Textiles: weaving – Warp manipulation – Shedding
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2001-12-11
Falik, Andy (Department: 3765)
Textiles: weaving
Warp manipulation
Shedding
C139S054000, C139S455000, C139S059000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328076
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Technical field
The invention relates in general, to a thread control device for selectively controlling an oscillating transverse movement of a thread, in particular a warped thread of a weaving machine, having at least one lifting device which can be driven in an oscillating fashion, a carrier for a thread and at least one control means which can be actuated to bring the thread selectively into engagement with the carrier.
II. Background Information
There are many known thread control devices, particularly in shedding mechanisms, for optionally controlling an oscillating transverse movement of a thread.
In a first type of such thread control devices, the threads are controlled indirectly, the thread being moved only when it is selected. For this purpose, threads are firmly drawn into eyelets of healds and guided, the healds being moved in a programmed fashion via connecting means with the aid of upstream jacquard machines, heald looms and treading machines. It is easy to establish in this case that selective movement of the thread requires a multiplicity of components and a large stroke for them, and this necessarily has a very negative influence in many regards. Thus, in particular, the speed of the shedding mechanism is very limited because of the high mass forces. Further marked disadvantages of the known thread control devices are, for example, a high wear level, strong vibration, loud noise, a large space requirement because of the complicated devices, and poor ergonomics and the like. Finally, they are also relatively expensive, because of the complicated design.
A second type of such thread control devices is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/043,542 filed Mar. 19, 1998. This thread control device has a lifting device, which can be driven in an oscillating fashion, having at least one carrier for the thread, as well as at least one control means which can be actuated by means of an actuator in order to bring the thread selectively into engagement with the carrier of the lifting device. These control means are arranged, assigned directly to the carrier, on the lifting device and are moved to go up and down with the latter. This results in various disadvantages. Since the lifting device must contain not only the carrier but, in particular, also the control means and the actuator, it has a relatively large volume. This thread control device is ill-suited to a weaving machine with a high warp count. Moreover, the moving parts are of relatively large mass and must, in addition, be moved over the entire stroke of the lifting device. The co-movement of the actuator further requires a moving interface with the supply of power and program data, which is relatively complicated, expensive and prone to wear. A thread has to be drawn in very carefully, in order to prevent parts from being bent, and thus a functional failure associated with corresponding repair costs. Despite good accessibility, it is time consuming and costly to draw in a thread. Finally, because of the relatively high mass forces and the sensitivity of the electronic system integrated into the moving parts, such a thread control device can be operated only at a relatively low speed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention further to provide an improved thread control device.
The object set is achieved according to the invention by control means arranged independently of the lifting device for the carrier such that the control means moves the thread selectively toward and away from the carrier in an oscillating fashion by an incremental “switching amplitude”, which may also be referred to as a “switching variable”, and is represented in
FIG. 24
of the drawings by the variable “S”.
By virtue of the fact that the control means are arranged independently of the carrier and thus of the lifting device, the lifting device is relieved of mass and sensitive control elements and can be configured exclusively in accordance with optimal points of view for the lifting movement. The control means, by contrast, are arranged virtually fixed, that is to say they must not also execute the lifting movement of the lifting device, but can be exclusively limited and concentrated on executing the switching amplitude for the purpose of laying in and removing the thread at the carrier in an oscillating fashion. The fixed arrangement also permits drive energy and control signals to be fed in a simple way independently of wear, as well as permitting a large degree of flexibility in the control possibilities. Further decisive advantages result from this such as, on the one hand, smaller drive motors for the lifting device and, on the other hand, smaller actuators for the control means, a lesser energy requirement for the drive means, and thus not only a more cost effective production but also a more cost effective operation despite higher power. This also leads to less development of heat, which finally also has the effect of simplifying and lowering the cost of air conditioning for the operating rooms in which such devices are set up. Furthermore, such a device is also easier to access, and this facilitates laying in the thread. This is supported further by the insensitivity of the components.
The use of a novel thread control device in a shedding mechanism for warp thread control in a weaving machine provides substantial advantages there of the type mentioned above.
The substantially lower number, in particular, also of the moving components, and thus a reduction in the moving masses permits higher drive speeds and thus higher production performances, it being the case, nevertheless, that there is a large reduction in wear and in the emission of noise and vibration by comparison with conventional thread control devices, in particular shedding mechanisms of a weaving machine. The invention opens up the possibility of operating the thread control device, in particular the shedding mechanism, and thus also the connected weaving machine at very high speeds, for example of 5000 revolutions per minute and more.
The elimination of the otherwise customary upstream control devices and of the various connecting elements otherwise required results in further substantial advantages. The fact that a weaving machine equipped with the thread control device according to the invention requires no built-on accessories for upstream shedding mechanisms such as jacquard machines, produces for the weaving machines a large saving in space requirement over the weaving machine, and thus an improvement in the supervision and accessibility of the entire weaving machine, the result being an ergonomically important improvement in the supervision and handling, and thus in the workplace at a thread control device, in particular a shedding mechanism. The work of adjustment and maintenance can therefore be performed in a safe and easy manner.
Advantageous embodiments of the thread control device are described hereafter.
There are various possibilities for constructing the control means. Thus, said possibilities can consist, however, in providing an electric pulse to the threads to be controlled in order to defect the latter toward the carrier by the switching amplitude. However, such a construction is possible only if the thread reacts to a current pulse. In one embodiment which is more advantageous, a control slot ensures a shaped closure capturing of the thread which is also independent of the property of the thread. A development according to a further embodiment is expedient in order to permit guidance along the entire transverse movement or the stroke of the thread.
The lamella-like construction of the control means which covers the carrier likewise having a lamellae-like construction produces a particularly space-saving design, which improves its use, in particular concerning the warp thread control of a weaving machine. In this case, the control means can be developed with two parallel lamellae which enclose lamellae-like carriers between them or at least one further la
Falik Andy
McCormick Paulding & Huber LLP
Textilma AG
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