EP2141269A1

EP2141269A1 - Warp beam support unit for a loom, warp yarns feeding assembly and loom comprising such a unit

Info

Publication number: EP2141269A1
Application number: EP08356098A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sigmund Tremer; Mario Koerner; Martin Burkert
Original assignee: Schoenherr Textilmaschinenbau GmbH; SCHONHERR TEXTILMASCHINENBAU GmbH
Current assignee: Schoenherr Textilmaschinenbau GmbH; SCHONHERR TEXTILMASCHINENBAU GmbH
Priority date: 2008-07-02
Filing date: 2008-07-02
Publication date: 2010-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-02
Also published as: CN101619517B; EP2141269B1; CN101619517A; DE602008005869D1

Abstract

This warp beam support unit (21) forms at least a warp beam receiving volume (V₁-V₄) where a warp beam (22) can be located in a position to feed (A₁) a loom with warp yarns. This unit (21) comprises a frame (23) which defines the volume (V₁-V₄), support means (32,42) adapted to support a warp beam (22) within said volume (V₁-V₄) in such a way that said warp beam can rotate around a longitudinal axis (B₁,8₂) of said volume and a let-off driving device (34,36) adapted to control the rotation of a warp beam (22) around such a longitudinal axis (B₁,B₂). At least one opening (O₁-O₄) is provided in at least a lateral wall (24,25) of the frame (23). This opening is large enough (H,W) to allow a warp beam to go through this opening in order to enter (A₃) or to exit the volume (V₁-V₄) with a translation movement perpendicular to the warp yarns feeding direction (A₁).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a warp beam support unit for a loom. This invention also concerns a warp yarns feeding assembly comprising such a warp beam support unit and to a loom equipped with such a unit or such an assembly. Finally, the invention relates to a process for loading a loom with a warp beam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of weaving machines, it is known to feed a loom with warp yarns which are supposed to be woven with weft yarns in order to constitute the fabric. In particular, in the case of a carpet weaving loom, the warp yarns are generally fed to some heddles driven by oscillating frames which define a shed for the insertion of weft yarns. On the other hand, pile yarns are provided from a creel to some other heddles driven by one or several Jacquard mechanisms. The warp yarns are wounded around one or several cylindrical rolls known as "warp beams" and which are located next to the loom, generally on its back side. These warp beams generally comprise a central shaft and one flange at each of its extremities. These beams are mounted on a frame in a support unit and allowed to rotate in order to feed the warp yarns to the loom. A let-off driving device slowly rotates each warp beam in order for the warp yarns to be unwounded and provided to the shedding and insertion sections of the loom, with an appropriate speed and tension.
A frame supports the or each warp beam and is provided with bearing means allowing the warp beam to rotate. Loading and unloading of the warp beam or beams is done by moving the warp beam or beams in the direction of the warp, that is in the direction of the warp yarns when they extend between the warp beam and the heddles. Such loading and unloading steps require a large free space on the back of the warp beam support unit and/or between the warp beam support unit and the loom itself. For instance, in the case of a warp beam having flanges of a diameter of 1,25 m, it is necessary to have a free space of a length of at least 1,75 m on the front and on the back of the warp beam support unit. A special trolley must be designed and manufactured to carry the full warp beams, which can be more than 2000 Kg heavy, towards a corresponding receiving volume of the warp beam support unit. Such a special trolley is expensive and must allow both a lateral movement and a vertical movement to fit the warp beams in the corresponding receiving volumes of the warp beam support unit.
Moreover, in the case of a carpet loom, the creel must be located far away from the loom, in order to allow some space for the loading and unloading of the warp beams, which increases the inertia of the pile yarns extending between the creel spools and the Jacquard heddles. This induces limitations to the working speed of the loom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims at solving these problems with a new warp beam support unit which allows easy loading and unloading of one or several warp beams, without needing a large space on the back of the loom.
The invention concerns a warp beam support unit for a loom, this unit forming at least a warp beam receiving volume where a warp beam can be located in a position to feed the loom with warp yarns, this unit comprising a frame which defines this volume, support means adapted to support a warp beam within this volume in such a way that this warp beam can rotate around a longitudinal axis of this volume and a let-off driving device adapted to control the rotation of the warp beam around this longitudinal axis. This warp beam support unit is characterized in that at least one opening is provided in at least one lateral wall of the frame, this opening being large enough to allow the warp beam to go through this opening, to enter or to exit a warp beam receiving volume, with a translation movement perpendicular to the warp yarns feeding direction.
Thanks to the invention, it is possible to load one or several warp beams into the warp beam support unit along a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of progression of the warp yarns from a warp beam to the shedding portion of the loom. It is no more necessary to keep an empty large space on the front and/or on the back of the warp beam support unit for the passage of a trolley dedicated to the warp beams.
According to further aspects of the invention, which are advantageous but not compulsory, the warp beam support unit might incorporate one or several of the following features:

The opening extends down to the bottom of the end wall.
A part of the support means is mounted next to the opening with a possibility of movement between a first position, where it allows a beam to go through the opening, and a second position where it supports the beam within the volume. This part of the support means advantageously includes a bracket articulated on the frame, around a vertical axis, and movable between the first and second positions. In such a case, the let-off driving device can be mounted on this bracket and adapted to be coupled to a warp beam when the bracket is in its second position. According to another embodiment, the let-off driving device is mounted on the frame, on an intermediate part which is opposite to the opening with respect to the warp beam receiving volume.
The movement of the part between its first position and the second position is such that, on the one hand, the support means reaches a configuration where it supports the beam within the volume and, on the other hand, the let-off driving device is operatively coupled to the warp beam.
The opening has a minimum dimension larger than the diameter of a flange of any warp beam to be installed in the unit.
The unit defines four warp beam receiving volumes, in two rows of two volumes whose longitudinal axes are aligned and the openings giving access to the two warp beam receiving volumes of a row are provided on two opposite lateral walls of the unit.
A part of the support means forms a centering member for the warp beam on the longitudinal axis. In such a case, the centering member advantageously comprises a male frustroconical surface centered on the longitudinal axis and extending within or towards the warp beam receiving volume.

The invention also concerns a warp yarns feeding assembly for a loom, such an assembly comprising at least a warp beam and a warp beam support unit as mentioned here-above. Such a warp yarns feeding assembly is easier to install within a workshop than the ones of the prior art.
The invention also relates to a loom equipped with a warp beam support unit or a warp yarns feeding assembly as mentioned here-above.
According to another aspect of the same invention, the invention concerns a loom equipped with a warp beam support unit and at least a warp beam located in a warp beam receiving volume of said warp beam support unit, characterized in that the warp beam receiving volume has a lateral inlet/outlet opening which is compatible with loading/unloading of the warp beam to/from this volume along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the warp yarns feeding direction of the loom.
Such a loom is more compact than the looms of the prior art along a direction parallel to the warp.
Finally, the invention relates to a process for loading a loom as mentioned here-above with a warp beam and, more particularly, to a process which includes at least the following steps:

a) moving the warp beam into a warp beam receiving volume by a translation through an opening provided in a lateral wall of a frame of a warp beam support unit, this translation occurring along an horizontal direction perpendicular to the warp yarns feeding direction, and
b) centering the warp beam on a longitudinal axis of this volume and coupling the warp beam with a let-off driving device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood on the basis of the following description which is given in correspondence with the annexed figures and as an illustrative example, without restricting the object of the invention. In the annexed figures:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a loom according to the invention equipped with a warp yarns feeding assembly and a warp beam support unit according to the invention;
figure 2 is a perspective view of the warp yarns feeding assembly of figure 1, which is made of a warp beam support unit and several warp beams, where a flange of a warp beam is partly taken away to show support brackets;
figure 3 is a sideview of the assembly of figure 2, a warp beam supporting bracket being represented in a different position on the left of this figure;
figure 4 is a partial cross-section along line IV-IV on figure 2;
figure 5 is a partial cross-section along V-V on figure 3;
figure 6 is a cross-section similar to figure 4 during loading of the warp beam;
figure 7 is a partial cross-section similar to figure 5, but at a slightly smaller scale, during loading of the warp beam;
figure 8 is a perspective view similar to figure 2 when a full warp beam is being loaded in the warp beam support unit; and
figure 9 is a perspective view of a pivoting support and a let-off driving device belonging to the assembly and unit of figures 2 to 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

A double carpet weaving loom 1 is partially represented on figure 1 as seen from its backside, that is from the side opposite to two cylindrical needle rollers 11 that draw two carpets C₁ and C₂ woven on loom 1.
Loom 1 is provided with heddle frames 12 driven by a non-represented dobby. Two Jacquard mechanisms 13 control two harnesses 14 made of cords whose lower end are each provided with a heddle. The eyelets of the heddles mounted on the heddle frames 12 are supposed to be each crossed by a warp yarn moving in the direction of arrows A₁, that is along a horizontal direction which is parallel to a longitudinal axis X₁ of loom 1.
Non-represented weft insertion means are provided to insert weft yarns in the direction of arrow A₂, that is in a direction parallel to a transversal axis Y₁ of loom 1 which is perpendicular to axis X₁.
Pile yarns are fed to the heddles driven by the harnesses 14. On figure 1, groups 16 of pile yarns are shown coming out of a creel 17 which is represented by its general shape, in dashed lines.
The warp yarns come out of a warp yarns feeding assembly 20 which is located, along axis X₁, between the heddles of loom 1 and the creel 17. Assembly 20 includes a warp beam support unit 21 and four cylindrical rolls or warp beams 22, only some of these warp beams being visible on figures 1, 2 and 8.
Each warp beam 22 is made of a shaft 221 and two flanges 222 and 223 fastened with the extremities of shaft 221.
Unit 21 includes a frame 23 which is made of two lateral walls 24 and 25 and one intermediate wall 26 connected by several cross beams 27, only some of these cross beams being shown on the figures. Walls 24, 25 and 26 are vertical and parallel to axis X₁ and to the direction of arrows A₁. Unit 21 also includes guiding means 311 and 312 around which warp yarns are successively wound on their path from each warp beam 22 to the shedding portion of loom 1.
Frame 23 forms a basis for three brackets 28 which support together two rows of broken pile yarns detectors 29. Frame 23 also support one row of broken warp yarns detectors 30.
Unit 21 forms four volumes V₁, V₂, V₃ and V₄ each adapted to receive a warp beam 22, as shown for volumes V₁, V₂ and V₃ on figure 1, for volumes V₁ and V₄ on figure 2, and for volumes V₁, V₃ and V₄ on figure 8.
Volumes V₁ and V₃ are defined between walls 24 and 26, whereas volumes V₂ and V₄ are defined between walls 25 and 26.
One notes B₁ a longitudinal axis of volume V₁, that is an axis perpendicular to walls 24 and 26 and extending in the middle of a cross-section of volume V₁ taken parallel to axis X₁. Similarly, one notes B₂, B₃ and B₄ the respective longitudinal axes of volumes V₂, V₃ and V₄.
One considers that the front side of unit 21 is the side of this unit oriented towards the heddles of loom 1, that is towards items 12 and 13. On the contrary, the back of unit 21 corresponds to its side oriented towards the creel 17.
Unit 21 is a single tear unit, in the sense that all warp beams 22 are supposed to lie in a same horizontal plane when received in volumes V₁-V₄, by opposition to a double tear type unit where some beams can be installed one on top of the other.
Volumes V₁ and V₂ form together, on the backside of unit 21, a row of two volumes whose respective longitudinal axes B₁ and B₂ are aligned. Similarly, volumes V₃ and V₄ form together, on the front side of unit 21, a row of two volumes whose respective longitudinal axes B₃ and B₄ are aligned.
Wall 24 is provided with an opening O₁ which gives access for a warp beam 22 to volume V₁. Opening O₁ goes down to the bottom of wall 24, that is down to the upper surface of the ground G on which frame 23 is installed. One notes D₂₂ the diameter of the flanges 222 and 223 of a warp beam 22. The minimum dimension of opening O₁, that is its height H, is larger than diameter D₂₂, which implies that opening O₁ is large enough to allow the introduction of a beam 22 within volume V₁ by a translation movement in the direction of an arrow A₃ parallel to axis B₁, that is perpendicular to axis X₁ and arrows A₁.
Since several warp beams 22 are supposed to be successively used with unit 21, one chooses the height H larger than the maximum diameter D₂₂ of all the warp beams of a set of warp beams to be used with unit 21.
A bracket 32 is articulated on wall 24 next to opening O₁, around a vertical axis Z₁, and supports a speed reducer 34 and an electrical actuator 36 which form together a let-off driving device adapted to control the rotation of a warp beam 22 around axis B₁, when such a beam is installed within volume V₁.
Bracket 32 is movable around axis Z₁ between a first position where it is substantially parallel to wall 24 and partially closes opening O₁ and a second position which is represented in dashed line only on figure 2 without items 34 and 36, where it is substantially perpendicular to wall 24. In this second position, bracket 32 and let-off driving device 34-36 do not prevent the warp beam to go through opening O₁, in the direction of arrow A₃.
Wall 24 is provided with a second opening O₃ which has a shape similar, but not identical to the shape of opening O₁. Another bracket 32 is articulated around a vertical axis Z₃ next to opening O₃. This bracket 32 is movable between the positions represented respectively on figures 2 and 8. This bracket 32 also carries a speed reducer 34 and an actuator 36 belonging to a let-off driving device.
Wall 25 is also provided with two openings O₂ and O₄ and a bracket 32 supporting a let-off driving device is articulated on a vertical axis next to each of these openings.
All openings O₁-O₄ have similar shapes. Openings O₁ and O₂ have identical shapes. O₃ and O₄ also have identical shapes. All openings O₁-O₄ have the same height H which is their minimal dimension.
The introduction of a full warp beam 22 in volume V₃ is represented on figure 8. One uses a standard hand fork lift truck 50 to bring the warp beam next to wall 24. Then, the longitudinal axis B₂₂ of the warp beam is roughly aligned with the longitudinal axis B₃ of volume V₃ and, as shown on figure 8, the fork lift loaded with the warp beam is pushed within volume V₃, in the direction of arrow A₃, that in a horizontal direction perpendicular to axis X₁ and arrows A₁.
Since opening O₃ goes down to the level of the ground G, the lift truck 50 can roll on the ground G and penetrate within volume V₃ without difficulties. Actually, the width W of the openings O₁ to O₄ is chosen large enough to accommodate a standard lift truck 50.
An opening O₅ is provided in intermediate wall 26, between volumes V₁ and V₂. Similarly, another opening O₆ is provided in wall 26 between volumes V₃ and V₄. Openings O₅ and O₆ respectively have the same shape and dimensions as openings O₁ and O₂, on the one side, O₃ and O₄, on the other side. Thus, walls 24, 25 and 26 can be made by sets of similar metal plates assembled together by any suitable means, e.g. by bolts or by welding spots.
Two fixed brackets 42 and 44 extend across opening O₅ as partly shown on figures 2 and 4. A supporting and centering pin 46 is mounted on these brackets and extends, from these brackets, respectively within volumes V₁ and V₂.
Each warp beam 22 is provided, near its flange 222, with a ball bearing 224 defining a central opening 225 adapted to receive the centering pin 46 when the longitudinal axis B₂₂ of the warp beam 22 is aligned with the longitudinal axis B₁ of volume V₁, this longitudinal axis being also the central axis of revolution of pin 46.
Pin 46 comprises, on its side oriented towards volume V₁, a rounded end 461, a frustroconical part 462 and a cylindrical part with a circular cross-section 463. One notes 466 and 468 the radial external surfaces of parts 462 and 463. Part 462 helps to align axes B₂₂ and B₁ when flange 222 is pushed towards bracket 42, in the direction of arrow A₃.
Pin 46 is symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane P₄₃ parallel to brackets 42 and 44 and lying midway between them. Pin 46 can thus also cooperate with a warp beam 22 received in volume V₂ in order to support it.
Next to its opposite flange 223, each warp beam 22 must be connected to the output shaft 342 of the speed reducer 34 in order, on the one hand, to support the beam 22 and, on the other hand, to drive it in rotation around axes B₁ and B₂₂ which are then aligned. As shown on figures 5 and 7, a guiding and centering part 65 is provided with an external frustroconical surface 66 at the extremity of output shaft 342 and a cylindrical bushing 67 is mounted around this shaft. Bushing 67 has a cylindrical outer surface 68 with a circular cross-section.
An annular coupling part 70 is mounted on the extremity of the shaft 221 of the warp beam 22 and defines a frustroconical interior surface 76 adapted to cooperate with the frustroconical surface 66 of part 65 in order to center the longitudinal axis B₂₂ of the beam 22 with respect to the longitudinal axis B₃₄₂ of shaft 342. Part 70 also defines an internal annular cylindrical surface 78 adapted to lie against surface 68 of bushing 67 when shaft 342 is introduced within the central internal volume V₇₀ of part 70. This allows to efficiently support the beam 22 when it rotates around axes B₂₂, B₃₄₂ and B₁ which are then aligned.
Moreover, some claws 69 are provided on the periphery of output shaft 342 and corresponding claws 79 are provided on coupling part 70. These claws cooperate in order to fasten shafts 342 and 221 in rotation with each other. Claws 69 are integral with bushing 67. They can also be made in a different part.
The let-off driving device 34-36 can be used to positively drive a beam 22 in rotation or to brake this beam when it rotates, as a result of the desired tension of the warp yarn.
Thanks to the frustroconical sections 462 and 65 of the support means, and the corresponding parts of the beams 22, it is possible to move the central shaft 221 of a warp beam from an inaccurate position to an accurate position, correctly centered and aligned on the longitudinal axes B₁, B₂, B₃ or B₄ of the volume V₁, V₂, V₃ or V₄ where the beam is installed.
Surfaces 466 and 66 are male frustroconical surfaces centered on axes B₁-B₄. They extend into or toward these volumes and are efficient to center a beam on these axes.
The claws 69 and 79 and the length, along axes B₁-B₄, of surfaces 466, 66 and 76, on the one hand, and of surfaces 468, 68 and 78, on the other hand, are so designed that unit 21 can tolerate differences in the length of the shaft 221 between different warp beams 22. This is shown by clearance C on figure 5.
Considering the inertia of a full warp beam, the centering pin 46 is provided with a friction spring 47 installed within a casing 48 on each of its two sides extending respectively within the two adjacent volumes of a same row. The casing 48 comes into contact with the ball bearing 224 of the warp beam and the kinetic energy of the warp beam can be absorbed by the friction spring 47.
When one loads a warp beam 22 within the support unit 21, one pushes the warp beam in the direction of arrow A₃ on figure 8 up to when the distal flange of the beam comes into contact with the centering pin 46. The frustroconical part 462 helps centering the shaft 221 of the beam 22 on the longitudinal axis of the volume where the beam is being installed. Once the warp beam is fitted on the intermediate wall, the bracket 32 can be moved from the position of the bracket represented on the left of figure 8 to the position of figure 2 by a rotation around axis Z₃, as shown by arrow R₃. This bracket 32 is then locked in the position of figure 2 by a lock 82 adapted to cooperate with a notch 322 provided on the end of bracket 32 which is opposite to its vertical rotation axis, Z₃ in the example of figure 8. For the clarity of the drawings, the lock next to volume V₁ is not shown on figures 1, 2 and 8.
The other brackets 32 are rotated in a similar way when one loads a warp beam 22 in an adjacent volume V₁, V₂ or V₄.
This rotation movement R₃ of a bracket 32 brings the output shaft 342 of the corresponding speed reducer 34 into engagement with the coupling part 70 fastened with the shaft 221 of the beam 22, thus allowing an efficient centering of the beam on the longitudinal axis B₃ of volume V₃, at the level of its proximal flange 223, and coupling of shafts 342 and 221. In other words, the rotation movement R₃ allows to reach, with one movement, a configuration where the beam 22 is supported with a possibility of rotation within volume V₃, whereas the let-off driving device is coupled to the shaft 221 of the warp beam 22. A single rotation R₃ induces two mechanical effects: support of warp beam 22 and operative coupling of warp beam 22 to the let-off driving device 34-36.
Then, the forks of the lift truck 50 can be lowered and the truck can be pulled out of the corresponding volume, volume V₃ in the example of figure 8.
In order to remove an empty warp beam 22 from unit 21, the hand fork lift truck 50 is pushed through an opening O₁-O₄ in a direction parallel to arrow A₃, that is parallel to the weft insertion direction, until the forks are below the flanges 222 and 223 of the beam. Then, the forks are lifted until they come into contact with the flanges. In this position, the bracket is moved from the position of figure 2 to the position of figure 8 for the bracket shown on the left of this figure, which frees the proximal flange 223 of the warp beam. The warp beam 22 can then be taken out of the corresponding volume V₁-V₄, through the adjacent opening O₁-O₄, with a translation perpendicular to axis X₁ and arrow A₁ and in the direction of arrow A₄ on figure 1, going away from intermediate wall 26.
Thanks to the invention, one does not need a large space between the front side of unit 21 and the shedding portion of loom 1. One does not need either a large space between the backside of unit 21 and the creel 17. This allows the loom to be more compact in the direction of its longitudinal axis X₁, as compared to looms of the prior art. Moreover, the methods for loading or unloading the warp beams are simple and fast, as compared to the conventional methods and they are very economic since a usual fork lift truck 50 can be used.
Considering that no space is required between the front side of unit 21 and loom 1, the frame 23 of unit 21 can be integral with some structural parts of loom 1 itself.
According to an embodiment of the invention which is not shown on the figures, the let-off driving device 34-36 can be installed on the intermediate wall 26, which means that the bracket 32 can be lighter. With such an approach, one can even consider an embodiment where a single let-off driving device is used to control the rotation of two warp beams installed in the two volumes, V₁ and V₂ or V₃ and V₄, of a row of two warp beam receiving volumes. In these embodiments too, movement of the bracket, from an "open" position similar to the one on the left of figure 8 to a "close" position similar to the one on the right of this figure, allows both to support the beam and to operatively couple the beam to the left driving device.
The invention has been represented with walls 24, 25 and 26 made of plates. These walls could also be made of cross-beams or other similar structure elements.

Claims

A warp beam support unit (21) for a loom (1), said unit forming at least a warp beam receiving volume (V₁-V₄) where a warp beam (22) can be located in a position to feed (A₁) said loom with warp yarns, said unit comprising:
- a frame (23) which defines said volume,

- support means (32,42) adapted to support a warp beam (22) within said volume in such a way that said warp beam can rotate around a longitudinal axis (B₁-B₄) of said volume, and

- a let-off driving device (34-36) adapted to control the rotation of said warp beam around said longitudinal axis,
characterized in that at least one opening (O₁-O₄) is provided in at least one lateral wall (24,25) of said frame (23), said opening being large enough (H,W) to allow said warp beam (22) to go through said opening in order to enter (A₃) or to exit (A₄) a warp receiving volume (V₁-V₄) with a translation movement perpendicular to the warp yarns feeding direction (A₁).
Warp beam support unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said opening (O₁-O₄) extends down to the bottom of the end wall (24,25).
Warp beam support unit according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that a part (32) of said support means (32,42) is mounted next to said opening (O₁-O₄) with a possibility of movement (R₃) between a first position (figures 3, 8) where it allows a beam (22) to go through (A₃,A₄) said opening and a second position (figures 1, 2) where it supports said beam within said volume (V₁-V₄).
Warp beam support unit according to claim 3, characterized in that said part of said support means (32,42) includes a bracket (32) articulated (R₃) on said frame, around a vertical axis (Z₁,Z₃), and movable between said first and second positions.
Warp beam support unit according to claim 4, characterized in that said let-off driving device (34,36) is mounted on said bracket (32) and adapted to be coupled to a warp beam (22) when said bracket (32) is in said second position.
Warp beam support unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said let-off driving device (34,36) is mounted on said frame (23), on an intermediate part (26) which is opposite to said opening (O₁-O₄) with respect to said warp beam receiving volume (V₁-V₄).
Warp beam support unit according to one of claims 3 or 6, characterized in that the movement (R₃) of said part (32) between said first position and said second position is such that, on the one hand, said support means (32,42) reaches a configuration where it supports said beam (22) within said volume (V₁-V₄) and, on the other hand, said let-off driving device (34,36) is operatively coupled to said warp beam.
Warp beam support unit according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said opening (O₁-O₄) has a minimum dimension (H) larger than the maximum diameter (D₂₂) of a flange of any warp beam (22) to be installed in said unit (21).
Warp beam support unit according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that it defines four warp beam receiving volumes (V₁-V₄), in two rows of two volumes (V₁-V₂, V₃-V₄) whose longitudinal axes (B₁-B₂, B₃-B₄) are aligned and in that the openings (O₁-O₂, O₃-O₄) giving access to the two warp beam receiving volumes (V₁-V₂, V₃-V₄) of a row are provided on two opposite lateral walls (24,25) of said unit (21).
Warp beam support unit according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that a part of the support means form a centering member (46,65) for said warp beam (22) on said longitudinal axis (B₁-B₄).
Warp beam support unit according to claim 10, characterized in that said centering member comprises a male frustroconical surface (466,66) centered on said longitudinal axis (B₁-B₄) and extending within or towards said warp beam receiving volume (V₁-V₄).
A warp yarns feeding assembly (20) for a loom, said assembly comprising at least a warp beam (22) and a warp beam support unit (21) according to one of the previous claims.
A loom (1) equipped with a warp beam support unit (21) according to one of claims 1 to 11 or with a warp yarns feeding assembly (20) according to claim 12.
A loom (1) equipped with a warp beam support unit (21) and at least a warp beam (22) located in a warp beam receiving volume (V₁-V₄) of said warp beam support unit, characterized in that said warp beam receiving volume has a lateral inlet/outlet opening (O₁-O₄) which is compatible with loading/unloading (A₃-A₄) of said warp beam (22) to/from said volume (V₁-V₄) along an horizontal direction perpendicular to the warp yarns feeding direction (A₁) of said loom (1).
A process for loading (A₃) a loom with a warp beam (22), characterized in that said process includes at least the following steps:
a) moving (A₃) said warp beam (22) into a warp beam receiving volume (V₁-V₄) by a translation through an opening (O₁-O₄) provided in a lateral wall (24,25) of a frame (23) of a warp beam support unit (21), said translation occurring along an horizontal direction perpendicular to the warp yarns feeding direction (A₁), and

b) centering said warp beam on a longitudinal axis (B₁-B₄) of said volume (V₁-V₄) and coupling said warp beam with a let-off driving device (34,36).