US3724513A

US3724513A - Loom having a common frame for the warp and cloth beams

Info

Publication number: US3724513A
Application number: US00771472A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Pfarrwaller
Original assignee: Sulzer AG
Current assignee: Sulzer AG
Priority date: 1968-07-19
Filing date: 1968-10-29
Publication date: 1973-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-03
Also published as: PL80249B1; FR2013264A1; RO57852A; GB1279688A; CH472520A; CS150984B2; DE1800759A1; AT288281B

Abstract

The warp beam and cloth beam are both mounted at the rear of the loom with the warp beam over the cloth beam. The warp yarn is then led downwardly and across to the loom while the cloth is led downwardly and under the loom for take-up on the cloth beam.

Description

United States Patent 1 Pfarrwaller [s4] LOOM HAVING A COMMON FRAME FOR THE WARP AND CLOTH BEAMS 75 Inventor: Erwin Piarrwaller, Winterthur,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Snlzer Brothers, Ltd., Winterthur,

Switzerland 1 [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1968 21 App1.No.: 771,472

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 19, 1968 Switzerland ..1,0903/68 [52] US. Cl. ..139/1, 139/97, 139/304 [51] Int. Cl. ..D03d 49/02, D03d 49/04 [58] Field of'Search "139/ 97, 1, 304, 307, 308; 28/32, 41, 42; 66/86 A; 242/55, 67.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,068,534 1/1937 Costello .L .l "139/304 [111 3,724,513 [4 1 Apr. 3, 1973 2,424,400 7/1947 Kronoff ..l39/1 2,447,227 8/1948 Bergstrom 2,811,176 10/1957 Mangum 2,994,939 8/1961 Matthewsw.

3,502,115 3/1970 Barnett 139/1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 665,428 5/1929 France .L ..'....139/304 1,018,409 1/1966 Great Britain ..l39/304 179,406 11/1935 Switzerland .....139/304 1,132,170 10/1968 1 Great Britain 139/1 Primary Examiner-James KeeChi Attorney-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin [57] ABSTRACT The warp beam and cloth beam are both mounted at the rear of the loom with the warp beam over the cloth beam. The warp yarn is then led downwardly and across to the loom while the cloth is led downwardly and under the loom for take-up on the cloth beam.

21 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures ea 57 3051 1a 6251 67 7b 49 3o 59 71,

PATENTEDAFRB ma SHEET E OF mini-R E m WQN N Qi MK m N W w lave/liar.- EF? W/N PFARFPWAL LER A TTO NEVS PATENTEDAFR 3 I975 SHEET 6 OF 6 ATTO EXS LOOM HAVING A COMMON FRAME FOR THE WARP AND CLOTH BEAMS This invention relates to a loom. More particularly, this invention relates to a loom having a warp beam and a cloth beam.

Heretofore, looms have been known to carry warp have sometimes been mounted on inclined planes so as to raise the warp beam end. This, however, has permitted the use of warp beams of a diameter only up to about 800 millimeters.

Since the warp yarns usually require ready access at least along the length between the warp beam and the edge of the cloth, i.e., at the reed, it has not been possible to have the loom exceed a certain structural elevation. Thus, in order to place a warp beam of a diameter greater than 800 millimeters into the frame, the loom would require lifting to such an extent as to impede the operators in the handling of the warp yarns, for example, during repair of any warp yarn breaks or during work on the shafts or other surrounding mechanism in the'loom. Further, as a rule, it has also not been appropriate to raise the loom machine frame at the cloth side since access has been required from this side, for

instance, for the repair of weft yarn breaks and in view of the fact that the various shafts should be readily accessible over the entire width of the machine.

It has hitherto been customary to wind material on a cloth beam up to a diameter of approximately 500 mm in each case, whereupon the cloth is cut off, the full cloth beam is removed, and another, empty cloth beam is inserted. This process must be repeated several times until the entire warp has .been woven off. Depending on the operating conditions or the type of the fabric to be manufactured, for instance in cotton mills for staple goods, in the processing of continuous filaments as well as in the manufacture of ground weaves of the carpet or tire industry, it has however been desired to have available for further processing, tag. for printing or dyeing of the cloth or for the application of the carpet pile, on account of economy considerations, a maximum possible one-piece length of the cloth.

A further requirement with regard to efficient weaving mill operation has been the reduction of the downtime of the machine resulting from the replacing of the warp beams, or from the preparation of the warp, respectively. The objective in these cases has, there fore, been to obtain cloth beams as well as warp beams with maximum possible lap diameters. However, warp and cloth beams of this size cannot be mounted on the heretofore known looms because such would impede the ease of operation of the looms.

It has also been known to arrange the warp beam above the healds or heddles of a loom on a supporting frame borne by the machine frame. In this arrangement, it has indeed been possible to use a large warp beam, however, a cloth beam of corresponding size cannot be used. Furthermore, the nap and the size which become detached from the warp upon unwinding may sometimes fall on the warp threads situated beneath the warp beam and enter the shed thereby creating faults in the weaving. In addition, access to the warp thread stop-motion mechanism and the heddles from the rear side (warp beam side) of the machine has been blocked by the warp threads fed in from above. Furthermore, this arrangement has been attended by the risk that the vibrations of the loom machine frame can be transmitted to the relatively heavy warp beam supporting frame borne on the machine frame.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to equip a loom with relatively large warp beams.

It is another object of the invention to provide a loom with relatively large warp and cloth beams without elevating the loom machine frame.

It is another object of the invention to selecta warp beam diameter independently of the elevation of the loom machine frame.

It is another object of the invention to permit ready access to the warp yarns in a loom.

It is another object of the invention to provide a loom with enlarged diameter warp and cloth beams within a limited floor space. i 1 I It-is another object of the invention to reduce the downtime required to change the warp beams of a loom.

Briefly, the invention provides a loom wherein a warp beam and a cloth beam are mounted in substantially superpositioned bearings on a support frame out,- side the machine frame of the loom. Preferably, this support frame is formed as a structural unit.

The installation and removal of the warpand cloth beams in this arrangement is extremely simple as compared to previously used techniques. Further, the warp and cloth beams can be of a diameter of 1,200 millimeters or more thus making possible long running times of the loom with long piece lengths of the finished cloth. Still further, replacement of the respective beams and any required machine overhaul, such as cleaning, lubricating, and the like, can occursimultaneously.

In order to permit access to the loom from all sides,

the warp yarns are guided from the warp beam first downwardly and around a guide situated close to the mill floor, thence along the floor to another guide, and next upwardly to a guide situated at the warp side of the machine frame. Similarly, the cloth is guided over a guide situated on the cloth side of the machine frame downwardly and over a guide situated close to the mill floor,thence along the mill floor to another guide, and

next upwardly toa guide positioned adjacent the cloth beam. The warp and cloth beams are also spaced from the loom a sufficient distance as to provide an access space between the loom and beams for the loom operators.

In order to permit the warp yarns to be controlled over their lengths, the support frame is preferably arranged on the warp side of the loom with the access space between the loom and beams being defined by the U-shaped path of the warp yarns let-off from the warp'beam. In this manner, all the warp yarns are accessible so as to permit the performance of any work by l the operator required during loom operation, such as, the checking of the stopmotion' mechanism or the repair of warp yarn breaks. v

In order to minimize the load of the loom construction, a supporting link is used between the machine frame and the beam support structure so that at least a part of the forces generated by weaving on the beam support can be transmitted to the machine frame for balancing with the forces that are generated at that point.

The support structure of the beams further includes girders which carry the machine frame thereon. As a result, the weight of the machine frame is capable of substantially counteracting a moment exerted on'the support structure. In addition, the position of the beams or of the guides for the warp and the cloth as well as the position of drive means for the beams can be precisely maintained with respect to the machine frame. Also, a brace can be connected between the support structure and machine frame to improve the stability of the support structure.

For the purpose of optimum utilization of the available weaving mill floorspace, as a further improvement, the support structure of the invention contains bearing and related supporting devices for supporting the warp and cloth beams of an adjacent loom. As a result, the spacing between the machines can be kept at a minimum despite the use of large size beams.

In one embodiment, a platform is movably mounted in the access space between the machine frame and the support structure. This allows access to the space between the beams and machine frame while avoiding damage to the sections of warp yarn and cloth running along the mill floor beneath this space. In one instance, the platform is supported by pivotal guide rollers on two guides disposed on the support frame across the access space. Preferably, the platform is provided with four guide rollers with at least two of the guide rollers having a rolling surface shaped correspondingly to the profile of the respective guide. The length of the platform is also smaller than half the width of the woven material so that, by a corresponding displacement of the platform, the warp and the cloth are accessible across their entire width. 7

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical sectional view through a weaving mill incorporating a loom of the invention;

FIG. 1a illustrates a view taken on line Il of FIG. 2; FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the loom of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 1 of a common beam support structure for a pair of adjacent loom machine frames according to the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 1 of a pair of adjacent looms connected together according to a Referring to FIG. 1, the weaving mill includes a weaving shed 1 in which a large number of looms 2 are installed; however, for purposes of clarity only one loom 2 is illustrated and only those parts necessary to describe the mode of operation of the loom 2 are shown. The loom 2 is, for example, a gripper shuttle loom with weft winder reserve cheeses 3 (FIG. 2) mounted on a bobbin frame 4 secured to the machine frame.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the loom machine frame comprises two side supports 5,6 which are jointed by a cross-beam 7 (FIG. 2).

Theside walls

5,6 are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the'maximum weaving width in order to accommodate the various drive means of the loom 2. In addition, the side supports 5,6 are attached by means of bolts 8 to two channel shaped

girders

11,12 which are disposed horizontally along the floor of the mill and which are of a length greater than that of the side supports 5,6. The girders ,1 1,12 are disposed on the warp side of the loom 2 and are connected at their free ends by means of a horizontal girder 13 to a frame situated on the floor of the weaving shed 1. The

girders

11,12 are arranged with their legs facing inwardly, i.e., towards one another, and, in the area of the machine frame, have a shape which tapers downwardly toward the cloth end of the loom 2. In addition, the upper flanges of the

girders

11,12 in the tapered region each forms a bearing surface for the side supports 5,6 which is sloped with frame, two additional vertical channel shaped girders I 16,17 are mounted near the ends of the horizontal girders ll, 12 with their legs facing outwardly. The

girders

14,15 are each connected by a brace with the machine frame and are interconnected at their upper ends by means of a cross beam 18 fashioned from a pipe. The girders 11-15 and cross 18 form a support structure 76 for a warp beam consisting of two partial warp beams 21,22 and a cloth beam 26 (FIG. 1).

In addition to the support structure 76 an additional support structure 76' of identical design is disposed in spaced relation thereto for corresponding beams 21", 22', 26 of an adjacent loom (not shown), the warp side of which faces the warp side of the loom 2. The partial warp beams 21,22 on which the warp yams 10 are wound are borne by

shafts

20a, 20 respectively. The two

shafts

20a, 20 are pivotally positioned in two external bearings 19 affixed to the

girders

14,15 and in a central common intermediate bearing 19c. The intermediate bearing is secured to a supporting means 50 (FIGS. 1a, 2) adjustably attached to the cross beam 18 in depending manner. The supporting means 50 comprises two yokes 142 which are clamped to the cross beam 18 by means of a screw connection 141. In order to secure the supporting means 50 against rotation around the cross-beam 18, a key 143 is formed on the cross beam 18 and positioned in slots in the supporting means (FIG. 1a). If partial warp beams of different lengths are used, the supporting means 50 and the bearing 19c can be displaced axially with respect to the cross beam 18 and be fastened at any desired distance from the

vertical girders

14,15.

A yoke 19a is articulated to each bearing 19, 190

I over the

shafts

20, 20a with the free end attached to the pivotally support two guide rolls 24,25. These guide 7 rolls 24,25 are provided, respectively, in gritty beam fashion, with a roughened surface in the weaving width area.

The two

girders

16,17 serve to support the cloth beam 26 that takes up the finished cloth 30 and which is constituted by a tube open on either side. A guide tube 27 of smaller diameter than the cloth beam 26 is movably mounted in the ends of the cloth beam 26 to project between the flanges of the two

vertical girders

16,17 so as to guide the cloth beam 26 vertically therealong.

Referring to FIG. 6, the length of the guide tube 27 is dimensioned in such a way that there is a minimum possible clearance between its ends and the flanges of the

girders

16,17. In order to secure the cloth beam 26 against axial displacement, the two ends of the beam 26 are guided between two locking rings 28 which are displaceably arranged and fastened by means of a respective screw 29 on the guide tube 27. The

guide rollers

24,25 are spaced at such a distance from one another that the cloth beam 26 bears against them in its lowermost position 26a, i.e., at the beginning of the winding process to be described below.

During operation, the warp yarns (or 10a in the case of the woven off warp beam) are guided from the warp beams 21,22 via the guide roller 32 and two

guide rollers

33,34 pivotally positioned in bearings 8 (FIG. 2) on the webs of the

girders

11,12 to a tensioning beam 36 pivoted around a fulcrum 35 and from there via guide rolls 37 and subsequently through a number of heddles 38 up to the reed abutment 39 where the cloth begins. A stop-motion mechanism 40 is disposed between the guide rollers 37 in order to produce a signal for the disconnecting of the loom drive in the case of a break of a warp yam.

In order to place the warp yarns 10 on the loom 2, the

guide rollers

33,34 are removed from the bearings 8 which are suitably designed for such, an adequate length of warp yarn is wound off from the warp beams 21,22 and the heddles 38 with the warp yarns inserted therein are installed in the loom 2. Thercupon, the warp yarns 10 are guided toward the floor between the guide roller 32 and the tensioning beam 36. Subsequently, the deviating.

rollers

33,34 are reinserted into their bearings 8 over the parts of the warp yarns 10 running along the floor.

The heddles 38, as is known, serve to form a shed 41 into which a weft yarn '43 drawn from a cross-wound bobbin 3 (FIG. 2) is fed between the cloth edge 39 and a reciprocating reed 42 supported in the loom by means of a gripper shuttle 44 and by a weft mechanism (not shown) arranged at the side frame 5. The gripper shuttle 44 is braked by means of a. gripping mechanism 45 arranged at the side frame 6 whereupon it releases the inserted weft yarn 43. The weft yarn 43 then is cut off at the weft side of the loom and subsequently struck by the reed 42 in the end of the shed 41, i.e., against the cloth edge 39 thereby forming the cloth 30. Thereu pon, the shed is alternated by the heddles 38 and another weft yarn'fed into the newly formed shed.

The finished cloth 30 is guided at the cloth side of the machine over a breast beam 46 as well as a cloth delivery roller (gritty beam) 47 provided with a roughened surface and subsequently over a guide roller 48 downwardly to another guide roller 49 borne by the

girders

11,12 in the loom frame zone and from there along the floor to another guide roller 51 borne by the

girders

11,12 and, by partial looping of the guide roller 24, upwardly to the cloth beam 26 arranged at the warp side of the loom 2.

The warp yarns 10 run substantially vertically between the guide roller 32 and the deflecting roller 33 as well as between the deflecting roller 34 and the tensioning beam 36 and substantially horizontally between the deflecting

rollers

33,34. Between the

guide rollers

49,51, the cloth 30 is likewise guided in a substantially horizontal path running between the horizontal section of the warp yarns 10 and the floor of the weaving shed '1. The distance between the loom 2 and the

girders

14,15 is selected in' such a way thata space 52 accessible to the operating staff, which is laterally defined by the vertically running parts of the warp yarns 10, is created from which the different parts of the loom, e. g. the stop-motion mechanism 40 and the heddles 38, are accessible over the entire width of the machine. The spacing of the

guide rollers

24,25 from the

girders

14,15 is controlled by the maximum lap diameter of the cloth beam 26, in such a way that a pre-determined minimum spacing exists between its outermost lap layer and the vertical section of the warp yarns 10 running to the deflecting roller 33. i

In order to prevent damage to the sections of the warp yarns 10 or of the cloth 30 running above the floor upon entry into the space, a movable platform 53 is arranged on the

girders

11,12. The width of the platform 53 is less than the spacing between the

guide rollers

33,34 by an amount sufficient to form a gap between one of the platform edges and the adjacent vertical section of the warp yarn 10 and the

adjacent guide roller

33,34 so as to permit repair of yarn breaks likely to occur in the horizontally running sections of the warp yarns.

Referring to FIG. 1, the loom 2 is actuated by an electric motor 54 via a belt drive 55 and a flywheel 56 fitted onto a main shaft 57 which transmits movement to all the mechanical elements belonging to the loom, e.g., the heddles 38 and the reed 42., as well as the warp beams 21,22 and the cloth beam 26.

The warp beams 21,22 are actuated by two sprocket wheels 58 respectively arranged at the inner sides of the lateral frame side supports 5,6 and which are connected ear-wise with one another by means of a differential gear (not shown) and with the main shaft 57 (see FIG. 1, in which the drives of the warp beam 22 of the loom 2 as well as the warp beam 21 of the adjacent loom are shown). An endless drive chain 59 passes from each of the two sprocket wheels 58 over two pairs of deflecting

rollers

61,62 mounted in the webs of the

girders

11,12 to a chain wheel 60 mounted in the

girders

15,14, via a pinion 63. The pair of deflecting rollers 61 is disposed beneath the loom 2 and the pair of deflecting rollers 62 is disposed under the

girders

15,14, respectively, in such a way that the two stringers of the drive chain 59 are conducted along a substantially U-shaped path.

The cloth beam 26 is actuated by a sprocket wheel 65, arranged at the lateral frame side support 6 on the cloth side of the loom 2, which is driven from the main shaft 57 via a slip clutch 66. An endless chain 67 runs from the chain wheel 65 over two pairs of deflecting

rollers

68,69, mounted in the vertical leg of the girder 12, under the 100m 2 and to a chain wheel 70 situated at the vertical leg of the girder 12 on an axis running between the cloth

beam guide rollers

24,25. The chain wheel 70 is connected to a pinion 71 engaging two

gears

72,73 of identical size which are respectively connected with the

guide rollers

24 and 25. The driving forces of the

guide rollers

24,25 are transmitted by friction to the cloth beam 26 (in the position 26a) and to the cloth lap 30a. The cloth beam 26 is driven in identical manner, however, the corresponding driving chain runs along the girder 12 (FIG. 2) not visible in FIG. 1.

During the weaving operation, the warp beams 21,22

. are caused to rotate in steps in the direction indicated by the arrow 74 (FIG. 1) thereby feeding a warp length corresponding to that of the delivered cloth. The tensioning beam 36 generates the required tension in the warp yarns. The drive of the warp beams 21,22 is also controlled according to the respective position of the tensioning beam 36 in per se known manner. For instance, if a warp length is drawn off that is too small by comparison with the cloth delivered, the tensioning beam 36 that holds the tension of the warp constant is moved slightly downward around the fulcrum 35 (FIG. 1). As a result, by means of a control mechanism (not shown) a slip clutch, constituting a part of 'the warp beam drive is influenced in such a way that the sprocket wheels 58 are actuated for a longer period thereby letting off a correspondingly greater warp length from the warp beams 21,22. If, conversely, a warp length is drawn off that is too great by comparison with the delivery of the cloth, the tensioning beam 36 moves upward and, as a result, the sprocket wheels 58 are actuated for a shorter interval so that a correspondingly shorter warp length is let off. By means of the differential gearing connecting the two sprocket wheels 58, tensioning differences between the sets of warp threads running off from the two

beams

21,22 are eliminated.

The finished cloth fed from the cloth side of the loom 2 beneath the machine is taken up on the cloth beam 26 which rotates in steps in the direction indicated by the arrow 75 under the influence .of the

guide rollers

24,25. Upon starting of the weaving operation, the cloth beam 26 is in the lowermost position 26a in contact, for instance, with the guide roller 25 while a layer of cloth is situated between the cloth beam and the guide roller 24. With the advance of the take-up process, this first fabric layer attains the posiraised until reaching the positionv illustrated in FIG. 1.

The guide tube 27 (FIG. 6) arranged between the

girders

16,17 guarantees that the. cloth beam 26 will at all times assume a center position above the

guide rollers

24,25, in which the lap bears on both

guide rollers

24,25.

A horizontal girder 77 is mounted at the ceiling of the weaving shed 1 along an axis running between the supporting

structures

76, 76 parallel to the axes of the

beams

21,22,26. This girder 77 carries, by means of fixtures 78, a track 79 which serves as an overhead track for hoisting equipment 80. The girder 77 is attached in the area of the two supporting

structures

76,76 to three girders 81 and81' (FIG. 2) likewise mounted at the ceiling and at right angles thereto and which are arranged parallel to the

girders

11,12 above the looms facing one another. These

girders

81, 81 in turn carry likewise by means of holding devices 78, tracks 82, 83, 84, respectively 82, 83, 84, which are connected with the track 79 in known manner through an intermediate element 85 provided with a switch means.

The two

external girders

81 and 81 with the

tracks

82, 84 and 82, 84 respectively, are arranged above a line running between the

girders

11,12 and the outermost yarns of the warp yarns 10, whereas the

central girder

81 and 81" is arranged with the

track

83 and 83 above the axes of the loom 2 running between the two

warp beams

21,22. By means of the track 79, a plurality of looms arranged, for instance, in two rows parallel with respect to one another can be charged with beams. The track 79 connects the weaving shed l with a room (not shown) in which the warp beams are prepared and the cloth beams processed. I

If the entire warp 10 has been unwound from the warp beams 21,22, then, if the new warp beam to be inserted contains the identical warp yarns, the warp yarn ends are prepared for joining to the new warp. Thereupon, the finished cloth is cut off, for instance, at the cloth beam.

In order to remove the warp beams 21,22, two hoisting devices 80 are run over the track 79 and the correspondingly set switches, one to each of the

tracks

83,84. After the yokes 19a of the bearings 19, have been untightened and moved back, the hooks 86 of the hoisting equipment 80 are moved under the two ends of the shaft 20a and raised simultaneously. Thereupon, the two hoisting devices 80 are brought to the track 79 and moved away laterally (arrow 87). In the same manner, the warp beam 22 is taken off by means of two hoisting devices 80 running over the

tracks

82,83 and carried away.

In similar manner, the fully wound cloth beam 26 is taken off by two hoisting devices 80 which are run on the

tracks

82,84 whereupon the hooks 86 are brought beneath the two ends of the cloth beam 26 and lifted up to a point where the cloth beam 26 and the guide tube 27, is situated above the

girders

16,17. Thereupon, the

hoisting devices 80 are brought to the track 79 and likewise carried away laterally (arrow 87).

In the next phase, another empty cloth beam with a guide tube 27 inserted therein is brought in by the hoisting devices 80, introduced between

thegirders

16,17, and placed onto the

guide rollers

24,25. Finally, in corresponding fashion, another two fully wound warp beams 22" fitted on a shaft 20" are inserted into the corresponding bearings 19,190.

The yarns of the new warp are joined to the ap propriately prepared yarns of the preceding warp and the cut-off fabric end is attached to the new cloth beam. Thereupon weaving operations can resume.

Referring to FIG. 3, wherein like parts are designated with identical references, the weaving mill also houses a plurality of looms 2 in a weaving shed 101 in two rows with their warp sides facing one another and designed identically to those shown in FIG. 1. The loom 2 is merely suggested by an outline. The side

frame sup ports

5,6 of the

loom

2,2 are mounted on two continuous channel-shaped girders 91, only one of which is shown for clarity. The girders 91 are arranged with their flanges facing inside and, in the area of the two loom frames, are respectively provided with a tapered girder end.

The warp beams 21,22 and 21', 22 seated on the

shafts

20,20a, respectively and belonging to the

looms

2,2, of which only the front beams can be seen, are arranged in the center between the two

machines

2,2 on a freestanding frame joined toone of the beams 91.

This frame consists of two channel-shaped girders 92 which are provided with lateral reinforcing ribs 93 and a cross beam 18 joining their free ends. The

girders

91,92 constitute with the beam 18 a supporting structure 96 for the

beams

21, 22,26 or 21, 22, 26' belonging to the two

looms

2,2.

.A plate 94 is mounted on the mutually facing flanges of the girders 92beneath the cross beam 18 while projecting to either side and supporting at its free ends the outer bearings 19, symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of the girder 92, for the

shafts

20a, 20 of the warp beams 21, 22,21,22'. The intermediate bearings 19c for the

shafts

20a,20 are attached to a T-shaped suspension means 50a (FIG. 3a) which is suspended from the cross beam l8.at identical spacings from the two girders 92.

The

guide rollers

24,25, as well as the

guide carriers

16, 17 of the cloth beams 26,26 are arranged on the girders 91 likewise symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the girders 92. The spacings of the

girders

16,17 and the bearings 19, from the girder 92 are determined by the maximum diameter of the warp and cloth beams to be used.

Brackets 95 are mounted on the flanges of the girder 92 beneath the bearings 19 to carry the guide rollers 32 for the warp yarns and 10a. The length of each bracket 95 is dimensioned in such a way that the part of the warp yarns 10 running between the

guide rollers

32,33 passes the fully wound

cloth beam

26,26 at a predetermined minimum distance. Furthermore, a bearing 97 is secured on the bracket 95 to carry a chain wheel 98 via a pinion 99. The pinion 99 engages the gears 64 of the warp beams 21 and 22, respectively.

The warp yarns 10 and the finished fabrics 30 are guided according to the example illustrated in FIG. 1.

the chain wheel 70. The driving chain for the cloth beam 26 runs along the rear girder 91 that cannot be seen in FIG. 3.

As above,

girders

77, 77 are mounted on the ceiling of the weaving shed 101 above the

beams

21,22,26 and 21,22'Li belonging to the

looms

2 and 2 in parallel to their axes. Both

girders

77,77 are provided with tracks 79 and are connected in the area of the supporting structure 96 with

cross beams

102, 103, 103 with respect to the supporting structure 96 as the

girders

81,81 described above (FIG. 2) with respect to the supporting

structure

76,76. Tracks 104,105,105 are attached to the girders 102,103,103 via an intermediary element with the track 79.

In the case of this arrangement, the inserting and removing of the warp and cloth beams at the two

looms

2,2, i.e. at two rows of looms, can occur completely independently of one another or simultaneously. The sequence of the various operational phases corresponds to that described abovewith regard to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the weaving shed 106 comprises two

looms

2,2 arranged, on two girders'9l, as in FIG. 3. Each one of the girders 91 carries a frame in the center between the two looms 2, which is formed by two vertically arranged channelshaped sections 107,108 and a crossbeam 109 joining their upper ends and arranged parallel to the girder 91. The two girders 91 are interconnected by means of two cross beams '18, the ends of which are connected to the respective vertical legs of the girders as well as to a connection plate 140 arranged on the upper girder flange. V

The support structure 110 constituted by the

girders

91, 107, 108, 109 supports the

beams

21,22,26 and 21,22LP corresponding to the

looms

2,2. The cloth beams 26,26 are supported above the warp beams 21,22, and 21,22 on their

guide rollers

24,25, the

bearings 23 of which are connected to the girder 109 together with the

guide carriers

16,17. The outer bearings 19 for the

shafts

20a,20 of the warp beams 21,22; 21,22 are respectively attached to theinwardly facing legs of the sections 107, 108, with their free ends projecting toward the corresponding loom. The intermediate bearings 19c for the inner ends of the

shafts

20a, 20 are respectively arranged on a support means 50b (FIG. 4a) attached between the girders 92 on the cross beams 18.

The warp yarns 10 run in a preferably short path from the warp beams 21,22; 2],22' to the deflecting roller 33 from there, as in the case of the other examples, to the loom 2,2'.The finished cloth 30 is guided over the deflecting roller 49 and a deflecting roller 1 l1 situated between the sections 107,108 at the legs of the girders 91 to the guide rollers 24 and the

cloth beam

26,26. The spacing of the deflecting rollers 111 from the sections 107 and 108 is selected in suchaway that the cloth 30 travelling toward the guide rollers 24 cannot touch the fully wound warp beams 21,

22'and

21,22

112 are mounted in the area of the space 52 between I the girders 91. Each platform 112 is provided with four pivotally arranged guide rollers 113,114 and is carried by a respective pair thereof on the deflecting rollers 34',35' for the warp yarns 10. The deflecting rollers 34',35' are supported in bearings 8' (FIG. 7) mounted on the girders 91 and secured against rotation. The two guide rollers 114 supported on the deflecting roller 33 are provided with cylindrical bearing surfaces, whereas the bearing surfaces of the two guide rollers 113 are shaped to correspond to the surface of the deflecting roller 34, by means of which the platform 112 is laterally guided. The length of each platform 1 12 is slightly smaller than one third of the spacing between the girders 91 so that, through selective displacement of the platforms 1 12 in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the deflecting rollers 33,34 a little more than one third of the width of the weave is accessible at all times and,- hence, the horizontal sections of the Warp yarns 10.

Each one of the two platforms 1 12 is tensioned with respect to the adjacent girder 91 by means of an elastic cord 151 made, for instance of rubber. The ends of the cord 151 are attached to holding means 152 and 153 respectively attached to the girder 91 and the platform 1 12. By means of the two cords 151, the two platforms 112 are each held in the respective area of the girders 91 thereby permitting access to the operator from either side at any time.

In order to reach the center area of the space 52, the operator standing on the platform 112 can support himself against the tensioning beam 36, for instance, in such a way that the platform 112 is moved toward the inside away from the girder 91. In this process, the cord 151 is tensioned in such a way that the platform 112, if the operator leaves the space 52 via the other platform 112, is pulled back into its initial position. The length and the strength of the cable 151 are dimensioned in such a way that its elasticity is inadequate to retract the platform 112 out of the central position if an operator is standing thereon.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 8, a substantially nonelastic cable 154 made, for instance, of nylon fiber (Perlon) or the like, can be secured to the platforms 112 at 153 and guided over a guide roller 155 mounted to a holding means 157 on the adjoining girder 91 and connected at 158 with an elastic cord 156 made, for in stance, of rubber and being of substantially identical length. The elastic cord 156 is connected to the opposite girder 91 at the holding means 157 for the guide roller 155 of the other platform 112. In this embodiment, the length of the elastic cord 156 can, for instance, be selected to be twice that indicated in accordance with the example of FIG. 7. As a result, upon the displacement of the platform 112, the elastic cord 156 is tensioned with respect to its length by an amount considerably less than that of the cord 151 (FIG. 7) so that the return force exerted on the platform 112 with each occurring expansion of the cord by positioning of the platform remains substantially constant.

Referring to FIG. 4, the drive chains 59 for the warp beams 21,22,21,22' are guided over the deflecting roller pairs 61,62 to the chain wheels 98 situated on the girders 107,108 and which are connected with the pinions 99 engaging the gears 64. Each one of the cloth beams 26,26 is actuated by two endless chains 119,119 One chain 119 is guided from the chain wheel over the pairs of deflecting rollers 68 and another pair of deflecting rollers (not shown in FIG. 4) arranged behind the deflecting rollers 62 to a chain wheel borne at the girder 109. This chain wheel 115 is connected to a second chain wheel arranged on the same axis, from which the other drive chain 119 is guided to the two chain wheels 116,117, respectively connected with the

guide rollers

24,25. The driving chain for the cloth beam 26 cannot be seen in FIG. 4 in view of the fact that it runs along the rear girders of the supporting structure 110.

The transporting means for the replacement of the

beams

21,22,26; 21',22',26 is designed similarly to that shown in the examples according to FIGS. 1 and 2, with the difference that the girder 77 for the track 79 running parallel to the axes of the beams is arranged along a line running between the loom 2 and its

corresponding beams

21,22,26. The girders 81 and 81' carry respective runway rails 118 and 118 linked to the guide track 79, which are arranged above the loom 2, respectively, above the supporting structure 110 and the loom 2. The arrangement of the tracks 118,118 with respect to the supporting structure 110 corresponds to that of the

tracks

82,83,84, 82',83',84' with respect to the supporting

structures

76,76 described above (FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 5 the weaving mill has looms 2 similar to the arrangement of FIG. 1, which are each provided with its own support structure 121 for the corresponding

beams

21,22,26. Likewise, the weaving shed is provided with two rows of looms which face one another with their warp sides (only one of which is illustrated). The loom 2 is arranged on two channelshaped girders 122, the legs of which face inwardly and on which, at identical spacing from the loom side supports 5,6, a vertically arranged channel shaped section 123 is mounted. The girder 123 is provided at the upper free end with a girder 124 projecting like a bracket toward the right and being parallel to the girder 122. The comers of this structure are reinforced by ribs 125 and by plates 126 covering the legs of the two support girders 122,123. A cross beam 18 is secured to the plates 126 to join the two girders 122. The girders 122,123,124, and beam 18 constitute the support structure 121 for the

beams

21,22,26.

The outer bearings 19 for the

shafts

20a,20 of the warp beams 21,22 are mounted on the plates 126 substantially at half elevation of the girders 123. The intermediate bearings for the inner ends of the

shafts

20a, 20 are, as in the example in accordance with FIG. 4, mounted on a supporting means 50b attached to the cross beam'l8. The length of the girder 124 is dimensioned in such a way as to project to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 a distance somewhat shorter than the spacing between the

shafts

20a,20, situated therebeneath, and

. the adjoining flange of the girder 123. The girder 124 carries the

guide rollers

24,25 for the cloth beam 26 with the guide tubes 27 thereof guided between the two channel shaped

beams

16,17 carried between the two girders 124.

An arm 127 is hingedly connected on each girder 124 around the axis of the guide roller 24 and is provided at the upper side with a lug 128. A tension spring 129 is attached at one end to the lug 128 and at the opposite end to a lug 130 on the girder 124 to balance the weight of the arm 127. The lower part of the girder 124 carries a stop element 131 which projects toward the right as viewed in FIG. under the arm 127 and which carries a set screw 132 adjustable with respect to the arm 127. A deflecting roller 134 is arranged at the free ends of the arms 127.

The warp is guided in a manner identical to that of the preceding examples from the warp beams 21,22 over the deflecting

rollers

33,34 to the loom 2.

The finished fabric 30 is guided via the deflecting rollers 49 and a deflecting roller 133 carried on the free ends of the girders 122 on the side of the warp beams 21,22 facing away from the loom 2 along a vertical path to the deflecting roller 134 and from there to the cloth beam 26 by partially looping the guide roller 24. Under the effect of the fabric tension, the arm 127 carrying the deflecting roller is pressed downwardly. The lowermost position of the arm 127 is determined by the position of the setscrew 132. The spacing of the deflecting rollers 133,134 from the girder 123 is selected in such a way that the fabric 30 cannot touch the fully wound warp beams 21,22.

The drive of the warp beams 21,22 occurs by means of the drive chain 59 guided as in the case of the other examples. As in the case of the example in accordance with FIG. 4, the cloth beam 26 is actuated by two endless drive chains 119,119. One drive chain 119 is guided over a pair of deflecting rollers (not shown), as in FIG. 5 behind the deflecting rollers 62, to the chain 1 wheel 115, and the other driving chain 1 19 by a second warp beams. The support structure for the beams may also be arranged at the cloth side of the machine frame. Furthermore, a loom designed in accordance with the invention may comprise separating devices for the breaking up of the fabric web into several, for instance three, partial webs. Such partial webs can be taken up on individual segmented cloth beams of corresponding length which are situated next to one another on the

guide rollers

24,25 and which are guided for instance by a guide rod 27 continuous over the entire width of the machine between two respective locking rings 28.

In one embodiment of the invention, the warp and/or cloth beam made of a single piece of consisting of several elements may be provided with a drive means separate from the drive of the loom. The warp can also be provided with only a single braking device.

An embodiment is likewise conceivable in which the support structure for the beams is not situated on the floor of the weaving shed but is mounted, for instance, to girders on the ceiling structure of the building or possibly to supports thereof.

The platform accessible in the space 52 can likewise be designed differently. For instance, the platform situated on the

girders

11,12,91 may cover substantially the entire horizontal section of the warp yarns 10. The platform can be designed'for lifting substantially along an axis running crosswise to the direction of travel of the warp, by means of which in each case one-half section of the horizontal part of the warp yarns 10 is accessible. I

Instead of being supported on guide rollers, the platforms arranged between the machine frame and the supporting structure may also be supported directly on the deflecting rollers for the warp and fabric, or on corresponding elements and may be guided, for instance, by means of lateral guides. In addition, to elastic tensioning means, the platforms can, for instance, be maintained in their rest positions at the side supports of the loom by means of correspondingly arranged and beams 21,22 have been woven off, the fabric is cut off hoisting equipment 80. Then, the arm 127 is moved uppossibly weighted tensioning means.

platform is movable crosswise to the direction of travel of the warp yarns or the fabric. In this embodiment, the

1 platform is of a length which is preferably smaller than ward until reaching the position 138 and maintained by the spring 129. g With the arm in upright position, the

bearings

19,19c are readily accessible for the removal of the warp beams 21,22 so that the hoisting hooks 86, following moving back of the yokes 19a, can readily be placed under the ends of the

shafts

20a,20. By means of a light lifting off by the hooks 86, the

shafts

20a, 20 are detached from the

bearings

19,19c and subsequently laterally removed (toward the right in the case of FIG. 5) and taken away over the guide tracks 82,79. Thereupon, first, the new warp beams and then the new cloth beam are inserted.

The transport equipment for the warp and cloth beams can,for instance, be designed in such a way that the girders for the hoisting equipment guide tracks are supported on the support structure for the beams.

7 Various modified embodiments of the invention are possible. For instance, the support structure pertaining to the loom may comprise a warp beam consisting of segmented sections of different width or else two tiered one-half the width of the weave and is held at one side of the loom. Furthermore, an endless tensioning means can be attached to the platform, which does notexert any return force on the platform but which is guided, for instance, over one guide roller arranged at the respective side girders of the loom or the support structure. In this instance, the platform can be moved to each one of the lateral girders by means of pulling of one stringer or by rotating of one of the guide rollers.

V The invention thus provides a loom which can be equipped with substantially larger beams than before possible, the diameter of which can be selected independently of the elevation of the machine in accordance with the respective operation conditions.

What is claimed is:

l. A loom having a machine frame for forming a cloth; a support structure spaced from said machine frame, said support structure including a plurality of superpositioned bearings; a warp beam journalled in one of said bearings in said support structure; a cloth beam journalled in another of said bearings in said support structure in vertical disposition relative to said warp beam; said support structure mounting said warp beam and said cloth beam thereon being spaced from said machine frame to define an access space therebetween for a loom operator; first guide means for directing the warp yarns on said warp beam in a first substantially U- shaped path between said warp beam and said machine frame, said first path having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor supporting said loom; and second guide means for directing the cloth on said machine frame in a second substantially U-shaped path between said machine frame and said cloth beam and having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor.

2. A loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support structure is a structural unit.

3. A loom as set forth in claim 1 which further includes a moveable platform between said beams and said machine frame in said access space over said horizontal portions of said first and second paths.

4. A loom as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first guide means includes a pair of guides disposed across said access space and wherein said platform includes a plurality of rotatably mounted guide rollers rollably mounted on said guides for longitudinal movement thereon.

5. A loom as set forth in claim 4 wherein said platform includes four of said guide rollers at least two of said guide rollers having a bearing surface thereon in mating relation with the respective one of said guides.

6. A loom as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a holder mounted between said support structure and said machine frame; and an elastic cord connected to said holder and said platform to bias said platform towards said holder.

7. A loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support structure is disposed on the warp side of said machine frame and said first U-shaped path for the warp yarns defines said access space with said second path disposed beneath said first path.

8. A loom as set forth in claim 7 further including a laterally displaceable moveable platform within said access space over said horizontal portion of said first path.

9. A loom as set forth in claim 8 wherein said guide means includes a pair of guides disposed transversely of said first path in said access space, and wherein said platform includes a plurality of rotatable guide rollers mounted on said guides for longitudinal movement thereon.

10. A loom as set forth in claim 9 wherein at least two of said guide rollers have a bearing surface thereon complementary to said guides.

1 l. A loom as set forth in claim 1 further including a support connection supporting said machine frame and connected to said machine frame and said support structure, said support connection having a connecting brace above said access space.

12. A loom as set forth in claim 1 further including a support connection between said machine frame and said supportstructure connecting said support structure to said machine frame.

13. A loom as set forth in claim 12 wherein said support connection includes a plurality of interconnected girders, and wherein said machine frame is supported on said girders.

14. A loom as set forth in claim 13 wherein said machine frame is supported on an inclined plane on said girders.

15. A loom as set forth in claim 12 wherein said support connection supports said support structure and said machine frame thereon and further supports a second support structure and a second loom machine frame thereon in spaced relation, said machine frames being disposed on opposite ends of said support connection.

16. A loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support structure. is common to an adjacent loom, and includes a pair of warp beams joumalled in a respective pair of said bearings and a pair of cloth beams journal led in another respective pair of said bearings.

17. A loom as set forth in claim 16 further including a pair of drive means, each drive means being operatively connected to a respective one of said warp beams and a respective one of said cloth beams.

18. A loom as set forth in claim 17 wherein each said drive means is driven from the drive of a respective loom.

19. A loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support structure further includes a pivotally mounted arm over said warp beam, said arm having a guide at one end for guiding the cloth from said machine frame onto said cloth beam and a spring connected to said arm biasing said arm away from said warp beam.

20. A loom having a machine frame for forming a cloth; a support structure spaced from said machine frame, said support structure including a plurality of bearings; a warp beam joumalled in one of said hearings in said support structure; a cloth beam journailed in another of said bearings in said support structure in vertical disposition relative to said warp beam; said support structure mounting said warp beam and said cloth beam thereon being spaced from said machine frame to define an access space therebetween for a loom operator; first guide means for directing the warp yarns on said warp beam in a first substantially U- shaped path between said warp beam and said machine frame, said first path having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor supporting said loom; and second guide means for directing the cloth on said machine frame in a second substantially U-shaped path between said machine frame and said cloth beam and having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor.

21. A loom having a machine frame for forming a cloth; a support structure spaced from said machine frame; a warp beam; means journalling said warp beam in said support structure; a cloth beam; means journalling said cloth beam in said support structure in vertical disposition relative to said warp beam; said support structure mounting said warp beam and said cloth beam being spaced from said machine frame to define an access space therebetween for a loom operator; first guide means for directing the warp yarns on said warp beam in a first substantially U-shaped path between said warp beam and said machine frame, said first path having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor supporting said loom; and second guide means for directing the cloth on said machine frame in a second. substantially U-shaped path between said machine frame and said cloth beam and having a substantially horizontal portion disposed below said horizontal portion of said first path.

Claims

1. A loom having a machine frame for forming a cloth; a support structure spaced from said machine frame, said support structure including a plurality of superpositioned bearings; a warp beam journalled in one of said bearings in said support structure; a cloth beam journalled in another of said bearings in said support structure in vertical disposition relative to said warp beam; said support structure mounting said warp beam and said cloth beam thereon being spaced from said machine frame to define an access space therebetween for a loom operator; first guide means for directing the warp yarns on said warp beam in a first substantially U-shaped path between said warp beam and said machine frame, said first path having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor supporting said loom; and second guide means for directing the cloth on said machine frame in a second substantially U-shaped path between said machine frame and said cloth beam and having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor.

11. A loom as set forth in claim 1 further including a support connection supporting said machine frame and connected to said machine frame and said support structure, said support connection having a connecting brace above said access space.

12. A loom as set forth in claim 1 further including a support connection between said machine frame and said support structure connecting said support structure to said machine frame.

16. A loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support structure is common to an adjacent loom, and includes a pair of warp beams journalled in a respective pair of said bearings and a pair of cloth beams journalled in another respective pair of said bearings.

20. A loom having a machine frame for forming a cloth; a support structure spaced from said machine frame, said support structure including a plurality of bearings; a warp beam journalled in one of said bearings in said support structure; a cloth beam journalled in another of said bearings in said support structure in vertical disposition relative to said warp beam; said support structure mounting said warp beam and said cloth beam thereon being spaced from said machine frame to define an access space therebetween for a loom operator; first guide means for directing the warp yarns on said warp beam in a first substantially U-shaped path between said warp beam and said machine frame, said first path having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor supporting said loom; and second guide means for directing the cloth on said machine frame in a second substantially U-shaped path between said machine frame and said cloth beam and having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor.

21. A loom having a machine frame for forming a cloth; a support structure spaced from said machine frame; a warp beam; means journalling said warp beam in said support structure; a cloth beam; means journalling said cloth beam in said support structure in vertical disposition relative to said warp beam; said support structure mounting said warp beam and said cloth beam being spaced from said machine frame to define an access space therebetween for a loom operator; first guide means for directing the warp yarns on said warp beam in a first substantially U-shaped path between said warp beam and said machine frame, said first path having a substantially horizontal portion disposed above the floor supporting said loom; and second guide means for directing the cloth on said machine frame in a second substantially U-shaped path between said machine frame and said cloth beam and having a substantially horizontal portion disposed below said horizontal portion of said first path.