Universal transport mechanism for auxiliary devices in weaving mills

A universal transport mechanism for auxiliary devices in weaving mills, including a single rail mounted above the weaving machines, and two or more guides along which respective auxiliary devices can travel unhindered by each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention concerns a universal transport mechanism for auxiliary 
devices in weaving mills, in particular a device which enables such 
auxiliary devices to travel along several machines. By auxiliary devices 
is meant for example a cleaning device, or devices for automatic thread 
repair, etc. 
It is common technology for cleaning devices for weaving machines to travel 
along a rail extending above the weaving machines. It is also common for 
thread repair devices to travel along rails. 
It is clear that with further automation of weaving mills, it will be 
necessary to be able to present more and more auxiliary devices to parts 
of the weaving machine, in order to carry out automatic repairs, deliver 
yarn packages and so forth. As a result, it may be necessary to install 
several rail systems above and alongside the weaving machines in order to 
enable all the devices to be properly presented to the weaving machine. 
However, such an arrangement would have the disadvantage that access to 
the weaving machine would be severely restricted. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns a transport mechanism for auxiliary devices 
in weaving mills which does not have the disadvantage of requiring several 
rail systems to move a corresponding number of auxiliary devices between 
weaving machines. 
For this purpose it consists essentially of one single rail mounted above 
the weaving machine, with several guides along which several auxiliary 
devices can travel past each other unhindered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIG. 1, the transport mechanism 1 according to the invention 
consists essentially of one single rail 3 having a longitudinal axis 
mounted above the weaving machines 2 and 2', with several guides 4A, 4B 
and 4C along which several auxiliary devices 5, 6 and 7 respectively can 
travel past each other unhindered as they move along the single rail 3 
between the weaving machines. In the most preferred embodiment, the rail 3 
is supported by vertical stanchions 8 fixed to the ground between the 
weaving machines. In a variant, the rail could also be suspended from the 
roof of the weaving mill. 
Although FIG. 1 depicts only two weaving machines, it will be appreciated 
that any number of weaving machines could be serviced by rail 3. If all 
weaving machines were in a single row as shown, the rail would, of course, 
simply be extended in a straight line to follow the row. If a second row 
of machines were added, the rail would make a u-turn and extend along the 
second row in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, the single 
rail could even service a room full of weaving machines randomly arranged 
by following a suitable zigzag pattern, as one skilled in the art would 
clearly recognize. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the rail is preferably designed so that the most 
central guide 4B carries the cleaning device 5 which with its wide arms 9 
can easily move over the other auxiliary devices in order to pass them 
during travel among the machines. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the guides 4a, 4b and 4c intersect the respective 
vertical planes that include the respective parts an the weaving machine 
upon which the auxiliary devices, i.e. cleaning arms 9 and devices 6 and 
7, operate. 
It is clear from this FIG. and from FIGS. 1, 3 & 4 that the cleaning device 
5 including arms 9 can easily pass over devices 6 and 7 without hindrance, 
and that devices 6 and 7 can easily pass each other. 
FIG. 2 shows a variant in which the rail 3 consists of an I section whose 
flanges form the guides 4A to 4C. 
FIG. 3 shows yet another variant in which the various guides 4A to 4C of 
the rail 3 are arranged side by side. 
Finally, FIG. 4 shows a variant for five auxiliary devices 5, 6, 7, 10 and 
11 which operate with guides 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E respectively, where the 
auxiliary devices consist of, for example, respectively an automatic weft 
thread repair device, a cleaning device, a device for repairing warp 
thread breaks, a separate cleaning system for the reed and a package 
delivery system. 
Guides 4A to 4E are positioned so that each auxiliary device finds itself 
above the part of the weaving machine on which it must operate. For 
example, an automatic thread repair device must be positionable, above the 
location of a broken thread, which means that the guide must be located 
above potential broken thread locations. 
It should be noted that the manner in which the devices are supported by 
the rails, and the mode of propulsion, may take numerous forms. 
Essentially, any of the bearings and conveyance systems used in connection 
with the prior art multiple rail arrangements can be used with the single 
rail of the invention. 
The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described by 
way of example and shown in the drawings; on the contrary, such a 
universal transport mechanism for auxiliary devices in weaving machines 
can be made in many forms and dimensions while still remaining within the 
scope of the invention.