Miscellaneous Patents (Class 139/1R)
  • Patent number: 6164339
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a woven textile having a structural member integrally woven therein. The structural member may be either straight or an undulating member which, although straight when secured to the textile, is trained to undergo a shape memory transformation back to its remembered undulating shape. The structural member is secured to the woven textile by displacing one or more given warp yarns in a first direction to create a structural member receiving gap, inserting the structural member into the gap by passing a structural member-insertion shuttle therethrough, and thereafter returning the displaced warp yarn or yarns to secure the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Prodesco, Inc.
    Inventor: E. Skott Greenhalgh
  • Patent number: 6155306
    Abstract: A woven fabric enhancing bulletproof ability by efficiently absorbing kinetic energy of a bullet discharged from a gun, which is not softened or molten by heat of the bullet at high temperatures, in which non-twisted multifilament yarns are opened and the filament yarns are aligned such that the cross-sectional shape thereof is flattened as a whole and the fabric is woven while keeping fiber axes of the filaments substantially linear. Warps and wefts comprise such multifilament yarns, the warp comprising polyethylene fibers excellent in mechanical property, the weft comprising aramide fibers excellent in thermal property. In order to prevent lowering of the bulletproof ability caused by crimping or the like of the multifilament yarns and to sufficiently utilize the mechanical properties of the fiber material, multifilament yarns each having a count of 50 through 1600 deniers comprising filaments each having a count of less than 10 deniers are used as the warps and wefts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Shozo Katsukura
    Inventors: Shozo Katsukura, Mikine Katsukura
  • Patent number: 6148870
    Abstract: A weaving machine arrangement incorporates a shaft frame machine and, arranged on both sides thereof, two Jacquard machines. The weaving machine arrangement is coordinated, and first warp threads for the woven material are obtained from the shaft frame weaving machine and second warp threads from the Jacquard machines. The second warp threads are used to form spread-out turnover fold areas in the tubular material. The Jacquard machines form patterns for the closing locations of the weft threads in the turnover fold areas. By using spread-out turnover fold areas and spreading the closing locations of the weft threads in these areas, high-strength piecing functions are obtained in the tubular weave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Texo AB
    Inventor: Bo Lindblom
  • Patent number: 6129122
    Abstract: A three-dimensional multiaxial circular woven fabric of a generally cylindrical shape having a core defined therein about a central axis. A plurality of concentric axial yarn layers extend radially outwardly in spaced-apart relationship from the central axis, and each of the layers comprises a plurality of axial yarns extending parallel to the central axis of the fabric. A plurality of radially spaced-apart circumferential yarns extend outwardly from the central axis of the fabric and define a plane substantially perpendicular thereto, and each of a selected number of the plurality of circumferential yarns is woven between a corresponding plurality of next adjacent and successive concentric axial yarn layers. A plurality of radial yarns is provided in the fabric wherein each of a selected number of the radial yarns is woven between a corresponding plurality of next adjacent and successive axial yarns and each axial yarn layer of a plurality of concentric yarn layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: 3TEX, Inc.
    Inventor: A. Kadir Bilisik
  • Patent number: 6112772
    Abstract: A system with reduced electrostatic discharge including woven fabric configured into a flexible container and having sufficient electrical resistivity to allow discharges of energy from the fabric of below about one-hundred nanocoulombs when the fabric is charged to more than about negative ten thousand volts. The flexible fabric container with a reduced potential for incendiary discharge may further include quasi-conductive fibers or a combination of quasi-conductive fibers and an antistatic coating. The quasi-conductive fibers further may be woven into the fabric. The present invention also discloses a method for reducing electrostatic discharge in ungrounded type flexible fabric container systems by providing a flexible fabric container made from woven fabric and adjusting the electric resistivity of the woven fabric to allow the flow of electricity through the fabric at a rate allowing discharges at below about one-hundred nanocoulombs when the fabric is charged at more than about negative ten kilovolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Linq Industrial Fabrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vahid Ebadat, George M. Milner, Robert J. Pappas
  • Patent number: 6102079
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a jacquard machine having a plurality of heald hooks (16) moveable between at least two discrete shed positions, the system including visual sensing means (30) for producing a visual image of hooks (16) located at one of said shed positions during each weaving cycle, and control means (49) for comparing said visual image with a predetermined shed pattern for each corresponding weaving cycle in order to determine whether or not all the appropriate hooks have been selected to define the required shed pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignees: Scapa Group PLC, Northern Electronic Technology Limited
    Inventors: Ewan Croucher, Robin Frank Hamilton Sillem
  • Patent number: 6082412
    Abstract: A weaving system is provided to automatically maintain a printed pattern in alignment with a woven pattern as a fabric is being formed. The printed pattern is printed onto the warp yarns. A controller is used to monitor the position of the printed pattern during the weaving process relative to the position of a woven pattern that is being formed into the fabric. Should the printed pattern and woven pattern fall out of alignment, the controller then alters the longitudinal size of the woven pattern, the printed pattern, or both patterns, in order to realign the patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Tietex International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Wildeman, Jeff A. Carpenter, Lawrence F. Houghton
  • Patent number: 6056022
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for changing the harness of a loom. It has two bearing columns (16) arranged on a chassis, two jibs (18) which can move vertically on the columns and horizontally extendible and a device (26) o the jibs (18) to transfer head frames. The head frame transfer device (26) comprises two spaced boundary plates 932) interconnected by at least one cross-member (28) and fitted with guide rails (30) for the head frames, and two spaced bearers (34) on a transverse support (22) connected to the boundary plates 932) and which can pivot in relation to the transverse support (22) to accept and transfer the head frames. In order to adapt the article changer to different weave widths, the distance between the boundary plates (32) can b adjusted by hand or by a motor. To this end, the cross-members (28) and the transfers support (22) consist of two simultaneously actuated teles copic sections (28', 28"; 22', 22").
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Genkinger Hebe- und Fordertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Graser
  • Patent number: 6050303
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the weaving of a warp yarn fabric having a high modulus of elasticity in which a sheet of parallel warp yarns is continuously unwound from a beam. The sheet is fed over a whip roll and a shed is formed using healds, the shed being defined in the forward direction of the warp by a shed opening point on an inlet side and a fell point on an opposite side. A weft yarn is inserted into the shed to form a resulting fabric which is evenly pulled and wound. The warp yarns are sufficiently heated in an area adjacent to the shed opening point to cause a local reduction in the modulus of elasticity of the warp yarns. Subsequently, the warp yarns are cooled in the shed before reaching the healds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Corbiere S.A.
    Inventor: Claude Corbiere
  • Patent number: 6050302
    Abstract: A method and a device for fast setup or retrofit of a weaving machine, from/to which a warping beam and auxiliary shedding mechanism are removed or supplied for a change in warp and/or for a change in article to be woven. A harness is provided for the weaving machine, which is applied or removed as a unit for the setup or retrofit, under loosening and/or closing of connections to a Jacquard machine and also under release or attachment in the region of a low-tension device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsche Institute fur Textil-und Faserforschung
    Inventors: Rolf Guse, Hansjurgen Horter
  • Patent number: 6041830
    Abstract: The warp beam frame (21) for warp beams which are arranged one above the other has bearing arrangements (24, 25) which comprise end bearings and a support bearing (27) which is arranged between the latter for the reception of the warp beams and a device (33) for the pivoting of the support bearing of the upper bearing arrangement (24) in order to provide a passage for the heald frames during a change of article. The warp beam frame and the weaving machine enable a rapid change of article, in particular at broad weaving machines, and require little space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventors: Marcel Herzig, Heinz Baumann
  • Patent number: 6019138
    Abstract: A method of making a three-dimensional stiffener having at least one wall (6, 8) extending outwardly from a generally planar base portion (4) comprises the steps of forming the base portion by weaving at least two layers (16, 18) using orthogonally disposed first and second yarn lengths (10, 12) and using a third plurality of yarn lengths (14) located within planes extending perpendicularly to the general plane of said stiffener. Each of said plurality of yarn lengths in said third pluratlity is woven between the topmost and bottommost ones (10, 12) of said plurality of first and second orthogonally disposed first and second yarn lengths. At least one stiffener wall (6) extending orthogonally to said plane is formed by overweaving along a given section of said planar portion and in a direction perpendicular to said general plane of said stiffener coincident with a section of one of said plurality of first and second yarn lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmed Ezzeldin Malek, Christopher Michael Pastore
  • Patent number: 6000439
    Abstract: A weaving machine including a machine frame, an apparatus for supplying warp threads, a support apparatus, a plurality of heald frames, a reed, and a replaceable changing apparatus releasably connectable with the machine frame or the support apparatus and including at least one whip roll for deflecting the warp threads, a warp stop motion unit, a holder device for the heald frames and the reed, and at least one apparatus for guiding and/or fixing the warp threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Textilma AG
    Inventor: Francisco Speich
  • Patent number: 5983951
    Abstract: A wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant loom part comprises a Fe--Cr based alloy or a Fe--Cr--Ni based alloy, which has a substantially dual-phase structure comprising a ferrite phase and a martensite phase. The Fe--Cr based alloy preferably contains 10 to 20% by weight Cr, and contains 5 to 70 volume % of the ferrite phase in its structure. The Fe--Cr--Ni based alloy preferably contains 10 to 30% by weight of Cr, 0.01 to 15% by weight of Ni, and 5 to 70 volume % of the ferrite phase in its structure. The maximum crystal particle diameter of the Fe--Cr based alloy or the Fe--Cr--Ni based alloy is preferably 20 .mu.m or less. The loom part is preferably formed of either a dent of a reed or a heddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junji Taniguchi, Kazuya Tsujimoto, Hideo Koizumi, Yasuhisa Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 5983952
    Abstract: A weaving system is designed to automatically maintain a printed pattern in alignment with a woven pattern as a fabric is being formed. The printed pattern is printed onto the warp yarns. A controller is used to monitor the position of the printed pattern during the weaving process relative to the position of a woven pattern that is being formed into the fabric. Should the printed pattern and woven pattern fall out of alignment, the controller then alters the longitudinal size of the woven pattern, the printed pattern, or both patterns, in order to realign the patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Tietex International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeff A. Carpenter, Lawrence F. Houghton, Martin Wildeman
  • Patent number: 5826624
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for positioning a transport carriage that supports a cloth or yarn roller in front of a weaving machine. The apparatus is provided with two non-contact sensors that are attached to spaced apart locations on the transport carriage. The transport carriage is further provided with two selectively actuatable steerable wheels. After the transport carriage is initially positioned in front of the weaving machine distance measurements are made between the non-contact sensors and fixed reference points on the weaving machine. Based on these distance measurements the wheels integral with the transport carriage are selectively actuated in order to place the transport carriage in parallel alignment with the weaving machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Genkinger Hebe- und Foerderchnik GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Graser
  • Patent number: 5806157
    Abstract: A method of warp thread drawing-in for warp thread machines having at least one warp thread magazine, heald frame, and reed comprises the steps of placing the warp thread magazine, heald frame and reed from the warp thread machine on a warp thread charging device which is separate from the warp thread machine; passing warp thread groups, comprised of one or more warp threads, in stages through a respective heddle of a heald frame; assigning each of the warp thread groups a space in the reed; drawing each of the warp thread groups through its respective space with an automatic reeding device, the automatic reeding device being movable along a width of the reed as the drawing step is carried out; transferring the warp thread magazine, heald frame and reed from the warp thread charging device to the warp thread machine and returning the warp thread magazine, heald frame and reed to their operational positions in the warp thread machine. A warp thread charging apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Texo AB
    Inventor: Bo Lindblom
  • Patent number: 5799706
    Abstract: A weaving loom for forming a fabric that includes two vertically adjacent modules and a damping member mounted therebetween. The lower module contains a mechanism for unwinding warp yarn, forming the shed and unwinding the fabric. The upper module contains a mechanism for inserting the weft, controlling the reed and feeding the resulting fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: ICBT Diederichs
    Inventor: Carlos Matas Gabalda
  • Patent number: 5775380
    Abstract: After a warp beam on a loom is used up, its old warp threads are separated from a material being woven on the loom. The used-up beam, together with its residual old warp threads, is then mounted on a transport device and moved away from the loom. A winding element rotatably mounted on a maintenance device is positioned adjacent the transport device. Leading ends of the old threads are affixed to the winding element and separated from the used-up beam, whereafter the used-up beam is replaced by a new beam. Leading ends of new threads on the new beam are attached to trailing ends of respective ones of the old threads, whereafter the winding element is rotated to wind-up the old threads and parts of the new threads, while pulling the new threads through a loom device (such as a warp stop motion device, and/or a shedding device, and/or a weaving reed) carried on the transport device. Then, the winding element is rolled along a guide surface to a removal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Santrade Ltd.
    Inventors: Kristof Roelstraete, Henry Shaw
  • Patent number: 5758696
    Abstract: An Fe-Cr-Ni alloy used for parts of an automatic loom such as a heald (7) and reed (12) consisting of from 13 to 20% of Cr, from 4 to 15% of Ni, the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and having a microstructure that is 60% or more strain-induced martensite. Wear resistance of the parts is improved, so that neither fluff nor rupture of yarn occurs during loom operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Mining & Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 5758697
    Abstract: A weaving method that imparts a 1/f fluctuation to the weave pattern. Adjacent and different numbered groups of different yarns, for example black yarn and white yarns, are alternately arranged in contiguous reed dents. The sequential number which is associated with each group manifests a series of numbers which effect the 1/f fluctuation. Following separation of the warp yarns into two sets by raising and lowering of healds to form a shed and passage of weft yarns therethrough, a woven fabric with a stripped 1/f fluctuation in the warp direction is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignees: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc., Toshimitsu Musha
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Musha, Yuichi Yanai, Shoji Takagi, Shu Ono
  • Patent number: 5727601
    Abstract: A gripper drive for a rapier loom is cooled by enclosing the gripper drive with a cooling medium flow guide housing and passing a cooling medium, such as conditioned air, through said guide housing so that a cooling medium flow must pass said gripper drive in heat exchange contact therewith. The cooling medium is either a suction medium or a pressurized medium and passes through a flow port and slots or openings in the flow guide housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Valentin Krumm
  • Patent number: 5720323
    Abstract: A method for mechanically producing a seam half or a seam for making a length of woven fabric endless is characterized by the length of woven fabric being formed of warp threads extending longitudinally to the direction of the length of woven fabric as well as of weft threads extending transversely to the direction, wherein the warp threads are released from the woven material in an end portion or in both end portions of the length of woven fabric and woven as auxiliary weft threads into auxiliary warp threads in accordance with a weaving order predetermined for producing the seam half or the seam. In the end portion or in one of the two end portions, a group of weft threads, which borders on the non-opened length of woven fabric in the direction of the length of woven fabric and which has been exposed by releasing the warp thread ends from the woven material, is used as auxiliary warp threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventor: Siegmund Tremer
  • Patent number: 5669421
    Abstract: A control curve is calculated for controlling the yarn tension including warp and weft yarn tensions in a weaving loom by comparing a previously determined yarn tension curve with a desired value for the yarn tension curve. The control characteristic is optimized by continuous iteration. A further optimization of the yarn tension curve takes place by taking account of variable parameters in the yarn tension curve, for example yarn breakage analysis, beat-up force of the reed, and/or shed change. The control device for performing the method can be implemented with conventional logic. The method automatically carries out in an advantageous manner for weft and warp yarns a matching to the optimum yarn tension as a function of time on the basis of preselected parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Sulzer Ruti AG
    Inventors: Frank Lehnert, Godert De Jager
  • Patent number: 5657794
    Abstract: A carriage for changing a harness or heald frame on a loom has a frame with a device for offering up the warp beam, a framework which includes a carrier mounted on the frame, and devices mounted on the carrier for offering up the warp stop motions and the heald shafts. Relative movement between the offering-up device is thus prevented due to the fact that the devices are mounted together on the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventors: Emil Briner, Georg Senn
  • Patent number: 5657796
    Abstract: A series-shed weaving machine which has a machine frame. A warp beam and a weaving rotor are mounted on the frame and a reference plane extends between the axes of the warp beam and the rotor. A warp module is defined by a first subassembly, which includes an arrangement for warp run components of the machine, and a second subassembly, which includes an arrangement for cloth run components of the machine. It is mountable on the frame in first and second orientations in which one of the arrangements is on one side of the reference plane and the other one of the arrangements is on the other side of the reference plane and vice versa, respectively. Depending on whether the arrangement for the warp run is above or below the reference plane, the warp beam rotates in the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventor: Alois Steiner
  • Patent number: 5653267
    Abstract: An arrangement for fitting and removing half-loom beams individually or in pairs into or out of a loom beam bearing of a loom with a loom beam lifting and transport carriage (10) having at least two bearing arms (20, 24). In order to be able to lay the half-loom beams (27) in and remove them from the loom beam bearing of the loom simply and smoothly both singly and in pairs, the invention has a circumferential groove (40) in a region of the half-loom beam projecting axially over a central bearing shell with the half-loom beams (27). The beam carriage (10) being fitted with a central bearer arm (24) having spaced bearing claws which can be inserted past the bearing shell (48) into the circumferential grooves (40) from beneath as far as the bases of the grooves (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Genkinger Hege- und Foerdertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Graser
  • Patent number: 5647402
    Abstract: A weaving system is provided as a tightly closed beam or casing for containing an oil bath and lubricating system for the moveable parts of the weaving system. The beam includes upstanding lateral cheeks which may support a drive shaft and pivot pins on which oscillating members are moveably pivoted by a drawing system to the heddle frames of the weaving machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Joseph Palau, Jean-Paul Froment
  • Patent number: 5617901
    Abstract: A loom drive comprising a drive motor (1) connected by a gear unit to first driven components (20) and to second driven components (23), a switching gear (15) being mounted inside the gear unit and being displaceable into different switch positions in such manner that in one switch position the main drive motor (1) drives the first and second driven components (20, 23) and that in another switch position the drive connection to the first or second driven components (20, 23) is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Adriaen, Geert Geerardyn, Bernard Vancayzeele
  • Patent number: 5617902
    Abstract: A method to prevent fiber distortion in textile materials employed in a modified weaving process. In a first embodiment, a tacifier in powder form is applied to the yarn and melted while on the fabric. Cool air is then supplied after the tacifier has melted to expedite the solidification of the tacifier. In a second embodiment, a solution form of a tacifier is used by dissolving the tacifier into a solvent that has a high evaporation rate. The solution is then sprayed onto the fabric or fill yarn as each fill yarn is inserted into a shed of the fabric. A third embodiment applies the tacifier in a liquid form that has not been dissolved in a solvent. That is, the tacifier is melted and is sprayed as a liquid onto the fabric or fill yarn as it is being extracted from a fill yarn spool prior to the fill yarn being inserted into the shed of the fabric. A fourth embodiment employs adhesive yarns contained as an integral part of the warp or fill yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Gary L. Farley
  • Patent number: 5598874
    Abstract: Hollow fiber membrane modules are manufactured by weaving hollow fiber membranes into a web while the fibers still contain a residual amount of the organic liquids used in the extrusion of the fibers. The web once formed is then passed through a final solvent extraction stage, followed by drying and heating to fix the final form and permeation characteristics of the membranes, and finally rolling the web into a bundle which forms the interior of the module. The hollow fibers are woven as fill in the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: MG Generon, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip E. Alei, Jeff C. Schletz, John A. Jensvold, Ward E. Tegrotenhuis, Wickham Allen, Frederick L. Coan, Karen L. Skala, Daniel O. Clark, Harold V. Wait, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5598875
    Abstract: A weaving method for woven goods in which the warp yarns are disposed among reed dents of uniform spacing in a reed according to a sequence of numerical values having a 1/f fluctuation, thereby imparting a 1/f fluctuation to the arrangement of warp yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Musha, Yuichi Yanai, Shoji Takagi, Yuki Niwa, Shu Ono
  • Patent number: 5590692
    Abstract: Faults in fabrics such as smooth woven fabrics or pile fabrics caused by transition operational conditions are avoided, especially on air nozzle weaving looms. Such transition operational conditions may occur when rated operating parameters must be changed, for example, due to the use of a different type of weft thread or a change in the weaving pattern and/or weave binding. For this purpose, the weft thread insertion is interrupted only during the duration of the so-called transition operational conditions. Weft insertion is interrupted by performing so-called fluidic or non-fluidic empty or mis-shots. Simultaneously, the warp let-off and the fabric take-up is controlled as a function of the number or duration of the empty or mis-shots in such a way that at this point of time during the transition operating conditions the beat-up edge of the fabric is held in a position away from the beat-up position of the reed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Peter D. Dornier, Adnan Wahhoud, Peter Czura, Hans-Dieter Scorl
  • Patent number: 5586582
    Abstract: A support shaft for a planetary-type selvage unit on a loom is mounted at its proximal end to a drive shaft for the selvage unit in an arrangement swingable between operative and stand-by positions. A locker unit is attached to the support bracket in order to selectively register the same at the operative position during weaving operation. Simple swing motion of the support bracket about the drive shaft produces an enlarged free space above the selvage unit during the looming operation, thereby allowing free transportation of heald frames necessary for the looming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Nakada
  • Patent number: 5544677
    Abstract: An apparatus for replacing a cop in an automated weaving machine is provided. A single, multi-joint robot is situated near the cop replacing position of a shuttle which is reciprocated between warps. A hand stand is provided for supporting first through third hands which can be detachably mounted on the robot arm. The first hand is provided with fingers for individually handling the new cop and the new weft. The second hand includes fingers for handling the old cop and the old weft. The third hand is provided with a suction pad for engaging the shuttle with vacuum suction when transferring the shuttle, and with a hook for raising and lowering the bobbin fitted on a tong of the shuttle. The three hands allow various work steps to be carried out each in an optimum fashion without requiring additional hands to be carried by the robot arm at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Felt Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Okubo
  • Patent number: 5524677
    Abstract: A doffing mechanism wherein a cloth roll doffer (C) is normally carried in aligned laterally spaced relation to the cloth roll with a motor which are actuated by manually raising the cloth roll engaging means to forcefully move the cloth roll engaging means for doffing the full cloth roll into a cart positioned beside the takeup rolls for receiving and carrying away the cloth roll. A DC motor (E) drives the takeup, and a DC motor control has a bridge rectifier (F) in an armature circuit of the DC motor supplying full armature current to the motor during doffing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Alexander Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Shala W. Summey, III
  • Patent number: 5523141
    Abstract: An extensible composite fabric including a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in one direction and distorted into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in that direction, and a method and apparatus for making such a composite fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C. Fyler
  • Patent number: 5520224
    Abstract: The position of the fell of a cloth being woven on a weaving machine is sensed with a sensor needle that can be moved into and out of the cloth at a location proximate the fell during interruption of the weaving operation. Upon insertion of the sensor needle into the cloth, it moves with the cloth and therewith measures cloth displacement while the weaving machine is at rest. The sensor needle is attached to an actuation device capable of reciprocating the needle into and out of the cloth. The sensor needle is inductively coupled to a distance sensor which measures the needle displacement and therewith the displacement of the fell. In this manner, fell displacements caused, for example, by such factors as the relaxation of the run of cloth or of the warp yarn while the weaving machine is at rest can be measured and, before weaving is restarted, the position of the cloth, and therewith of the fell, can be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventor: Godert De Jager
  • Patent number: 5518038
    Abstract: A series-shed weaving machine which has a machine frame. A warp beam and a weaving rotor are mounted on the frame and a reference plane extends between the axes of the warp beam and the rotor. A warp module is defined by a first subassembly, which includes an arrangement for warp run components of the machine, and a second subassembly, which includes an arrangement for cloth run components of the machine. It is mountable on the frame in first and second orientations in which one of the arrangements is on one side of the reference plane and the other one of the arrangements is on the other side of the reference plane and vice versa, respectively. Thus, the warp module can be installed on the weaving machine irrespective of how the warp beam and the cloth beam are arranged by laterally reversing the orientation of the warp module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventor: Alois Steiner
  • Patent number: 5511586
    Abstract: A device for affixing a shaft drive element to a loom warp beam shaft includes a clamping element having teeth, teeth at one end of the drive shaft and teeth on the drive element, and a displacement mechanism for sliding the clamping element and drive element on the drive shaft such that the clamping element teeth and the drive element teeth engage the drive shaft teeth. Upon sliding the drive and clamping elements over the drive shaft, the clamping and drive element teeth and the shaft teeth are mutually rotated to cause oppositely facing flanks on the drive and clamping element teeth to be pressed against corresponding flanks on the drive shaft teeth and thereby prevent relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Lefever, Marc Gruwez
  • Patent number: 5450880
    Abstract: In the combination of a carriage for the preparation and storage of fabric to be changed on a loom, a loom for receiving the fabric to be changed, and an insertion vehicle for changing the fabric at the loom, improvements in the method of fabric change as well as the associated carriage and insertion vehicle are set forth. The method allows the carriage for the preparation and storage of fabric to be changed to have the working distance between the warp stop motion and the loom to be adjusted dependent upon shed size, density of fabric and warp material. The carriage for the preparation and storage of fabric includes a warp clamp and adjustment for spacing the warp stop motion with respect to the loom harness and heald frames. The insertion vehicle includes a centering mechanism for placing the loom harness and heald frames to the loom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Sulzer Ruti AG
    Inventor: Emil Briner
  • Patent number: 5430916
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for effecting a warp change in weaving machines involves clamping the warp yarns of a new warp on a tying-in frame by way of clamping members. In addition, the warp yarns of the woven-out warp, the end portion of which has previously been pulled forwards over a specific length, are lifted over the tying-in frame and laid onto a roller assigned to the clamping members. The warp yarns of the woven-out warp are then fixed on the roller and pulled back out of the weaving machine over the specific length as a result of the rotation of this roller. These operations can be carried out by a single person, so that the warp change is simplified substantially. The tying-in frame and roller are mounted on a common carrier which is mountable on a warp-beam transport unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Zellweger Luwa AG
    Inventors: Martin Plaschy, Reinhard Furrer
  • Patent number: 5394596
    Abstract: A carrier frame for transferring a loom harness into a loom is equipped for carrying additional loom components such as selvage spools, leno spools, and a warp stop motion unit. Such a carrier frame is constructed to be adjustable in its longitudinal direction that extends crosswise to a movement direction of a transport cart to which the carrier frame is attached by centering elements, one of which is position adjustable in its position to adjust the carrier frame to different weaving widths. Two longitudinal beam members (6A, 6B) held in a guide and coupling member are adjustable crosswise to the frame width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Walter Lindenmuller, Valentin Krumm, Rudolf Cresnik
  • Patent number: 5388618
    Abstract: A control system for adjusting and/or checking the operational parameters of a weaving machine includes a control unit with a monitor, the control unit including an image memory for storing images of the site and/or type of thread breaks. The images are displayable on the monitor when a thread break occurs, and are associated by the control unit with selection keys which, when actuated, allow data concerning the site and/or the kind of thread break that occurred to be fed into the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Bernard Decock
  • Patent number: 5372164
    Abstract: A quick change assembly for a tire cord fabric loom utilizes a pattern of warp ends which are threaded through suitable harnesses. The pattern in the harnesses is placed in the loom and the individual warp ends are pulled back to a plurality of creel combs which are secured to the creel and which each receive and guide a group of warp strands from the creel. These warp strands are directed to the loom and are formed into the tire cord fabric having the desired pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: Carroll M. Cloer
  • Patent number: 5327939
    Abstract: A doffing apparatus for use with a loom take-up which includes a pair of drive spaced and aligned drive rolls supporting a cloth roll therebetween. The drive rolls act to drive the cloth roll so as to wind cloth delivered from the loom thereon. The doffing apparatus includes a pair of pivotally mounted support arms carrying a wedge. A support rod connects the wedge means with this support arm for pivotal and longitudinal movement relative thereto. In operation, the doffing apparatus is located relative to the drive roll and the cloth roll and the wedge means is positioned in the nip between these rolls so that continued rotation thereof draws the wedge means in between the rolls in a manner to lift the cloth roll from the driven roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: F. Eddie Burgess
  • Patent number: 5322089
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling weft inserting enables the calculation of accurate pressures suitable to an actual weft and weft inserting device. One or more definite weaving conditions determined by one or more manufacturer's textile and weaving machine specifications and one or more indefinite weaving conditions determined by human senses are inputted to a fuzzy inference circuit in which the pressure value of fluid supplied to a weft inserting nozzle is calculated by fuzzy inference on the basis of the definite and indefinite weaving conditions thus inputted. The weft inserting pressure of the fluid delivered to the weft inserting device is adjusted on the basis of the inferred value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogy Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Yamada
  • Patent number: 5322088
    Abstract: A split loom includes securing elements which can be affixed to a removable loom part to receive the harnesses before separating the removable loom part from a stationary loom part, thereby retaining the harnesses in predetermined positions until re-assembly of the removable loom part to the stationary loom part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Sampers, Daniel Beyaert, Marc Gruwez
  • Patent number: 5320142
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling weft inserting without depending on any operation skill, such control being on the basis of at least two kinds of information having mutually different frequencies for correcting weft inserting. A plurality of control rules prepared according to control algorithms, a plurality of data tables for weft inserting prepared according to the control algorithms or approximate expressions are used for calculating the control conditions of an actuator for weft inserting, and the weft inserting actuator is controlled on the basis of the calculated control conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Sainen
  • Patent number: 5321621
    Abstract: A method of optimizing control of looms for the improvement of the economic efficiency of a weaving mill controls set points for the looms so that the economic efficiency of the weaving mill will not be reduced below a standard economic efficiency determined through preparatory test operation of the controlled looms. The controlled looms are operated for a predetermined preparatory test period for preparatory test operation to collect the data of parameters dominating the economic efficiency of the weaving mill and to create reference data. Data of the parameters are collected in a monitoring period during the practical operation of the looms and the data is normalized by the time of the monitoring period to create operation data. The set points for each loom are corrected on the basis of the result of comparison between the reference data and the operation data to determine new set points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Sainen