EP0285001B1 - Gripper loom - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rapier weaving machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Rapier looms of the type mentioned are known several times. For example, EP-A-0 126 497 describes such a rapier weaving machine in which the entry belt engages with the drive wheel over part of the circumference, with a block-shaped guide member at the beginning and at the end of the engagement, the entry belt on the circumference of the drive wheel holds. The end of the belt facing away from the gripper head is guided in a guide channel. It is very disadvantageous that the block-shaped guide elements are exposed to a great deal of heating and great wear due to the friction, which has a disadvantageous effect on the working accuracy and the service life. The friction of the end of the belt facing away from the gripper head in the guide channel also leads to wear on the one hand and to the application of force for pushing the entry belt into the guide channel, thereby promoting the lifting of the entry belt from the circumference of the drive roller. Other guide elements are also known, for example from EP-A-0 095 137 a guide belt which is arranged along the entire area of engagement of the entry belt on the drive wheel and presses the entry belt against the circumference of the drive wheel. This device is relatively complicated and requires a relatively high driving force due to the numerous guide and deflection rollers of the guide belt.

Rapier weaving machines are also known which work with non-perforated entry belts. For example, such a rapier weaving machine is known from CH-A-652 764, in which the end of the belt facing away from the rapier head is firmly connected to a drive wheel, an entry belt being used which is not perforated, so that the force is introduced via the end of the belt and that One or more layers of tape can be wound onto the drive wheel. In order to prevent the entry belt from lifting off from the drive wheel, which occurs as a result of the drive force introduced at the end of the belt and / or as a result of the centrifugal force, a complicated guide device is provided which contains a rope, the two ends of which are fastened to the drive wheel, and this several times the drive wheel is looped and is additionally guided over rollers which are arranged outside the drive wheel. These rollers serve on the one hand for tensioning the rope and on the other hand for deflecting the rope from a guide area on the circumference of the drive wheel to the top of the entry belt wound on the drive wheel. This guiding device is extremely complicated and requires additional driving forces in order to hold the entry belt on the driving wheel and because of the convoluted guiding and deflection of the rope. It is therefore not possible to increase the speed, ie the performance of the grippers. In the case of double-layer winding of the entry belt, it is also necessary that this contain spacer strips in order to ensure the space for the guide rope between the individual layers of the entry belt.

From DE-A-32 40 972 a further rapier weaving machine of the type mentioned is known, in which the end of the belt facing away from the rapier head is attached to the circumference of a driving wheel. The drive wheel must be kept relatively large in order to be able to accommodate a length of the entry belt that corresponds to the stroke of the gripper head. To cope with the known inertial forces, the rapier weaving machine has resilient devices which are arranged in the movement end region of an oscillating member of the drive device for the entry belt in such a way that the kinetic energy of the oscillating member is absorbed and stored at the end of the oscillating movement of a working stroke of the entry belt on the resilient device in order to deliver the stored energy back to the oscillating link at the beginning of the oscillating movement in the opposite direction, ie at the next working stroke. Apart from the complicated design, the energy-storing device interferes with the control of the weaving machine when the drive conditions change.

The speeds of these known weaving machines are due to the problems described 400 to 600 U / min. limited.

The object of the invention is to design a rapier weaving machine of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that an increase in speed, for example to 1000 rpm. is possible and that a simple guiding of the entry belt is still guaranteed, which is subject to only slight wear and tear and requires only low driving forces and absorbs the centrifugal forces.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1. The fact that the entry belt is perforated and driven by a toothed drive wheel in the circumferential direction, so that the introduction of force is practically given or received in the direction of movement of the gripper head and that the end of the belt facing away from the gripper head is fastened to a rotatable guide device of larger diameter connected downstream of the drive wheel , the drive wheel can be made particularly small and thus low in mass. Since the downstream guiding device does not have to cope with any driving forces, it can be relatively large and yet particularly light and therefore also low in mass, and the frictional forces required for guiding channels are also eliminated, which not only benefits the protection of the entry belt, but also the lifting of the entry belt from Circumference of the driving wheel prevented. This is particularly the case when, for example, the guide device is drivingly coupled to the drive wheel, so that the drive wheel does not have to exert any tensile or compressive forces for the section of the entry belt which is remote from the gripper head. The drive and the guidance of the entry belt can thus be extremely low-friction, because the driving force and the centrifugal force by the in the circumferential direction toothed engagement of the entry belt and drive wheel and is taken up by the fastened entry belt end with the rotating guiding device, whereby no wear occurs, which has an extremely favorable effect on the accuracy and long service life of the rapier weaving machine. The low mass and friction forces reduce the driving forces required. Ultimately, this all means that much higher speeds of up to 1000 rpm are possible, and practically without wear, which is synonymous with low-noise operation, increased lifespan of the rapier weaving machine and low vibrations.

Advantageous designs of the rapier weaving machine are described in claims 2 to 26.

The guide device for the belt end of the entry belt facing away from the gripper head can have an additional guide wheel according to claim 2. This can either be driven by the moving entry belt, but the guide wheel is preferably coupled to the drive wheel in terms of drive. The inertia forces can be further reduced if the guide device is designed according to claim 3.

In particular, if the guide device is arranged independently of the driving wheel, a further guide member is recommended.

If the guide device is not advantageously coupled to the drive wheel in terms of drive, but rather is to be actuated by the entry belt, an embodiment according to claim 5 is required.

The guide member, which is assigned to the drive wheel on the side of the gripper head, can be designed as a sliding guide according to claim 6. However, an embodiment according to claim 7 is more advantageous, as a result of which the friction between the entry belt and the guide wheel is eliminated. An improvement in the drive between the guide wheel and the entry belt can be achieved by driving coupling of the guide wheel to the drive wheel, the guide wheel then also being able to serve to support the drive. These properties are further improved by an embodiment of the guide wheel according to claim 8. The guide wheel can cooperate with the perforation of the entry belt, which is intended for engagement with the drive wheel. However, an embodiment according to claim 9 is more advantageous, since then there is a more subtle interaction between the guide wheel and the entry belt. The management properties of the management body can be improved by a configuration according to claim 10 and / or 11.

The rapier weaving machine can be equipped with a single weft insertion device which is effective from one side of the shed through the entire shed. However, a known embodiment according to claim 12 is more advantageous. The gripper heads can cover the same distances according to claim 13 or, according to claim 14, different paths. It is also possible that the gripper heads are inserted into the shed from both sides synchronously or out of phase. It is even possible that the rapier head that draws the weft thread into the shed is already in the retraction movement when the other rapier head takes over the weft thread. According to claim 15, it is also possible to insert a weft thread from each side of the shed, which are preferably connected to one another according to claim 16.

A further development according to claim 18 is particularly advantageous, although protection for the features of claim 18 is also claimed independently of the features of the preceding claims 1 to 17, because the friction-reducing and cooling effect of the compressed air supply for sliding guidance is also advantageous for other rapier weaving machines.

The compressed air can simultaneously press the entry belt against a drive wheel, which counteracts the centrifugal force of the driven entry belt and thus ensures a secure hold of the entry belt on the drive wheel.

Advantageous embodiments are described in claims 19 to 24.

The sliding guide can be limited to the area facing the gripper head, at which the entry belt leaves the driving wheel. An embodiment according to claim 19 is also advantageous, as a result of which a secure hold of the entry belt on the drive wheel is ensured. Since a friction-reducing air cushion is formed by the compressed air, such a guide element can advantageously be arranged along the entire area on which the entry belt rests on the drive wheel. This ensures a secure hold of the entry belt on the drive wheel, the compressed air preferably being able to be set such that the entry belt is in contact with the drive wheel despite the centrifugal force.

An embodiment according to claim 21 is particularly advantageous and ensures a secure support of the entry belt on the drive wheel.

An embodiment according to claim 22 is also particularly advantageous, as a result of which the guidance of the rapier head and the entry belt on the reed is improved. In order that the inserted weft thread is not blown by the compressed air, an embodiment according to claim 23 is advantageous.

An embodiment according to claim 24 is also particularly expedient, since the compressed air supply at the individual consumer points can then be adjusted according to individual needs.

A particularly advantageous entry belt for rapier weaving machines is described in claim 25, and further improvements are achieved with a further development according to claim 26.

Figur 1

eine erste Greiferwebmaschine in Ansicht Senkrecht zur Warenrichtung gegen die Schussfadeneintragvorrichtungen, in schematischer Darstellung;

Figur 2

eine Schussfadeneintragvorrichtung zweiter Art, in schematischer Darstellung;

Figur 3

eine Schussfadeneintragvorrichtung dritter Art, in schematischer Darstellung;

Figur 4

eine Schussfadeneintragvorrichtung vierter Art, in schematischer Darstellung;

Figur 5

eine Schussfadeneintragvorrichtung fünfter Art, in schematischer Darstellung;

Figur 6

ein erstes Eintragband, im Ausschnitt und in Draufsicht;

Figur 7

die Befestigung des Bandendes des Eintragbandes im Ausschnitt;

Figur 8

ein Treibrad mit anliegendem Eintragband, im Teilschnitt VIII-VIII der Figur 1 und im Ausschnitt;

Figur 9

eine weitere Variante des Treibrades mit wendelförmig aufgewickeltem Eintragband, im Vertikalschnitt und im Ausschnitt;

Figur 10

ein weiteres Eintragband mit zwei Perforationsreihen, im Ausschnitt und Draufsicht,

Figur 11

das Zusammenwirken von Treibrad, Eintragband gemäss Figur 10 und Führungsrad, im Teilschnitt XI-XI der Figur 4 und im Ausschnitt;

Figur 12

eine zweite Greiferwebmaschine mit zwei Schussfadeneintragvorrichtungen, in Ansicht quer zum Warenverlauf;

Figur 13

das Führungsorgan an einem Treibrad gemäss Schnitt XIII-XIII der Figur 12;

Figur 14

das Webeblatt im Schnitt XIV-XIV der Figur 12; und

Figur 15

eine weitere Ausgestaltung von Führungsorganen an einem Treibrad.

Exemplary embodiments of the rapier weaving machine are described in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1

a first rapier weaving machine in a view perpendicular to the direction of the goods against the weft insertion devices, in a schematic representation;

Figure 2

a weft insertion device of the second kind, in a schematic representation;

Figure 3

a weft insertion device of the third type, in a schematic representation;

Figure 4

a weft insertion device of the fourth type, in a schematic representation;

Figure 5

a weft insertion device of the fifth type, in a schematic representation;

Figure 6

a first entry tape, in the detail and in plan view;

Figure 7

the fastening of the tape end of the entry tape in the cutout;

Figure 8

a driving wheel with adjacent entry belt, in partial section VIII-VIII of Figure 1 and in section;

Figure 9

a further variant of the driving wheel with a helically wound entry belt, in vertical section and in the cutout;

Figure 10

another ribbon with two rows of perforations, in the cutout and top view,

Figure 11

the interaction of the driving wheel, the entry belt according to FIG. 10 and the guide wheel, in the partial section XI-XI of FIG. 4 and in the section;

Figure 12

a second rapier weaving machine with two weft insertion devices, in view transverse to the course of the goods;

Figure 13

the guide member on a drive wheel according to section XIII-XIII of Figure 12;

Figure 14

the reed in section XIV-XIV of Figure 12; and

Figure 15

a further embodiment of management bodies on a driving wheel.

FIG. 1 shows a rapier weaving machine in which 4 weft insertion devices 6, 8 are arranged on both sides of a shed formed by warp threads 2. The shed is, in a manner known per se, by shedding machines, not shown, such as formed by an electronically controlled jacquard machine over harness cords 9 and strands. With the exception of modified hook heads 10, 12, these weft insertion devices 6, 8 have an identical structure. The weft insertion devices 6, 8 each contain a perforated, flexible entry belt 14, to one end of which the hook head 10 or 12 is fastened and the other end 16 of which is fastened, for example by means of a screw 18, to an alternately driven drive wheel 20. The drive wheel 20 thus simultaneously serves as a guide device 21 for the band end 16 and moves it on a circular guideway during the entire working stroke.

The drive wheel 20 contains teeth 22 distributed around its circumference, which engage in holes in the perforated, flexible entry belt 14, as shown in detail in FIG. Such an entry belt can be designed, for example, according to FIGS. 6 and 10, as will be described in more detail below. The drive wheel 20 is assigned a guide member 24, which is designed as a sliding guide or, as shown, as a guide wheel 26, which is also provided with teeth 28 on its circumference. The guide wheel 26 engages that area of the entry belt 14 which is assigned to the gripper head 10 or 12 and ensures that Entry belt 14 is in close engagement with the drive wheel 20 and does not lift off during the drive.

The teeth 28 of the guide wheel 26 can have the same size as the teeth 22 of the drive wheel 20 and engage in the same holes in which the teeth 22 of the drive wheel 20 also engage, so that, for example, an entry belt 14a according to FIG Perforation 30 with holes 32 of the same size. In the present example, however, the guide wheel 26 has teeth 28 which are smaller than the teeth 22 of the drive wheel 20 and an entry belt 14b is required for this, as shown in FIG. 10. Such an input belt has a perforation 34 with a first row 35 with holes 36, which are intended for the teeth 22 of the drive wheel 20, and a second row 38 with holes 40, the size and spacing of which can be smaller than that of the holes 36 of the first Row 34, and which are intended to engage the teeth 28 of the guide wheel 26.

In the rapier weaving machine of FIG. 1, the left weft thread insertion device 6 has a rapier head 10 which is designed in the form of a fork and is used to grasp a weft thread 42 which is drawn off, for example, from a supply spool 44. The gripper head 12 of the right weft thread insertion device 8 is designed in a hook shape and serves to take over the weft thread presented by the gripper head 10. The weft insertion devices are designed in such a way that the rapier heads 10, 12 are moved synchronously against one another and each cross half the length of the shed 4 to the transfer point 46 at which the rapier head 12 grips the weft thread 42 from the rapier head 10 and pulls it further through the shed to the other side thereof. In the present example, both weft insertion devices 6, 8 are configured identically and their gripper heads 10, 12 each cover half the width of the shed 4 in their working stroke. However, it is also entirely possible for the two weft insertion devices to have different working strokes, so that the transfer area follows can be shifted left or right in the shed. Furthermore, it is possible that the movement sequences do not take place synchronously with one another, but instead out of phase, one of the gripper heads for example reaching the transfer area 46 in front of the other. It is even possible to design the weft thread insertion devices in such a way that, for example, the looper head 10 already executes the retraction movement and is caught in the looper head 12. Furthermore, it is possible that the weft insertion devices are designed differently and work according to a different principle, so that, for example, the right weft insertion device 8 of FIG. 1 can also be designed in accordance with CH-A-671 412.

FIG. 2 shows a further weft insertion device 48, in which a toothed driving wheel 50 with the radius r is assigned a guide device 52 in the form of a guide wheel 54 with the radius R, where R> r, to which the band end 56 of an entry band 58 is attached and is wound up in a circular guideway. On the side of the gripper head 60, the entry belt 58 is in turn by a toothed or toothless guide wheel 62 serving as a guide member 61 is guided to the drive wheel 50. Between the drive wheel 50 and the guide wheel 54 there is a further guide wheel 64 on the entry belt 58 at the exit or entry area on the drive wheel 50. The guide wheels 54, 62, 64 can be free-running and can only be moved by the entry belt 58 driven by the drive wheel 50. However, it is also possible for the drive wheel 50 to drive the guide wheel 54, as is indicated by the toothed belt transmission 66 shown in broken lines. The guide wheels 62, 64 can also be driven by a corresponding toothed belt transmission 68.

FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a weft insertion device which is constructed similarly to that of FIG. 2, so that the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols. Instead of the guide wheel 54 in FIG. 2, however, in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, the drive roller 50 is assigned a guide arm 70 with the length or radius R, which is attached to a shaft 72 at one end and the band end 56 at its other end 74 of the entry belt 58 carries along a circular guideway with the radius R. The driving wheel 50 is followed by a guide roller 76 which is fastened to a support arm 78. The guide arm 70 could also be driven synchronously with the drive wheel 50 by means of a gear mechanism 80 indicated by a dot-dash line. Correspondingly, the guide wheel 62 can also be actuated synchronously by means of the toothed belt transmission 68 indicated by dash-dotted lines.

FIG. 4 shows a further weft insertion device, which is constructed analogously to the weft insertion device 8 of FIG. 1, so that again the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals and reference is made to the explanations relating to FIG. 1. In the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 4, a second guide wheel 26a, which is located on both sides of the entry point of the entry belt 14 on the drive wheel 20, is assigned to the guide member 24a for guiding the entry belt 14 on the drive wheel 20 in addition to a first guide wheel 26. The second guide wheel 26a is mounted on a rocker arm 82 which is mounted such that it can swing about the axis 84 of the guide wheel 26 and is biased by means of a spring 86 against the entry belt 14 or the drive wheel 20.

FIG. 5 shows the right weft insertion device 8a of FIG. 1, but the guide member 24b is not designed as a guide wheel but as a slide guide 87.

FIG. 6 shows the entry belt 14a already described above with the perforation 30 formed by the row of holes 32. As also mentioned and shown in FIG. 7, the entry belt 14a can be fastened to the drive wheel 20 or to another guide device by means of the screw 18. However, the entry belt can also be connected to the drive wheel or to the guide device instead of the screw connection by means of an adhesive connection or in another suitable manner.

As FIG. 9 shows, an entry belt 14 can be helical in at least two rows 88a, 88b on the circumference 90 of a drive wheel 92, which at the same time serves as a guide device 93 for the tape end serves to be wound up. For this purpose, the drive wheel 92 has teeth 94 arranged in a helical path. In order to always allow the entry belt to run in an aligned position with respect to the shed, it can be expedient to arrange the drive wheel in an axial direction in a manner not shown in accordance with the slope of the helical path of the teeth 94.

As already mentioned in connection with the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 4 and can be seen in greater detail in FIGS. 10 and 11, the drive wheel 20 and the guide wheel 26, 26a can have teeth 22 and 28, respectively, which contain different sizes and distances and with separate rows 35, 38 interact from holes 36, 40 of corresponding size in the entry band 14b.

FIG. 12 again shows a rapier weaving machine in which weft insertion devices 106, 108 are arranged on both sides of a shed 104 formed by warp threads 102. The shed is formed in a manner known per se by a shedding device, not shown. The weaving reed 109 is arranged in the shed for striking an inserted weft thread. With the exception of modified hook heads 110, 112, the weft insertion devices 106, 108 have an identical structure.

The weft insertion devices 106, 108 each contain a perforated flexible entry belt 114, at one end of which the hook head 110 or 112 is fastened and the other end of the belt 116 is fastened, for example by means of a screw 118, to an alternately driven drive wheel 120. The drive wheel 120 contains teeth 122 distributed around its circumference, which engage in holes 124 of the perforated, flexible entry belt 114, as shown in detail in FIG. A guide element 126, which is designed as a sliding guide, is assigned to the drive wheel 120.

The guide member 106, shown in more detail in particular in FIG. 13, contains a slideway 128, in which compressed air outlet openings 130 are arranged, which are directed against the entry belt 114. A row of such compressed air outlet openings 130 is provided on both sides of the teeth 122. The compressed air outlet openings are connected via a feed line 132 to a compressed air source, not shown. A control valve 134 is arranged in the feed line 132, with which the compressed air supply to the guide member 126 can be adjusted.

The rapier head 110 rests on a guide 136 in order to grasp a thread 138 from a supply spool 140 and to insert it into the shed 104. The gripper head 110 conveys the thread 138 approximately to the middle of the shed, where it is taken over by the gripper head 112 of the second weft insertion device 108 and pulled out of the shed to the other side. Along the path through the shed, the rapier heads 110, 112 are guided on a guide 142 which is arranged on the reed 109, as can be seen in particular from FIG.

The stationary guide 136 and the guide 142 on the reed 109 in turn contain compressed air outlet openings 144 in order to reduce the friction of the rapier head and the entry belt when it is inserted into the shed. The compressed air outlet openings 144 are in turn connected via a feed line 146 to the compressed air source, not shown. In the feed line 146 there is a control device 148 which contains a rotating cam disk 150 which actuates a valve 152. By means of the control device 148, the compressed air supply can be switched off in the phase of the weaving process in which the weaving blade 109 brings the inserted weft thread to the goods against the stop.

FIG. 15 shows a further exemplary embodiment in which the end of the entry belt 114 is not fastened to the drive wheel 120, but the entry belt is only guided over part of the circumference of the drive wheel. The part 154 of the entry belt 114 facing away from the gripper head 112 leaves the drive wheel 120 and is guided in a further guide 156. At this point of departure of the part 154, a further guide member 158 is arranged, which is designed analogously to the guide member 126, which engages on the drive wheel 120 on the side facing the gripper head 112. The guide member 158 again contains compressed air outlet openings 160, which face the entry belt 114 and are connected to a compressed air source via a feed line 162. Instead of the embodiment shown, the two guide members 126, 158 can be designed in one piece and running over the entire wrap area of the entry belt 114 on the drive wheel 120.

The entry belts for the rapier weaving machines can be designed in very different ways. For example, they can be made of metal. Those made of plastic, for example polyester, which are reinforced with fibers, preferably carbon fibers and / or glass fibers, are particularly advantageous. To reduce friction, the entry belt is coated on both sides with fluoroplastic, ie Teflon ^R.

Reference numerals

R

radius

r

radius

2nd

Warp thread

4th

Shed

6

Weft insertion device

8th

Weft insertion device

8a

Weft insertion device

9

Harness cord

10th

Gripper head

12th

Gripper head

14

Entry volume

14a

Entry tape (Fig. 6)

14b

Entry tape (Fig. 10)

16

Band end

18th

screw

20th

Driving wheel

21

Guide device of 16

22

tooth

24th

Executive body

24a

Executive body

24b

Executive body

26

Guide wheel

26a

Guide wheel

28

Tooth of 26

30th

Perforation of 14a

32

Hole from 14a

34

Perforation of 14b

35

first row of 14b

36

hole

38

second row of 14b

40

hole

42

Weft

44

Supply spool

46

Transfer area

48

Weft insertion device

50

Driving wheel

52

Guide device

54

Guide wheel

56

Band end

58

Entry volume

60

Gripper head

61

Executive body

62

Guide wheel

64

Guide wheel

66

Timing belt gear for 54

68

Timing belt gear for 62

70

Guide arm

72

wave

74

Late 70s

76

Leadership role

78

Beam

80

Gear transmission

82

Swingarm

84

axis

86

feather

87

Sliding guide

88a

line

88b

line

90

scope

92

Driving wheel

93

Guide device

94

tooth

102

Warp thread

104

Shed

106

Weft insertion device

108

Weft insertion device

109

Reed

110

Gripper head

112

Gripper head

114

Entry tape

116

Band end

118

screw

120

Driving wheel

122

tooth

124

hole

126

Executive body

128

Slideway

130

Compressed air outlet opening

132

Supply

134

Control valve

136

guide

138

thread

140

Supply spool

142

Guided tour on 9

144

Compressed air outlet opening

146

Supply

148

Control device

150

Cam disc

152

Valve

154

Part of 14

156

guide

158

Executive body

160

Compressed air outlet opening

162

Supply

Claims (26)

1. Gripper weaving machine, with at least one weft-insertion device having a perforated flexible insertion band (14, 14a, 14b, 58, 114) which carries a gripper head (10, 12, 60, 110, 112) at one band end and which is advanced into the shed (4, 104) and retracted again by means of a driving wheel (50) driven in alternation, the driving wheel having teeth (22, 94, 122) distributed on the circumference and engaging into the perforation (30, 34, 124) of the insertion band, there being, furthermore, a guide member (24, 24a, 24b, 61, 87, 126), assigned to the driving wheel on the same side as the gripper head, for preventing the insertion band from lifting off from the circumference of the driving wheel, characterized in that the band end (56) facing away from the gripper head (60) is fastened to a rotatable guide device (52) located downstream of the driving wheel (50), the entire assembly being such that, during the entire working stroke, the band end (56) describes an at least approximately circular guide path, the radius (R) of which is larger than the radius (r) of the driving wheel (50).
2. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guide device (52) has a guide wheel (54) which is located downstream of the driving wheel (50) and which is preferably drive-coupled to the driving wheel (50).
3. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guide device (52) has a guide arm (70) which is located downstream of the driving wheel (50) and to one end (70) of which the band end (56) is fastened and the other end of which is mounted rotatably about a shaft (72) arranged parallel to the axis of the driving wheel (50), the guide arm (70) being preferably drive-coupled to the driving wheel (50).
4. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the guide device (52) assigned to the driving wheel (50), a further guide member (64) for the insertion band (58), the said guide member (64) preferably being assigned to the driving wheel (50), is present between the guide device (52) and the driving wheel (50).
5. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the insertion band (58) is made bend-resistant, in such a way that it drives the guide device (52) located downstream of the driving wheel (50).
6. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide member (24b, 126) assigned to the driving wheel (20, 120) on the same side as the gripper head (10, 12, 110, 112) is designed as a sliding guide (87, 128) and preferably consists of a slidable and wearable material.
7. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the guide member (24, 24a, 61) assigned to the driving wheel (20, 50) on the same side as the gripper head (10, 12, 60) is designed as a guide wheel (26, 26a, 62) which is preferably drive-coupled to the driving wheel (20, 50).
8. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 7, characterized in that the guide wheel (26, 26a, 62) is equipped along the circumference with teeth (28) which cooperate with the insertion band (14, 14a, 14b).
9. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 8, characterized in that the perforation (34) of the insertion band (14b) has at least one second row (38) of holes (40) for the engagement of the teeth (28) of the guide wheel (26), the spacing and size of the holes (40) of the second row (38) preferably being smaller than the spacing and size of the holes (36) of the first row (35).
10. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the guide member (24a) bears on the insertion band (14) under pretension by means of a spring (86).
11. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has two guide members (26, 26a, 126, 158) which are arranged on both sides of the run-on region of the insertion band (14, 114) on the driving wheel (20, 120).
12. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it has, on each side of the shed (4), a weft-insertion device (6, 8), the gripper heads (10, 12) of which, acting in opposition to one another, each travel through part of the width of the shed, in such a way that the weft thread (42) drawn into the shed (4) by one gripper head (10) is taken over by the other gripper head (12) and drawn through the shed (4) completely.
13. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 12, characterized in that the gripper heads (10, 12, 110, 112) have approximately identical working strokes.
14. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 12, characterized in that the gripper heads (10, 12, 110, 112) have working strokes of different length.
15. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it has, on each side of the shed (4), a weft-insertion device (6), the gripper heads (10) of which act in opposition to one another and travel through a corresponding part of the shed, in such a way that the left-hand and right-hand grippers each insert one weft thread, so that two fabric portions are obtained.
16. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 15, characterized in that the weft-thread tips are connected to one another in such a way that a fabric is obtained.
17. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the gripper head of the weft-insertion device travels through the entire width of the shed and draws the weft thread in completely over the entire fabric width.
18. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 17, with at least one weft-insertion device (106, 108) having a flexible insertion band (114) which carries a gripper head (110, 112) at one band end, and with at least one guide member (126) for the insertion band (114), characterized in that the guide member (126) is designed as a sliding guide, in the slide track (128) of which are arranged outflow orifices (130) for compressed air which point towards the insertion band (114) and which are connected to a compressed-air source.
19. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 18, characterized in that a further guide member (158) having a slide track and compressed-air outflow orifices (160) pointing towards the insertion band (114) are assigned to the driving wheel (120) at a location where the part (154) of the insertion band (114) facing away from the gripper head (112) runs onto the driving wheel (120) or leaves the latter.
20. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 18, characterized in that the guide member (126, 158) together with the slide track (128) and the compressed-air outflow orifices (130, 160) is arranged along the entire region on which the insertion band (114) rests against the driving wheel (120).
21. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the compressed-air outflow orifices (130, 160) are arranged on both sides of the perforation row.
22. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 18 to 21, characterized in that the gripper head (110, 112) and the insertion band (114) are guided, in the region of the shed (104), on a guide (142) which is arranged on the reed (109) and which has compressed-air outflow orifices (144) pointing towards the insertion band (114) and the gripper head (110, 112).
23. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 18 to 21, characterized in that there is arranged in the compressed-air feed conduit (146) assigned to the reed (109) a control device (148) which interrupts the compressed-air feed at least in the phase of the beating-up of the weft thread.
24. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 18 to 21, characterized in that means (134) for adjusting the compressed-air feed are present at least in individual compressed-air feed conduits (132).
25. Gripper weaving machine according to one of Claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the insertion band (14, 114) is a fibre-reinforced plastic band which is coated on both sides with fluoroplastic (Teflon®).
26. Gripper weaving machine according to Claim 25, characterized in that the insertion band (14, 114) consists of polyester and contains carbon fibres and/or glass fibres.

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