Textiles: weaving – Weft manipulation – Weaving with stationary weft supply
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-09
2001-02-13
Falik, Andy (Department: 3741)
Textiles: weaving
Weft manipulation
Weaving with stationary weft supply
C139S00100C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186190
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to selvage insertion apparatus for a weaving machine, with at least one insertion arm and at least one thread clamp which have a drive device to control a weft thread and which operate from a common drive shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
With regard to known selvage insertion apparatus of the above-mentioned type U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,905,740; 4,909,283 and 4,957,145; European patent A 0,626,476), the power for the drive shaft is taken from a weaving machine's main shaft. Accordingly the selvage insertion apparatus operates synchronously with the weaving machine's main shaft and runs according to this main shaft's speed.
Furthermore U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,119 discloses selvage insertion apparatus including an insertion arm, a thread clamp and a thread cutter each with its own drive motor. The insertion arm is axially displaceable by one motor and rotatable by another motor. The thread clamp and the thread scissors each are axially displaceable by their own motors. This selvage insertion apparatus is operated by a microprocessor that controls the individual motors. This microprocessor also receives data concerning the weaving machine's weaving cycle. Position sensors are combined with the insertion arm and immediately detect operational malfunction, whereupon the microprocessor shuts down the motors to prevent collision between the insertion arm and/or the thread clamp and the scissors and the reed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the invention is to provide a selvage insertion apparatus of the above type that improves selvage formation.
This problem is solved by providing a particular drive motor for the drive shaft and providing this motor with a programmable control system.
The invention is based on the recognition that the weaving machine's main shaft does not rotate at constant speed. This is because the main shaft reciprocally drives weaving machine components such as a batten and shed-formers. Furthermore, the varying speed of the main shaft also depends on the pattern of the warp threads according to which the shed formers are raised and lowered to form consecutive sheds from a specific number of warp threads that are moved up and down. In accordance with the invention, the drive motor of the selvage insertion apparatus is operated by its own programmable control system, and therefore its position and in particular, the speed of its insertion arm, can be selected in such manner that the ends of the filling treads can all be inserted in an identical manner. This feature is made possible because the insertion arm is moved into and out of the warp threads always at a predetermined time and with predetermined speed, and consequently, the ends of the filling threads are always accurately laid into a subsequent shed, thereby improving the fabric quality. This is possible because the predetermined speed of the insertion arm is independent of the speed fluctuations of the weaving machine's main shaft.
In one embodiment of the invention, the control system includes a device that controls the speed of the selvage insertion device drive motor during the insertion of the ends of filling threads according to the control programs of the control system. As a consequence, the selvage insertion arm may remain (dwell) as long as needed between the warp threads which is advantageous for good selvaging.
In another embodiment of the invention, retrievable programs to run the drive motors are stored in the control system and are designed for different kinds of filling threads and/or weave patterns. Consequently, the operation of the drive motor and hence in particular the position and the speed of the insertion arm are easily adapted to the particular filling threads that are processed and/or to the particular weave pattern(s) used.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the control system contains a device for comparing reed motion with the motions of the insertion arm and the thread clamp, and changes the drive-motoroperation to avoid collisions between the devices. In this manner, malfunctions or defective adjustments can be avoided that might otherwise cause the reed to hit the insertion arm or the thread clamp with ensuing damage to the reed elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5158119 (1992-10-01), Pezzoli et al.
patent: 5431195 (1995-07-01), Corain et al.
patent: 6009917 (2000-01-01), Meyns et al.
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Falik Andy
Picanol N.V.
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