GB2484312A

GB2484312A - Oiling and cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2484312A
Application number: GB1016788.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Stewart
Original assignee: ULSTER CARPET MILLS (HOLDINGS) Ltd; Ulster Carpet Mills Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: ULSTER CARPET MILLS (HOLDINGS) Ltd; Ulster Carpet Mills Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2010-10-06
Filing date: 2010-10-06
Publication date: 2012-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-06
Also published as: GB2484312B; GB201016788D0; WO2012046055A2; WO2012046055A3

Abstract

An oiling and cleaning apparatus 12 for maintaining an elongate cutting blade 14 and tuft holders 18 of a weaving loom 10 comprises a maintenance unit 22 having a plurality of maintenance modules 24, 26. The maintenance modules include a selectively operable oiling module 24 to apply oil to the cutting blade 14 and a selectively operable cleaning module 26 to clean the tuft holders 18. A guide (28, figure 2) is provided for longitudinal movement of the unit 22 along a path of travel by a driver operable to move the maintenance unit 22 back and forth along the path at predetermined intervals. A controller 30 is operable to actuate the or each selected module 24, 26 during movement of the maintenance unit 22 along the path of travel. The oiling module may comprise a brush and an applicator mounted on an arm pivotable to a maintenance position. The cleaning module may comprise nozzle producing a jet of compressed air or suction. The apparatus may also include a brush module. The apparatus may be used to apply oil to the blade and direct fluid towards the tuft holders following completion of a predetermined number of picks. Detectors may be used to determine whether tufts or debris remain in holders and the controller may activate the cleaning module to clean contaminated holders.

Description

OILING AND CLEANING APPARATUS

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for maintaining an elongate cutting blade and tuft holders of a weaving loom particularly, but not exclusively, an Axminster gripper loom.

The invention also relates to a weaving loom incorporating the oiling and cleaning apparatus.

In a jacquard Axminster loom, grippers are provided across the width of the loom to present tufts for insertion into a carpet being woven on the loom. Supplies of tuft yarn are fed into yarn carriers, which also extend across the width of the loom in correspondence with the grippers. Each yarn carrier includes a yarn end for each colour required by the pattern of the carpet. A jacquard controls movement of the yarn carriers so as to present a selected yarn to each gripper for each row of the carpet. The grippers draw a predetermined length of the presented yarn ends, which are cut by a series of knives or cutting blades. The grippers then insert the resultant tufts between warp threads, the tufts being held in position in the resultant carpet by each pass of the weft yarn.

In a typical 4 yard wide loom with a pitch of 7 tufts per inch, 1008 tufts are inserted into a carpet across its width in each row. This means that setting up the loom to weave a carpet including 8 different colours results in a creel including 8 bobbins of yarn per tuft insertion point, namely 8064 bobbins of yarn.

WO 95/31594 discloses a tuft carrier loading apparatus for a gripper loom that greatly reduces the number of bobbins required in the creel of a gripper loom. The tuft carrier loading apparatus includes an elongate tuft carrier having a plurality of tuft retention sites into which tufts of yarn are fed in a sequential manner from a plurality of tuft forming means spaced across the width of the loom. Following the insertion of a complete row of tufts into the tuft carrier, the tuft carrier presents the tufts to the grippers of the loom for insertion into a carpet as a complete row.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an oiling and cleaning apparatus for maintaining an elongate cutting blade and tuft holders of a weaving loom, the apparatus comprising:

I

a maintenance unit having a plurality of maintenance modules, the maintenance modules including a selectively operable oiling module to apply oil to the cutting blade and a selectively operable cleaning module to clean the tuft holders; a guide to guide longitudinal movement of the maintenance unit along a path of travel; a driver drivingly connected to the maintenance unit for moving the maintenance unit along the path of travel, the driver being operable to move the maintenance unit back and forth along the path of travel at predetermined intervals; and a controller for controlling selection of the maintenance modules, the controller being operable to actuate the or each selected module during movement of the maintenance unit along the path of travel.

Regardless of whether a weaving loom for producing a carpet employs a jacquard to control yarn selection or a tuft carrier loading apparatus, such as that disclosed in WO 95/31594, the weaving loom includes at least one elongate cutting blade for use in the formation of the tufts.

Typically a first cutting blade is fixed relative to the yarn carriers of a jacquard loom or relative to the tuft forming means of the tuft carrier loading apparatus, and a second cutting blade or knife is provided to move relative to the first cutting blade to cut yarns pulled from the yarn carriers or the tuft forming means. The reliability of this cutting operation may be improved, and the overall lifetime of the culling blades increased, by careful maintenance of the culling blades. This may be achieved effectively through the application of oil to the fixed culling blade.

The loom will also include a plurality of tuft holders, either in the form of the grippers of a jacquard loom or in the form of tuft retention sites of the tuft carrier of a loom employing a tuft carrier loading apparatus, such as that disclosed in WO 95/31594. The reliability of these tuft holders is affected by the presence of debris, such as fluff or loose yarns trapped in the tuft holders following formation of tufts.

The oiling and cleaning apparatus according to the invention allows for automated maintenance of a culling blade and the tuft holders of a weaving loom. This is achieved through the provision of a driver to drive a maintenance unit back and forth along a path of travel at predetermined intervals, and a controller to select and actuate an oiling module and/or a cleaning module during movement of the maintenance until along the path of travel. This ensures that oiling of the culling blade and cleaning of the tuft holders is performed automatically on a regular basis and does not require reliance on the input of a loom operator. The apparatus therefore eliminates the risk of regular maintenance being forgotten or ignored by a loom operator, particularly in circumstances where the loom operator is under pressure to maximise productivity and minimise cessation time of a weaving loom.

The oiling module preferably includes a brush to remove debris from the cutting blade and an applicator to apply oil to the cutting blade. The brush and applicator are mounted on a pivotably mounted arm, the arm being pivotable to move the brush and the applicator into a maintenance position on actuation of the oiling module.

Oil may be applied to the applicator via means of an external oil supply. In particularly preferred embodiments however, the applicator may be connected to an integral oil supply. Such an arrangement ensures that the oil applicator applies an even distribution of oil along the length of the cutting blade.

The cleaning module preferably includes at least one nozzle operable to generate and direct a jet of fluid on actuation of the cleaning module. In use the jet of fluid is directed at the tuft holders to remove debris from the tuft holders in an effective and efficient manner.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus might employ one of a number of different fluids to clean tuft holders but, in particularly preferred embodiments, the or each nozzle is connected to a source of compressed air.

In other embodiments it is envisaged that the cleaning module may include a nozzle connected to a vacuum device to genereate suction on actuation of the cleaning module.

In use the suction is directed at the tuft holders to remove debris from the tuft holders in an effective and efficient manner.

To facilitate removal of debris caught or otherwise lodged in the tuft holders in use of the apparatus, the maintenance modules may further include a selectively operable brush module to clean the tuft holders. In such embodiments the brush module may have a brush mounted on a movable arm, the arm being movable to move the brush into a maintenance position, and the brush being rotatable, on actuation of the brush module.

In circumstances where debris is detected in one or more tuft holders during operation of a weaving loom incorporating the apparatus, thereby rendering specific cleaning of that or those tuft holders separately from routine cleaning, the driver of the oiling and cleaning apparatus may be operable to move the maintenance unit to a selected position along the path of travel and the controller may be operable to select and actuate one or more maintenance modules when the maintenance unit is located in the selected position.

This allows the maintenance module to be moved to one or more specific tuft holders in which debris is detected and to actuate a rotatable brush to clean the debris from those tuft holders.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a weaving loom including an elongate cutting blade extending widthwise of the loom and a plurality of tuft holders arranged widthwise of the loom to deliver tufts to a tuft insertion position in a weaving process, the loom including an oiling and cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention and the path of travel of the oiling and cleaning apparatus being aligned with the elongate cutting blade and the tuft holders.

The weaving loom is preferably an Axminster gripper loom, which may include a jacquard to control yarn selection or an intermediate tuft carrier to receive a complete row of tufts and present the tufts to the grippers of the loom.

To ensure regular oiling of the cutting blade of the weaving loom, the driver of the oiling and cleaning apparatus may be movable to move the maintenance unit back and forth along the path of travel after a predetermined number of picks of the weaving process.

The loom preferably includes one or more detectors associated with the tuft holders to detect debris in each tuft holder.

In preferred embodiments, the loom may further include a pipe extending widthwise of the loom, the pipe defining a plurality of selectively operable nozzles spaced across the width of the loom, the nozzles being operable to direct a fluid towards the tuft holders. In such embodiments, the pipe may be supplied to a source of compressed air and the nozzles may be defined by holes provided in the pipe, the source of compressed air to the pipe being controllable to operate the nozzles.

The provision of a pipe including nozzles to direct a fluid towards the tuft holders provides a readily operable mechanism for seeking, as an initial step, to clean and remove debris in the form of fluff or loose yarns from the tuft holders in the event debris is detected in one or more of the tuft holders.

The pipe may be located to direct a fluid towards the tuft holders from an opposite direction to the cleaning module of the maintenance unit and thereby provides an alternative mechanism for removing debris from the tuft holders. This is advantageous in circumstances where the debris is lodged in a tuft holder such that a jet of fluid directed from the cleaning module pushes the debris into the tuft holder as opposed to removing it from the tuft holder.

In the event the fluid directed from the pipe is not sufficient to remove any debris, or in other embodiments in which the pipe is not provided, the or each detector may be connected to the driver and the controller of the oiling and cleaning apparatus to identify tuft holders containing debris. In such embodiments, the driver may be operable in response thereto to move the maintenance unit along the path of travel into alignment with the or each dirty tuft holder and the controller being operable to select and actuate one or more maintenance modules to clean the or each dirty tuft holder.

According to a third embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of maintaining an elongate cutting blade and tuft holders of a weaving loom performing a weaving process, the method involving the step of applying oil to the cutting blade and directing a jet of fluid towards the tuft holders following completion of a predetermined number of picks of the weaving process.

Preferably the method further includes the steps of detecting debris in the tuft holders following completion of each pick of the weaving process; and directing one or more jets of fluid towards one or more dirty tuft holders on detection of debris in the or each dirty tuft holder.

The step of directing a jet of fluid towards one or more dirty tuft holders involves directing compressed air from one side of the tuft carriers and, on continued detection of debris in the or at least one dirty tuft holder, directing a jet of compressed air at the or each dirty tuft holder from an opposite side thereof.

Proceeding in this manner increases the likelihood of any debris present in a tuft holder being removed, particularly in circumstances where the debris is located such that a jet of fluid from one direction pushes the debris into the tuft holder as opposed to removing it from the tuft holder.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a weaving loom incorporating an oiling and cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic front elevational view of the weaving loom of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a brush and an applicator of an oiling module of the oiling and cleaning apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates use of the oiling module of the oiling and cleaning apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 5 illustrates use of a cleaning module of the oiling and cleaning apparatus of Figure 1.

A weaving loom 10 incorporating an oiling and cleaning apparatus 12 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The loom 10 includes a fixed cutting blade 14 and a tuft carrier 16, the cutting blade 14 and the tuft carrier 16 extending widthwise of the loom 10. The tuft carrier 16 defines a plurality of tuft holders 18, in the form of tuft retention sites, spaced along its length to receive tufts of yarn from tuft feeders 20.

The oiling and cleaning apparatus 12 includes a maintenance unit 22 having a plurality of maintenance modules 24,26. The maintenance modules 24,26 include a selectively operable oiling module 24 to apply oil to the cutting blade 14 and a selectively operable cleaning module 26 to clean the tuft holders 18.

The maintenance unit 22 is mounted on a guide 28 to guide longitudinal movement of the maintenance unit 22 along a path of travel, indicated by arrow A in Figure 2.

A driver (not shown) is drivingly connected to the maintenance unit 22 for moving the maintenance unit 22 along the path of travel A, and a controller 30 is also provided to control selection of the maintenance modules 24,26.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the oiling module 24 includes a brush 32 (Figure 3) and an applicator 34 to apply oil to the cutting blade 14. The brush 32 and applicator 34 are mounted on a pivotably mounted arm 36. The arm 36 is pivotable between a first position in which the brush 32 and applicator 34 are spaced from the cutting blade 14, shown in Figure 1, and a second position in which the brush 32 and the applicator 34 are brought into contact with the cutting blade 14, as shown in Figure 4.

Movement of the pivotable arm 36 between its first and second positions is illustrated by arrow B in Figure 4.

In other embodiments it is envisaged that the oiling module 26 may be adapted to include a pair of brushes, one located on either side of the applicator 34, or may be adapted to omit the brush 32 altogether.

The cleaning module 26 includes a nozzle 38 connected to a source of compressed air by means of a hose 40. The nozzle 38 is mounted on a linear actuator to move the nozzle from a first position in which the nozzle 38 is spaced from the tuft holders 18, shown in Figure 1, and a second position in which the nozzle 38 is located to direct compressed air into the tuft holders 18, shown in Figure 5.

The weaving loom 10 also includes an elongate pipe 40 extending widthwise of the loom 10 below the tuft carrier 16. The pipe is connected to a source of compressed air and includes a plurality of holes 42 spaced equally along its length.

A detector (not shown) is associated with each of the tuft holders 18 to detect the presence of a tuft or other debris, such as fluff or loose yarns, in each of the tuft holders 18.

Preferably the detector associated with each of the tuft holders 18 is provided in the form of a light gate at each tuft holder 18, a tuft or other debris in the tuft holder 18 breaking the path of light from an emitter to a detector, thereby allowing a control circuit connected to the detector to detect the presence of a tuft or other debris.

In other embodiments, the tuft carrier 16 may be formed from an electrically insulating material and the bottom of each tuft holder 18 may be fitted with an electrical contact. In such embodiments, when an electrically conductive finger or pusher presses a tuft into the tuft holder, the tuft prevents a contact being made between the two components.

However the absence of a piece of yarn or any other debris will allow a contact to be made and this can be detected by a control circuit.

In use, a plurality of the tuft feeders 20 spaced widthwise across the weaving loom 10 are operable to insert tufts into the tuft holders 18 of the tuft carrier 16. Following insertion of a complete row of tufts, the tuft carrier 16 presents the tufts to a plurality of grippers (not shown) spaced widthwise across the loom 10 for insertion into a weaving process as a complete row.

Following completion of each row, the controller 30 cycles a detecting process in which each of the detectors checks that the grippers have removed all of the tufts from the tuft holders 18 and thereby determines whether any tufts or debris remain in any of the tuft holders 18.

In the event one or more of the detectors determined that a tuft or other debris remains in a tuft holder 18, the controller 30 actuates the source of compressed air connected to the pipe 40 located below the tuft carrier 16. This causes compressed air to be directed via nozzles defined by the holes 42 in the pipe 40 for a predetermined period of time towards the underside of the tuft carrier 16 and into the underside of each of the tuft holders 18.

The compressed air thereby acts to dislodge the tuft or other debris contained in the or each dirty tuft holder 18 and thereby clean the or each dirty tuft holder 18.

Following completion of the cleaning cycle performed by the compressed air fed via holes 42 in the pipe 40, the controller 30 re-cycles the detecting process to again determine whether any tufts or debris remain in any of the tuft holders 18.

In the event one or more of the detectors determines that a tuft or other debris remains in a tuft holder 18, the driver is operable to move the maintenance unit 22 into registry with the dirty tuft holder 18. The controller 30 then selects and actuates the cleaning module 26 to clean the tuft holder 18 and remove the tuft or other debris.

The cleaning module 26 cleans the dirty tuft holder 18 by moving nozzle 38 towards the tuft carrier 16 so as to direct a jet of compressed air into the top of the dirty tuft holder 18 so as to dislodge the tuft or other debris contained in the dirty tuft holder 18.

In the event a plurality of dirty tuft holders 18 are detected, this step is repeated for each of the dirty tuft holders 18.

The controller 30 then re-cycles the detecting process to again determine whether any tufts or other debris remain in any of the tuft holders 18. In the event one or more of the detectors determined that a tuft or other debris remains in a tuft holder 18, the controller stops the loom 10 and alerts the loom operator that manual intervention is required to clean a tuft holder 18.

Preferably the oiling and cleaning apparatus includes a display to identify the or each of the dirty tuft holders 18 to the loom operator, thereby enabling the loom operator to locate the dirty tuft holder(s) and minimise cessation of the loom 10.

It will be appreciated that locating the pipe 40 below the tuft carrier 16 so as to direct compressed air into the tuft holders 18 from the underside of the tuft carrier 16, and arranging the cleaning module 26 so as to direct a jet of compressed air into a tuft holder 18 from the topside of the tuft carrier 16, maximises the chances of one or other of the pipe 40 and the cleaning module 26 succeeding in removing any tuft or other debris contained in a dirty tuft holder 18.

In other embodiments it is envisaged that the locations of the pipe 40 and the cleaning module 26 may be changed so as, for example, to direct compressed air from the pipe into the tuft holders from the topside of the tuft carrier 16 and so as to direct a jet of compressed air from the nozzle 38 of the cleaning mode 26 into a tuft holder 18 from the underside of the tuft carrier 16.

In yet further embodiments, it is envisaged that the maintenance module 22 may include an additional maintenance module in the form of a brush module. The brush module may include a rotatable brush mounted on a movable arm, the arm being movable from a from a first position in which the brush is spaced from the tuft holders 18 and a second position in which the brush is located to brush the tuft holder 18 located in registry therewith. The controller 30 may be operable to actuate rotation of the brush when it is located in its second position.

In such embodiments, the controller 30 may actuate the brush module instead or following actuation of the cleaning module 26 on detection of a dirty tuft holder 18 following cycling of the detecting process.

Following operation of the weaving loom 10 to complete a predetermined number of picks, and insert a corresponding number of rows of tufts into a carpet, the driver is operable to drive the maintenance unit 22 back and forth along the guide 28, along the path of travel. The maintenance unit 22 is thereby moved back and forth across the entire width of the loom 10.

During movement of the maintenance unit 22 in a first direction from a first end of the path of travel to a second, opposite, end of the path of travel, the oiling module 24 is actuated and the pivotable arm 36 moves to its second position so as to bring the brush 32 and applicator 34 of the oiling module 24 into contact with the cutting blade 14 of the loom 10, as shown in Figure 4.

The brush 32 and applicator 34 are arranged relative to each such that on movement of the maintenance unit 22 in the first direction, the brush 32 leads the applicator 34. In this manner, the brush 32 acts to remove any debris from the cutting blade 14 in advance of contact between the cutting blade 14 and the applicator 34.

The applicator 34 is connected to a source of oil so that, as the applicator 34 passes along the blade 14, an even distribution of oil is applied to the cutting blade 14.

In other embodiments it is envisaged that the structure of the oiling module 24 may be simplified and oil may be applied to the surface of the applicator 34 from an external source.

When the maintenance unit 22 reaches the second end of the path of travel, the pivotable arm 36 of the oiling unit moves to its first position where the brush 32 and applicator 34 are spaced from the cutting blade 14, as shown in Figure 1.

The driver then reverses the movement of the maintenance unit 22 to move in a second, as opposite, direction along the path of travel.

During the second direction of movement of the maintenance unit 22, the controller 30 actuates the cleaning module 26 and the linear actuator moves the nozzle 38 from its first position to its second position so as to direct a jet of air into each of the tuft holders 18, as shown in Figure 5.

When the maintenance unit 22 returns to the first end of the path of travel, the linear actuator of the cleaning module moves the nozzle 38 to its first position where the nozzle 38 is spaced from the tuft holders 18.

The maintenance module 22 is then retained at the first end of the path of travel until completion of a predetermined number of picks in the weaving process, or until such time as a detector identifies a dirty tuft holder 18 following re-cycling of the detecting process described above.

In other embodiments, it is envisaged that actuation of the oiling module 24 and the cleaning module 26 during movement of the maintenance unit 22 between the first and second ends of the path of travel may be reversed, the cleaning module 26 being actuated during movement of the maintenance unit 22 from the first end to the second end and the oiling module 26 being actuated on movement of the maintenance unit 22 from the second end back to the first end. It is also envisaged that the back and forth movement of the maintenance unit 22 may be repeated immediately as opposed to awaiting completion of a predetermined number of picks of the weaving process. This might be desirable in circumstances where for example a greater amount of oil is required to maintain the cutting blade 14 and/or the nature of the yarn being used in the weaving process results in a significant amount of fluff or loose yarns remaining in the tuft holders 18.

In yet further embodiments, it is envisaged that the controller 30 may actuate the oiling and cleaning modules 24,26 at the same time as each other.

In yet further embodiments, it is envisaged that the nozzle 38 of the cleaning module 26 may be connected to a vacuum device by means of hose 40 so as to create suction on actuation of the cleaning module 26. in such embodiments, the linear actuator moves the nozzle 38 from its first position to its second position so as to direct suction into each of the tuft holders 18, in a similar manner to shown in Figure 5.

The embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 shows the cutting blade 14 positioned immediately below the tuft feeders 20 and above the tuft carrier 16. It will be appreciated that in other loom arrangements, the relative positions of the cutting blade 14, tuft feeders 20 and tuft carrier 16 may change. It is therefore envisaged that the first and second positions of the oiling and cleaning modules 24,26 may be adapted to accommodate changes in the relative positions of the cutting blade 14, the tuft carrier 16 and the tuft feeders 20.

It is also envisaged that use of the oiling and cleaning apparatus 12 is not limited to use with a gripper loom 10 provided with an intermediate tuft carrier 16 to present a complete row of tufts to the grippers of the loom 10. In other embodiments, the oiling and cleaning apparatus 12 may be provided on a jacquard gripper loom including a plurality of yarn carriers to present yarn ends to the grippers of the loom. In such embodiments, the orientation of the pivotable arm 36 of the oiling module 26 may be re-arranged so as to ensure contact between the brush 32 and applicator 34 and the cutting blade 14 of the loom 10. The nozzle 38 of the cleaning module 26 may also be arranged to direct a jet of compressed air into the grippers of the loom 10 when located in its second position so as to remove any tufts or debris remaining in the grippers following insertion of a row of tufts into the weaving process.

In such embodiments, the pipe 40 may be omitted or its position relative within the loom may be changed so as to direct compressed air via holes 42 towards the grippers of the loom 10.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An oiling and cleaning apparatus for maintaining an elongate cutting blade and tuft holders of a weaving loom, the apparatus comprising: a maintenance unit having a plurality of maintenance modules, the maintenance modules including a selectively operable oiling module to apply oil to a cutting blade and a selectively operable cleaning module to clean tuft holders; a guide to guide longitudinal movement of the maintenance unit along a path of travel; a driver drivingly connected to the maintenance unit for moving the maintenance unit along the path of travel, the driver being operable to move the maintenance unit back and forth along the path of travel at predetermined intervals; and a controller for controlling selection of the maintenance modules, the controller being operable to actuate the or each selected module during movement of the maintenance unit along the path of travel.
2. An oiling and cleaning apparatus according to Claim I wherein the oiling module includes a brush to remove debris from the cutting blade and an applicator to apply oil to the cutting blade, the brush and applicator being mounted on a pivotably mounted arm, the arm being pivotable to move the brush and the applicator into a maintenance position on actuation of the oiling module.
3. An oiling and cleaning apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the applicator is connected to an oil supply.
4. An oiling and cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the cleaning module includes at least one nozzle operable to generate and direct a jet of fluid on actuation of the cleaning module.
5. An oiling and cleaning apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the or each nozzle is connected to a source of compressed air.
6. An oiling and the cleaning apparatus according to any one of Claims I to 3 wherein the cleaning module includes a nozzle connected to a vacuum device to generate suction on actuation of the cleaning module.
7. An oiling and cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the maintenance modules further includes a selectively operable brush module to clean the tuft holders, the brush module having a brush mounted on a movable arm, the arm being movable to move the brush into a maintenance position, and the brush being rotatable, on actuation of the brush module.
8. An oiling and cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the driver is operable to move the maintenance unit to a selected position along the path of travel, and the controller is operable to select and actuate one or more maintenance modules when the maintenance unit is located in the selected position.
9. An oiling and cleaning apparatus generally as herein described with reference to and/or as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. A weaving loom including an elongate cutting blade extending widthwise of the loom and a plurality of tuft holders arranged widthwise of the loom to deliver tufts to a tuft insertion position in a weaving process, the loom including an oiling and cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, the path of travel of the oiling and cleaning apparatus being aligned with the elongate cutting blade and the tuft holders.
11. A weaving loom according to Claim 10 wherein the loom is an Axminster gripper loom including an intermediate tuft carrier to receive a complete row of tufts and present the tufts to the grippers of the loom for insertion into the weaving process, the tuft carrier defining the plurality of tuft holders.
12. A weaving loom according to Claim 10 wherein the loom is a jacquard Axminster gripper loom, the grippers defining the plurality of tuft holders.
13. A weaving loom according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 wherein the driver of the oiling and cleaning apparatus is operable to move the maintenance unit back and forth along the path of travel after a predetermined number of picks of the weaving process.
14. A weaving loom according to any one of Claims 10 to 13 further including one or more detectors associated with the tuft holders to detect debris in each tuft holder.
15. A weaving loom according to Claim 14 wherein the loom further includes a pipe extending widthwise of the loom, the pipe defining a plurality of selectively operable nozzles spaced across the width of the loom, the nozzles being operable to direct a fluid towards the tuft holders.
16. A weaving loom according to Claim 8 and Claim 14 or Claim 15 wherein the or each detector is connected to the driver and the controller of the oiling and cleaning apparatus to identify tuft holders containing debris, the driver being operable in response thereto to move the maintenance unit along the path of travel into alignment with the or each dirty tuft holder and the controller being operable to select and actuate one or more maintenance modules to clean the or each dirty tuft holder.
17. A weaving loom generally as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
18. A method of maintaining an elongate cutting blade and tuft holders of a weaving loom performing a weaving process, the method involving the step of applying oil to the cutting blade and directing a jet of fluid towards the tuft holders following completion of a predetermined number of picks of the weaving process.
19. A method of maintaining an elongate cutting blade and tuft holders of a weaving loom according to Claim 18 further including the steps of: detecting debris in the tuft holders following completion of each pick of the weaving process; and directing one or more jets of fluid towards one or more dirty tuft holders on detection of debris in the or each dirty tuft holder.
20. A method of maintaining a cutting blade and tuft holders of a weaving loom according to Claim 18 or Claim 19 wherein the step of directing a jet of fluid towards one or more dirty tuft holders involves directing compressed air from one side of the tuft carriers and, on continued detection of debris in the or at least one dirty tuft holder, directing a jet of compressed air at the or each dirty tuft holder from an opposite side thereof.
21. A method of maintaining a culling blade and tuft holders of a weaving loom generally as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.