Drive for a mechanical loom

Textiles: weaving – Miscellaneous – Loom cleaning

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C139S00100C

Reexamination Certificate

active

06247503

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a loom drive system comprising a main drive shaft supported in a loom frame and driven by a drive motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A loom drive system is known from the European patent document A 0,726,345 comprising a main'drive shaft supported in the loom frame and driven through transmission elements, for instance a belt system, by a drive motor. The main drive shaft is fitted with a switching gear wheel which, in a first position, engages both a gear to drive at least one batten and a gear to at least drive shed forming means and which, in such second position, engages only one of the said two gears. The switching gearwheel and the main drive shaft are non-rotatably connected to each other by spline connections, so that the switching gear wheel can be axially shifted relative to the main drive shaft while being connected without play in the circumferential direction to the main drive shaft This play-free circumferential connection is required to enable varying the transmitted drive torque between positive and negative values. A clutch and/or a switched brake may be inserted in the connection between the drive motor and the main drive shaft. For gripper looms, the first gear moreover may power a gripper drive. During normal, fast weaving and during slow operation the switching gear wheel engages both gears, whereas during the so-called filling-search, the switching gear wheel is disengaged from the first gear and is only engaged with the second gear. During slow operation and during a filling search, the main drive motor is operated at a lesser speed than during normal weaving. Alternatively, in such a case a slow motor may provide the drive power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the invention is to improve a drive system of the initially cited kind.
This problem is solved by mounting the drive-motor shaft coaxially with the main drive shaft and connected directly to it.
Because of this configuration, the overall assembly is more compact, requiring less installation space. Furthermore the transmission elements between the drive motor and the main drive shaft are eliminated, thereby eliminating the energy losses caused by such transmission elements.
In an especially advantageous embodiment of the invention, the main drive shaft functions also as the shaft of the drive-motor. Again, compactness is achieved thereby, and at the same time energy losses are reduced further. Transmission elements are absent that would cause energy losses between the drive motor and the main drive shaft. Also bearings for the main drive shaft, that is for the drive motor shaft, may be eliminated, and energy losses are cut still further.
In another embodiment of the invention, the main drive shaft is supported so as to allow its axial displacement and is adjustable, by shifting devices, between a first and a second position, and this axially displaceable main drive shaft is fitted with a switching gear wheel affixed to it both circumferentially and axially, said switching gear wheel when in a first position engaging at least two gears and when in a second position engaging only one gear powering drive systems. Such a main drive shaft may be substantially manufactured on a lathe and accordingly with tight tolerances and economically. The switching gear wheel present on the main drive shaft moreover may be manufactured so as to be integral with the main drive shaft or it may be mounted in a known manner on the main drive shaft. When the switching gear wheel is rigidly attached both axially and circumferentially to the main drive shaft, special manufacturing procedures known in the prior art for ensuring accurate manufacture of axial toothings between the main drive shaft and the switching gear wheel that would permit the switching gearwheel to be axially shifted on the main drive shaft while avoiding play in the circumferential direction are avoided.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the main drive shaft is supported by roller bearings including an outer race and rollers which engage the main drive shaft. Such bearings offer the advantages of containing only a small number of parts and permitting axial shifting of the main drive shaft.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a drive motor rotor is mounted on the main drive shaft and togetherwith the shaft is axially displaceable relative to an associated stationary stator. This configuration allows easy connection of the rotor to the main shaft. Preferably the longitudinal centers of the rotor and the stator will be located substantially in a common radial plane for permitting the main drive shaft to engage both drive elements. This provides the advantage that, when the drive motor is energized, the stator will not exert axial, electromagnetic forces on the rotor. As a result, the main drive shaft will not be shifted to a different position during weaving due to movement induced by electromagnetic forces. The rotor and stator are approximately the same axial length and the rotor is thus constrained by a substantially large axial force to remain at a defined position relative to the stator. Accordingly the main drive shaft is kept in a position during normal weaving from which it will neither move axially nor oscillate.
In a preferred embodiment, the angular speed and/or the angular position and/or the drive torque and/or the direction of rotation of the drive motor shall be controlled. As a consequence, the main drive shaft can be powered at a particular desired speed and direction of rotation using only one drive motor.
Further features and advantages of the invention are revealed in the following description and drawings, showing illustrative embodiments.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4476899 (1984-10-01), Schwarz et al.
patent: 4874018 (1989-10-01), Van Bogaert et al.
patent: 5617901 (1997-04-01), Adriaen et al.
patent: 5642757 (1997-07-01), Froment et al.

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