Weaving loom with articulated suction apparatus for reducing deposition of fly lint and dust

A high proportion of fly lint and dust is intercepted inside a loom before settling, by a suction device (17, 18) positioned inside the loom below the rear shed and the heald frames so that air from a blower head (3) movably mounted (at 4) above the loom must pass through the rear shed and between the heald frames. The suction device has a plurality of suction boxes (18) pivotally interlinked with each other to form a suction channel chain (17) which is flexible so that the position of the suction channel chain (17) can be adapted to the space available inside the loom for an effective interception of fly lint and dust. One section of the suction channel chain extends approximately horizontally parallel to and below the rear shed, while another suction channel chain section extends approximately vertically and approximately parallel to the heald frames.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a loom and more specifically a weaving loom with a 
cleaning device for reducing the deposition of fly lint and dust in the 
weaving loom. Such devices have at least one blower head that is 
positioned above a weaving plane and a suction device positioned below the 
weaving plane. 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
In recent years it has been a tendency to increase the weft insertion 
frequencies and thus the beat-up frequencies in looms having a single 
phase weft insertion and beat-up. However, a drawback of these higher 
weaving frequencies is the fact that the warp yarn threads and the weft 
thread yarn are exposed to larger stress as compared to the respective 
stress in looms with lower weaving frequencies. Thus, limits to the 
weaving frequency are set by the strength of the weft and warp yarns. 
Another limitation factor to be considered is the wear of the yarns that 
is caused by the higher stress to which these yarns are exposed. The fiber 
wear in turn results in an increased fly lint and dust production inside 
the loom and in the air around the loom on the weaving floor. 
Investigations regarding the fly lint distribution in the loom show that 
about 75% of the fiber or thread wear takes place in the area of the rear 
shed while about 20% take place in the area of the heald frame. In the 
area of the loom backrest and in the area of the lamellae or drop wires 
the thread wear results primarily in sizing dust while in the area of the 
rear shed and of the heald frame the thread wear results primarily in fly 
lint. The cause for the thread wear or fiber wear is the mutual friction 
between the warp threads and the forceful opening or separation of weft 
threads tending to stick to each other when the shed is being opened. 
French Patent Publication 1,385,540 (Reiterer et al.) describes a cleaning 
apparatus for looms having a pneumatic blowing head arranged above the 
weaving plane. Incidentally, the weaving plane is defined as a plane 
extending substantially horizontally and tangentially to the beat-up line 
and to the top of the loom backrest. The blower head is movable back and 
forth above the weaving plane displaceable across the weaving width. A 
plurality of downwardly extending blowing nozzles are directed onto the 
weaving plane. Inside the loom and below the weaving plane there is 
arranged a suction device with a funnel-shaped suction opening. The funnel 
forming the suction opening has relatively flat funnel walls with surfaces 
reaching in the direction of the warp thread run-in in such a way that the 
funnel covers the area of the warp thread guide and the area of the shed 
formation. The suction device further has a portion below the funnel which 
extends substantially vertically. 
A funnel-shaped suction device as disclosed in the above mentioned French 
Patent Publication has the disadvantage that its relatively flat walled 
suction opening requires an enormously high suction power in order to 
produce enough suction in the area of the suction opening for the intended 
dust removal. A high suction power requires a high energy consumption. 
Experience has shown that even where the suction device cooperates with a 
simultaneously operating blower head, deposition and sticking of fly lint 
and other dust components is unavoidable on the surfaces of the suction 
device that extend relatively flat or approximately parallel to the 
weaving plane. Thus, it is necessary, to remove these contaminations by 
additional efforts, for example, by a manual cleaning. 
Swiss Patent Publication 584 302 (Muller) discloses a pneumatic cleaning 
device on a loom, especially a ribbon loom, wherein blower nozzles are 
arranged below the weaving plane, especially in the area of the shed 
formation. These blowing nozzles are directed toward the shed formation 
area. A suction device is arranged above the weaving plane, especially in 
the area of the shed formation opposite the blower nozzles. In such a 
cleaning device the blower nozzles are stationary in the loom. Thus, the 
blower nozzles are not adaptable to the variable conditions in the area of 
the shed formation. For example, it is not possible without substantial 
redesign to adapt the blower nozzles to a changed rear shed when a 
shuttleless or rapier loom is to be reset from two heald frames to 
maximally twenty-eight heald frames. In such a situation the stationary 
blower nozzles do not achieve the required cleaning effect with the 
enlarged number of heald frames. The limitation in the variability of the 
blower device with regard to its adaptability to various shed formations 
is thus a substantial drawback. 
German Patent Publication DE-OS 1,919,229 (Gleaton et al.) discloses 
another possibility of removing fly lint and the like from a loom. A large 
number of blow nozzles which are movable back and forth above the weaving 
plane in a loom emit air jets of such a strength that any fly lint 
depositions are blown away or these jets make sure that depositions do not 
occur in the first place. The air nozzles emit flow speeds in the range of 
about 300 to 6000 m/min. since the blowing nozzle arrangement does not 
cooperate with a suction device, a substantial problem is generated 
because the lint flies into the air of the weaving hall so that avoiding 
the problem of a proper lint removal in accordance with environmental 
requirements is not assured. 
German Patent Publication 1,679,571 (Black, Jr.) discloses a pneumatical 
cleaning device for the removal of fly lint depositions. The device is 
mounted on a bridge that is movable back and forth and can be positioned 
above the loom. The blower head of this known cleaning apparatus comprises 
at least one downwardly directed blowing nozzle reaching toward the loom. 
The fly lint that is caught by the airstream from the blowing nozzle is 
blown into the interior of the loom where it is intercepted by a 
stationary arranged floor suction device. Such a blowing nozzle is 
conventionally spaced relatively far away from the floor suction nozzle of 
the loom, so that a controlled interception of the fly lint whirled up by 
the blowing air is not assured, regardless how powerful the floor suction 
nozzles might be. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the above it is the aim of the invention to achieve the 
following objects singly or in combination: 
to construct a suction device that cooperates with a blower head arranged 
above the weaving plane for back and forth movement, in such a way that 
the suction device is adaptable to the structural conditions inside the 
loom; 
to position and adapt a flexible suction device in such a manner that a 
large proportion of fly lint and dust inside the loom are intercepted and 
transported away at a minimal energy consumption, in other words, with a 
low suction power; 
to provide a control mechanism that permits, through the operation of 
switching valves to coordinate blowing airstreams with suction airstreams 
for an efficient removal of contaminations from the loom; 
to make a suction device for the present purposes in a flexible way such 
that it can take into account variations in the loom shed formation; and 
to provide an environmentally satisfactory removal of contaminations from 
the loom before such contaminations can enter into the air of the weaving 
hall. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above objects have been achieved according to the invention in that the 
suction device arranged below the weaving plane and cooperating with a 
blowing device arranged above the weaving plane, is so constructed that it 
forms a type of link chain with its suction boxes that are articulated to 
each other to form flexibly positionable suction channels that extend 
across the width of the loom and so that the suction channel chain is 
adaptable in the horizontal plane approximately to the geometry and the 
depth of the rear shed while portions of the suction device extending in a 
vertical plane are oriented parallel to the heald frames in a direction 
toward the loom bottom. 
Valve controls are provided for the blower head and for the individual 
suction channels or suction boxes of the suction channel chain so that, 
for example, groups of suction channels can be coordinated relative to 
each other and/or driven with different suction effects by the 
simultaneously or individually controllable valves for the increase and 
decrease of the blower flow and of the suction flow, for example, in 
accordance with the amount of accumulation of contaminations in particular 
areas of the loom so that more suction is applied in these areas than in 
other areas and so that more or less blower air is applied depending on 
particular requirements in different areas within the loom. 
The individual suction channel boxes are provided with suction slots in 
their surfaces facing the warp threads and the heald frames. The fly lint 
passes through these slots into the boxes which in turn are connected to a 
suction pipe for transporting the collected contaminations away. The 
suction pipes may be connected to the right end or to the left end of each 
suction channel or box. Connectors are provided at each end wall of each 
suction box and these connectors or one of these connectors may 
simultaneously function as a suction nipple to which a suction pipe or 
hose is connected. The connectors in turn are articulated by links to 
journal or pivot elements to form the chainlink type suction channel 
chains. 
The pivot or journal elements are preferably located between two 
neighboring suction channels or boxes, whereby it is further preferred 
that the individual channels or boxes have slanted longitudinal wall 
sections to provide space for the pivot or journal elements between 
neighboring boxes. 
The suction channel chain is supported within the loom near the loom frame 
side walls on a position adjustable support rail or two such rails so that 
the position of the suction boxes relative to the depth of the rear shed 
is now possible without difficulties. 
It is an important advantage of the invention that the interception of fly 
lint and dust is brought as close as possible to the areas having an 
especially high lint and dust concentration so that interception takes 
place substantially directly at the point of generation of lint and dust. 
Another advantage is seen in that the invention avoids the contamination, 
for example of optical sensors that control the weaving operation. Such 
contaminations have been a problem heretofore because lint and dust tended 
to settle on the sensors. As a result, interruptions of the weaving 
process could occur. Still another problem has been avoided by the 
invention, namely the weaving of fly lint into the fabric. The controlled 
air flows according to the invention prevent such fabric faults. 
The suction channels or boxes can be manufactured in a simple manner of 
sheet metal or even of plastics material and the position and shape of 
these boxes are easily adaptable to the space conditions between the heald 
frames and the warp beam of the loom. Due to the attachment to 
repositionable support rails, the mounting and demounting is easily and 
quickly accomplished. The present cleaning device is equally useful in 
rapier looms and in air jet looms. 
Another advantage of the invention is seen in that the air supplied to the 
blower head may be air conditioned and provided with the relative humidity 
required in the weaving hall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS AND OF THE BEST MODE 
OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1, a blower head 3 is mounted above a weaving plane 2 in 
a loom 1. The blower head 3 has at least one blowing nozzle 3A opening 
downwardly onto the area between a loom backrest 9 and the beat-up line 11 
of the reed 11A. The blower head 3 is, for example, mounted on a guide 
rail 4 secured to the hall ceiling. Wheels 4A permit moving the blower 
head 3 in a direction perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing sheet. 
Several blower heads 3 may be arranged on the same rail for serving a 
plurality of looms 1. Arrows 5 indicate the airstream coming from the 
blower nozzle 3A. These airstreams 5 are directed onto the warp threads 6 
coming from the warp beam 8 for forming the rear shed 13 and the front 
shed 14. The warp threads 6 are pulled off the warp beam 8 and pass over 
the loom backrest 9 to the heald frames 10 which form the loom shed 13 
with the warp threads 6. The weaving plane 2 passes approximately 
centrally through the shed. Depending on the number of heald frames 10, 
the rear shed 13 may be narrow as shown in full lines, or wider as shown 
in dashed lines. The blowing airstream 5 preferably also reaches over the 
front shed 14. 
As best seen in FIG. 2, at least one, preferably two, support rails 16 are 
arranged or mounted to the loom frame in the area between the right and 
left loom frame members 15 seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 between the heald frames 
10 and the warp beam 8. These support rails 16 are adjustable in their 
position relative to the depth of the rear shed 13. The support rail or 
rails 16 carries the suction channels or boxes 18 articulated to each 
other to form a channel chain 17 to be described below. The support rail 
16 may, for example, comprise several sections that are secured by screws 
to the loom frame which is provided for this purpose for example with 
several threaded holes in different positions for repositioning these 
support rails 16 to thereby adjust the position of the boxes 18 relative 
to the shed 13, 14 and relative to the heald frames 10. 
It is important that the suction channels or boxes 18 form an articulated 
suction channel chain 17 that can be arranged to approximate or 
accommodate the geometry of the rear shed 13 and of the heald frames 10, 
depending on whether the rear shed is wider or narrower. In FIG. 1 the 
chain 17 has a configuration for the full line rear shed 13 and for the 
heald frames 10 closer to the reed 11A. The chain 17A has a configuration 
for the dashed line rear shed and for the heald frames 10 further away 
from the reed. It is further important that the individual suction 
channels or boxes 18 are interconnected with each other in such a manner 
that the entire suction channel chain 17 is positionable in various 
positions within the loom 1 and below the rear shed 13. The suction 
channel chain 17 is carried by the support rails 16 in such a way that the 
channel chain is not only adaptable to the rear shed 13, but also has a 
section that extends vertically in a plane parallel to the heald frames 
10. This arrangement of the suction channels or boxes 18 covers 
substantially that portion or area of the loom in which the main 
proportion of the fly lint and dust is generated. 
The arrangement of valves V and the valve control VC electrically or 
mechanically connected to all valves V of the blower head 3 and for the 
suction channels 18 is shown only schematically in FIG. 2 since valves and 
their controls are known. The control is such that the blower stream or 
flow and the suction flows are controlled simultaneously or individually 
depending on where in the loom a particular cleaning operation needs to be 
done. It is important that several interconnected suction channels 18 of 
the chain 17 can be operated in suction groups or individually as 
required. For example, suction boxes 18A and 18B in FIG. 2 form one group, 
boxes 18C and 18D and 18E form another group and so forth. The control 
through the valve control VC is such that any suction channel that is a 
member of one group in one suction pattern may be part of another group in 
another suction pattern. All suction boxes 18 cooperate with the blower 
head 3. 
FIG. 2 shows the articulation of the individual suction channels or boxes 
18 to form the chain 17 which can assume the configurations shown in FIG. 
1 at 17 and 17A and the dashed line position shown at the lower left in 
FIG. 2. The end walls 18' of each suction box 18 are provided with a 
connector 19. Preferably at least one of the two connectors 19 of a 
suction box 18 is constructed as a hollow stud for the articulated 
chainlink connection and as a suction nipple 24 to function as a connector 
for connecting a suction hose 24A to the respective suction box 18 at its 
nipple 24. Each connector 19 is rigidly secured to two linking elements 20 
and 20A for connection to the neighboring box 18 with the aid of journal 
or pivot elements 21. Preferably, these elements 21 are pivot links or 
rollers that are positioned between two neighboring boxes 18 to contact a 
slanting longitudinal side wall 18", whereby each channel or box 18 is 
permitted to articulate clockwise or counterclockwise around one or the 
other element 21 to provide a chainlink effect. The linking elements 20, 
20A may, for example, be rods or pipe sections. It is important, however, 
that the linking elements 20, 20A articulate the suction channels 18, 18A 
and so forth at the elements 21 to form a flexible suction channel chain 
17 which is positionable within the loom 1 below the rear shed 13 and 
behind the heald frames 10 where these channel chains are mounted on 
support rails 16 so that part of the chain 17 extends approximately 
parallel to the shed 13 and part of the chain 17 extends parallel to the 
heald frames 10. The support rail or rails 16 are connected to the 
inwardly facing surface of the loom frame sections 15. The support rails 
16 can be adjusted in their position in the weaving direction 22 and 
perpendicularly thereto. Any conventional positioning devices such as 
spindle drives or the like are suitable for the positioning of the support 
rails 16. Thus, the suction chain 17 is easily adaptable to the depth of 
the rear shed 13 that will depend on the number of heald frames 10 used. 
FIG. 2 further shows that the suction channels or boxes 18A to 18E are 
provided with suction slots 23 facing the warp threads 6 and the heald 
frames 10. The cross-sectional area of the suction slots 23 is adjustable 
by varying the position of pivotally mounted closure flaps 23A. A flexible 
suction conduit or hose 24A is connected through the connector nipples 24 
to each of the suction channels or boxes 18. These suction conduits or 
hoses 24A are connected to a central suction fan 25 through controllable 
valves 26 and a flexible or rigid suction duct 27. The valves 26 are so 
positioned and controlled that each box 18A, . . . can be provided with 
more or less suction individually or in groups depending on the quantity 
of lint and dust produced in any particular area or zone inside the loom. 
FIG. 3 shows a modified mounting of the suction head 3. Rather than 
securing the suction head 3 to the ceiling of the weaving hall, it may 
also be secured to the loom itself. A support such as a rail 28 is mounted 
to the right and left loom frame sections 15. Two mounting studs 29 at 
each end or side of the loom carry the rail 28 above the weaving plane 2. 
The rail 28 extends across the weaving width of the loom 1. The blower 
head 3 is mounted on the rail 28 for back and forth movement as indicated 
by the arrow 28A. The supply of blowing air takes place through a supply 
conduit 3B including an electrically controllable valve 3C in the flexible 
hose 3B leading to the blower head 3 from the blower shown in FIG. 1. 
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific 
example embodiments, it will be appreciated that it is intended to cover 
all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.