any difficulties, be combined with the shifting or displacement of the woven fabric in the area of the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 as a whole in the woven fabric thickness direction, as has especially been explained in connection with the FIGS. 4 and 5 further above.

[0091] Two alternatives to the L-shaped guide units 32 according to FIGS. 2 to 13 are illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. Corresponding to FIG. 14, the guide units 32 are embodied as actively driven or passive rollers (see rotation direction). According to FIG. 15, the guide units 32 are embodied as actively driven or passively circulating continuous bands or belts, which—exactly like the rollers—can also be utilized for the transport of the woven fabric 82 in the warp direction KR. The rollers and the circulating continuous belts can be positioned preferably in height, that is to say in the woven fabric thickness direction G, as this is indicated by the arrows f1 and f2. The drives and the control unit are respectively not illustrated presently.

[0092] A perspective view of a possible embodiment of a guide device 30 is illustrated in FIG. 16, which guide device encompasses an upper guide unit 32 and a lower guide unit 34. Both guide units 32, 34 are embodied as rigid profiles that are L-shaped in cross-section and that extend in the weft direction SR. The upper guide unit 32 is connected by means of vertical struts 40 with a transverse profile 41 that extends parallel to the guide unit 32, wherein the transverse profile 41 in turn is connected at its two end faces (only one is shown) with a drive profile 42, onto which the drive 38 engages in order to position the guide unit 32 in the woven fabric thickness direction G. The drive profile 42 is merely schematically illustrated and can, for example, encompass a toothed rack, into which a pinion that is driven by the drive 38 engages. The most varied embodiments are possible in order to drive or move the guide unit 32 by means of the drive 38 in the woven fabric direction.

[0093] According to the illustrated example embodiment, the lower guide unit 34 is connected via a double swivelling mechanism 45 with a stationary or fixed machine part 46. The double swivel joint comprises two swivel arms or swing levers 47 that are arranged one above another, of which one end is connected in a pivoting or swivelling manner about the swivel axes 47a and the other end is connected about the swivel axes 47b in a pivoting or swivelling manner with a vertical strut 48. In turn, the vertical strut 48 is connected, on the one hand, with the lower guide unit 34 that is L-shaped in cross-section, and on the other hand with a transverse profile 49 that extends parallel to the guide unit 34, onto which the drive 39 engages and can lower it downwardly and drive it upwardly in a controlled and defined manner (see double arrow f2) by means of the coupling with the double swivelling mechanism 45. In this regard, while the lower guide unit 34 carries out a minimal swinging or swivelling motion via the double swivel mechanism 45, which motion goes along with a motion of the guide section 35 of the lower guide unit 34 in or contrary to the warp direction KR; this is, however, insignificant in comparison to the shifting displacement in the woven fabric thickness direction.

[0094] FIG. 17 illustrates a top plan view onto a woven fabric 82 with different guide units 32, which are responsible for the guidance of the top surface 84 of the woven fabric in various different woven fabric areas or regions. The middle or center guide unit 32 is responsible for the guidance of the woven fabric region that lies between the two lateral lengthwise edges 86 (also called catch selvages) of the woven fabric 82 that extend in the warp direction (KR), wherein the guide unit 32 lies against the top surface 84 of the woven fabric 82 in the area of the woven fabric edge 83 or the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 (corresponding to the explanations according to FIGS. 2 to 16). This part of the woven fabric 82 is also called the main woven fabric. In comparison, the two outer guide units 32 are provided for the guidance of the lengthwise edges 86 of the woven fabric 82. Such a distribution of the tasks for the guidance of the woven fabric 82 is, for example, sensible or suitable if the lateral lengthwise edges 86 of the woven fabric 82 comprise a different thickness than the main woven fabric, e.g. due to a lower number of layers. In such a case, the respective binding edge can then be individually adjusted for the respective different woven fabric regions.

[0095] Preferably, corresponding guide units are provided also on the bottom surface of the woven fabric, of which one or more guide units can be provided for the guidance of the main woven fabric and one or more other guide units can be provided for the guidance of the lateral lengthwise edges 86. The actuation of all active guide units is preferably achieved once again by means of control unit 15 and corresponding drives.

[0096] In an embodiment that is not illustrated, one upper (and/or lower) guide unit 32 for one of the lengthwise edges 86 is present, while the main woven fabric and the other lengthwise edge 86 are guided or moved by a common upper (and/or lower) guide unit 32.

[0097] A spacing distance d is sketched into FIG. 17, which—as already explained in connection with FIG. 3—defines an area or region beginning from the weaving reed beat-up plane 14 in the woven fabric lengthwise direction GR (here coinciding with the warp direction KR), in which the guide units 32 are preferably arranged.

[0098] FIGS. 18 to 22 illustrate various different embodiments of guide devices 130, 230, 330 (respectively only shown in part), which are sectioned in the weft direction SR, with guide units 132, 232, 332, which respectively comprise different profiled shapes 136, 236, 336 in their guide sections 133, 233, 333 (these configurations relate to the third aspect of the invention). As explained above, the guide sections 133, 233, 333 respectively have contact with the top surface 84 of the woven fabric 82 (not illustrated). It is understood that the profiled shapes 136, 236, 336 that are illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 22—alternatively or additionally—can also be present on the lower guide units for guiding the bottom surface 85 of the woven fabric 82. It is also possible, that a stated profiled shape 136, 236, 336 is provided on the top or bottom surface 84, 85, and planar profile sections (as in FIGS. 2 to 16) are provided on the bottom or top surface 85, 84 (with actively driven or passive guide units). It is also possible that guide sections of the upper guide units comprise different profiled shapes than guide sections of the lower guide units.

[0099] It is common to all of the profiled shapes 136, 236, 336 that are described in greater detail in the following, that they can guide the woven fabric 82 with thicknesses that differ in the weft direction SR, so that for example no individual warp threads out of non-guided regions are lifted out of the woven fabric during the shed opening. The guide units 132, 232, 332 of FIGS. 18 to 22 preferably extend in the weft direction over the entire woven fabric width. Alternatively, an extension over only a part of the woven fabric is also possible. Several guide units 132, 232, 332 extending next to one another in the weft direction are also realizable (alternatively and/or additionally also corresponding profiled-embodied lower guide units for guiding the woven fabric on its bottom surface).

[0100] According to FIG. 18, the profiled shape 136 of the guide section 133 of the guide unit 132 is embodied continuous in the weft direction SR and is adapted or fitted to a corresponding surface profile of the top surface 84 of a woven fabric 82. The guide unit 132 can be embodied rigidly, or for example as a roller which is then embodied preferably symmetrically about a rotation axis extending in the weft direction.

[0101] The example embodiment of FIG. 19 is characterized in that the profiled shape 236 of the guide unit 232 comprises individual actuators 237 arranged behind one another in the weft direction SR, with respective allocated guide partial sections 233a, which all together form the guide section 233. The individual actuators 237 and therewith also the guide partial sections 233a are separately adjustable in the woven fabric thickness direction G by means of the (non-illustrated control unit 15), in order to be able to react, especially during the weaving operation, to thickness fluctuations of the woven fabric 82 in the weft direction SR specified in the weave pattern design, and thereby to always ensure an optimal woven fabric guidance.

[0102] The embodiment according to the in the FIG. 20 is distinguished from that of FIG. 19 merely in that the guide partial sections 233a are covered with a flexible sheath 238, which cover the transitions between the guide partial sections 233a and thereby gently or protectively handle the woven fabric 82 during the contacting.

[0103] The embodiment of FIG. 21 in turn is distinguished from that of FIGS. 19 and 21 in that an elastic element 239 is arranged on the guide section 233, here embodied as a hose impinged with compressed air. In the illustration according to FIG. 21, the lower contour of the hose is illustrated in a state in which it is in contact with a correspondingly contoured woven fabric 82 (not illustrated).

[0104] Finally in FIG. 22, the profiled shape 336 of the guide unit 332 is realized by a roller 337, which is supported to be rotatable about a rotation axis 339 extending parallel to the weft direction SR, and is preferably actively set into a rotating motion (see arrow f4). The roller 337 comprises several segments 338 arranged behind one another in the weft direction SR, which here partially comprise a different diameter and additionally are at least partially arranged eccentrically relative to the rotation axis 339.

[0105] Positions or layers of the formed loom sheds 9 that deviate in the weft direction can also be equalized or evened-out with respect to the woven fabric thickness with the aid of segmented profiled shapes, as they have been described in an exemplary manner in connection with the explanations according to FIGS. 18 to 22. An example here are those already mentioned above on the lateral lengthwise edges 86 of the woven fabric 82 as well as the main woven fabric between these two lateral lengthwise edges 86. Through a suitable profiled shape—for example with a through-going continuous profiled shape 136 corresponding to FIG. 18 or by means of actuators 237 according to FIGS. 19 to 21—a secure or reliable woven fabric guidance can also be realized even with such thickness variations.

[0106] The example embodiments illustrated in the figures can be combined in various different ways. Thus, for example, the guide units 132, 232, 332 of FIGS. 18 to 22, which clarify the third aspect of the invention in an exemplary manner, can be combined with a control unit 15 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 17 and the remaining devices associated therewith, which are embodied corresponding to the first and/or the second aspect of the invention.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

[0107] 1 weaving machine or loom

[0108] 2 warp beam

[0109] 3 back rest roller or whip roll

[0110] 4 warp stop-motion

[0111] 5 shed forming device

[0112] 6 heddles

[0113] 7 weft insertion device

[0114] 8 weft insertion means

[0115] 9 loom shed

[0116] 10 weaving reed

[0117] 10a rotation axis

[0118] 11 interlacing point

[0119] 11a position

[0120] 12 drawing-off or take-off device

[0121] 14 weaving reed beat-up plane

[0122] 15 control unit

[0123] 16 drive

[0124] 17 drive

[0125] 18 drive

[0126] 19 drive

[0127] 20 spring

[0128] 25 storage unit

[0129] 26 pattern draft

[0130] 27 data track

[0131] 28 second storage unit

[0132] 29 algorithm

[0133] 30 guide device

[0134] 32 guide unit

[0135] 33 guide section

[0136] 34 guide unit

[0137] 35 guide section

[0138] 38 drive

[0139] 39 drive

[0140] 40 vertical struts

[0141] 41 cross or transverse profile

[0142] 42 drive profile

[0143] 45 double swiveling mechanism

[0144] 46 stationary machine part

[0145] 47 swivel arms or swing levers

[0146] 47a swivel or swing axes

[0147] 47b swivel or swing axes

[0148] 48 vertical struts

[0149] 49 cross or transverse profile

[0150] 50 sensor

[0151] 51 ray cone

[0152] 55 sensor

[0153] 56 detected area

[0154] 80 warp thread

[0155] 80a upper warp thread

[0156] 80b lower warp thread

[0157] 82 woven fabric

[0158] 83 woven fabric edge

[0159] 84 top surface of the woven fabric

[0160] 85 bottom surface of the woven fabric

[0161] 86 lateral lengthwise edges of the woven fabric

[0162] 89 meandering course or progression

[0163] 130 guide device

[0164] 132 guide unit

[0165] 133 guide section

[0166] 136 profiled shape

[0167] 230 guide device

[0168] 232 guide unit

[0169] 233 guide section

[0170] 233a guide partial section

[0171] 236 profiled shape

[0172] 237 actuators

[0173] 238 sheath

[0174] 239 elastic element

[0175] 330 guide device

[0176] 332 guide unit

[0177] 333 guide section

[0178] 336 profiled shape

[0179] 337 roll or roller

[0180] 338 segments

[0181] 339 rotation axis

[0182] G woven fabric thickness direction

[0183] f1-f4 motion directions

[0184] nF neutral shed

[0185] KR warp direction

[0186] SR weft direction

[0187] GR woven fabric lengthwise direction

[0188] a1,a2 spacing distances

[0189] d spacing distance