CA2342333A1 - Method for transporting harness elements, especially drop wires - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for transporting harness elements, notably drop wires (LA) for weaving machines, which are arranged on substantially horizontal supporting members (22). Said device is characterized by a plate (21) which is substantially parallel to the supporting members (22) and positioned beneath same. The drop wires (LA) rest on both the supporting members and the plate by forming an angle .alpha.. The supporting members (22) and plate (21) can be displaced in relation to each other.

Description

Device for transporting weaving harness elements, especially drop wires (LA) The invention relates, according to the precharacterizing clause of the independent M aim l, to a device for transporting weaving harnesJ elements, especially drop wires (LA) for weaving mac~,_nes, which are arranged on carrying members running essentially horizontally.
The prior art discloses, for example, a warping machine (warp thread drawing-in machine) as is shown in a perspective view (according to CH 682 577) in Figure 1.
This warping machine comprises a base frame 1 and various subassemblies arranged in the latter, each of which forms a functional module. In front oT the base frame 1 it is possible to see a warp beam: carriage 2 having a warp beam 3 arranged on it. The warp beam carriage 3 also contains a lifting device ~ for holding a frame 5, on which the warp threads KF are stretched.
For the drawing-in operation, the warp bear. carriage 2 with the warp beam 3 and the lifting device ~ are moved to the so-called warping side of the drawing-in machine, and the frame 5 is lifted upfr~=ds by the lifting device 4 and hung in place, w'ne=a it then assumes the position illustrated. The fra-.e 5 and the warp beam 3 are displaced in the lonc~itudir_a? direction of the base frame 1. During this displaceme~:=, the warp threads KF are led past a thread separating stage 6 and, in so doing, are separated and divided up. After being divided up, the warp threads are wat off and presented to a drawing-in needle 7, whic:. forms one component of the so-called drawing-in module.
Adjacent to the drawing-in needle 7, it is possible to see a monitor screen 8 which belongs to an operating station and which is used to indicate machine functions and machine faults as well as for data input. The operating station is part of a so-~~alled programming module and additionally comprises an inpu= stage for the manual input of certain functions and sequences.
The control of the drawing-in machine is carried out by a control module, which comprises a control computer and is arranged in a control cabinet 9. Thus control computer preferably comprises an indivio~al modular computer for each functional module, th_s computer being controlled and monitored by the contre'_ computer.
The thread separating stage 6, which presen=s the warp threads KF to be drawn in to the drawing-in needle 7, and the movement path of the drawing-~in needle 7, which runs vertically in relation to t:he plane of the stretched warp threads KF, determine a plane which separates the warping side, already mentioned, from the so-called doffing side of the drawing-in machine. The warp threads and individual harness elements, that is to say the healds and drop wires into whi c~: the warp threads are to be drawn, are suppl,~ed on the warping side. On the doffing side, the so-cal'-ed harness (healds, drop wires and reed) with the wrp threads drawn in can be removed. Arranged directly,- Nehind the plane of the warp threads KF are the warp ~~read stop motion drop wires LA, behind these the weaving healds LI and still further back the weavina~ reed.
The harness elements (LA, LI) are stac'.~ed in hand magazines, suspended in feed rails, 11, la ~~d are fed to the separating point to be separated, and the individual harness elements are transpor~ed to the drawing-in needle 7 for the warp thread to be drawn in.
After the drawing-in has taken place, for example, the drop wires on the doffing side pass on ~c drop-wire carrying rails 12, where a so-called harness carriage 15 is provided. Together with the carryir_g members fastened to it - the drop-carrying rails 12, weaving shafts 14 and a holder for the weaving reed - this is 22406SE2. DOC

~ 02342333 2001-02-28 pushed into the base frame into the position illustrated and, following the drawing-in operation carries the harness with the warp thrE:ads.
This Figure 1 is to be understood as purely illustrative: the warping machine, in which the device according to the invention for transporting weaving harness elements is to be installed, may differ considerably, in its entirety or else in detail, from the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.
It is further known from the prior art to convey the drop wires LA lined up on the carrying rails 12 of the doffing side of the warping machine, together with the warp threads KF drawn in, along these carrying rails by means of small threaded pins. For this purpose, these small threaded pins (not illustrated in Fig. 1) have to be inserted previously into the slot at the top of the carrying rails. This takes up a certain amount of time and requires a certain skill, since these thin small threaded pins have a length which exceeds the warp beam width. L~lith the aid cf these small threaded pins, the drop wires can then be conveyed further on the carrying members, that is to say from the carrying rails to the contact rails, which are importani_ to the weaver.
Later, the drop wires have to be transferred again in the same way to the carrying rails. The use of such small threaded pins i s therefore complicated arid time-consuming when doffing the carrying members, that is to say the contact rails and carrying rails: in addition, a drive has to be provided for each of the small threaded pins, which run parallel to one another.
The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a device which makes the use of the small threaded pins superfluous.
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According to the features of the independent Claim l, this object is achieved by a device being proposed for transporting weaving harness elements, such as drop wires LA for weaving machines, which are arranged on carrying members running essentia7_7_y horizontally, whereby these weaving harness elements rest with the upper end of their contact-rail slot at least temporarily on the top edge of the carrying member. The device being characterized by a plate which is arranged essentially parallel to the carrying members and beneath the latter, the drop wires resting with their lower end at least temporarily on the plate, forming an angle a, and carrying members and plate being movable relative to each other in an essentially vertical direction. Preferred embodiments and developments of the device according to the invention emerge from the dependent claims.
Advantages of the device according to the invention include the fact that not on7_y do the small threaded pins become unnecessary, but also the carrying rails, since the drop wires are lined up directly on the contact rails and can be transported further on these.
In this arrangement, it is unimportant whether the carrying members, designed as contact rails, are equipped with teeth or not. Ir: addition, the advance of the drop wires is intrinsically regulated or the yarn tension influences the advance when t:he plate is lifted in such a way that the movement of tine drop wires does not have to be additionally controlled.
In the following text, embodiments of the device, in the form of schematic illustrations of examples and without wishing to restrict the scope of the invention in any way, are described by means of figures, in which:
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02342333 2001-02-28 . ..

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the plate and a view of a drop wire to be conveyed on a contact rail; and in particular Fig. 2A shows the lifting of the plate, Fig. 2B shows the highest position of the plate, Fig. 2C shows the lowering of the plate, and Fig. 2D shows the lowest position of the plate;
Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of the plate drive;
Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the plate drive;
Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of the plate drive;
and in particular Fig. 5A during the lowering of the plate, Fig. 5B during the lifting of t~_e plate;
Fig. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the plate.
Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through part of the device according to the invention. It shows the plate 21 and a view of a drop wire LA to be conveyed on a contact rail 22. The drop wire LA rests with the upper end of its contact-rail slot (not shown) on the top edge 25 of the contact rail 22, and with its lower end on the surface 26 of the plate 21.
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In Figure 2A, the plate 21 is being lifted in the direction of the arrow 23. As a result of the lifting of the plate 21, the upper part of the drop wire LA
moves in a sliding manner along the ~~ontact rail 22 in the direction of the arrow 24, while the lower end of the drop wire essentially remains at the same place. As a result, the angle a, between the drop wire LA and the top edge 25 of the carrying member 22 or the surface 26 of the plate 21 decreases.
The lowering of the carrying members 22 with respect to the plate 21, or the action of moving the plate and carrying members towards one another (not shown) has a corresponding effect.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drop wires have by comparison with the carrying members, in particular by comparison with the top edge 25 of the latter, and by comparison with the surface 26 of the plate 21, such a coefficient of friction that this above-described movement of the upper end of the drop wire takes place without any significant backward movement of the lower end occurring. Designing the contact rails and the plate frog st=ainless steel has proven to be very suitable. The top edge 25 of the carrying members, and the surface 26 of the plate, generally require no special treatment. In order to influence the coefficient of friction, specially fine or roug':: surfaces of the stainless steel may be selected. Profiling the surface 26, in particular in the case of using mechanical co:~tact rails with teeth at Lhe top edge 25, essentially in the direction transverse to the desired transport direction of the drop wires, can also be provided. Particularly in the case of the contact rails, where electric conductivity is desired, it is possible for non-ferrous or noble metals (for example Cu, Ag) to be used. Further materials for influencing the coefficient of friction . CA 02342333 2001-02-28 . ..

also include plastics (for example tetrafluoroethylene) in the form of surface coatings or inserts.
In Figure 2B, the plate 21 is in it~> highest position with respect to the contact rail 22 and, respectively, with respect to a machine part 27, which is not specifically designated and is illustrated only to clarify the movements. As a result of the mutual approach of plate 21 and carrying members 22 as far as this end position, the angle a between the drop wire LA
and the top edge 25 of the carrying member 22 and, respectively, the surface 26 of the plate 21, assumes its smallest value.
In Figure 2C, the plate 21 is being lowered in the direction of the arrow 23'. As a result of the lowering of the plate 21, the lower part of the drop wire LA
moves in a sliding manner along the plate 21 in the direction of the arrow 24', while the upper end of the drop wire essentially remains at the same place. The angle a between the drop wire LA and the top edge 25 of the carrying member 22, and, respectively, the surface 26 of the plate 21 increases.
The lifting of the carrying members 22 wits: respect to the plate 21, or the action of moving the plate and carrying members away from or_e anothE=r (not shown) has a corresponding effect.
In Figure 2D, the plate 21 is in its lowest position with respect to the contact rail 22 and, respectively, with a machine part 27, which is not specifically designated and is illustrated only to clarify the movements. As a result of the mutual separation of plate 21 and carrying members 22 as far as this end position, the angle a between the drop wire LA and the top edge 25 of the carrying member 22 and, 22a06SE2. DOC

~ 02342333 2001-02-28 respectively, the surface 26 of the plate 2i, assumes its greatest value.
The value of the angle a is preferably less than 90°.
The drop wires are then transported i:n the direction of their oblique position. An angle a between 55 and 75°
is particularly preferred.
However, provision may also be made for grooves to be made in the surface 20 of the plate 21, or for webs to be arranged thereon (neither being shown), so that the drop wires LA are undisplaceably guided, at least for some of the time, on their underside, and the drop wires have, in relation to the top edge 25 of the carrying member 22 and, respectively, the surface 26, an angle a, which is virtually 90° or does not differ significantly from the perpendicular. The movement of the plate 21 and/or of the carrying members 22 then preferably also has a horizontal component.
Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of the drove for the plate 21. Running tracks 28 are arranged on the underside (alternatively or in combination N;ith this, also on the sides) of the plate 21. Tese running tracks comprise one or more inclined pla::es 29 (not shown), on which rollers 30 rurL. A movemen= device (not illustrated) moves the rollers in an essentially horizontal plane. The plate 21 rests on the rollers 30, via the inclined planes, 28 and is preferably additionally guided in such a way that - as the rollers move to and fro - it can carry out an essentially vertical movement in the direction of the double arrow.
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the drive for the plate 21. Arranged on the underside (alternatively, or in combination with this, also on the sides) of the plate 21 are cylinders 31. The action of moving the pistons out of and into these cylinders results in an 22d0oSE2.DOC

_ g _ essentially vertical movement of the plate 21. This embodiment permits additional guides for the movement of the plate to be left out, since the upward' and downward movement of the plate (in thf=_ direction of the double arrow) is already guided via the pistons 32.
Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the plate drive.
This is a type of hinge, which comprises a first fixing unit 33, a pivoting unit 34 and a second fixing unit 35. The first fixing unit 33 is arranged on the underside (alternatively, or in combination with this, also on the sides) of the plate 21., and the second fixing unit 35 is arranged on a stationary machine part 36. The pivoting unit 34 is connected to the two fixing units by means of pivots 37, 37'.
A movement device (not shown), whi~~h is operatively connected to the first fixing unit 33, is able to move the plate to the left (Fig. 5A, small arrow) counter to the transport direction of the drop wires LA, as a result of which this plate 21 also carries out a downward movement (large arrow).
The same movement device, which is operatively connected to the first fixing unit 33, is able to move the plate to the right (Fig. 5B, small arrow) in the transport direction of the drop wires LA, as a result of which this plate 21 also carries out an upward movement (large arrow).
The drive for the plate 21 according to the third embodiment could also be arranged in the opposite, mirror-image fashion, so that the horizontal component of the plate movement (small arrow) when the plate 21 is being lowered (cf. Fig. 5A) points in the transport direction of the drop wires LA and, when the plate 21 is being lifted (cf. Fig. 5B), points in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the drop wires.
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As an alternative to the illustratio:~ in Figure 5, the second fixing point 35 is connec_ed to a movement device (corresponding to the first embodiment of the plate drive). In this case, an additional guide is provided for the upward and downward movement or the oscillatory movement of the plate 21.
Figure 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the plate 21, which is arranged essentially horizon=ally and parallel to the carrying members 22 (contact rails here) and beneath the latter. This plate comprises a run-on plate 40, which is at an angle to the horizontal and has a transversely grooved plastic covering 41. The run-on plate 40 moves synchronously with the horizontal part of the plate 21, and is fixed to the latter. The drop wires are pushed onto the contact rails from the left and initially are still at a quite large angle a, of approximately 90°. As a result of the mutual, oscillatory approach and separation of plate 21 with run-on plate 40 and one or more carrying members 22, running essentially parallel to o:~e another, the drop wires are pushed further to the r=ght, and in the process the angle oc becomes increasingly smaller and, when that part of the plate 21 whic':: runs essentially horizontally is encountered, the ang'~? cc is between 55 and 75°. The run-on plate 40 thus se=ves to bring the drop wires LA virtually continuously =rom the virtually vertical position into an inclined position which is desired for the transport by the plate 21.
The embodiment of the drive illustrated here essentially corresponds to that whic~: has already been described in Figure 3: running traces 28 are arranged on the underside of the plate 21. These running tracks comprise one or more inclined planes 29 (not shown), on which rollers 30 run. A movement device 42 moves the rollers in an essentially horizontal plane. The plate 22406SE2.DOC

21 rests on the rollers 30, via the inclined planes 28, and is preferably additionally guided in such a way that - as the rollers move to and fro - it can carry out an essentially vertical movement in the direction of the double arrow. The drive used for tie movement device 42 is a drive means 43, which is designed here as a cylinder driven by a fluid such as compressed air or hydraulic oil.
Differing from the example in Fig. 6, the surface, in particular of the run-on plate 40, can also be equipped with other materials or surface coverings and/or surface structures, or else be roughened by means of sandblasting, for the purpose of increasing the friction with respect to the drop wires.
The drives for the alternating uptrrard and downward movement of the carrying members can be of similar configuration, so that a detailed description is dispensed with here.
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Claims (14)

Claims

1. Device for transporting weaving harness elements, such as drop wires LA for weaving machines, which are arranged on carrying members (22) running essentially horizontally, whereby these weaving harness elements rest with the upper end of their contact-rail slot at least temporarily on the top edge of the carrying member, characterized by a plate (21) which is arranged essentially parallel to the carrying members (22) and beneath the latter, the drop wires (LA) resting with their lower end at least temporarily on the plate (21), forming an angle (.alpha.) and carrying members (22) and plate (21) being movable relative to each other in an essentially vertical direction.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plate (21) is arranged to be movable with respect to the carrying members (22).

3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrying members (22) are arranged to be movable with respect to the plate (21).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle (.alpha.) is always less than 90°.

5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the angle (.alpha.) lies between 55 and 75°.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (21) is arranged to be also movable in the essentially horizontal direction.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (21) comprises an essentially smooth surface (26).

8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the plate (21) comprises a profiled surface (26).

9. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the profiled surface (26) comprises uneven portions which are arranged essentially in the direction transverse to the desired transport direction of the drop wires (LA).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a drive which is designed to carry out an oscillatory movement of the plate (21).

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive comprises at least one inclined plane and a roller which rolls thereon.

12. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the drive comprises at least one cylinder (31)/piston (32) combination.

13. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the drive comprises at least one hinge with a pivot (37, 37').

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one guide device for guiding the movements of the plate (21).