DEVICE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTROL OF YARN GUIDING MEANS

Abstract: A device for individual control of the oscillating motions of sinkers, healds, needles or similar yarn guiding means (4) in high-speed textile machines, for instance yarn guiding means in a shedding machine, a plurality of yarn guiding means which are axially displaceably controlled and adapted to be imparted an oscillatory motion by operating means (A, B) being disengageable by means of the control device from such motion in predeterminable positions during a predeterminable period of a work cycle. The novel features of the invention reside in that each of the yarn guiding means (4) is connected to an individually actuable control means (1) adapted, upon actuation, to act on the motional dependence of the yarn guiding means on the operating means, that the yarn guiding means (4) are provided, at least at one end thereof, with end portions or extensions (4a) which are passed in groups through guide plates (3) transversely displaceable towards and away from each other, and that the end portions (4a) of the yarn guiding means (4), which end portions are spreadable beyond the respective guide plate by guide means (2) substantially into a fan or cascade shape, have means for cooperating each with a respective control means.

Description: DEVICE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTROL OF YARN GUIDING MEANS The present invention relates to a device of the type stated in the preamble of the claim. In the manufacture of fabrics where the patterns are produced by full or groupwise/repeatwise indivi- dual warp thread operation - shedding - use is current¬ ly made of so-called jacquard machines with associated harness equipment. Since the so-called sinkers in the jacquard machine are not subjected to positive and forced operation in both directions and since the harness equipment including a large number of harness cords are subjected to vigorous oscillations, the thread guiding means, the so-called heddles or healds, attached thereto, will be subjected to shaking and jerky vibratory motions, whereby the warp threads passing therethrough will be imparted jerky and oscilla¬ tory motions causing an increase of fibre rupture and infiltration between the warp threads with conse¬ quential warp breakage. Because of the weaknesses of the old-fashioned harness system and because of jerky movements (play) between the sinkers and the operating means of the sinkers, the weaving speed of modern weaving machines, preferably so-called jet weaving machines, cannot be used by far. Full-width weaving machines having pneumatic weft insertion systems - jet weaving machines - currently operate at speeds of 700-800 rpm, while such machines that are equipped with jacquard systems can operate only at 300-400 rpm. In addition to said drawbacks, the weaving width or the thread count in the warp cannot be changed without exchanging the harness equipment. Such an operation is very time- consuming and a new equipment is very expensive. The high, sturdy stands for each jacquard machine are also very expensive. In addition, the jacquard equipment is very bulky and requires substantial headroom in a weaving shed, this making building investment costs and heating costs considerable. Because of the above-mentioned drawbacks, there has been a long-felt need to be able in one and the same shedding machine to combine the advantages of the jacquard system - possibilities of considerable variation of pattern and rapid switching to new patterns - with the advantages of a weaving machine equipped with simple, so-called eccentric shaft operating systems in which switching to different thread counts and/or warp widths can be readily carried out and in which all the yarn guiding means - the shafts with their healds - move positively and directly operated up and down without any play or appreciable vibrations, this permitting a substantial weaving cycle (rotational) speed (700-800 rpm). Other advantages are the small heald depth and, hence, the small shed height as well as the small machine height. A considerable need for such universal shedding machines would thus exist for manufacturing fashion clothing and household textiles One approach to solve the above-mentioned problems is disclosed in SE-A 393,135, but the device described therein, which would require the use of intermediate coupling means corresponding to harness cords, is too bulky. The known device does not allow the use of wave shedding technique or changing of the warp thread count. This invention - the devices and the principles for controlling the yarn guiding means - is intended more specifically for use in combination with the devices for operating said means, as disclosed in Swedish patent 7302989-4 and Swedish patent application 8202529-7 and should be included in high-speed weaving machines of the above-mentioned type or other types of fast weaving machines as an integrating part of the weaving machine and replace both the dobby and the jacquard machine. In order to permit a considerably less expensive pattern designing and storage of patterns, use is made of electronically controlled heald-yarn guiding operation. The novel features of the invention appear from the accompanying claims. The invention will be described in greater de¬ tail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing the end portion of some yarn guiding means provided with control means; Fig. 2 is also a schematic view, but on a smaller scale, illustrating how the end portions of a large number of yarn guiding means with groups of control means have been spread out; Fig. 3 is an extended ' top plan view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic side view on a smaller scale of an embodiment where the spread end portions of the yarn guiding means with the control means are disposed underneath the operating mechanisms; Fig. 5 is a similar side view of an embodiment with the control means positioned above the operating mechanisms; Fig. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment combining the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5 ; Figs. 7 and 8 are part sectional views showing a portion of an embodiment of electric control means seen from in front and from the side, respectively; Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are schematic front views of four different embodiments of electromagnetically actuable control means; Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate two further examples of the design of the control means; Fig. 15 is a side view showing a portion of a yarn guiding means as well as control means and step abutments; Figs. 16 and 17 schematically illustrate two embodiments where actuation is performed by means of a piezoelectrically operable element; Figs. 18 and 19 show embodiments where use is made of partially magnetizable zones or portions of the yarn guiding means for allowing different locking positions ; Figs. 20 and 21 illustrate two embodiments for controlling outwardly spread yarn guiding means; Fig. 22 shows an embodiment of the end portion of the yarn guiding means provided with teeth; Figs. 23 and 24 show on a larger scale two diffe- rent embodiments of electromagnetic locking means for the yarn guiding means; Figs. 25, 26, 27 and 28 show the use of small balls or granules as locking elements, in longitudinal section in a free position, in cross section at line A-A, in cross section at line B-B, and in longitudinal section in a locked position, respectively; Figs. 29, 30, 31 and 32 are a longitudinal part sectional view, a side view of an enlarged, broken- away portion, a section of such a broken-away portion and a cross section, respectively, illustrating an embodiment using rotation of a portion of the yarn guiding means; Fig. 33 is a side view showing a further alternative embodiment of a controllable hooking mechanism; Fig. 34 schematically illustra.tes how the warp thread count can be varied with the aid of flexible transfer means or extensions on the yarn guiding means; Figs. 35, 36 and 37 schematically illustrate from in front, from the side and from above, respec- tively how the yarn guiding means with flexible end portions permit forming undulatory shed openings (wave shed/multiphase technique) and also changing the heald density. In the specification and drawings, components having the same or a similar function have been given the same reference numerals. Since it is assumed that the general construction of weaving machines is well known to the expert, only such details have been in¬ cluded in the specification and shown in the drawings that are directly cooperating with details included in the invention. Thus, for instance, drive means for known operating means designated A and B have not been shown or described in more detail. In Figs. 1-6, control means which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow are designated 1. Guide means are designated 2 and guide or control plates 3. 4 designates yarn guiding means, i.e. such means as form or merge into the healds, sinkers or the like, and may be connected to the healds or corresponding details. The yarn guiding means 4 are prdvided with flexible extensions or the end portion 4a extending through the guide plates 3 which are movable towards and away from each other, and deflected by the guide means 2. The guide means 2 through or past which the end portions or extensions 4a extend, are mounted on support rails 5, 5(a) which in turn are mounted on rods so as to be movable towards and away from each other, the rods extending through holes in the support rails in a manner appearing from Fig. 3. Between the support rails, there are mounted spring means tending to urge the support rails apart, and with the outer support rails 5' engage hydraulic or pneumatic adjusting means 7 by means of which the assembly made up of the support rails supporting the control means 1, and intermediate springs can be compressed or urged apart. The guide plates 3, consisting of narrow, juxta- posed apertured rods, are also simultaneously affected, which, upon actuation of the adjusting means 7, results in a change of the lateral spacing of the yarn guiding δ means 4 and, hence, of the warp thread count. Fig. 1 shows some of the electrically actuable control means 1 which are included in a control device and each of which acts on a yarn guiding means 4 via the extension 4a thereof. The extensions or end portions 4a are arcuately spread in a cascade fashion so as to provide space for the control means 1. Fig. 2 shows on a smaller scale how the extensions 4a and the control means 1 have been divided into control groups g. , g., and g- g. and have been separated from each other to the left and to the right for providing maximum space for the control means 1. Fig. 3 shows from above or from below the control means 1 in control group g-_ and control group section g_ g. in Fig. 2, seen in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2, and shows how the control means 1 are fixed to the rails 5. The support rails designated, 5a are offset half a spacing in relation to the support rails 5 so as to provide sufficient space for the control means 1. Fig. 4 shows on a smaller scale how the device with the cascade-spread flexible end portions 4a of the yarn guiding means 4 with the control means 1 has been placed below the operating mechanisms A, B of the yarn guiding means 4, the operating mecha¬ nisms A, B in turn being located below the warp thread system V. Fig. 5 shows the same device but with the control means and the operating mechanisms A, B of the yarn guiding means located above the warp thread V. Fig. 6 shows an embodiment where the control means are mounted both above and below the warp V, and where the operating mechanisms A and B can be provided both above and below the warp V. Figs. 7-33 present a vast number of constructional solutions for electrically or electronically actuable control means with associated mechanical components. In the embodiment in Figs. 7 and 8, where Fig. ' 8 is on a smaller scale, there is provided between the yarn guiding means 4 provided with a projection 4x, an intermediate element in the form of a toothed bar 12 which by means of springs 12a is maintained spaced from the yarn guiding means. The ends of the toothed bar 12 are formed with oblique surfaces 12b. Here, the extension 4a consists of a wire 10 disposed in a flexible guide member 9 replacing the guide means 2. At the wire 10, there are provided a pair of locking bodies 11 having oblique surfaces adapted to cooperate with the above-mentioned oblique surfaces 12b. The wire is connected to an attractive or repellent magnet lm which when activated pulls the wire upwardly, whereby the oblique surfaces of the locking bodies engage the oblique surfaces of the toothed bar so that it is moved towards the yarn guiding means 4 and the projection 4x thereof is hooked in the desired position. As opposed to the embodiment in Figs. 7 and 8, the other embodiments, except that in Figs. 29-33, operate ith direct locking, i.e. the yarn guiding means merges directly into an extension with which the control means engages. In the embodiment according to Fig. 9, it is assumed that the extension 4a of the yarn guiding means 4 is of magnetic material. The control means consists of an electromagnet lm having a stator 13. When the magnet winding is supplied with current, the flexible guide means extension 4a is attracted, drawn sideways and is retained. An improved function can be obtained in that the portion of the extension 4a to be locked is knurled or otherwise given a rough surface. In order to obtain a further enhanced retention, the guide means extension 4a in the embodiment of Fig. 10 has been given a zigzag shape and is drawn upon activation by the electomagnet towards toothed portions 14 of the stator 13 and is locked against this. The embodiments in Figs. 13 and 14 show alternative constructions where the extension 4a is not moved sideways but all the time passes along and close by the magnet stator. Retention is obtained in that a movable armature 13 is pulled against the opposite ' side of the extension 4a. As shown in Fig. 14, flat teeth for improving the engagement may be provided at the stator. The embodiments in Figs. 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17 operate with positive locking, a toothed bar 15 being provided adjacent the magnet lm of the control means. Further, the extension is provided with a projecting lug 4x. By the attraction of the extension 4a, the projection 4x is brought into engagement with one of the teeth. Fig. 12 shows a double-acting embodiment having opposed toothed bars 15a and 15b and a double projection 4y on the extension 4a which in this case may be prestressed in a direction away from the rιag net lm. Fig. 15 shows a variant having a single movable element, the extension 4a of the yarn guiding means extending through a ring or similar guide member 16 on a magnet armature 14, and the yarn guiding means or the extension 4a, upon attraction of the armature towards the stator 13 of the electromagnet, draws it away from a resilient engagement with a stationary toothed bar 17 so that the means 4a can be moved from one turning position to the opposite turning position. Figs. 16 and 17 show how the yarn guiding means or the extension has been provided with teeth and can be locked and hooked in one or the other of its turning positions by being directly affected by a piezoelectrically actuated tongue or the like 18 or, as shown in Fig. 17, indirectly by means of a locking piston 19 acted on by such a tongue. Figs. 18 and 19 show an embodiment where partially magnetizable zones 20 have been arranged on the extension 4a of the yarn guiding means, such that e.g. an upwardly directed component force in at least two magnetizable zones will counteract a downwardly directed tractive force in the yarn guiding means. Figs. 20 and 21 show how the extensions 4a of the yarn guiding means can be guided along an arcuate line through resilient guide tubes 21 or by means of equidistant guide rings or U-members 2 mounted on a resiliently supported strip, the resilient tubes 21 or the resilient strips being fixed to a rail or plate 5 common to several guides. In this case, the guide means is thus also displaced and, along with it, the extension 4a towards and away from a toothed bar or rail 17. Fig. 22 shows how the extension 4a of the yarn guiding means may per se be designed as a toothed bar 4ax which, upon activation of the magnet lm of the control means, is caused by means of a guide ring at the armature 16 to be moved out of engagement with a locking tooth or hook 17x when the yarn guiding means should be moved from one turning position to the other. Figs. 23 and 24 show on an enlarged scale how yarn guiding means or extensions 4a can be locked or released by means of resiliently flexible or swing- able magnetizable locking elements 19, of which only two diametrically disposed elements are shown which are arranged around the outside of the ends of a cy- lindrical magnetizable casing 13 surrounding a coil through which the yarn guiding means 4a provided with cams passes, such that, upon activation of the coil, a magnetic fluid circuit passes through the casing 13, the locking elements 19 and the yarn guiding means 4a, the locking elements being pulled inwards towards the yarn guiding means so as to engage the cams or the like provided thereon. Figs. 25, 26, 27 and 28 schematically show on an approximately full scale the basic design of an electric control means 1 in which small balls or gra¬ nules 36 are used for locking and releasing a preferably cylindrical part of a yarn guiding means 4 or an extension 4a. An electric coil lm with a magnetizable casing 35 extending beyond the coil and having a diameter decreasing conically inwardly from the ends, surrounds the yarn guiding means. Outside the ends, there are provided with a certain air gap permanent-magnetic rings 34 which are magnetized such that small balls 36, magnetizable powder or granulate are retained, when the coil lm is unactivated, between the permanent- magnetic rings and the ends of the casing, while, when the coil lm is activated, the magnetic force becomes greater between the yarn guiding means 4 forming armature and the balls or granulate and the casing 35, the balls, magnetic powder or granulate leaving the magnetic rings, and moving into the conical ends, and the balls are stuck between the conical surfaces and the cylindrical part of the yarn guiding means 4 so as to lock this. Figs. 27 and 28 represent a cross section of the balls in the unlocked and locked states, respect- ively, of the yarn guiding means. Figs. 29, 30, 31 and 32 are different views of an alternative embodiment in which, as in the alterna¬ tive embodiment in Figs. 7 and 8, the yarn guiding means 4 with its ends intended to perform a guiding function, can move up and down along a straight line through a locking and suspension member 37 at the end of flexible rotatable tubes of thin steel wires rotatably driven by control means in the form of rotary magnets lmv. The tube 37 is slotted and accommodates the guiding end 4a of the flat yarn guiding means 4, which is twisted into a helical shape and can move up and down. The slot has a toothed face 40 with which an outwardly bent hook 41 at the top of the helix can engage, hook and lock by slightly turning the tube in one direction, the tube when rotated in the opposite direction releasing said hook and, thus, the yarn guiding means to permit movement to an opposite turning position. Fig. 33 shows on a larger scale how a member 43 pivotal about a pin 42 can be brought into two different positions by means of a line or the like 44 and a counter pull spring 45 and, by means of the eccentric portion 46 of the member, act on - press or not press - the end portion 4a, acting as a leaf spring, of a yarn guiding means 4 such that this, with its outwardly bent hook 4x, can either be hooked/ locked or be released from a stationary toothed bar 17. An attracting magnet lm affects the element 3 by a slight tractive force in the line 44 via an arcuate or angled guide system. Fig. 34 schematically shows part of a row of non-displaceable groups of electric control means 1 seen from in front in the warp direction, only the first control means 1 in each group G,G-.G-G 4 etc. being visible in the row. Further, Bowden cables or similar flexible wire-like guiding means for trans¬ mitting guiding movements are visible, these cables or similar means allowing displacement sideways of the position-determining devices, i.e. for instance the support rails 5 and the control means according to Figs. 7, 8, 29, 30, 31, 32 and Fig. 33 for controlling the linearly oscillating yarn guiding means 4 with their operating mechanisms A and B which, thus, are variably adjustable in the lateral direction from a minimum spacing marked 47 = narrowest warp width indicated at 50 and/or highest warp thread count to a maximum spacing marked 48 = widest warp width 51 and/or smallest warp thread count, such that, for instance, a spacing 48 twice as large can be set as compared with the minimum spacing 47, guide rails or guide shafts indicated by horizontal dash-dot lines 52, 53, 54 and 55, respectively, supporting said means, and the guide rails 54 and 55 with their transverse locking and operating bars A and B are vertically oscillating according to arrows 56, 57. Figs. 35, 36 and 37, finally, show how the trans¬ verse locking and operating bars A, B may execute undulatory motions along the entire shedding field (heald field) in that chain links 58, 59, 60 in a continuous, linearly movable and partially illustrated wave-forming chain have guide tracks or similar guide means 61, 62 in which pins or similar devices 63, 64 fixed to the ends of each locking and operating section A,B engage, whereby an ascending and descending oscillatory motion is obtained in that the tracks 61, 62, 61, , 62, in each chain link together constitute continuous undulatory curves, the pins 63, 63,, 64, 64, J. and, hence, the individual locking a•nd operating sections A, A, and-B, B, etc., during the linear motions of the chains, for instance in the direction of the arrow along the section field (= heald field), are caused to move vertically up and down such that the above-mentioned undulatory locking and operating motions arise. Said undulating functions are further clarified in Fig. 37 which is a schematic top plan view showing the principle of the linear motions of the wave-forming chains 65, 66 along and on both sides of the row of the locking and operating sections A, B (= heald field) driven around sprockets 67, 68, 69 and 70.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for individual control of the oscilla¬ ting motions of sinkers, healds, needles or similar yarn guiding means (4) in high-speed textile machines, for instance yarn guiding means in a shedding machine, a large number of yarn guiding means which are axially displaceably controlled and adapted to be imparted an oscillatory motion by operating means (A ,B) being disengageable by means of the control device from such motion in predeterminable positions during a predeterminable period of a work cycle, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d in that each of the yarn guiding means (4) is connected with a control means (1) which is individually, electronically actuable according to a predetermined program and which, upon activation, is adapted to act on the motional dependence of the yarn guiding means on the operating means, that the yarn guiding means (4) are provided, at least at one end thereof, with end portions or extensions (4a) passing in groups through guide plates (3) transversely displaceable towards and away from each other, and that said end portions (4a) of the yarn guiding means (4), which end portions beyond the respective guide plate can be spread by guide means (2) substantially into a fan or cascade shape, having means for cooperat- ing each with a respective control means. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d in that each of the control means (1) comprises at least one electromagnet (lm). 3. Device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i s e d in that each of the control means (1) comprises a piezoelectric element (18). 4. Device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d in that the control means (1) like the guide plates (3) are supported in groups Gl , G2, G3 , G4 by support rails (5) displaceable towards and away from each other together with the operating means (A, B). 5. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the electromagnet (lm) included in the control means (1) is adapted to directly en¬ gage with the end portion or extension (4a) of the yarn guiding means (4), which end portion or extension is suitably formed with a friction-increasing surface portion. 6. Device as claimed in claims 1 and 2, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that the electromagnet (lm) included in the control means (1) is adapted, by means of an element (11, 16) actuated by the magnet, to bring about such a relative displacement between the end portion or extension (4a) of the yarn guiding means (4) and an adjacent, substantially stationary element (15, 17, 4x) allowing positive locking, .that the yarn guiding means (4) is retained. 7. Device as claimed in claim 4, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d in that means for ensuring an even and uniform lateral displacement of the guide plates (3) and the support rails (5) is provided, and that electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically operated adjusting means for producing such a displacement are electronically controllable according to a pre¬ determined program, like the individually actuable control means (1). 8. Device as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c - t e r i s e d in that at least parts, preferably intermittently disposed parts (20) of the end portion or the extension (4a) of the yarn guiding means (4) are of magnetizable material. 9. Device as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c - t e r i s e d in that the end portion or the extension (4a) of the yarn guiding means (4) has a projection (4x) adapted, upon activation of the electromagnet (lm) of the guide means (1), to enter into engagement with a toothed bar or similar means (17) which permits positive locking in one direction and which is disposed along a portion of the path of movement, caused by the action of the operating means, of said end portion. 10. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 4, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that for allowing the use of undulatory shedding technique said displacement is controlled by means of undulatory tracks provided at least at one chain device movable along the so- called heald field, or a device providing a similar undulatory motion.

Inventors: LAURITSEN WILLIAM E N, LAURITSEN, WILLIAM, E.,N.
Applicants: LAURITSEN WILLIAM E N, LAURITSEN, WILLIAM, E.,N.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: D03C3
IPC codes: D03C3, D03C13