CN107923076B

CN107923076B - Apparatus and method for optimizing a textile process

Info

Publication number: CN107923076B
Application number: CN201680050695.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: K.帕蒂恩; M.马雷斯考克斯; B.库韦利尔
Original assignee: Picanol NV
Current assignee: Bijiale Suzhou Industrial Park Textile Machinery Co ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-01
Filing date: 2016-08-01
Publication date: 2020-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-01
Also published as: BE1023395B1; WO2017036701A1; BE1023395A1; CN107923076A; EP3344808A1; EP3344808B1

Abstract

Apparatus for optimizing a weaving process, comprising a control device (6), wherein the control device (6) is arranged to determine the platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104) of the bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) from which the at least one weft thread is drawn by evaluating detector signals of a weft thread movement detector (27, 28, 29) provided at the platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104), and to identify at least one property of the at least one weft thread fed to a weft insertion channel element (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) by evaluating sensor signals of a weft thread property identification sensor (24, 25,26,44,45, 46) provided at the determined platform (15, 16,17,101, 21,22, 104). Method for optimizing a weaving process in a weaving machine.

Description

Apparatus and method for optimizing a textile process

Technical Field

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for optimizing a weaving process. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for avoiding weaving errors due to wrong threading of a weft preparation device of a spinning machine.

Background

The fabric is composed of warp and weft yarns. In the weaving machine, weft yarns are inserted between warp yarns during an insertion cycle of the weaving process. The weft yarn is fed into the textile machine and wound on bobbins which are usually placed on a bobbin holder or bobbin table arranged on one side of the textile machine, usually on the left side. The textile machine must be equipped with raw materials before starting to weave a new fabric type. Starting from the bobbin holder, the weft thread of each bobbin is manually threaded onto a prewinder which prepares the weft thread for weft insertion. The textile machine may have one pre-winder or up to twelve pre-winders. Usually, one prewinder comprises weft yarn from one bobbin. In so-called multi-yarn weaving applications, two or more weft yarns from the associated bobbin can be wound simultaneously onto a common prewinder. In addition, in so-called multi-yarn weaving applications, two or more weft yarns from the associated prewinder can be inserted simultaneously into the weaving shed, for example by means of a gripper or a main nozzle. Usually, the front end of the second bobbin is tied to the rear end of the first bobbin, so that the operating cycle of the textile machine can be longer without the need for intervention to supply a new bobbin. For example, the textile machine is equipped with twelve pre-winders and with one or more bobbin racks which together form twelve platforms for bobbins, wherein each platform comprises one or two pins on which the bobbin is placed.

In the control device of the textile machine, so-called textile machine channels or weft insertion channels are used to determine the order in which the different weft threads are inserted. This sequence is commonly referred to as a "color pattern". One or more elements are assigned to each virtual channel, which elements are driven by the control device to withdraw a weft thread from the bobbin and/or to insert a weft thread threaded or otherwise coupled to the elements. In the context of the present application, said elements assigned to a virtual channel are referred to as weft insertion channel elements.

In a gripper weaving machine, also called rapier weaving machine, weft thread is manually threaded onto a prewinder of a weft preparation device and from said prewinder to a weft thread presenter by means of a weft brake. The weft thread presenter and the prewinder are driven by a control device in order to wind a weft thread onto the prewinder and thereby to pull a weft thread from the bobbin and/or to supply a specific weft thread to a feed gripper for inserting said weft thread. In this case, the weft insertion channel element comprises a prewinder and a weft presenter.

In an air jet weaving machine, the weft yarn from a prewinder is fed to one or a group of main nozzles, wherein the main nozzles are driven by a control device in order to select the weft yarn to be inserted during a weaving cycle. In this case, the weft insertion channel member includes a prewinder and a main nozzle.

In order to have a control device which regulates the entire insertion process, it is necessary that the type of weft thread which is threaded into the weft insertion channel element (and thus added to the weft insertion channel) is known. In the context of the present application, "threaded to a weft insertion channel element" means that the weft thread is coupled to the weft insertion channel element in some way along its path of movement.

It is known from US 2004/0133297 a1 to provide bobbins with identification elements and to identify bobbins provided on a platform, wherein the identification of a bobbin is used in order to weave an object according to a weft insertion pattern which is determined as a function of the weft thread type. The weft insertion pattern can be input to the textile machine terminal or to a central server as a function of the type of weft thread to be inserted. With the identification element and the knowledge of the path of the weft thread in the textile machine, in particular of the prewinder and the main nozzle or weft thread presenter for a specific weft thread from the bobbin holder, the textile machine can determine for each type of weft thread a weft insertion channel corresponding to that type of weft thread and can convert the input weft insertion pattern as a function of the type of weft thread into a weft insertion pattern as a function of the weft insertion channel.

However, even with such an identification element, there is still the following risk: the weft thread is threaded to a prewinder different from the one assumed in the control device, and therefore the weft thread properties are added to the wrong weft insertion path.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for avoiding weaving errors due to wrong threading of a weft preparation device of a weaving machine.

This object is achieved by an instrument having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 8. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for optimizing a weaving process, the apparatus comprising a control device, a plurality of weft insertion channel elements, each weft insertion channel element being assigned to one weft insertion channel in the control device, and a bobbin holder having a plurality of platforms, each of the platforms having a weft thread property identification sensor, wherein weft threads of a bobbin placed on at least some of the platforms are fed to at least some of the weft insertion channel elements, wherein at least some of the platforms, and preferably on all platforms, weft movement detectors for detecting weft movement are provided, and wherein the control device is arranged to:

a) driving at least one of the weft insertion channel elements to draw at least one of the weft yarns fed to the weft insertion channel element from an associated bobbin placed on a platform,

b) determining the platform of the bobbin on which at least one of the weft threads is drawn by evaluating detector signals of a weft thread movement detector arranged at the platform, and

c) identifying at least one weft thread property of at least one weft thread fed into the weft insertion channel element by evaluating a sensor signal of a weft thread property identification sensor arranged at the determined platform.

The platform may be provided with one pin or more than one pin, in particular two pins. A weft yarn property identifying sensor may be provided on each pin of each platform. In principle, weft thread from a bobbin placed on any pintle of any platform can be threaded manually or otherwise coupled to any of a plurality of prewinders, and from the prewinders to any of a plurality of other weft insertion channel elements, for example to a weft thread presenter or main nozzle. In practice, there are some space limitations. However, in many textile machines, the fed weft yarn from at least some of the bobbins placed on the platform can be manually threaded or otherwise coupled to at least two different pre-winders without difficulty. This may lead to weaving errors. If, for example, in order to weave a certain textile pattern, the control device assumes that a first weft yarn of a first type has been threaded to the first prewinder and a second weft yarn of a second type has been threaded to the second prewinder, while when setting up the textile machine, the first weft yarn of the first type is threaded to the second prewinder and the second weft yarn of the second type is threaded to the first prewinder, this will lead to a textile error which cannot be detected by the control devices of the prior art. According to the invention, the platform of the bobbin, on which the weft thread is drawn off, is determined by means of the control device, and the properties of the weft thread arranged on the determined platform are identified. This allows for a clear determination of the weft thread properties being inserted with the weft insertion channel elements assigned to a specific weft insertion channel in the control device. Thus, the actual setting of the textile machine can be determined and textile errors can be avoided.

A person skilled in the art can select a suitable weft motion detector. In one embodiment, an optical detector is provided for detecting bulging or movement of the weft yarn during operation. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric detector is provided for detecting the electric charge generated in dependence on the movement of the weft thread. In another embodiment, a detector is provided which utilizes the capacitive effect, wherein a change in capacitance, for example after movement of a weft thread, is detected. In yet another embodiment, the natural charge on the weft yarn is detected using, for example, a charge detector. Suitable detectors are described, for example, in EP 0195469 a2 and/or US 4215728A, which are incorporated herein by reference. However, the invention is not limited to the use of such detectors.

In one embodiment, a human-machine interface comprising at least one of an audio output, a display device and a display is provided, wherein the weft yarn properties identified by the control device are shown, in particular visualized, to a user at the human-machine interface.

In a preferred embodiment, the control device is further arranged to compare the identified weft thread properties with weft thread property information assigned to a weft insertion channel in the control device. As mentioned above, weft insertion channels are used in the control device to determine the order in which different weft threads are inserted, and the weft insertion channel elements assigned to the weft insertion channels are driven accordingly. Weaving errors caused by incorrect threading can be avoided when the identified weft thread properties are compared with weft thread property information assigned to a weft insertion channel in the control device. For example, in the case where the control device has recognized that a weft thread of red color is threaded into a weft insertion channel element added to the first weft insertion channel, but a weft thread of green color has to be inserted with said weft insertion channel element for weaving a specific weaving pattern, an error message can be generated and weaving can be inhibited until the threading is corrected.

In one embodiment, the control device is arranged to adjust the distribution of the weft insertion channel elements to the weft insertion channels based on the identified threading of the weft thread. For example, if it has been assumed that a first prewinder inserts a weft thread from a first platform, whereas this weft thread has been threaded to a second prewinder, the second prewinder will be distributed to the weft insertion channel instead of the first prewinder. Alternatively or additionally, the control device is arranged to adjust a weaving sequence of weft yarns of the weft insertion channel in order to weave a specific weaving pattern based on the identified weft yarn properties. For example, in the case where the control device has recognized that "red weft threads are threaded to weft insertion channel elements assigned to the first weft insertion channel and green weft threads are required for weaving a specific textile pattern, and that green weft threads are threaded to weft insertion channel elements assigned to the second weft insertion channel and red weft threads are required for weaving a specific textile pattern", the first weft insertion channel and the second weft insertion channel are exchanged in the weaving sequence. Of course, such an adjustment is not possible if no red weft yarn is provided.

The weft yarn property identification sensor is arranged to identify at least one weft yarn property selected from the group comprising: yarn thickness, yarn hairiness, yarn twist, yarn color, yarn production time, yarn supplier, and/or yarn material. In one embodiment, the weft thread property identification sensors each comprise a contactless reader element arranged to read data relating to a weft thread property from a tag attached to a bobbin placed on the relevant platform. The reader element and the tag allow simple communication of a large number of weft yarn properties of a weft yarn wound to a bobbin. This allows to utilize expert knowledge in the control device about the physical properties of the weft thread. In one embodiment, the reading element is an optical reader element, such as a barcode reader element or a two-dimensional code reader element. In a preferred embodiment, radio frequency technology is applied, in particular an RFID reader element is provided. Alternatively or additionally, sensors for detecting color, hairiness or other weft yarn properties may be provided. It is known to provide more than one bobbin on a common platform, wherein the trailing end of a first bobbin is attached to the leading end of a second bobbin. If multiple bobbins are placed on a common platform, in one embodiment, only weft yarn properties of the first bobbin on which the weft yarn is unwound are identified. In a preferred embodiment, the weft thread property identification sensors are each arranged to read data from a tag attached to each bobbin placed at any one of the studs of the relevant platform and/or to provide each bobbin placed at any one of the studs of the relevant platform with a relevant weft thread property identification sensor.

According to a preferred embodiment, the weft insertion channel element of each weft insertion channel comprises a prewinder, wherein the weft thread of at least one bobbin placed on a bobbin holder is fed to one prewinder. Depending on the textile pattern, all or only some of the platforms are equipped with one or more bobbins. The weft thread of the bobbin is threaded to a prewinder, which is driven by a control device to prepare the weft thread for weft insertion and thereby to pull the weft thread from the bobbin. If the control device drives a prewinder to draw the weft thread from the bobbin, but no weft thread movement is detected at the platform assumed by the control device, an error message can be generated. Alternatively, the control device evaluates detector signals of a plurality of weft motion detectors arranged at the platform and determines the platform on which the weft thread is pulled.

In one embodiment, the weft insertion channel elements of each weft insertion channel comprise a prewinder and a second weft insertion channel element downstream of the prewinder, wherein a weft thread from at least one of the prewinders can be fed to at least two different second weft insertion channel elements, and wherein the control device is arranged to determine the supplied prewinder for each second weft insertion channel element. For this purpose, in one embodiment a weft yarn movement detector is provided for detecting the pulling of weft yarn from the prewinder. In the known air jet textile machine, the prewinders and the main nozzles arranged downstream of the prewinders are arranged such that in most cases a threading of a weft thread from one prewinder to a specific main nozzle is ensured. However, in particular in gripper weaving machines, the weft thread from the prewinder can be threaded without difficulty to different weft thread feeders. According to one embodiment of the invention, to which prewinder and to which weft thread presenter a particular weft thread is threaded is determined. Thus, weaving errors can be avoided.

According to a second aspect, a method is provided for optimizing a weaving process in a weaving machine comprising a control device, a plurality of weft insertion channel elements, each weft insertion channel element being assigned to one weft insertion channel in the control device, and a bobbin holder having a plurality of platforms, each platform having a weft thread property identification sensor, wherein a bobbin is placed on any of the pegs of any of the platforms of the bobbin holder and a weft thread of the bobbin is fed to one of the plurality of weft insertion channel elements. The method comprises the following steps: driving at least one weft insertion channel element by means of a control device to pull at least one weft thread fed to the weft insertion channel element from an associated bobbin placed on a bobbin holder, wherein a platform of the bobbin on which the at least one weft thread is pulled is determined by evaluating detector signals of a weft thread motion detector arranged to detect weft thread motion and arranged at least some of the platforms, when or after pulling a weft thread from the bobbin, and identifying at least one weft thread property of the at least one weft thread fed to the weft insertion channel element by evaluating sensor signals of a weft thread property identification sensor arranged at the determined platform.

As described above, by determining the platform on which the weft insertion channel element pulls the weft thread and by identifying the weft thread properties of the weft thread wound onto the bobbin at said platform, weaving errors can be reliably avoided.

In one embodiment, the weft thread properties recognized by the control device are shown, in particular visualized, to a user on a human-machine interface. This allows the user to take action as desired.

In a preferred embodiment, the identified weft thread properties are compared with weft thread property information assigned to the weft insertion channel in the control device by means of the control device. If the identified weft yarn attribute does not match the weft yarn attribute information, an error message may be generated and weaving may be inhibited until the user has corrected the threading.

Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment the control device adjusts the distribution of the weft insertion channel element to the weft insertion channel based on the identified threading of the weft thread. This can be done by the control device without further notification to the user, or only after the user has approved the adjustment.

In one embodiment, the user is prompted to modify the position of two or more bobbins on the bobbin rack to optimize weaving a given weave pattern. For example, it may be advantageous to thread the weft yarns that are dominant in a particular textile pattern to a weft presenter, which travels only a short distance when presenting the weft yarns. The user may choose to follow the suggested modification or hold settings.

In one embodiment, the weft thread properties are read by means of a weft thread property identification sensor from a tag attached to a bobbin from which the weft thread is pulled, wherein in particular the weft thread properties are read with a contactless reader element, in particular an RFID reader element. The weft yarn properties may comprise information about the weft yarn, such as color, thickness, hairiness and/or its production date and its weaving date as its bobbin date, etc. The determination of such weft thread properties also allows the textile machine to be started, for example, with a special setting for a weft thread having such weft thread properties stored in a control device of the textile machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the weft insertion channel element of each weft insertion channel comprises a prewinder, wherein the platform of the bobbin on which the weft thread is drawn by the prewinder is identified.

As described above, there is an arrangement in which: the weft insertion channel element of each weft insertion channel comprises a prewinder and a second weft insertion channel element downstream of the prewinder, wherein a weft yarn from at least one of the prewinders can be fed to at least two different second weft insertion channel elements. In this case, in a preferred embodiment, the supplied prewinder is determined for each second weft insertion channel element by means of the control device.

Drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of an embodiment which is schematically illustrated in the drawings. Like reference numerals will be used to show like elements throughout the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus for optimizing a weaving process at a gripper weaving machine.

Fig. 2 shows the instrument of fig. 1 in a different configuration.

Fig. 3 shows the display of an instrument similar to the instrument of fig. 1 during threading.

Fig. 4 shows a representation of an instrument similar to the instrument of fig. 1 during another threading.

Fig. 5 shows the display of an instrument similar to the instrument of fig. 1 in the event of a wrong threading.

Fig. 6 shows the instrument of fig. 1 in another different configuration.

Fig. 7 shows an apparatus for optimizing the weaving process at an air jet weaving machine.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically shows an apparatus 1 for a gripper weaving machine. The gripper weaving machine comprises a feed gripper 2 and a take-up gripper 3. To weave the fabric 4, weft yarns are inserted into the shed formed by the warp yarns 5.

The apparatus 1 comprises a control device 6. In one embodiment, the control device 6 is a central control device of the textile machine. In other embodiments, a separate control device is provided that communicates with the central control device. The instrument 1 shown in fig. 1 comprises: a plurality of

pre-winders

7,8, 9; a weft thread presenter device 10 having a plurality of

weft thread presenters

11,12, 13; and a bobbin holder 14 having a plurality of

platforms

15,16,17, each platform having two pins, wherein a

bobbin

18,19,20,21,22,23 is provided at each pin. In the embodiment shown, three

prewinders

7,8,9, three

weft thread presenters

11,12,13 and three

platforms

15,16,17 are provided. In other embodiments, less than three or more than three, in particular up to twelve, prewinders, weft thread presenter and platforms are provided.

The weft thread wound onto the

first bobbin

18, 20, 22 of each

platform

15,16,17 is threaded to the

prewinders

7,8,9 and from said

prewinders

7,8,9 to the associated

weft thread presenter

13, 12, 11 by means of a weft thread brake (not shown). The tail end of the

first bobbin

18, 20, 22 is tied to the front end of the

second bobbin

19, 21, 23. In principle, each

bobbin

18,19,20,21,22,23 can be used as a "first bobbin".

At least one weft-

property recognition sensor

24,25,26 is arranged on each

platform

15,16, 17. Preferably, at each bobbin of each platform, an associated weft thread property identification sensor is provided. Furthermore, at each

platform

15,16,17 a

weft movement detector

27,28,29 is provided, which is arranged to detect weft movements. The weft-thread

property recognition sensors

24,25,26 and the weft-

thread motion detectors

27,28,29 communicate with the control device 6. The communication may be wired or wireless. In the embodiment shown, an additional

weft motion detector

30, 31, 32 is arranged downstream of each

prewinder

7,8, 9. Furthermore, a human-machine interface 33 for data input and data output is provided. The human-machine interface 33 may include a computer, tablet, smart phone, smart watch, and such devices.

The

prewinders

7,8,9 are driven by the control device 6 to prepare a weft thread for weft insertion by winding the weft thread to the

prewinders

7,8,9 and thereby pull the weft thread from the

respective bobbin

18, 20, 22. For weft insertion of a specific weft thread, the respective

weft thread presenter

11,12,13 is driven by the control device 6 to present a weft thread to the feed gripper 2, by means of which the weft thread is inserted into the shed.

Each

prewinder

7,8,9 and each

weft thread presenter

11,12,13 is assigned to a weft insertion channel, also called textile machine channel, in the control device 6. These weft insertion channels are utilized in the control device 6 and determine the order in which the different weft threads are inserted.

Before starting a new fabric type, the textile machine must be equipped with raw materials. Different configurations are possible when threading a weft thread of a bobbin arranged on the platform to the

prewinders

7,8,9 and/or when threading from the

prewinders

7,8,9 to the

weft thread presenter

11,12, 13.

Fig. 2 shows a possible alternative configuration of the instrument 1 of fig. 1. The configuration of fig. 2 differs from the configuration shown in fig. 1 in that weft yarn from the bobbin 20 arranged in the middle is threaded to the prewinder 9 arranged on the bottom side, and weft yarn from the bobbin 22 arranged on the bottom side is threaded to the prewinder 8 arranged in the middle. Of course, such an arrangement is only possible if the weft yarns from the

bobbins

20 and 22 do not interfere with each other.

In general, weaving is possible in both configurations. However, in order to have a reliable control system that controls the entire insertion process, it is necessary that the control device 6 knows the type of weft thread that is threaded to a

particular prewinder

7,8, 9.

According to the shown embodiment, the control device 6 is arranged to drive one of the

pre-winders

7,8,9 for drawing the weft yarn fed to said

pre-winder

7,8,9 from the

relevant bobbin

18, 20, 22 placed on the bobbin rack 14. The movement of the respective weft thread is detected by means of one of the weft

thread movement detectors

27,28, 29. By evaluating the detector signals of the weft

yarn movement detectors

27,28,29, the

platform

15,16,17 on which the

bobbin

18, 20, 22 from which the deposited weft yarn is drawn off is determined. After the determination of the

platforms

15,16,17, by evaluating the sensor signals of the weft thread

property identification sensors

24,25,26 provided at the determined platforms, a weft thread property of at least a

first bobbin

18, 20, 22 arranged on said

platforms

15,16,17 can be identified.

In the embodiment shown, the weft thread properties recognized by the control device 6 are visualized for the user on a human-machine interface 33 comprising a display.

Fig. 3 and 4 show a possible display of an instrument 1 similar to fig. 1 and 2, comprising four platforms 101,102,103,104 and four pre-winders 201,202,203, 204.

Fig. 3 shows a possible display after a bobbin has been placed on the four platforms 101,102,103,104 and the weft thread properties of the bobbin have been identified. The identified weft thread properties of the bobbins at the platforms 101,102,103,104 are shown in

windows

1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B relating to bobbins placed on the pins of the platform. The control device 6 (see fig. 1) compares the identified weft thread properties with the weft thread property information assigned to the weft insertion channel in the control device 6. The

windows

1A, 2A, 3A, 4A relating to the peg on which the bobbin is placed are marked green, for example, wherein the weft thread properties identified match the weft thread property information in the control device 6. The

windows

1B, 2B, 3B, 4B relating to the pins on which no bobbin is placed are marked grey, for example.

Fig. 4 shows a possible display similar to fig. 3. In contrast to fig. 3, the wrong bobbin has been placed on the platform 104. The wrong bobbin will be shown, for example, by marking the window 4A red, which is shown with hatching in fig. 4. Thereby, the start of the weaving process is prohibited. Alternatively, the prewinders 201,202,203,204 are disabled from being driven, which will be signaled to the user by arrow 36 (e.g. white arrow).

After e.g. moving the weft threads one after the other and detecting the movement of the respective weft thread by means of one of the weft

thread movement detectors

27,28,29, it is then determined which prewinder 201,202,203,204 is associated with which platform 101,102,103, 104. If all the identified weft thread properties match the weft thread property information assigned to the weft insertion channel in the control device 6, the correct threading is shown to the user, for example by means of an arrow 34, which arrow 34 is shown in fig. 3 as a hatched line, but in reality it is an arrow, for example, in green. If a weft thread has not been threaded into the prewinders 201,202,203,204, this will be signalled to the user by an arrow 35 (e.g. an orange arrow) and the start of the weaving process is inhibited. After the threading is properly completed, the user can begin weaving.

Fig. 5 shows another possible display similar to fig. 3. In contrast to fig. 3, the user has threaded the

prewinders

203 and 204 with weft yarn from a bobbin of another platform 103,104 than the control device 6 intended. This mismatch is shown on the display by means of arrows 37, which arrows 37 are shown with vertical hatching in fig. 5, but in reality they are, for example, red arrows. Thereafter, in one embodiment, the user has three choices:

1) the threading of weft yarns from bobbins placed on the platforms 103,104 is exchanged,

2) exchanging the position of the bobbin on the bobbin holder, or

3) The weft insertion path in the control device 6 is adjusted.

In one embodiment, the adjustment is performed by the control means 6 after an input by the user. In another embodiment, the adjustment may also occur without further input from the user.

Fig. 6 shows a possible alternative configuration of the apparatus 1 of fig. 1. The construction of fig. 6 differs from that shown in fig. 1 in that weft thread from the prewinder 9 arranged on the bottom side is threaded to the weft thread presenter 13 arranged closest to the fabric 4 and weft thread from the prewinder 7 arranged on the top side is threaded to the weft thread presenter 11 arranged furthest from the fabric 4. In the embodiment shown, additional

weft motion detectors

30, 31, 32 are arranged downstream of the

prewinders

7,8,9 in connection with the

prewinders

7,8, 9. Preferably,

weft motion detectors

30, 31, 32 are arranged at the outlet of the

respective prewinders

7,8, 9. The additional

weft motion detector

30, 31, 32 allows to determine from which prewinder 7,8,9 a weft thread is pulled by the feeding gripper 2 when a particular

weft thread presenter

11,12,13 presents a weft thread to the feeding gripper 2. The configuration shown in fig. 6 can therefore be distinguished from the configuration shown in fig. 1 by the control device 6. Similar to the situation described in the context of fig. 5, in a preferred embodiment the user has a number of choices. In this case, two options are available, namely:

1) the path of the weft being exchanged, or

2) The elements assigned to the weft insertion path in the control device 6 are adjusted.

Fig. 1,2 and 6 schematically show the use of the apparatus 1 in a gripper weaving machine. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 7, the apparatus 1 may be used in an air jet textile machine.

The apparatus 1 for an air jet textile machine shown in fig. 7 is similar to that of fig. 1, and the same reference numerals have been used for the same or similar elements. In the air jet loom, weft yarns are inserted by means of a nozzle device comprising

main nozzles

41,42, 43. Normally, the

prewinders

7,8,9 are arranged for the

main nozzles

41,42,43 serving as second weft insertion channel elements, so that a configuration in which a weft yarn from a prewinder is threaded to the "wrong" main nozzle is less likely to occur. Thus, additional

weft motion detectors

30, 31, 32 (see fig. 1) arranged downstream of the

prewinders

7,8,9 can be omitted. In the embodiment shown in fig. 7, so-called winding

detectors

47, 48, 49 are provided which detect the pulling of the winding from the

pre-winders

7,8,9, which winding detectors can also be used as weft movement detectors. To determine from which prewinder the main nozzle pulls a weft thread, the weft thread can be inserted into the shed.

In the embodiment of fig. 7, an associated weft thread

property identification sensor

24,25,26,44,45,46 is provided for each

bobbin

18, 20, 22, 19, 21, 23 in the vicinity of the associated pin on each

platform

15,16, 17. In an alternative embodiment, only one weft-

property identifying sensor

24,25,26,44,45,46 is provided on each platform.

The apparatus and the method according to the invention are not limited to the embodiments described by way of example and shown in the drawings. Alternatives and combinations of the described and illustrated embodiments falling within the scope of the claims are also possible. All the described and illustrated embodiments can be used in a gripper weaving machine, an air-jet weaving machine or other types of weaving machines.

Claims

1. An apparatus for optimizing a weaving process, comprising a control device (6), a plurality of weft insertion channel elements (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204), and a bobbin holder (14), each weft insertion channel element (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) being assigned to one weft insertion channel in the control device (6), the bobbin holder having a plurality of platforms (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104), each platform having a weft-property identifying sensor (24, 25,26,44,45, 46), wherein bobbins (18) placed on at least some of the platforms (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104), 19,20,21,22, 23) is fed to at least some of said weft insertion channel elements (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204), and wherein said control device (6) is arranged to drive at least one of said plurality of weft insertion channel elements (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) to draw at least one weft thread fed to said weft insertion channel element (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) from an associated bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) placed on a platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104), characterized in that at least some of the platforms (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104) weft movement detectors (27, 28, 29) are provided which are arranged to detect weft movement, and that the control device (6) is further arranged to determine the platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104) of a bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) from which at least one weft thread is drawn by evaluating detector signals of the weft movement detectors (27, 28, 29) provided at the platforms (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104), and that the control device is arranged to identify the weft thread by evaluating the weft thread property recognition sensors (24, 25,26,44,45, 46) to identify at least one weft thread property in the at least one weft thread fed to the weft insertion channel element (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a human machine interface (33) comprising at least one of an audio output, a display element and a display is provided, wherein the weft properties recognized by the control device (6) are shown to the user at the human machine interface (33).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that weft properties recognized by the control device (6) are visually shown to the user at a human-machine interface (33).

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control device (6) is arranged to compare the identified weft thread properties with weft thread property information allocated to a weft insertion channel in the control device (6).

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the control device (6) is arranged to adjust the distribution of weft insertion channel elements (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) to weft insertion channels on the basis of the identified weft thread threading.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the weft thread property identification sensors (24, 25,26,44,45, 46) each comprise a contactless reader element arranged to read weft thread properties from a tag attached to a bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) placed on the relevant platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the weft thread property identification sensors (24, 25,26,44,45, 46) each comprise an RFID reader element arranged to read weft thread properties from a tag attached to a bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) placed on the relevant platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104).

8. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, 5 and 7, characterized in that the weft insertion channel element of each weft insertion channel comprises a prewinder, wherein the weft thread of at least one bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) placed on the bobbin holder (14) is fed to one prewinder.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the weft insertion channel elements of each weft insertion channel comprise a pre-winder and second weft insertion channel elements downstream of the pre-winder, wherein a weft thread from at least one of the pre-winders can be fed to at least two different second weft insertion channel elements, and wherein the control device (6) is arranged to determine the supplied pre-winder for each second weft insertion channel element.

10. Method for optimizing a weaving process in a weaving machine comprising a control device (6), a plurality of weft insertion channel elements (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) and a bobbin rack (14), each weft insertion channel element (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) being assigned to one weft insertion channel in the control device (6), the bobbin rack having a plurality of platforms (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104), each platform having a weft-property identifying sensor (24, 25,26,44,45, 46), wherein a bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) is placed on the platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104) and weft thread of said bobbins (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) is fed to one of said plurality of weft insertion channel elements (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204), the method comprising driving at least one weft insertion channel element (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) by means of said control device (6) to be fed by drawing from the associated bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) placed on a bobbin holder (14) by said weft insertion channel element (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204), characterized in that, at or after pulling the weft thread from the bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23), the detector signal of a weft thread movement detector (27, 28, 29) arranged to detect weft thread movements, provided at least one of the platforms (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104), is evaluated to determine the platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104) of the bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) from which at least one weft thread is pulled, and the sensor signal of the weft thread property identification sensor (24, 25,26,44,45, 46) provided at the determined platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104) is evaluated, to identify at least one weft thread property of said at least one weft thread fed into said weft insertion channel element (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that weft properties recognized by the control device (6) are shown to the user on a human-machine interface (33).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that weft properties recognized by the control device (6) are visually shown to the user on a human-machine interface (33).

13. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the identified weft thread properties are compared with weft thread property information allocated to weft insertion channels in the control device (6) by means of the control device (6).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the control device (6) adjusts the distribution of weft insertion channel elements (7, 8,9,11,12,13,41,42,43,201,202,203, 204) to weft insertion channels on the basis of the identified weft thread threading.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12 and 14, wherein the user is prompted to modify the position of two or more bobbins (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) on the bobbin rack (14) to optimize the weaving of a given textile pattern.

16. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12 and 14, characterized in that weft thread properties are read by means of a weft thread property identification sensor (24, 25,26,44,45, 46) from a label attached to the bobbin (18, 19,20,21,22, 23) from which the weft thread is drawn, wherein the weft thread properties are read with a contactless reader element.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the weft yarn property is read using an RFID reader element.

18. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, 14 and 17, characterized in that the weft insertion channel element of each weft insertion channel comprises a prewinder, wherein the platform (15, 16,17,101,102,103, 104) of the bobbin on which a weft thread is drawn by the prewinder is identified.

19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that the weft insertion channel elements of each weft insertion channel comprise prewinders and second weft insertion channel elements downstream of the prewinders, wherein a weft thread from at least one of the prewinders can be fed to at least two different second weft insertion channel elements, and wherein the supplied prewinder is determined for each second weft insertion channel element by means of the control device (6).