Abstract: A felting needle package (1) in accordance with the invention consists of a case having the shape of a parallelepiped, said case's interior space being divided by a dividing wall (11), said wall extending diagonally with respect to the lateral walls but extending at a right angle with respect to the bottom (10). The dividing wall (11) may have one or more interruptions such as, for example openings for grasping. Additional dividing walls may be provided. In plan view, the dividing walls divide wedge-shaped, i.e., prism-shaped, partial spaces in the package, said partial spaces being disposed to accommodate felting needle bundles that are also wedge-shaped.

Abstract: In the mounting device (1) in accordance with the invention, the mounting arm (4) is held on a guide arrangement (11), the guide direction of said guide arrangement being oriented parallel to the rotational axis of the drum (3) to be fitted. A force measuring arrangement 21 is provided to detect the tensile force in the profile wire 9, said force measuring arrangement detecting the total force acting on the mounting arm (4), at least in longitudinal direction of the wire. In doing so, essentially all the forces acting on the profile wire (9) are detected, namely, the braking forces of a brake arrangement (25) as well as the braking forces of other arrangements such as, for example of alignment arrangements 28, tilting arrangements 32 or the like.

Abstract: A clamping device (18) for temporarily clamping the fabric (2) in place is provided on the weaving machine (1), and interacts with a ventilating device (23) that effects the temporary elimination of the clamping action. The operation of the ventilating device (23) is controlled by the movement of the beat-up device (11) via a mechanical connection that exists between the beat-up device (11) and the clamping device (18), and is effected by a mechanical transmission (28)—to be understood in the broadest terms—via which the clamping force can be eliminated or also generated in some embodiments. Due to the controlled release of the fabric at times or during phases of operation of the weaving machine (1) that can be adjusted and selected, a simple adaptation of the operation of the weaving machine (1) to different types of fabric can be achieved. An operation with less longitudinal pull of the fabric is possible.

Abstract: A shaft connecting device (18) having a thrust rod (8) and a lateral support (4) that fit into each other with minimal transverse play. In addition, the shaft connecting device (18) has a clamping device (16) with a stop arrangement (60, 60?, 66) and a fixation arrangement (30, 30?), the latter connecting the lateral support (4) and the thrust rod (8) exclusively on their respective upper ends to each other. Any opening, closing and adjusting of the connections between the thrust rod (8) and the lateral support (4) is possible in a particularly simple and convenient manner. The lateral support (4) and the thrust rod (8) support each other, thus resulting in a high dynamic load-bearing capacity. The overall design is simple, clear and cost-effective.

Abstract: A clamping device (18) for temporarily clamping the fabric (2) in place is provided on the weaving machine (1), and interacts with a ventilating device (23) that effects the temporary elimination of the clamping action. The operation of the ventilating device (23) is controlled by the movement of the beat-up device (11) via a mechanical connection that exists between the beat-up device (11) and the clamping device (18), and is effected by a mechanical transmission (28)—to be understood in the broadest terms—via which the clamping force can be eliminated or also generated in some embodiments. Due to the controlled release of the fabric at times or during phases of operation of the weaving machine (1) that can be adjusted and selected, a simple adaptation of the operation of the weaving machine (1) to different types of fabric can be achieved. An operation with less longitudinal pull of the fabric is possible.

Abstract: In the heald shaft (1) according to the invention, a coupling device (8) is provided which serves for connecting the end binder (4) with the shaft rod (3) and which has a spring-biased clamping member (18) for frictionally holding a coupling element (20) in the shaft rod (3). When required, the clamping member (18) may be moved into its releasing position against the force of the spring element (30) for releasing the coupling element (20), so that the latter may be pulled out of the shaft rod (3) alone, or possibly together with other components of the coupling device (8). Operating such a coupling device is particularly simple and requires neither particular skill nor particular attention. The coupling device (8) is adapted for shaft rods of lightweight construction.

Abstract: Heald support bar for heald shafts consists of a bent sheet metal element with unbent legs (8, 9), whereby, in the bending zones, the material thickness is reduced before or during the bending process. As a result of the compression occurring during the bending process, the material thickness in the bending region may again increase slighting during the bending process and, optionally, even return to its original value. However, in any event, an increase of the material thickness beyond the original sheet metal thickness is avoided during the bending process.

Abstract: A felting needle package (1) in accordance with the invention consists of a case having the shape of a parallelepiped, said case's interior space being divided by a dividing wall (11), said wall extending diagonally with respect to the lateral walls but extending at a right angle with respect to the bottom (10). The dividing wall (11) may have one or more interruptions such as, for example openings for grasping. Additional dividing walls may be provided. In plan view, the dividing walls divide wedge-shaped, i.e., prism-shaped, partial spaces in the package, said partial spaces being disposed to accommodate felting needle bundles that are also wedge-shaped.

Abstract: A heald shaft (1) for coupling the shaft rods (2) with the end binders (5), having connecting joints or hinges (10) whose pivot axes (14) lie externally of the shaft rods (2) and preferably inside the end binders (5). Due to the connecting joints (10), a moment-free coupling between the shaft rods (2) and the end binders (5) is ensured. The relative pivotal motions between the shaft rods (2) and the end binders (5) appearing during operation do not generate any moment transmissions between the shaft rods (2) and the end binders (5). Preferably, the driving couplers (7) are arranged above the end binders (5) in a direct extension thereof.

Abstract: An end binder (5) for a heald shaft (1) is formed by a bent sheet metal member (9) which preferably has a U-shaped cross section and which, according to the preferred embodiment, is of high-grade steel. The open side of the U-section faces the shaft rods (2,3). In the hollow space enclosed by the bent sheet metal member (9) shaft rod couplers (28) are secured which are preferably pivotally held. The upper or lower end of the bent sheet metal member forms part of a driving coupler (25) which is situated preferably in a linear continuation of the bent sheet metal member (9) and is a one-piece component with the end binder (5). Such a structure may be manufactured in a simple manner with very small tolerances, and it has a low weight, a substantial stiffness and highly satisfactory bearing properties for being supported in plastic guides.

Abstract: A new shaft drive provides for a switch-on and switch-off of individual heald shafts even at high working speeds. For this purpose switching pawls are provided which couple an eccentric with permanently revolving and/or back-and-forth oscillating disks. Measures for improving the controllability of such a clutch device are the control of the switching pawls by slot guides, associating bi-stabile biasing devices with the switching pawls and/or dividing the switching function into individual switching pawls (27a, 27b) which are associated individually with differently running disks (21, 22). Preferably, one of the two disks executes a continuous rotary motion, while the respective other disk performs only an oscillating motion which determines the heald shaft motion during the resting phases thereof.

Abstract: A shaft connecting device (18) that comprises a thrust rod (8) and a lateral support (4) that fit into each other with minimal transverse play. In addition, the shaft connecting device (18) comprises a clamping device (16) with a stop means (60, 60?, 66) and a fixation means (30, 30?), the latter connecting the lateral support (4) and the thrust rod (8) exclusively on their respective upper ends to each other. Any opening, closing and adjusting of the connections between the thrust rod (8) and the lateral support (4) is possible in a particularly simple and convenient manner. The lateral support (4) and the thrust rod (8) support each other, thus resulting in a high dynamic load-bearing capacity. The overall design is simple, clear and cost-effective.

Abstract: The inventive heald support bar for heald shafts consists of a bent sheet metal element with unbent legs (8, 9), whereby, in the bending zones, the material thickness is reduced before or during the bending process. As a result of the compression occurring during the bending process, the material thickness in the bending region may again increase slighting during the bending process and, optionally, even return to its original value. However, in any event, an increase of the material thickness beyond the original sheet metal thickness is avoided during the bending process.

Abstract: A semi-automatic loader for needle boards (2) includes a filling device (51) that presents felting needles (17) arranged at a ratio that is consistent with the ratio of holes of a needle board. A machine operator can then grasp the felting needles (17) by means of a multiple collet chuck (45) and set them in groups in the rows of holes of the needle board (2). This provides a loading method featuring extremely high productivity.

Abstract: The shaft rod in accordance with the invention consists of only one (steel) metal sheet which is essentially configured without a large hollow chamber. The metal sheet has two stiffening means which are preferably located at the top and at the bottom of the shaft rod and are configured as edges. Preferably, the upper stiffening means (10) is implemented in the configuration of a small hollow chamber or of a solid reinforcement. The lower stiffening means (11) is implemented by attaching the heald support rail. Attachment may occur in accordance with any joining method, such as, for example, welding, cementing, clinching. The shaft rod may be manufactured by shape-rolling or roll-forming, as well as by all other reforming processes that are suitable for metal sheets. It is preferred that the heald support rail be directly integrated in the sheet metal form of the shaft rod. As a result, the entire shaft rod consists of a single metal sheet.

Abstract: A needle-holding device (1) suitable in particular as a package comprises a flat needle carrier section (4) and an adjoining section that has a clamping lip (5) that is resiliently biased against the needle carrier section (4). The clamping lip (5) reaches around the stitch-forming sections of the needles (2) which are held lying next to each in contact with each other on the needle carrier section (4). The resiliently yielding clamping lip (5) permits the insertion and the pull-out of one, several or of all the needles (2).

Abstract: The machine knitting needle of the invention, beginning at its hook (3), between the hook (3) and its latch bearing (9), has a convex or at least not concave shank contour, which defines the inner hook contour and on one end (18) adjoins the concave inner hook contour directly. It is attained as a result that the elevation angle which a yarn (23), located in the hook (3), must overcome if it is to slide on the shank does not increase at any point along the inner contour (17). Preferably, it even decreases steadily. It thus has its maximum value inside a space which is defined on the one hand by the inner hook contour (15) and on the other by a plumb line (L) or (L1) which is dropped, from the hook tip (12) or its tapering portion (11), onto the needle back (16), or if the needle back is not oriented parallel to the direction of motion of the machine knitting needle, onto the arrow that defines the direction of motion.

Abstract: An improved heddle (2), on its end eyelet (7), has a spring means (14) which braces the end eyelet (7) resiliently in at least one direction on a heddle support rail 3. The spring means (14) serves to avoid play between the heddle (2) and the heddle shaft (1). This provision makes it possible to increase the operating speed of power looms.

Abstract: The machine knitting needle of the invention, beginning at its hook (3), between the hook (3) and its latch bearing (9), has a convex or at least not concave shank contour, which defines the inner hook contour and on one end (18) adjoins the concave inner hook contour directly. It is attained as a result that the elevation angle which a yarn (23), located in the hook (3), must overcome if it is to slide on the shank does not increase at any point along the inner contour (17). Preferably, it even decreases steadily. It thus has its maximum value inside a space which is defined on the one hand by the inner hook contour (15) and on the other by a plumb line (L) or (L1) which is dropped, from the hook tip (12) or its tapering portion (11), onto the needle back (16), or if the needle back is not oriented parallel to the direction of motion of the machine knitting needle, onto the arrow that defines the direction of motion.

Abstract: An end binder (5) for a heald shaft (1) is formed by a bent sheet metal member (9) which preferably has a U-shaped cross section and which, according to the preferred embodiment, is of high-grade steel. The open side of the U-section faces the shaft rods (2, 3). In the hollow space enclosed by the bent sheet metal member (9) shaft rod couplers (28) are secured which are preferably pivotally held The upper or lower end of the bent sheet metal member forms part of a driving coupler (25) which is situated preferably in a linear continuation of the bent sheet metal member (9) and is a one-piece component with the end binder (5). Such a structure may be is manufactured in a simple manner with very small tolerances, and it has a low weight, a substantial stiffness and highly satisfactory bearing properties for being supported in plastic guides.