"Supporting frame for textile machine operating devices with ""C"" shaped and rectilinear tubular components"

A supporting frame (1) for textile machine operating devices comprising upright members (5) and horizontal members integral with such uprights, characterized in that such horizontal members are comprised of at least one pair of "C" shaped tubular components (2; 102) and at least one pair of rectilinear tubular components (7) to be connected lengthwise to the "C" components, there being provided means of assembly (3; 103) capable of being joined together by means of bolts (4).

DESCRIPTION 
The object of this invention is a supporting structure for loom operating 
devices on textile machines, consisting of at least one pair of C-shaped 
tubular components joined together by means of bolts. There is known in 
the technological field of textile machinery the need to use devices for 
operating the looms of textile machines in an overhead position relative 
to such machines because of the need to control by means of wires the 
operating hooks of the said machines. Such devices are usually known as 
"Jacquards", and to be able to obtain their movement in an overhead 
position use is made of frames consisting of beams of varying section 
supported by uprights of matching section. Such known type of frame poses, 
however, numerous disadvantages in that it is necessary to carry out 
welding at the time of installation on site with a consequent increase in 
the possibility of defects brought about by the difficulty of being able 
to operate under optimum conditions, particularly with regard to vertical 
welds which are the most critical. 
Furthermore such usual beams require the application of stiffening members 
in order to ensure the necessary rigidity of the frame when subjected to 
high static and dynamic stressing. 
Additionally, the beams used usually have open surfaces exposed to the 
accumulation of weaving dust which, as is known, builds up in a large 
quantity in the vicinity of every textile machine. Such accumulation and 
disposal of dust, which may also bring about mechanical failure of the 
machines, is particularly difficult to eliminate and it should moreover be 
borne in mind that normal cleaning operations necessitate shutting down 
the machines with consequent loss of productivity. There is therefore 
posed the technical problem of providing a supporting frame for textile 
machine operating devices which can be very easily fitted on site without 
the need for welding operations at the time of assembly, which possesses 
high rigidity so as to avoid the need for applying auxiliary stiffening 
members, and which does not have surfaces exposed to the accumulation of 
weaving dust which are difficult to reach for cleaning operations. 
Within the scope of such problem, a further technical requirement is that 
the frame be comprised to the greatest possible extent of standardized and 
interchangeable components to ensure higher versatility in use and less 
need for storage of different parts. Such components should moreover be to 
the greatest possible extent easy to handle and of reduced unit dimensions 
in order to reduce the dimensions of the packing for shipment and to 
enable them to be implemented within confined spaces. 
Such results are obtained by a supporting frame for textile machine 
operating devices comprising upright members and horizontal members 
integral with such uprights, in which such horizontal members are 
comprised of at least one pair of "C" shaped tubular components and at 
least one pair of rectilinear tubular components to be connected 
lengthwise to the "C" components, there being provided means of assembly 
capable of being joined together by means of bolts. 
In a preferred form of implementation of the frame according to the 
invention, such "C" and rectilinear components are of substantially square 
cross-section and such "C" components have arms of reduced dimensions in 
relation to the length of the body of the "C", assembly being obtained in 
such case via a further pair of rectilinear components interposed between 
such arms for the achievement of the preset width of the said frame. 
According to the invention, it is further provided that such "C" and 
rectilinear components have ends provided with flanges with predrilled 
holes for frontal assembly by means of bolts. 
In a further form of implementation of the supporting frame for textile 
machine operating devices according to the invention, such frontal 
assembly is obtained by means of flanges placed in contact with at least 
one pair of opposing surfaces of the components to be made integral, and 
made integral therewith by means of bolts or by means of a connection 
component partly inserted into each component to be assembled and provided 
with holes for inserting the bolts.

As shown in the figures, frame 1 is essentially comprised of a pair of "C" 
shaped tubular components 2 of substantially square or rectangular 
cross-section with ends 2a of the C ending in a flange 3 provided with 
holes 3a for the insertion of connecting bolts 4 (FIGS. 1A and 4A). Such 
"C" components 2 are made horizontally integral with uprights 5 of preset 
height, depending on the particular application, by means of further bolts 
5 engaging flanges 6 located horizontally at each upper end 5a of uprights 
5 and stiffened by means of gussets 5b likewise integral with the upper 
end of upright 5. 
As shown in the figures, once the two "C" components are made integral with 
one another and with the uprights there is determined a rectangular area 
within which are located further rectilinear tubular components 7, the 
ends of which are likewise provided with connecting flanges 8 having holes 
8a for the insertion of bolts 4. 
The empty areas delimited by C components 2 and by rectilinear components 7 
may then be used for the application of further rectilinear components 10 
on which will be supported the operating device which is self-evident and 
therefore not illustrated. 
It is therefore clear that while such area delimited by C components 2 and 
rectilinear components 7 may be regarded as standardizable, the location 
of transverse components 10 is strictly governed by the position and by 
the distances between centres of the members supporting such operating 
device. 
As can be seen in FIGS. 2A, 2B, the pair of "C" tubular components 102 may 
be provided with arms 102a of reduced extent, provision being made in such 
case for the envisaged width of the frame to be achieved by means of 
linear components 107 interposed between arms 102a of such "C" component 
102. This type of configuration, while necessitating a greater number of 
connections by means of bolts 4, makes it possible to use tubular 
components of smaller dimensions and therefore easier to handle, thus 
facilitating assembly even in confined spaces. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D, "C" tubular component 102 may be located 
crosswise rather than lengthwise, which may prove advantageous inasmuch as 
the assembly formed by the two adjacent uprights 5 connected to "C" 102 is 
balanced and can therefore be maintained erect without the need to use 
supporting accessories. 
In order to avoid the need to carry out welding provision is made for 
certain alternative forms of connection by means of flange 3 which may be 
made integral with the ends of the arms of the "C" for frontal assembly 
(FIG. 4A), or separate from the tubular components as shown at 103 in 
FIGS. 4B and 4C. 
Lastly, there may in some cases prove advantageous a connection made by 
means of a component 203 capable of being inserted in tubular components 2 
in preset positions determined by holes 203a which should be located 
coaxially to allow the insertion of fixing bolts 4. 
It is therefore clear from the foregoing description that the frame 
according to the invention provides high adaptability, lightness and 
rigidity as a result of the use of tubular components which, moreover, do 
not have inaccessible areas of accumulation of weaving dust, thus reducing 
the need for shutting down the machine in order to carry out unavoidable 
cleaning operations.