Patent Description:
As generally known, gripper weaving machines typically comprise two grippers for a transport of weft threads through a weaving shed, referred to for example as drawing gripper and receiving gripper, wherein the drawing grippers are designed to guide a weft thread through the first half of a weaving shed, and the receiving grippers are designed to guide a weft thread through the second half of the weaving shed after having picked up the weft thread from the drawing gripper. Typically, grippers equipped with a hook are used as receiving grippers.

A receiving gripper is shown for example in <CIT>, wherein the gripper further comprises an opener element, referred to as drive lever in <CIT>, and a spring element. By means of the opener element, the clamping element can be moved back and forth with respect to a gripper housing substantially in the longitudinal direction of the gripper. The spring element forces the clamping element towards the hook so that clamping faces of the hook and clamping faces of the clamping element are pressed toward each other in order to allow a weft thread to be clamped between the clamping faces.

<CIT> also shows a receiving gripper, wherein a cover formed separately from the gripper body is screwed to the gripper body by two screws.

<CIT> shows a gripper comprising a body with a gripping hook, a moving piece member with an outer locking jaw formed on an outer side of a front end of the moving piece member, and a moving piece pressing member, wherein an end of the gripper opposite the hook is referred to as a lower end, and wherein a lower portion of the moving piece pressing member is coupled to the body to cover a middle portion of the moving piece member, which middle portion is situated below the outer locking jaw.

<CIT> relates to a head for a drawing rapier, referred to as giver rapier head, comprising a housing, which delimits a receiving cavity, for the partial insertion therein of a corresponding receiver rapier head, wherein this receiving cavity leads on the head side of the giver rapier head into an access opening to this receiving cavity for taking up the receiver rapier head along here, and wherein the housing, viewed at least in a projection on a horizontal plane, gradually becomes wider towards the access opening of the giver rapier head. Distributed over the housing, perforations are provided, to make the giver rapier head as light as possible.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lightweight and stiff gripper and a method for manufacturing such a gripper.

According to a first aspect, a gripper, in particular a receiving gripper, for a rapier weaving machine is provided, wherein the gripper comprises a gripper body and a clamping device for clamping a weft thread, wherein the gripper body comprises a base section, a first side section adjoining the base section, a second side section adjoining the base section opposite to the first side section, and a hook provided at a distal end of the gripper body, wherein the clamping device comprises a moveable clamping element, a spring element, and an opener element, wherein the moveable clamping element is moveably mounted within the gripper body, wherein the spring element is configured for urging the moveable clamping element towards the hook for clamping a weft thread between the moveable clamping element and the hook, and the opener element is configured for moving the moveable clamping element away from the hook against a restoration force of the spring element, wherein the gripper body comprises an upper section opposite to the base section, wherein the upper section adjoins the first side section and is connected via a web to at least one of the second side section and the base section, and wherein the first side section, the second side section, the upper section and the web are formed integrally with the base section, and wherein the opener element is mounted between the upper section and the base section.

In the context of the application, a web is defined as a sheet, plate or strip element, connecting the upper section to at least one of the second side section and the base section. Connecting the upper section via a web, in particular via at least two webs, to the base section and/or the second side section allows for a sufficiently stiff arrangement of the upper section, wherein the number of screws or other connection elements for fastening the upper section to the base section can be minimized or such connection elements can even be avoided.

In the context of the application, the expressions "first", and "second" are not to be interpreted as defining a serial or numerical limitation but instead are only used to distinguish or identify various members of a group. "A" and "an" are used as indefinite articles and not to be interpreted as "exactly one". In particular, in embodiments of the gripper, the gripper body has more than one web via which the upper section is connected to the base section and/or the second side section.

The opener element is mounted between the base section and the upper section, in other words, the opener element and/or a support unit supporting the opener element in the gripper body is sandwiched between the base section and the upper section.

Forming the base section, the two side sections, and the upper section integrally with one another is possible using 3D printing techniques.

A design of the gripper body in one embodiment is optimised for being manufactured by 3D printing. In one embodiment, for this purpose, large flat surfaces are avoided at the upper section, the first side section and/or the second side section, and the sections are provided with openings or perforations.

In the context of the application, a hook is defined as a structure having a bent free end portion for forming two opposing flanks, referred to as first flank and second flank. In one embodiment the first flank provided at the free end extends obliquely to a longitudinal direction of the gripper body, whereas the second flank extends at least essentially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the gripper body. In one embodiment, the hook is formed separately and mounted to the other parts of the gripper body. In other embodiments, the hook is also formed integrally with the other parts of the gripper body, for example by using 3D printing techniques. In one embodiment, the moveable clamping element contacts the first flank for clamping a weft thread between the clamping element and the hook. In other embodiments, a stationary clamping element is provided at least at the first flank, wherein the moveable clamping element interacts with the first flank for clamping a weft thread between the clamping element and the hook. The stationary clamping element in one embodiment is made of a wear-resistant material. The stationary clamping element in one embodiment is glued to an inside of the hook. The gripper with the hook is in particular suitable for use as a receiving gripper.

In one embodiment, the web connecting the upper section to the base section and/or to the second side section extends below a level of the top flanges of the first side section and the second side section. In other words, the web does not protrude beyond the top flanges of the side sections so that the web connecting the upper section to the second side section and/or the base section cannot make contact with the warp threads, thus avoiding that the warp threads get caught or otherwise damaged due to openings or perforations in the web and/or between several webs in the form of strip elements.

The gripper body is made of a lightweight material suitable for 3D printing. In one embodiment, the gripper body is made of titanium. The use of titanium for manufacturing the gripper body is advantageous as titanium has a high strength to weight ratio, so that thin structures can be formed that have sufficient strength. Preferably, the gripper body is formed using 3D printing.

In one embodiment, the opener element is mounted between the upper section and the base section, such that surfaces of the opener element contact the inner surfaces of the base section and/or the upper section. In other embodiments, a first bearing seat and a second bearing seat are provided at opposing surfaces of the base section and the upper section, wherein a support unit for supporting the opener element is clamped between the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat. When providing a support unit, which is clamped, and thus held fixed in position, high-quality surface finishing or machining of the opposing surfaces of the gripper body is not necessary. Further, it is not necessary that the opposing surfaces of the gripper body are provided with a wear resistant layer, as the opener element does not contact the opposing surfaces. In one embodiment, the bearing surfaces are manufactured in 3D printing, wherein sufficiently smooth and plane surfaces can be provided without requiring an additional finishing step, for example for milling or polishing the bearing surfaces, which offers the advantage that the upper section and the base section of the gripper body do not need to be machined. In an alternative, the bearing surfaces can be finished for example by milling or polishing.

In one embodiment, one of the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat is provided with a through hole and the other one is provided with an aligned threaded hole, and a screw extends through the through hole and the aligned threaded hole for clamping the support unit. As the upper section is formed integrally with other parts of the gripper body, the support unit can be clamped between the upper section and the base section by only one screw. The support unit, which is clamped between the upper section and the base section further contributes to a stiffening of the gripper body. The threaded hole in embodiments can be formed by 3D printing without requiring an additional threading process. In other embodiments, the threaded hole is formed in an additional manufacturing step.

In one embodiment, the opener element is a slider and the support unit is configured to slidingly mount the slider to the gripper body. In other embodiments, the support unit is a bushing, and the opener element is a lever, which is rotatably mounted to the support unit via a bearing element. Such an embodiment is advantageous for both manufacturing and operation of the opener element.

In one embodiment at each axial end of the support unit, the support unit is provided with a collar, wherein the collars limit an axial movement of the opener element with respect to the support unit. As the collars limit an axial movement of the opener element, a contact of the opener element with the upper section and the base section can be avoided. The design of the bushing and the support unit is advantageous taken alone and in combination with a gripper according to the application as well as with other grippers, for example a gripper as shown in <CIT> having a cover screwed to a gripper body and/or a gripper shown in <CIT> having a U-shaped gripper body.

The bushing in one embodiment is a two-piece element comprising two pieces, wherein the opener element with the bearing element is retained between the two pieces of the two-piece element. This allows a simple assembly, wherein the opener element is inserted between the two pieces of the two-piece element of the bushing, and the bushing together with the supported opener element can be clamped between the upper section and the base section, for example using a screw. The bushing in another embodiment is a three-piece element comprising three pieces that also allows a simple assembly of the bushing.

In one embodiment, the base section is provided with a stub formed integrally with the base section, wherein the threaded hole is formed in a through hole or a blind hole of the stub. Forming the threaded hole as a blind hole allows to obtain a smooth outer surface of the gripper body, especially at a bottom of the gripper body that comes into contact with the warp threads. Further, the screw threaded into the threaded hole will not protrude to the outside of the gripper body, in particular beyond the base section, and any contact between the screw provided in the threaded hole and the weft threads or the warp threads is avoided. The threaded hole can be obtained by 3D printing or by machining the threaded hole out of a 3D printed part.

In one embodiment, the stub is provided with a slit at least near the bottom of the blind hole. The slit allows that glue provided for fixing the screw in the threaded hole can leave the blind hole easily, so that the screw can be screwed over the full length in the threaded hole.

In one embodiment, the upper section is connected to the base section by the web, wherein the web comprises reinforcement elements configured to counter forces acting on the gripper body upon use of the opener element. The design and the orientation of the reinforcement elements can be chosen suitably by the person skilled in the art in order to allow the mounting structure formed by the upper section and the base section to sustain forces acting on the mounting structure upon use and if required to allow the upper section to be moveable within limits towards the base section for clamping a support unit for the opener element between the base section and the upper section.

In one embodiment the reinforcement elements are arranged at an angle with respect to the base section and the upper section, in other words have a slanted orientation from the upper section to the base section.

In one embodiment with the opener element being a lever, the reinforcement elements are arranged to allow for a reinforcement close to a rotating axis or swivel axis of the lever, in particular arranged to counter forces acting on the lever when opening or closing the gripper clamp, wherein the reinforcement elements are arranged to allow that the support unit designed as a bushing is clamped between the upper section and the base section.

In one embodiment, the spring element is mounted to the gripper body using screws as shown for example in <CIT> and/or <CIT>. In other embodiments, the gripper body comprises a support for the spring element that is manufactured integrally with the gripper body, wherein in particular in one embodiment the support provides a form-fitting assembly for the spring element. Manufacturing the support that provides for a form-fitting assembly for the spring element integrally with the gripper body allows to eliminate screws for fixing the support for the spring element, so that the spring element can be kept in place via for example a barb clamp or bayonet fitting.

The support in one embodiment does not protrude to an outside of the gripper body. Thus, it is avoided that the support can damage the weft threads or the warp threads.

In one embodiment, the gripper further comprises a guide for guiding the moveable clamping element away from the hook upon displacement of the moveable clamping element out of a clamping position against a restoration force of the spring element, wherein the guide is mounted to the gripper body by a guide support. In particular, in one embodiment the guide support is manufactured integrally with the gripper body. By manufacturing the guide support integrally with the gripper body, an assembly of the gripper can be further simplified.

In embodiments the gripper body further comprises a support for a guide part to be arranged in the prolongation of the rapier and/or a support for a stiffening element to be mounted between the rapier and the gripper body. These supports can be manufactured integrally with the gripper body, preferably by 3D printing, wherein in particular the support for the guide part provides a form-fitting assembly for the guide part and the support for the stiffening element provides a form-fitting assembly for the stiffening element.

As mentioned above, the design of the gripper body can be optimized by the person skilled in the art to a manufacturing using 3D printing, wherein for example large flat surfaces are avoided at the upper section, the first side section and/or the second side section, and these sections are provided with openings or perforations. Notwithstanding this, in embodiments of the invention the base section of the gripper body at least upfront the opener element towards the hook has a smooth outer surface. In the context of the application, a smooth surface is defined as a surface without perforations and/or undulations. In use, the outer surface of the base section may contact weft threads and/or warp threads. When providing a smooth outer surface, the outer surface which can contact a weft thread or a warp thread will cause no or only marginal damage to the weft thread or warp thread. In one embodiment, a guide part is provided at the outer surface of the gripper body in an area of the opener element. The guide part in embodiments is adapted for a reinforcement of the gripper body, in particular for a reinforcement of a clamping area of a support unit of the opener element.

In one embodiment, the moveable clamping element is displaceable against the restoration force of the spring element at least substantially in the longitudinal direction of the gripper body.

According to a second aspect, a gripper assembly comprising a gripper with a gripper body having a base section, a first side section, a second side section, and an upper section formed integrally with one another, and with a gripper band for carrying the gripper is provided. In particular, in one embodiment, a gripper assembly with a flexible gripper band is provided, wherein the base section of the gripper is arranged in the prolongation of the gripper band.

According to a third aspect, a weaving machine comprising a gripper, in particular a receiving gripper, with a gripper body having a base section, a first side section, a second side section, and an upper section formed integrally with one another is provided.

According to a fourth aspect, a method for manufacturing a gripper with a gripper body having a base section, a first side section, and a second side section is provided, wherein the gripper body is at least in part formed using 3D printing. When using 3D printing for manufacturing the gripper, an at least partly closed gripper body with a sufficiently stiff arrangement of the upper section can be provided, wherein the number of screws or other fastening elements for fastening the upper section to the base section can be minimized or such fastening elements can even be avoided.

<FIG> shows a gripper <NUM>, in particular a receiving gripper, for a rapier weaving machine comprising a gripper body <NUM> and a clamping device <NUM> for clamping a weft thread. <FIG> shows a detail of <FIG>.

The gripper body <NUM> is an integral structure formed by 3D printing. It comprises a base section <NUM>, a first side section <NUM> adjoining the base section <NUM>, a second side section <NUM> adjoining the base section <NUM> opposite to the first side section <NUM>, and an upper section <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the upper section <NUM> is connected via webs <NUM> to the second side section <NUM>. In addition, the upper section <NUM> is connected via webs <NUM> to the base section <NUM>.

The gripper body <NUM> in embodiments is made of a light metal, for example of titanium or aluminum. Forming the gripper body <NUM> as an integral structure by 3D printing allows for a closed structure having a required stiffness even when using a light metal and/or thin contours.

The gripper <NUM> shown in the figures is a receiving gripper, wherein a proximal end of the base section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM> is mounted to a rapier <NUM>. A stiffening element <NUM> is mounted between the rapier <NUM> and the gripper body <NUM>. At an outer surface of the base section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM>, a guide part <NUM> is provided, which guide part <NUM> is arranged in the prolongation of the rapier <NUM>. A hook <NUM> is provided at a distal end <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM> opposite to the rapier <NUM>.

The clamping device <NUM> comprises a moveable clamping element <NUM>, a spring element <NUM>, an opener element <NUM>, and a guide <NUM>. The moveable clamping element <NUM> is moveably mounted within the gripper body <NUM>, so as to be moveable essentially along the longitudinal direction of the gripper <NUM>. The spring element <NUM> is configured for urging the moveable clamping element <NUM> towards the hook <NUM> for clamping a weft thread between the moveable clamping element <NUM> and the hook <NUM>. For clamping the weft thread, the moveable clamping element <NUM> interacts with a first flank of the hook <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, a stationary clamping element <NUM> made of a wear-resistant material is provided at the first flank of the hook <NUM>.

The opener element <NUM> is configured for causing a movement of the moveable clamping element <NUM> away from the hook <NUM> against a restoration force of the spring element <NUM>. The clamping device <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> comprises an abutment element <NUM> for the spring element <NUM>.

The guide <NUM> is configured for guiding the moveable clamping element <NUM> away from the hook <NUM> upon a displacement of the moveable clamping element <NUM> out of a clamping position against a restoration force of the spring element <NUM>. The guide <NUM> is fixed to the gripper body <NUM> using a screw <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown the opener element <NUM> is mounted pivotally about a pivot axis <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) to the gripper body <NUM>, wherein a first end <NUM> of the opener element <NUM> protrudes to the outside of the gripper body <NUM>.

More in particular, in the embodiment shown, the opener element <NUM> is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis <NUM> between the upper section <NUM> and the base section <NUM> using a screw <NUM>. A support unit <NUM> (see <FIG>) is arranged between the upper section <NUM> and the base section <NUM>, the support unit <NUM> will be described in more detail below.

<FIG> shows the gripper body <NUM> in a view according to arrow III of <FIG> and <FIG> shows the gripper body <NUM> in a longitudinal view along a length of the gripper body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the region of the upper section <NUM>, the first side section <NUM> is higher than the second side section <NUM> and the webs <NUM> connecting the upper section <NUM> to the second side section <NUM> as well as the webs <NUM> connecting the upper section <NUM> to the base section <NUM> extend below a level of the top flanges <NUM>, <NUM> of the first side section <NUM> and the second side section <NUM>.

As best seen in <FIG>, the upper section <NUM> is connected to the base section <NUM> by the webs <NUM>, wherein the webs <NUM> are configured as reinforcement elements, which are configured and arranged to counter forces acting on the gripper body <NUM> upon use of the opener element <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>), i.e. upon pivoting the opener element <NUM> about the pivot axis <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the detail of the gripper <NUM> of <FIG> with the opener element <NUM> and the moveable clamping element <NUM> of the clamping device <NUM>, wherein for increased clarity, the abutment element <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) for the spring element <NUM> of the clamping device <NUM> is not shown in <FIG> shows the opener element <NUM> in isolation. <FIG> shows the detail of <FIG> in a sectional view, while <FIG> shows a detail of <FIG> in enlarged scale. For the sake of clarity, in <FIG> hatchings are omitted, which hatching are shown in <FIG> shows an alternative of <FIG>. <FIG> shows the detail of <FIG> in a perspective view from below, wherein the guide part <NUM> is visible.

As best seen in <FIG>, the opener element <NUM> is in the form of a two-sided lever having a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. At the pivot axis <NUM> a through hole is provided, in which a bearing element <NUM> is mounted, for example in which the bearing element <NUM> is glued to the opener element <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the second end <NUM> of the opener element <NUM> comprises a pin <NUM> protruding in parallel to the pivot axis <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the opener element <NUM> is mounted pivotally in the gripper body <NUM>, wherein the first end <NUM> of the opener element <NUM> protrudes to the outside of the gripper body <NUM>, and the pin <NUM> of the second end <NUM> is connected to the moveable clamping element <NUM>, so that by pushing the first end <NUM> inwards into the gripper body <NUM>, the opener element <NUM> is rotated clockwise in the drawing plane of <FIG> and the moveable clamping element <NUM> is moved against the force of the spring element <NUM> (see <FIG>) away from the hook <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The opener element <NUM> is mounted between the base section <NUM> and the upper section <NUM>, wherein as best seen in the sectional views of <FIG> and <FIG>, a first bearing seat <NUM> and a second bearing seat <NUM> are provided at opposing surfaces of the base section <NUM> and the upper section <NUM>. More particular, in the embodiment shown the base section <NUM> is provided with a stub <NUM> formed integrally with the base section <NUM>, in particular formed integrally with the base section <NUM> by 3D printing, which protrudes towards the upper section <NUM>, wherein the first bearing seat <NUM> is provided at the stub <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, a support unit <NUM> that forms a bushing is provided, which is clamped between the first bearing seat <NUM> and the second bearing seat <NUM> using the screw <NUM>. The opener element <NUM> is rotatably mounted to the support unit <NUM> via the bearing element <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the upper section <NUM> is provided with a through hole <NUM> and the base section <NUM>, more particular the stub <NUM> of the base section <NUM>, is provided with a threaded hole <NUM>, which is aligned with the through hole <NUM>. The screw <NUM> extends through the through hole <NUM> and the aligned threaded hole <NUM> for clamping the support unit <NUM> between the first bearing seat <NUM> and the second bearing seat <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the through hole <NUM> is tapered allowing the use of a screw <NUM> having a tapered screw head. However, other designs are possible.

As shown in <FIG>, at each axial end of the support unit <NUM>, the support unit <NUM> is provided with a collar <NUM>, wherein the collars <NUM> limit an axial movement of the opener element <NUM> along the pivot axis <NUM> with respect to the support unit <NUM>. The collars <NUM> prevent that the opener element <NUM> upon its movement contacts the bearing seats <NUM>, <NUM>. Thereby, wear and tear due to a frictional contact between the opener element <NUM> and the gripper body <NUM> is avoided.

The support unit <NUM> forming a bushing in the embodiment shown is a two-piece element comprising two pieces <NUM>, <NUM>, wherein the opener element <NUM> is retained with the bearing element <NUM> between the two pieces <NUM>, <NUM>. Each piece <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a collar <NUM> as explained above. Providing two pieces <NUM>, <NUM> allows for a simple assembly, wherein the two pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged at opposite sides of the opener element <NUM> and the opener element <NUM> with the bearing element <NUM> is inserted between the two pieces <NUM>, <NUM>. The assembly group comprising the support unit <NUM> and the opener element <NUM> can then be clamped between the upper section <NUM> and the base section <NUM> using the screw <NUM>. For a fixation of the screw <NUM>, the screw <NUM> can be glued into the threaded hole <NUM>, wherein excess glue provided for fixing the screw <NUM> can leave the threaded hole <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an alternative embodiment for the support unit <NUM> forming a bushing, wherein the support unit <NUM> is a three-piece element comprising three pieces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, wherein the opener element <NUM> is retained with the bearing element <NUM> along the piece <NUM> and between the two pieces <NUM> and <NUM>. Each piece <NUM> and <NUM> is in the form of a disk and fulfils the function of the collar <NUM> as explained for <FIG>. The three-piece support unit <NUM> can easily be arranged between the upper section <NUM> and the base section <NUM> and fixed using the screw <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a detail of the gripper body <NUM> similar to the gripper body of <FIG> with a guide support <NUM> for the guide <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the clamping device <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the guide support <NUM> comprises a stub <NUM> with a threaded blind hole <NUM> and a slit <NUM>. The guide support <NUM> is formed integrally with the gripper body <NUM> by 3D printing. More particular, the stub <NUM> of the guide support <NUM> protrudes from the base section <NUM> towards an inside of the gripper body <NUM>. In one embodiment, a screw thread <NUM> at the blind hole <NUM> is formed when 3D printing the gripper body <NUM>, wherein no additional machining is necessary. In other embodiments, the screw thread <NUM> is machined into the stub <NUM> after forming the gripper body <NUM>. For example, in order to form the screw thread <NUM> of the threaded blind hole <NUM>, the stub <NUM> is formed integrally with the base section <NUM> by 3D printing. Next, a bore hole is drilled into the stub <NUM>, and the screw thread <NUM> is formed in the bore hole using a thread tap. This allows forming a threaded blind hole <NUM> of high quality.

The design shown in <FIG> allows a fixation of a guide <NUM> using a screw <NUM> (see <FIG>). The screw <NUM> can be fixed on the threaded blind hole <NUM> using glue, wherein excess glue can exit the threaded blind hole <NUM> via the slit <NUM>. As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, upfront the opener element <NUM> towards the hook <NUM>, the base section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM> has a smooth outer surface, in particular the base section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM> opposite the stub <NUM> has a smooth outer surface. This is advantageous for cooperating with warp threads. The smooth outer surface without openings is also favorable for avoiding ruptures of the gripper body <NUM> due to fatigue.

<FIG> and <FIG> each show a detail of a further embodiment of the gripper body <NUM> with a guide support <NUM> for another embodiment of a guide <NUM> similar to <FIG>. In the embodiments shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the guide <NUM> in each case is a bent leaf spring, which contacts with a first end the moveable clamping element <NUM> of the clamping device <NUM> and is mounted with the opposite end to the gripper body <NUM>. Between the two ends, the guide <NUM> abuts against the first side section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> both show a detail of the gripper body <NUM> of <FIG> with a support <NUM> for the spring element <NUM> of the clamping device <NUM>, in particular with two supports <NUM> for the abutment element <NUM> for the spring element <NUM>. <FIG> shows the detail of <FIG> without the abutment element <NUM> for the spring element <NUM> so that both supports <NUM> are visible. The supports <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> can form a barb clamp.

<FIG> shows a detail similar to <FIG> of another embodiment of a gripper body <NUM>, wherein in the embodiment shown in <FIG> the supports <NUM> and the abutment element <NUM> form a bayonet fitting.

<FIG> shows a gripper assembly <NUM> comprising the gripper body <NUM>, the stiffening element <NUM>, the rapier <NUM>, and the guide part <NUM> of the gripper <NUM> shown in <FIG> in a dismantled state. The guide part <NUM> has several protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> for positioning and/or fixing the guide part <NUM> with respect to the gripper body <NUM>. The gripper body <NUM> has respective supports <NUM>, <NUM> for cooperating with the protrusions <NUM> and <NUM>. In an embodiment a support <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of the gripper body <NUM> shaped as a circular opening can cooperate with a circular protrusion <NUM> of the guide part <NUM> to provide a form-fitting assembly between the circular protrusion <NUM> of the guide part <NUM> and the support <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM>. Further, support <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM> shaped as a rectangular opening can cooperate with a rectangular protrusion <NUM> of the guide part <NUM> to provide a form-fitting assembly between the rectangular protrusion <NUM> of the guide part <NUM> and the rectangular support <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM>. In other embodiments, supports and protrusions having other shapes are provided.

In embodiments, the supports <NUM>, <NUM> in the form of openings are formed in the base section <NUM> when forming the gripper body <NUM> using 3D printing techniques. In an example the protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> of the guide part <NUM> have a shape that is widening from the base of the guide part <NUM> over a distance longer than the thickness of the base section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM> and then narrowing again towards the distal end of the protrusion <NUM>, <NUM> of the guide part <NUM>, so that the protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> can be clicked into associated supports <NUM>, <NUM> in the base section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM>. In alternative or in addition the guide part <NUM> can be glued to the gripper body <NUM>. In another alternative embodiment, protrusions are provided on the base section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM>, and associated supports or openings are provided in the guide part <NUM>.

The stiffening element <NUM> in the embodiment shown is fixed to the rapier <NUM> via several fastening elements, such as bolts <NUM>, washers <NUM>, <NUM> and nuts <NUM>. One of the bolts <NUM> extends through an opening <NUM> of the rapier <NUM>, an opening <NUM> of the base section <NUM> and an opening <NUM> of the stiffening element <NUM>, so that the base section <NUM> can be clamped between the stiffening element <NUM> and the rapier <NUM>. Other bolts <NUM> only extend through the stiffening element <NUM> and the rapier <NUM>. Further the base section <NUM> comprises for example at least one support <NUM> for the stiffening element <NUM>, for example at least one support <NUM> that is manufactured integrally with the gripper body <NUM> by 3D printing, wherein in particular the supports <NUM> for the stiffening element <NUM> can provide a form-fitting assembly for the stiffening element <NUM>. In alternative or in addition, as shown in the embodiment of <FIG>, two supports <NUM> are provided, which are threaded supports that can cooperate with washers <NUM> and nuts <NUM> to fix the stiffening element <NUM> to the base section <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM>. Other form-fitting assemblies are also possible.

<FIG> shows a gripper <NUM> similar to the gripper of <FIG> in a state, in which the gripper body <NUM> is mounted to the rapier <NUM> via the stiffening element <NUM> and a guide part <NUM> to be mounted to the gripper body <NUM>. This arrangement allows a simple replacement of a guide part <NUM>, for example for replacing a worn guide part by another guide part. A moveable clamping element <NUM>, a spring element <NUM> and an opener element <NUM> (see <FIG>) can be mounted to the gripper body <NUM> before or after mounting the gripper body <NUM> to the rapier <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a detail of another embodiment of a gripper <NUM> comprising a gripper body <NUM> and a clamping device <NUM>, wherein the gripper body <NUM> is an integral structure formed by 3D printing.

The gripper body <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> comprises a base section <NUM>, a first side section <NUM> adjoining the base section <NUM>, a second side section <NUM> adjoining the base section <NUM> opposite to the first side section <NUM>, and an upper section <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the upper section <NUM> is only connected via webs <NUM> to the base section <NUM>. The supports <NUM> and the abutment element <NUM> are similar to <FIG>, wherein the supports <NUM> and the abutment element <NUM> form a bayonet fitting. Instead of the support <NUM> of <FIG>, the gripper body <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> has openings <NUM> for a screw for fixing the stiffening element <NUM> to the gripper body <NUM>.

In <FIG> a situation just before arranging the abutment element <NUM> to the supports <NUM> is shown, wherein the abutment element <NUM> is rotated about the longitudinal length of the spring element <NUM>. The abutment element <NUM> can be shifted and rotated between the positions shown in <FIG> and <FIG> to form the bayonet fitting.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) for mounting the opener element <NUM> to the gripper body similar to <FIG> instead of a gripper body <NUM> having a base section <NUM> with a stub <NUM>, a gripper body <NUM> having a base section <NUM> with a guide support similar to the guide support <NUM> as shown in <FIG> is provided. An opener element <NUM> can be mounted by means of a support unit <NUM> between this guide support of the base section <NUM> and the upper section <NUM>. For example, this guide support has a threaded blind hole <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, wherein near the bottom of the threaded blind hole <NUM> a slit <NUM> is provided. The assembly group comprising the support unit <NUM> and the opener element <NUM> can subsequently be clamped between the upper section <NUM> and the base section <NUM> using the screw <NUM>. For a fixation of the screw <NUM>, the screw <NUM> can be glued into the threaded blind hole <NUM>, wherein the slit <NUM> allows that excess glue provided for fixing the screw <NUM> in the threaded blind hole <NUM> can leave the threaded blind hole <NUM>.

In one embodiment (not shown), the distal end <NUM> of the gripper body <NUM> is provided at one or both sides with a bulging rib configured for shielding a tip of the hook <NUM> from contact with warp threads. The bulging rib in embodiments can be formed integrally with the gripper body <NUM> by 3D printing.

Claim 1:
A gripper for a rapier weaving machine, wherein the gripper (<NUM>) comprises a gripper body (<NUM>) and a clamping device (<NUM>) for clamping a weft thread, wherein the gripper body (<NUM>) comprises a base section (<NUM>), a first side section (<NUM>) adjoining the base section (<NUM>), a second side section (<NUM>) adjoining the base section (<NUM>) opposite to the first side section (<NUM>), and a hook (<NUM>) provided at a distal end (<NUM>) of the gripper body (<NUM>), wherein the clamping device (<NUM>) comprises a moveable clamping element (<NUM>), a spring element (<NUM>), and an opener element (<NUM>), wherein the moveable clamping element (<NUM>) is moveably mounted within the gripper body (<NUM>), wherein the spring element (<NUM>) is configured for urging the moveable clamping element (<NUM>) towards the hook (<NUM>) for clamping a weft thread between the moveable clamping element (<NUM>) and the hook (<NUM>), and wherein the opener element (<NUM>) is configured for moving the moveable clamping element (<NUM>) away from the hook (<NUM>) against a restoration force of the spring element (<NUM>), characterized in that the gripper body (<NUM>) comprises an upper section (<NUM>) opposite to the base section (<NUM>), wherein the upper section (<NUM>) adjoins the first side section (<NUM>) and is connected via a web (<NUM>, <NUM>) to at least one of the second side section (<NUM>) and the base section (<NUM>), wherein the first side section (<NUM>), the second side section (<NUM>), the upper section (<NUM>) and the web (<NUM>, <NUM>) are formed integrally with the base section (<NUM>), and wherein the opener element (<NUM>) is mounted between the upper section (<NUM>) and the base section (<NUM>).