CN114630932A

CN114630932A - Movable rod for gripper clamp

Info

Publication number: CN114630932A
Application number: CN202080079035.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: E·维克莱特; D·德米尔斯曼; R·库伦比尔
Original assignee: Picanol NV
Current assignee: Picanol NV
Priority date: 2019-11-13
Filing date: 2020-09-23
Publication date: 2022-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-23
Also published as: BE1027704B1; EP3822400A1; WO2021094023A1; BE1027704A1; CN114630932B; EP3822400C0; EP3822400B1

Abstract

A movable bar (3) for a wire clamp (2) of a gripper (1) of a gripper weaving machine, the movable bar (3) having a first contact surface (4), the first contact surface (4) being intended for cooperation with a second contact surface (6) of a counter element (5), the second contact surface (6) being arranged opposite the first contact surface (4), wherein the first contact surface (4) is provided with an inwardly arched portion (13), the inwardly arched portion (13) being curved around an axis (a) parallel to a longitudinal direction of the movable bar (3), and the inwardly arched portion (13) extending longitudinally along the axis (a), wherein the width of the inwardly arched portion (13) is at least twice its height. A gripper with a movable rod, a gripper with a gripper and a gripper weaving machine.

Description

Movable rod for gripper clamp

Technical Field

The invention relates to a cable clamp with a movable rod for a gripper of a gripper weaving machine, to a movable rod for a cable clamp, to a gripper, and to a gripper weaving machine.

Background

As is well known, a gripper weaving machine usually comprises two grippers for transporting a weft thread through a weaving shed, for example called a pulling gripper and a receiving gripper, wherein the pulling gripper is designed to guide a weft thread through a first half of the weaving shed and the receiving gripper is designed to guide a weft thread through a second half of the weaving shed after the weft thread has been taken up from the pulling gripper.

In order to clamp a weft thread during transport, grippers with a gripper are known, wherein the gripper has a movable rod which is pivotably mounted to a gripper body, which movable rod is pushed towards a counter element which is mounted to or is part of the gripper body.

EP 0207533 a1 discloses a wire clamp having a movable rod in the form of a needle with a circular cross-section and a counter element in the form of a cutting head provided with a groove, preferably with a V-shaped groove, the upper surface of which is arranged opposite the needle.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a movable bar for a thread clamp of a gripper weaving machine, a thread clamp with a movable bar, a gripper and a gripper weaving machine which achieve a firm clamping of different weft threads without causing damage to the weft threads.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a movable bar for a wire clamp of a gripper weaving machine is provided, the movable bar having a first contact surface for cooperating with a second contact surface of a counter element, the second contact surface being arranged opposite the first contact surface, wherein the first contact surface is provided with an inwardly arched portion which is curved around an axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the movable bar and which extends longitudinally along said axis, wherein the width of the inwardly arched portion is at least twice its height.

In the context of the present application, the expression "the arching portion extends longitudinally along an axis", also referred to as the longitudinal direction of the arching portion, is used to describe that the arching portion has a longitudinal extension in the direction of said axis. Further, in the context of the present application, a domed section having a width at least twice its height is also referred to as a flat domed section.

The movable bar with the flat inwardly arched portion allows a reliable clamping to be achieved, wherein a weft thread can be clamped between the movable bar and the counter element with a clamping force having an at least substantially uniform force distribution along the width of the clamping area of the thread clamp and only a small deflection, so that the risk of damage or breaking of the weft thread is reduced.

The cross-section of the movable bar is chosen by the person skilled in the art such that the bar has sufficient rigidity and low weight. In an embodiment of the invention, the movable bar has a rectangular cross-section, in particular a rounded rectangular cross-section.

In one embodiment, the curvature of the inwardly domed portion is in the form of an oval or elliptical arc, in particular an oval or elliptical arc, which in one embodiment is also symmetrical about a mid-plane of the inwardly domed portion. In the context of the present invention, a plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the inwardly arched portion and intersecting the inwardly arched portion by its apex is referred to as the middle plane of the arched portion. In a particular embodiment of the movable bar, the curvature of the inwardly arched portion is in the form of a circular arc. This allows in particular a simple and cost-effective manufacturing.

In one embodiment, the curvature of the domed portion extends between opposite edge regions of the first contact surface. In other embodiments, the first contact surface is provided with two flat surface portions at its edge region, wherein the inwardly arched portion is arranged between the two flat surface portions. Providing a flat surface at the edge region allows for simple manufacturing while avoiding sharp edges. In addition, a movable bar having a crowned portion and a flat surface portion can be combined with different counter elements having a complementary crowned portion at the second contact surface or having a flat second contact surface.

In an alternative embodiment, the first contact surface is provided with at least two recesses extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the movable bar. In one embodiment, the recess is provided in an area of the inwardly domed portion extending from a surface thereof. In other embodiments, the notch is disposed at least partially adjacent to the inwardly domed portion. The recess allows a combination of a movable bar and a counter element with protruding ribs, wherein the position, number, shape and size of the recess is selected to be complementary to the position, number, shape and size of the protruding ribs. In one embodiment the first contact surface is provided with an even number of recesses arranged symmetrically with respect to a mid-plane of the inwardly arched portion. As explained above, in the context of the present invention, a plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the inwardly arched portion and intersecting the inwardly arched portion through its apex is referred to as a middle plane of the inwardly arched portion.

In yet another embodiment of the movable bar, the first contact surface is provided at an edge region thereof with two flat surface portions, wherein the inwardly arched portion is arranged between the two flat surface portions, and wherein the first contact surface is further provided with two notches extending longitudinally along at least a part of the movable bar, the notches being arranged at both sides and symmetrically with respect to a middle plane of the inwardly arched portion, and wherein each of the two notches is arranged between the inwardly arched portion and one of the flat surface portions. The movable bar can be combined with several different counter-elements to reliably grip a weft thread.

In an embodiment of the movable bar, the inner edge of each of the two notches is inwardly offset to the outer edge of said notch. In other words, the inner edge and the outer edge extend to arch the curvature of the section. In one embodiment, the offset is selected such that the raised portion, the inner edge, and the outer edge are disposed on a common arc.

According to a second aspect, a clamp for a gripper of a gripper weaving machine is provided, comprising a movable bar with a first contact surface having a flat inwardly arched portion, and a counter element provided with a second contact surface arranged opposite to the first contact surface.

In one embodiment, the second contact surface of the counter element is flat. In other embodiments, the second contact surface is provided with an outwardly arched portion that is complementary in shape to the inwardly arched portion of the movable bar. Such a clamp advantageously allows a good clamping with an at least substantially uniform force distribution while avoiding strong deformations of the weft thread which may lead to damage of the weft thread or thread breakage.

In one embodiment, the counter element is part of the gripper body. In other embodiments, the counter element is a sheet. The foil can be mounted to a gripper body. In one embodiment, the lamina can be mounted to the gripper body so as to be replaceable, for example, when worn or torn.

According to a third aspect, a gripper for a gripper weaving machine is provided, comprising a gripper body and a thread clamp.

In one embodiment, the movable rod is at least partially elastically deformable and is forced against the counter element by its internal restoring force. In other embodiments, the movable lever is pivotably mounted to the gripper body, wherein the movable lever is forced towards the counter element by using at least one resilient element. This allows a rigid movable rod and a high clamping force to be achieved. In particular, in one embodiment, the movable bar is a double-sided bar, wherein one end is provided with a first contact surface, while the opposite end cooperates with the resilient element to force the first end towards the counter element.

In one embodiment, the counter element is part of the gripper body. In other embodiments, the counter element is a foil mounted to the gripper body, wherein in particular at least one resilient support element is provided on the gripper body and at least a portion of the foil opposite the second contact surface is supported on the gripper body via the at least one resilient support element. The resilient support element influences the clamping force applied to the weft thread. In one embodiment, the at least one elastic support element and/or the lamellae are replaceable, wherein several different, interchangeable lamellae and/or several different, interchangeable elastic support elements are provided, thereby allowing the customization of the gripper for different weft threads and/or different weaving conditions (e.g. different weaving speeds).

According to a fourth aspect, a gripper weaving machine is provided, comprising a gripper with a thread clamp according to one of the embodiments described above. The gripper with the weft gripper according to the invention is used in particular as a pulling gripper, also called a thread feeder gripper, which guides a weft thread through a first half of a weaving shed.

Drawings

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements.

Figure 1 shows the gripper in an exploded view.

FIG. 2 illustrates selected portions of the gripper of FIG. 1 in a side view.

Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a wire clamp with a movable bar and a counter element in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the wire clamp with a movable bar and a counter element of fig. 3 in a cross-section along the line II-II in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of the wire clamp with a movable bar and a counter element of fig. 3 in a cross-section along the line II-II in fig. 2.

Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of a wire clamp with a movable bar and a counter element in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2.

Fig. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the wire clamp with the movable bar and the counter element of fig. 6 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2.

Fig. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the wire clamp with the movable bar and the counter element of fig. 6 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2.

Fig. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of the wire clamp with the movable bar and the counter element of fig. 6 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a gripper 1, in particular a traction gripper of a gripper weaving machine (not shown), in an exploded view, and fig. 2 shows selected parts of the gripper 1 of fig. 1 in a side view.

The gripper 1 has a gripper body 7, a thread clamp 2, a cover plate 20 and a guide element 21 arranged between the gripper body 7 and the cover plate 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the guide element 21 is merely optional and that in other embodiments the guide element 21 is omitted. In an alternative embodiment, the gripper body 7 and the cover plate 20 can be made in one piece.

The gripper body 7 is shown in the form of a profile which can be attached in a known manner to a rapier or gripper band (not shown) for moving the gripper 1 through the weaving shed.

The clamp 2 comprises a movable rod 3 with a first contact surface 4 and a counter-element 5 provided with a second contact surface 6, which second contact surface 6 is arranged opposite to the first contact surface 4.

The movable lever 3 is mounted to the gripper body 7 so as to pivot about a pivot axis 10. In the embodiment shown, the movable bar 3 is a double-sided bar having two arms 8, 9 arranged at opposite sides of the pivot axis 10 of the movable bar 3. The first arm 8 of the movable bar 3 is provided with a first contact surface 4 and is forced towards the counter element 5 by means of a resilient element 11, which resilient element 11 is in the form of a spring in the embodiment shown, which acts on the second arm 9 of the movable bar 3.

In the embodiment shown, the counter element 5 is a thin sheet mounted to the gripper body 7. More particularly, in the embodiment shown, the counter element 5 is mounted to the gripper body 7 in the region of the second contact surface 6 and is supported by three elastic support elements 12, which elastic support elements 12 support the counter element 5 and force at least a portion of the counter element 5 provided with the second contact surface 6 towards the movable bar 3. The number of resilient support elements 12 is by way of example only, and in other embodiments more or less than three resilient support elements 12 are provided, for example one or two resilient support elements 12 are provided. In the shown embodiment the three resilient support elements 12 and the counter element 5 are exchangeable, wherein in one embodiment the elements are exchanged if needed due to wear and tear. In other embodiments, several different, interchangeable counter elements 5 and/or several different, interchangeable elastic support elements 12 are provided, allowing the gripper 1 to be customized for different wefts and/or different weaving conditions.

Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of the wire clamp 2 with a movable bar 3 and a counter element 5 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 3, the first contact surface 4 of the movable bar 3 is provided with an inwardly arched portion 13, which inwardly arched portion 13 extends longitudinally along the movable bar 3 (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). More particularly, the inwardly arched portion 13 extends longitudinally along an axis a parallel to the longitudinal direction of the movable bar 3. The inwardly arched portion 13 has a smooth surface and has a width W that is at least twice its height H. The width W of the inwardly arched portion 13 is defined as its extension perpendicular to the longitudinal direction between its opposite ends, i.e. the horizontal extension in the drawing plane. The height H is defined as its extension between the apex 30 and the edge 31 of the inwardly arched portion 13, i.e. the vertical extension in the drawing plane shown. A plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the inwardly arched portion 13 and intersecting the inwardly arched portion 13 through its apex 30 is referred to as a middle plane M of the inwardly arched portion 13. In the embodiment shown, the inwardly arched portion 13 is symmetrical about a median plane M, and the median plane M is the central plane of the cross section of the movable bar 3. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the curvature of the inwardly domed portion 13 is in the form of a circular arc. This allows for a simple and cost-effective manufacturing. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the inwardly arched portion 13 is not completely symmetrical, but slightly asymmetrical with respect to the mid-plane M. In another alternative embodiment (not shown), the mid-plane M is not aligned symmetrically with the central plane of the cross-section of the movable bar, but is slightly offset from the central plane of the cross-section of the movable bar.

The inwardly arched portion 13 is arched about an axis a, also referred to as the central axis a of the inwardly arched portion 13 in the form of a circular arc. The central axis a lies in the middle plane M. In the embodiment shown, in addition to the inwardly arched portion 13, the movable bar 3 also has a rounded rectangular cross-section, which is also preferably symmetrical about the median plane M.

If the inwardly arched portion 13 is in the form of a circular arc, the aspect ratio W/H depends on the central angle α and the radius R. In the illustrated embodiment, the central angle is between about 40 ° and about 70 °, and particularly about 55 °.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the second contact surface 6 at the counter element 5 is provided with an outwardly arched portion 14, which outwardly arched portion 14 is complementary in shape to the inwardly arched portion 13 of the movable bar 3. In the embodiment shown, both the curvature of the inwardly arched portion 13 and the curvature of the outwardly arched portion 14 are in the form of arcs of a circle having a common central axis a, wherein the radius of curvature of the inwardly arched portion 13 is at least almost the same as the radius of curvature of the outwardly arched portion 14, thereby allowing the inwardly arched portion 13 and the outwardly arched portion 14 to abut each other in the absence of a weft thread. In an embodiment, the radius of curvature of the inwardly arched portion 13 is slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the outwardly arched portion 14, so that a small gap of constant thickness is formed between the two

arched portions

13 and 14 for clamping a weft thread.

Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a wire clamp 2 with a movable rod 3 and a counter element 5 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2. The counter element 5 shown in fig. 4 is identical to the counter element 5 shown in fig. 3. The movable bar 3 shown in fig. 4 differs from the movable bar 3 of fig. 3 in that the first contact surface 4 is further provided at its edge area with two flat surface portions 15 in addition to the inwardly arched portion 13, wherein the inwardly arched portion 13 is arranged between the two flat surface portions 15. As shown in fig. 4, if the counter-element 5 is not provided with a corresponding flat surface portion, the movable bar 3 contacts the counter-element 5 only with the inwardly arched portion 13 when closing the clip 2. The skilled person will understand that in an alternative embodiment the movable bar 3 shown in fig. 3 can be combined with a counter element having only a flat second contact surface, wherein the movable bar 3 only contacts such counter element with the flat surface portion 15 when closing the wire clamp 2.

Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of the wire clamp 2 with a movable bar 3 and a counter element 5 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2. The counter element 5 shown in fig. 4 is identical to the counter element 5 shown in fig. 3 and the movable bar 3 shown in fig. 5 is similar to the movable bar 3 shown in fig. 3, wherein the first contact surface 4 is provided with an inwardly arched portion 13 and the second contact surface 6 is provided with an outwardly arched portion 14. The curvature of the two arched portions is in the form of circular arcs, which are concentric with each other. In contrast to the embodiment of fig. 3, however, in the embodiment of fig. 5 the inwardly arched portion 13 of the movable bar 3 has a width W13 which is smaller than the width W14 of the outwardly arched portion 14 of the counter element 5.

Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the wire clip 2 with the movable bar 3 and the counter element 5 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2, which fourth embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, wherein the first contact surface 4 is provided with an inwardly arched portion 13 and two flat surface portions 15 provided at the edge regions of the inwardly arched portion 13. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the first contact surface 4 is further provided with two recesses 16 extending longitudinally along the movable bar 3. The notches 16 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the mid-plane M of the inwardly arched portion 13, and each of the notches 16 is arranged between the inwardly arched portion 13 and one of the flat surface portions 15.

In the embodiment shown, the inner edge 17 of the notch 16 is offset inwardly to the outer edge 18 of the notch 16, in other words, the inner edge 17 of the notch 16, which is arranged closer to the middle plane M, is offset inwardly to the outer edge 18 of the notch 16, which is arranged further from the middle plane M. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the inner edge 17 and the outer edge 18 are arranged on a curved virtual circular arc extending towards the inner dome 13. This allows the outer edge 18 to also contact the outwardly arched portion 14 when the inwardly arched portion 13 is in contact with the outwardly arched portion 14 (in other words, when the cleat 2 is in the closed state).

As will be shown hereinafter, the movable bar 3 of the embodiment of fig. 6 can be combined with several different counter elements 5 to clamp a weft thread.

Fig. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the wire clamp 2 with a movable bar 3 and a counter element 5 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2. The movable bar 3 shown in fig. 7 is the same as the movable bar 3 shown in fig. 6. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the second contact surface 6 of the counter element 5 shown in fig. 7 is flat and is not provided with an outwardly arched portion, wherein the movable bar 3 only contacts such counter element 5 with a flat surface portion 15 when closing the wire clamp 2.

Fig. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the wire clamp 2 with a movable bar 3 and a counter element 5 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2. The movable bar 3 shown in fig. 8 is the same as the movable bar 3 shown in fig. 6. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the second contact surface of the counter element 5 shown in fig. 7 is flat and is not provided with an outwardly arched portion, wherein the movable bar 3 only contacts such counter element 5 with the flat surface portion 15 when closing the wire clamp 2. In addition, the counter element 5 shown in fig. 8 is provided with a longitudinal groove 36 arranged opposite the inwardly arched portion 13 of the movable bar 3.

Fig. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of a wire clamp 2 with a movable rod 3 and a counter element 5 in a cross section along the line II-II in fig. 2. The movable bar 3 shown in fig. 9 is the same as the movable bar 3 shown in fig. 6. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the second contact surface 6 of the counter element 5 shown in fig. 7 is flat and is not provided with an outwardly arched portion, wherein the movable bar 3 only contacts such counter element 5 with a flat surface portion 15 when closing the wire clamp 2. In addition, the counter element 5 shown in fig. 9 is provided with two longitudinally extending ribs 37, which longitudinally extending ribs 37 are arranged at the second contact surface opposite the recess 16 of the first contact surface. The rib 37 is received in the recess 16 when the clip 2 is closed.

The skilled person will understand that the movable bar 3 shown in fig. 6 to 9 can be combined with several different counter elements 5. In an embodiment of the invention, several different, interchangeable counter elements 5 in the form of sheets are provided, allowing the customization of the grip 2 for different wefts and/or different weaving conditions.

Furthermore, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that in alternative embodiments, the various features described with respect to the various embodiments can be combined in any combination to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above detailed description.

Claims

1. A clamp for a gripper (1) of a gripper weaving machine, comprising a movable rod (3) and a counter-element (5), the movable rod (3) having a first contact surface (4), the first contact surface (4) being intended to cooperate with a second contact surface (6) of the counter-element (5), the second contact surface (6) being arranged opposite the first contact surface (4), characterized in that,

the first contact surface (4) is provided with an inwardly arched portion (13), which inwardly arched portion (13) is curved around an axis (A) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the movable bar (3), and which inwardly arched portion (13) extends longitudinally along said axis (A), wherein the width of the inwardly arched portion (13) is at least twice its height.

2. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the curvature of the inwardly arched portion (13) is in the form of a circular arc.

3. The wire clamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first contact surface (4) is provided with two flat surface portions (15) at its edge region, wherein the inwardly arched portion (13) is arranged between the two flat surface portions (15).

4. The wire clamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first contact surface (4) is provided with at least two notches (16) extending longitudinally along at least a part of the movable bar (3).

5. The clamp according to claim 4, characterized in that said first contact surface (4) is provided with an even number of notches (16), said even number of notches (16) being arranged symmetrically with respect to a median plane (M) of said inwardly arched portion (13).

6. The wire clamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first contact surface (4) is provided with two flat surface portions (15) at its edge regions, wherein the inwardly arched portion (13) is arranged between the two flat surface portions (15), and wherein the first contact surface (4) is provided with two notches (16) extending longitudinally along at least a part of the movable bar (3), the notches (16) being arranged at both sides and symmetrically with respect to a mid-plane (M) of the inwardly arched portion (13), and wherein each of the two notches (16) is arranged between the inwardly arched portion (13) and one of the flat surface portions (15).

7. The wire clamp of claim 6, characterized in that the inner edge (17) of each of the two notches (16) is offset inwardly to the outer edge (18) of the notch (16).

8. The wire clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second contact surface (6) is provided with an outwardly arched portion (14), the outwardly arched portion (14) being complementary in shape to the inwardly arched portion (13) of the movable bar (3).

9. The clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the counter element (5) is a thin sheet.

10. A movable bar of a clamp (2) for a gripper (1) of a gripper weaving machine, characterized in that it is a movable bar (3) for a clamp (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Gripper for a gripper weaving machine, comprising a gripper body (7) and a thread clamp (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. Gripper according to claim 11, characterized in that the movable lever (3) is pivotably mounted to the gripper body (7), wherein the movable lever (3) is forced towards the counter element (5) by using at least one resilient element (11).

13. Gripper according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the counter element (5) is a lamella which is mounted to the gripper body (7).

14. Gripper according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one resilient support element (12) is provided on the gripper body (7), wherein at least a part of the foil opposite the second contact surface (6) is supported on the gripper body (7) via the at least one resilient support element (12).

15. A projectile loom comprising a projectile according to any one of claims 11 to 14.