EP3822401B1 - Device for manufacturing a tissue and method for same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an improved device for producing a fabric and a method for this. Fabrics are usually made on looms or weaving machines. Here, a weft thread is moved through a shed of warp threads using a carrier such as a shuttle, rapier, shuttle, projectile, or gear drive and then secured to the resulting fabric.

The disadvantage here is that high mechanical loads occur here, which cause high wear and tear and the associated maintenance costs, vibrations in the machine and high noise levels.

the WO 2007/039244 A2 describes a method for supporting the weft thread guide element. In this case, a weft thread guide element is arranged above or below the shed, which element contains magnetic elements, the guide channel itself and the weft thread guide element being electrically conductive and a repelling force being produced between these two elements. These forces allow the weft thread guide element to be moved in a floating manner through the shed along the guide channel. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the weft thread guiding element can only move in one direction, namely the direction of the guide channel on a defined plane of movement. A variation of the distance between the guide channel and weft thread guide element, a movement of the weft thread guide element in a curved path or a twisting or tilting of the weft thread guide element to adjust the thread tension is not possible with this device.

the DE 20 2007 001 247 U1 describes a weft insertion system for weaving machines with an electromotive linear drive whose runner can transport a weft thread into a shed. If a specific weft thread is not to be inserted into the shed, an alternativeg is provided for the runner, which bypasses this shed. This makes sense above all when several sheds are arranged next to one another, for example for the production of narrow fabrics. A free movement of the runner over several degrees of freedom, for example to adjust the thread tension, is not provided here.

Also in the CN 110 209 069 A describes a weaving machine in which a magnetic component with the thread is moved through the shed by means of a changing magnetic field. Here, too, a free arrangement of the magnetic field below the shed and a movement of the weft thread over several degrees of freedom is not possible.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a device for producing a fabric that works with little wear and in which the weft thread can be guided through the shed in a quasi-free manner and to provide a method by which a fabric can be produced with the machine according to the invention. These objects are solved by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 14, to which the following special meaning is attached.

A beam is provided adjacent to the warp sheets and has a suitable drive for the at least one carriage and a surface. Adjacent to the sheet of warps means that the bar can be arranged below the sheet of warps below or above the sheet of warps above. This drive comprises one or more electromagnets and/or permanent magnets and ensures that the carriage can be moved through the shed without contact and thereby hovers over the surface of the beam. The electromagnets in the bar form a linear motor and generate a traveling magnetic field which moves the permanent magnet of the carriage and ensures that the carriage floats through the contact-free distance from the bar shed moves. The electromagnets are controlled in such a way that the carriage can move in at least two degrees of freedom, in particular in straight or curved paths, at different distances from the beam, with the position of the carriage being able to be straight, tilted, pivoted or rotated. Due to the multi-axis drive according to the invention, the carriage can be guided through the shed in almost all conceivable directions and positions. In addition to the classic linear movement, the carriage can also be moved on a curved or wave-shaped path or at a greater distance from the beam. It is also possible to tilt, swivel or twist the carriage in order to adjust the thread tension of the weft thread. The magnetic field can be adjusted and controlled with particular precision, so that very precise movements of the carriage are possible. The sled can also be held well by the magnetic field, even if the surface over which the sled levitates runs at an angle.

In addition, the floating movement of the carriage does not produce any abrasion, so that the device works virtually wear-free. This reduction in wear also results in less soiling, in particular due to abrasion of the thread, which could otherwise impair the quality of the fabric. In addition, the device has significantly less vibration and noise than conventional weaving devices.

When using a magnetic field to drive the carriage, the changeover times between different products that are produced on the same device are reduced considerably, since no mechanical parts have to be exchanged, just a different control program is selected. The term slide is to be interpreted broadly here. This is to be understood as meaning any device by means of which a weft thread can be introduced into a shed, in particular also a shuttle, a gripper, a shuttle or a projectile.

Likewise, the term bar is also broad. This does not have to have a square shape, but can also be flat, round, oval, polygonal or otherwise shaped.

One way to move the sled using a magnetic field is to equip the sled or beam with a superconductor and cool it below its transition temperature. In the other component - bar or slide - one or more permanent magnets or electromagnets are then arranged. Through this interaction, the carriage can then be moved floating through the shed.

The position and positioning of the bar can be adjusted. In this way, the bar can be positioned differently for different applications. In addition, the beam can be moved when the reed is moved in order to press the weft thread that has just been introduced into the shed onto the fabric being produced. If the lower sheet of warp threads runs obliquely, the bar can be aligned in such a way that the face of the bar is parallel to the lower sheet of warp threads. As it moves, the carriage hovers over the surface on the beam.

The carriage advantageously comprises at least one weft thread spool, which can be designed in the manner of a disc spool. Particularly when using cylindrical disc coils, there can be more material on the coil than with conventional canettes that are wound conically. As a result, the coil has to be changed less often. If there are several spools on a carriage, several weft threads can also be introduced into the shed at the same time. These can be made of the same material or of different materials. The movement of the weft thread bobbin is also preferably braked, in particular by a friction brake such as a disk brake or a stopper brake. This prevents uncoordinated weft thread material from being unwound from the weft thread spool due to inertia, which could become tangled.

In a further preferred embodiment, the carriage has a metal element on its outside. Furthermore, a defined lateral end position is provided, into which the carriage can be moved after each passage through the shed. In this end position, a conductive area is provided which is in contact with the metal element of the carriage in order to dissipate any electrostatic energy that may be present. Depending on the material used, this can occur during the weaving process.

Advantageously, the carriage includes a thread brake to prevent uncontrolled unwinding of the weft thread and to set the desired weft thread tension.

It is also possible to monitor the power consumption of the drive. This can be used to determine whether the weft thread has broken, since the power consumption changes in this case. In the event of a weft thread tear, it is possible to react immediately and the weft thread can be reinserted correctly.

It is very advantageous in the present invention that the movement parameters of the carriage can be freely controlled in many degrees of freedom. The device according to the invention can be adjusted and controlled very freely, in particular with regard to the number of cycles, speed, acceleration, location and position of the carriage. As a result, higher cycle rates of the device can be driven than with conventional looms and weaving machines. Furthermore, the carriage works more precisely thanks to the control, so that a higher quality of the fabric can also be achieved. In addition, a detection is also provided, which detects at what point over the surface the respective carriage is currently located, so that this carriage can be controlled in a targeted manner.

With the device according to the invention it is also possible to provide several carriages, which can then insert the same or different weft threads. The control is so flexible that it is possible to run a first carriage with a first weft thread through the shed, and then use a second carriage to rearrange a second weft thread and only then rearrange the warp sheets, also known as shaft changes. After that it is it is also possible to first move the second carriage with the second weft thread and then the first carriage with the first weft thread through the shed. Furthermore, it is also possible to guide a first carriage with a first weft thread in one direction through the shed and then to change the shaft and then to guide a second carriage with a second weft thread in the same direction through the shed. After changing the stock again, either the first or the second carriage can be returned first. Of course, more than two slides can also be provided. The carriages can be guided flexibly through the shed independently of one another, so that novel types of fabric can also be produced using the device according to the invention.

In order to raise and lower the warp threads, they are usually attached to shafts which are driven accordingly in order to produce the shed. In the device according to the invention, these drives can be arranged below the warp threads. This has the advantage that no contaminants such as abrasion, grease, dust, yarn remnants, etc. can fall onto the fabric from the drives. In addition, changing over the device is simplified and thus requires less time.

Several sets of warp threads can also be arranged next to one another on the same device, with each set of warp threads also being assigned at least one carriage. Either a common bar or an extra bar can be provided for each set of warp threads. In this way, several fabrics can be produced at the same time. This is of particular interest when weaving narrow textiles. The slides can run in opposite directions to each other, so that any vibrations cancel each other out.

The device according to the invention is particularly flexible if each of the moving components has its own drive. For example, separate drives can be provided for the carriage or carriages, the beam, the shafts, the reed, etc. In conventional weaving machines, only one drive is often provided and the individual components are connected via toothed belts, Drive shafts, racks, etc. connected to each other. Due to the individual drives, the components can be controlled and moved independently of one another, so that the device according to the invention can work faster and more flexibly than conventional weaving machines.

In addition, the invention includes an improved method of making tissue. Any type of fabric can be produced with this process, such as narrow fabric, wide fabric, seamless circular fabric, etc.

• Bereitstellen von Kettfäden und Aufteilung in obere und untere Kettfadenscharen unter Bildung eines Webfachs,
• Positionierung eines mit Elektromagneten versehenen Balkens benachbart zu einer der Kettfadenscharen, wobei der Balken in seiner Lage und Positionierung anpassbar ist,
• berührungslose schwebende frei programmierbare Bewegung eines mit einem oder mehreren Permanentmagneten und/oder Elektromagneten und/oder magnetisierbarem Material ausgestatteten Schlittens mit wenigstens einem Schussfaden durch das Webfach, wobei die Elektromagnete derart ansteuerbar sind, dass der Schlitten in einer Bewegung mit mindestens zwei Freiheitsgraden durch das Webfach führbar ist,
• Verbringen des Schlittens in eine definierte seitliche Endposition,
• Bewegen des Balkens von der betreffenden Kettfadenschar weg
• Anpressen des Schussfadens an das entstehende Gewebe durch ein Webblatt
• Anheben und Absenken wenigstens einiger Kettfäden so dass neue obere und untere Kettfadenscharen und damit ein neues Webfach entstehen (Schaftwechsel)

The method according to the invention comprises the following steps:

• Providing warp threads and dividing them into upper and lower sheets of warp threads to form a shed,
• Positioning a beam provided with electromagnets adjacent to one of the warp sheets, the beam being adjustable in position and positioning,
• contactless floating freely programmable movement of a carriage equipped with one or more permanent magnets and/or electromagnets and/or magnetizable material with at least one weft thread through the shed, wherein the electromagnets can be controlled in such a way that the carriage moves through the shed with at least two degrees of freedom is feasible
• Moving the carriage to a defined lateral end position,
• Moving the beam away from the sheet of warps in question
• Pressing the weft thread onto the resulting fabric using a reed
• Raising and lowering at least some warp threads so that new upper and lower warp thread sheets and thus a new shed are created (change of shaft)

This mode of operation described is only the basic function of the method according to the invention. Further process steps can also be added, such as the movement of one or more additional carriages with or without a previous shaft change. With this method, the carriage can be moved more or less freely in a multi-axis movement through the shed.

An uninterruptible emergency power supply is preferably provided so that, in the event of a failure of the main power supply, the carriage does not fall down in an uncontrolled manner and damage to the carriage and/or the tissue occurs. With the help of the emergency power supply, the beam is first moved to a position in which the surface is aligned horizontally. After that, the carriage is slowed down and finally stopped. Depending on the type of drive, it can happen that the carriage then falls from its floating position onto the surface of the beam. However, since this is aligned horizontally, the carriage cannot fall off the surface and be damaged or damage the fabric.

When the main power supply is restored, the carriage is first brought to a defined start position, then the beam is moved back to the desired angle and the weaving process is continued. This means that there is as little waste as possible, even in the event of a power failure.

Due to the drive, the carriage can perform translational as well as rotational movements, but can also be rotated, pivoted and/or tilted in order to set the desired weft thread tension. This makes it possible to set the weft thread tension individually for each weft thread material used and for each application, also independently of the strength of the respective weft thread.

The power consumption of the carriage can be monitored when the method is carried out. If the weft thread breaks, the power consumption also changes abruptly, since the carriage no longer has to work against the resistance of the weft thread tension. In this way, the weaving process can be stopped immediately and the weft thread can be fastened again.

Further advantages and embodiments result from the following description, the dependent claims and the drawing. The figure shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention. It shows:
1 : a device according to the invention schematically in side view.

1 shows schematically a structure of a device according to the invention. One recognizes the upper sheet of warps 3 and the lower sheet of warps 4, which form a shed 10 between them. The sheets of warp threads 3, 4 are held by shafts 8 which serve as lifting elements and raise and lower the warp threads in accordance with the fabric 1 desired. After the shafts 8, the warp threads run even further to the right in the drawing and are usually provided on a roller, the warp beam. This is not shown here.

Below the lower sheet of warps 4 is a bar 2 with a drive for a carriage 5. This hovers over the surface 9 of the bar 2 and the lower sheet of warps 4. The carriage 5 is moved through the shed 10 by the electromagnetic drive in the bar 2 . In doing so, he inserts the weft thread located on the weft thread bobbin 6 into the shed 10 . After the weft thread has been introduced, the reed 7 is moved to the left in order to press the weft thread against the fabric 1 being produced. Thereafter, the shafts 8 are moved to move some or all of the warps of the lower sheet 4 up and all or some of the warps of the upper sheet 3 to move down. This shaft change creates a new shed 10 and the carriage 5 is moved back through this shed 10 in a floating manner.

Of course, this is only the simplest movement that the device according to the invention can perform. With the device according to the invention, weft threads can be inserted into the shed in a completely free sequence and in a completely free movement, without having to convert or convert the device. This can be realized purely by controlling the drive. The illustrated embodiment is only an exemplary implementation of the invention. This is not limited to this.

Other options with several slides are also conceivable. Also, several of the carriages can then be moved through the shed before the shaft is changed. The beam and the carriage are also only shown as an example. Both components can also have other shapes. The term "above the surface of the beam" means that the carriage moves without contact at a distance from the surface, regardless of how the surface is arranged in space. For example, if the surface is vertical in space, the carriage that travels along this surface at a distance from it is still to be regarded as "arranged above the surface". This also applies if the surface is arranged overhead and the carriage is underneath. The carriage can also be arranged at different distances from the surface of the beam.

Reference list:

1

tissue

2

bar

3

upper sheet of warp threads

4

lower sheet of warps

5

Sleds

6

weft spool

7

reed

8th

shaft

9

area at 2

10

shed

Claims (16)

1. Device for producing a fabric (1), comprising warp threads arranged on movable lifting elements, some of the warp threads being raised upward to form an upper warp thread bundle (3) and other warp threads being lowered downward to form a lower warp thread bundle (4) to form a shed (10),

   with at least one shuttle (5) which contains at least one weft thread and which is movable through the shed (10) to produce the fabric (1),

   wherein adjacent to the warp thread bundles (3, 4) a beam (2) with a suitable drive is arranged which has a surface (9), and wherein the shuttle (5) can be moved by means of the drive with the aid of a magnetic field through the shed (10) in a contact-free floating manner at a distance from the surface (9) of the beam (2)

   characterised in that

   electromagnets are arranged in the beam (2) while the shuttle (5) comprises one or more permanent magnets and/or electromagnets and/or magnetisable material and that thereby the floating movement of the shuttle (5) is feasible,

   the beam's (2) orientation and positioning are adjustable

   and the electromagnets can be controlled in such a way that the shuttle (5) can be guided through the shed (10) in a movement with at least two degrees of freedom.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the shuttle (5) or the beam (2) comprises a superconductor, while in the beam (2) or in the shuttle (5) one or more magnets are arranged and that hereby the floating movement of the shuttle (5) is feasible.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the lower warp thread bundle (4) and/or the upper warp thread bundle (3) runs obliquely and the beam (2) is arranged during the movement of the shuttle (5) through the shed (10) in such a way that the surface (9) of the beam (2) runs parallel to the lower warp thread bundle (4) or the upper warp thread bundle (3).
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the shuttle (5) comprises at least one weft bobbin (6), which in particular has the shape of a disc bobbin.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the movement of the weft bobbin (6) is braked by a friction brake.
6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the shuttle (5) comprises a metal element on at least its outer side, and in that the shuttle (5) comprises a defined lateral end position into which the shuttle (5) can be moved, in which end position the metal element is in contact with a metallic region of the device in order to dissipate electrostatic energy.
7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the shuttle comprises a thread brake.
8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the current consumption of the drive can be monitored.
9. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the shuttle (5) is freely controllable in its movement parameters, whereby a detection is provided which recognizes at which position the shuttle (5) is positioned at a distance from the surface (9).
10. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterised in that several shuttles (5) are provided which can insert the same or different weft threads and which can be controlled independently of one another.
11. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the warp thread bundles (3, 4) are fastened to shafts (8) by means of which they are raised and/or lowered and that the drives of the shafts (8) are arranged below the warp thread bundles (3, 4).
12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the same device is equipped with a plurality of sets of warp thread bundles (3, 4) and associated lifting elements, and one or more beams (2) with drives and a plurality of shuttles (5).
13. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterised in that individual drives are provided for each of the movable components, such as beam (2), shuttle (5), shafts (8), reed (7), which are adjustable and controllable independently of each other.
14. Method of manufacturing a fabric (1) comprising the following steps:

    - Providing warp threads and dividing them into upper and lower warp thread bundles (3, 4) to form a shed (10)

    - Positioning of at least one beam (2) provided with electromagnets below the lower warp thread bundle (4) and/or above the upper warp thread bundle (3), wherein the beam (2) is adjustable in its orientation and positioning

    - Contactless, floating, freely programmable movement of a shuttle (5) equipped with one or more permanent magnets and/or electromagnets and/or magnetisable material with at least one weft thread through the shed (10), wherein the electromagnets can be controlled in such a way that the shuttle (5) can be guided through the shed (10) in a movement with at least two degrees of freedom

    - Moving the shuttle (5) to a defined lateral end position,

    - Moving the beam (2) away from the warp thread bundles (3, 4)

    - Pressing the weft thread against the resulting fabric (1) by means of a weaving reed (7)

    - Lifting and lowering at least some warp threads so that new upper and lower warp thread bundles (3, 4) and thus a new shed (10) are created (changing shafts).
15. The method of claim 14, characterised in that an uninterruptible emergency power supply is provided which performs the following steps in the event of a failure of the main power supply:

    - Moving the beam (2) to a position in which the surface (9) is aligned horizontally

    - Slowing down the shuttle (5)

    - Stopping the shuttle (5).
16. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that, after restoration of the main power supply, the shuttle (5) is first brought into a defined starting position and then the weaving process is continued.

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