Miscellaneous Patents (Class 139/1R)
  • Patent number: 5316048
    Abstract: A two-part weaving machine includes lamellar side parts in both portions of the machine frame. The side parts are fitted with mutually associated, essentially horizontal rest surfaces and with mutually associated, essentially vertical stop surfaces. In addition, a tightening system containing tightening wedges is provided for each machine side to press the stop surfaces of the side parts against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Marc Gruwez
  • Patent number: 5312132
    Abstract: An inflatable air cushion for use as a safety device in an automobile is made of two blanks cut from strips of fabric interwoven with one another along a seam extending along the peripheries of the blanks. The strips are initially flat, but include at least two side regions spaced from and on opposite sides of the central axis of the resulting cushion and running parallel to either the weft or warp threads of the fabric. These side regions are shrinkable under the influence of heat to a greater degree than a region lying between them to give each blank a convex shape and giving the cushion a more desirable rounded shape when inflated than if made with flat blanks. The ability to form the blanks into convex shapes by heat shrinking avoids the need for employing other more complicated and time consuming shaping procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Pillet
  • Patent number: 5309948
    Abstract: An apparatus for replacing a full cloth roll loaded on a pair of rollers of a weaving machine with an empty cloth roll, which apparatus includes a pair of oscillating members supported by the weaving machine to oscillate about an axis of a rod supported by the weaving machine and cylinders for having both the oscillating members to produce oscillating movement. Each oscillating member includes a contact portion exerting a pressing force to the full cloth roll to roll the full cloth roll while both the oscillating members are oscillating in one direction. Each oscillating member further includes a guide wall disposed behind the contact portion for catching the empty cloth roll in cooperation with the peripheral surface of the textile of the full cloth roll, and for directing, during the oscillating movement of both the oscillating members, the empty cloth roll to the upper position right above both the rollers in cooperation with the peripheral surface of the textile of the full cloth roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Banba
  • Patent number: 5307845
    Abstract: A split loom with a stationary loom part and a removable loom part includes selvage-formers mounted in the removable loom part, at least one selvage-former being driven by a shaft entering the loom and also mounted on the removable loom part, the shaft being connectable by a separable clutch to a drive shaft mounted on the stationary loom part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Serge Vanrobaeys, Kurt Slosse, Patrick Glorie
  • Patent number: 5307844
    Abstract: A two-part weaving machine includes a stationary machine-frame part containing at least a takeup for winding woven material, and a removable machine-frame part containing at least the bearing for a warp beam. The two machine-frame parts include mutually engaging guides which define a path for constraining the relative motion of the two parts during initial removal of the removable part from the stationary part, and during final re-assembly of the removable part to the stationary part, thus permitting fitting of the two parts together in a compact arrangement without unintentional contact between the respective mechanisms carried by the two parts, and enabling the removal and final re-assembly to be carried out using simple vertical and horizontal movements of the conveyance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Marc Gruwez
  • Patent number: 5305801
    Abstract: A prepositioning and delivering mechanism for heald shafts is either permanently or temporarily attached to a loom for guiding the heald shafts when a shaft change is to be made. The mechanism has a carrier carrying prepositioning mechanisms each including a rocking lever and a guide roller. These mechanisms are arranged along a longitudinal axis of a journal axle (18) with a spacing that corresponds to a spacing pitch between heald shaft guide frames. Each roller of the prepositioning mechanism is engageable with a respective heald shaft. At least one of the heald shaft guides is engaged with a drive for delivering or advancing of the shaft guides toward the prepositioned heald shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Fritz Rupflin, Armin Hiemer
  • Patent number: 5295516
    Abstract: A method of operating a direct weaving apparatus which may include a loop provided with picking nozzles and a weft yarn processing machine having a yarn processing unit for processing yarns, feed rollers and yarn storage drums. The start of the yarn storage drums may be controlled in connection with the start of the weft yarn processing machine. The respective operating speeds of the feed rollers of the weft yarn processing machine may be held constant and the yarn storage drums may be operated in synchronism with the corresponding feed rollers respectively at winding speeds slightly higher than the respective feed speeds of the corresponding feed rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Tanaka, Yasuhiro Inoue, Hirohiko Iida, Morio Sakurai, Kazuro Tokuda
  • Patent number: 5296269
    Abstract: An improved silk textile is described which exhibits more desirable wet wrinkle-recovery and tear strength than untreated silk. The silk textile contains polycarboxylic acid cross-links which are relatively strong and resistant to hydrolysis.A process for manufacturing an improved silk textile is presented which includes wetting an untreated silk textile with a specially formulated finishing agent. The finishing agent includes polycarboxylic acid, a catalyst, and a swelling agent. The wetted silk textile is dried and cured at an elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Yiqi Yang, Shiqi Li
  • Patent number: 5291970
    Abstract: An entrainment pump for viscous fluids comprising a moving member which dips into the fluid and of which a flat wall cooperates, without contact but with a very small clearance, with seals provides on the sides and at the rear end of a static element consisting of a box guide elongate in the direction of movement of said moving member, in this guide there being provided successive trap chambers which with said moving flat wall form clearances progressively decreasing in the direction of said movement and of the same order of magnitude as the particular thickness of the dragged fluid. Preferred embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Nuoyopignone-Industrie Meccaneche e Fonderia SpA
    Inventors: Costantino Vinciguerra, Andrea Brocchini
  • Patent number: 5287895
    Abstract: An equipment for transporting, handling and feeding stock bobbins to a loom having a preparation station (5) for the charging of bobbin holders (12) with stock bobbins (4) and a transport loop (7) for transporting these bobbin holders (12) towards looms. The looms are arranged in groups and for returning bobbin holders (12') containing empty bobbin tubes towards the preparation station (5), as well as at least one storage section (7c) branching off the transport loop (7) for receiving a number of the bobbin holders (12, 12') which corresponds with the need of bobbins at the time by at least one of the groups of looms (1a, 1b, . . . 1n). For the exchange of the bobbin holders (12' or 12 respectively) on the looms a loading mechanism (18) is provided which is mounted on a secondary transport mechanism (10) which may be moved independently of the transport loop (7) towards a number of groups of looms (1a, 1b, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Tonny Raaijmakers, Gregor Gebald, Manfred Langen, Helmut Bungter, Hans-Peter Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5285822
    Abstract: An electronically controlled weft yarn processing unit having a weft yarn feed system arranged separately in the vicinity of a weaving machine. The yarn feed system including at least one yarn feeder having a separate drive motor including an electronic control unit and monitoring and control elements. The yarn feed system further including a first input and indicating section connected to the electronic control unit of the yarn feeder for adjusting at least one functional parameter including a speed limit of the drive motor, a weft yarn length, a sensitivity of the monitoring and control elements, a reference value for a weft yarn store size, and a weft yarn store offset. The weft yarn processing unit also having an operation and control panel provided on a weaving machine. The first input and indicating section is located within the control and operation panel on the weaving machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: IRO AB
    Inventors: Paer Josefsson, Thomas Hallberg
  • Patent number: 5285821
    Abstract: A yarn supply system having a plurality of feeders associated with a textile machine. Each feeder having its own speed control system including a variable speed drive motor and a variable speed controller which includes a programmable control unit which is capable of responding to the actual yarn consumption requirements and responding to a main control apparatus message. The main control apparatus including a yarn feed rate anticipating unit that represents additional intelligence to the feeders. The yarn feed rate anticipating unit becomes informed about a weaving pattern stored in the main control apparatus memory and transfers a message via a message transfer network to individual feeder programmable control units to accelerate or decelerate in advance of an actual winding-on requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: IRO AB
    Inventor: Lars-Berno Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 5277229
    Abstract: A weft supply system of a loom using an overhead traveling truck between a package supply station and a weft supply station near the loom for holding and carrying a package wherein a package delivery device is connected to the package supply station for delivering specific types of packages to the package supply station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Yoshiaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5276627
    Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a loom machine by a computer equipped with a data input unit incorporating a display imparted with a function for generating a first list of weaving conditions at least for a weft insertion apparatus and a function for generating an alteration confirmation list when the conditions in the first list are altered. Upon inputting of data representing a desired fabric parameter, weaving conditions corresponding to the fabric parameter are selected from those previously stored in the computer, whereupon the selected weaving conditions are displayed in the first list. Before the selected weaving conditions are validated for controlling the loom operation, a confirmation list is again displayed for allowing the weaving conditions to be altered. When altered, the updated list containing the altered conditions is again generated for confirmation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yoichi Makino, Hiroshi Tanizaki, Akio Arakawa
  • Patent number: 5265649
    Abstract: A full roll transferred from a cloth wind-up position in a weaving machine to a temporary full-roll storage position on a transfer carriage is prevented from rotation by meshing with a gear mounted stationarily. The transfer carriage is equipped with empty roll supporting arms and cutter supporting arms having free ends at which a cloth cutting mechanism is supported. An empty roll is supported by a holding device mounted at free ends of the empty roll supporting arms so as to be rotated by an empty roll driving motor. Owing to rotation of the empty roll, tension is applied to a cloth between the full roll and the empty roll so that it is cut by the cloth cutting mechanism in a tensioned stationary state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yoshimi Iwano, Yoichi Makino, Tetsuya Furuta
  • Patent number: 5261463
    Abstract: In a loom, a back roller for guiding warps is supported by a pair of back roller brackets which are mounted on and are horizontally adjustable relative to second back brackets. The latter brackets are mounted on and are vertically adjustable relative to fixed back brackets. The vertical positions of the second back brackets relative to the fixed back brackets are detected by light projectors and receivers. A computer compares the detected positions obtained from the light receivers with a preset position stored in a memory and extinguishes indicator lamps when the detected position agrees with the preset one. In similar manner the horizontal positions of the back roller brackets relative to the second back brackets are detected by associated light projectors and receivers, compared with preset positions stored in the computer memory, and indicator lamps are extinguished when the detected horizontal position agrees with the preset one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yutaka Sato
  • Patent number: 5251672
    Abstract: A drawing mechanism incorporating rocking levers interposed between a weaving mechanism and the heddle frames of a weaving loom wherein each of the rocking levers for coupling the connecting rods includes a lateral element which defines a lubrication conduit joining the interspace of the ball bearings to an opening made in the levers for mounting to a coupling pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: S.A. des Etablissements Staubli (France)
    Inventors: Jean P. Froment, Andre Fumex
  • Patent number: 5251673
    Abstract: A weft sensing system for a weaving machine such as an air jet loom or a water jet loom includes an image sensor camera for scanning at least a line passing through a weft insertion path to detect an abnormal weft insertion. The image sensor camera is set to perform one or more scans in each pick, and connected with an image processor which monitors the size or position of an image of a weft yarn. Preferably, the image sensor camera is positioned on the front side of the reed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Adachi, Keizo Shizuka, Eiji Shigeyoshi
  • Patent number: 5251677
    Abstract: The picking device in projectile looms has guide teeth (1) having narrowing zones (20, 20') adapted to receive lubricant transferred from the projectiles (100) to the guide teeth. Because of these narrowing zones and given appropriate shaping no lubricant reaches the guide teeth side surfaces which contact the warp yarns. Soiling of the cloth by lubricant can therefore be obviated. Also, adequate lubrication can be provided so that there is no soiling due to material released by abrasion between the projectile and the guide teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Peter Riesen
  • Patent number: 5247969
    Abstract: A mechanism for feeding weft yarn stock bobbins to a loom includes a bobbin frame (3) for at least two stock bobbins (4) which may be fitted to bobbin holders (38) having longitudinal axes (L) which may be aligned on a common yarn guide member (6). The bobbin holders (38) are each formed on a bobbin carrier (10, 10') intended for receiving one of the stock bobbins (4) and able by means of a holder (30) of a charging mechanism to be fastened to the bobbin frame (3) and removed from the bobbin frame, the bobbin carrier having a yarn guide unit (45) for feeding the piece (A) at the start of the weft yarn (5) wound onto this stock bobbin (4) to the common yarn guide member (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Tonny Raaijmakers, Antonius J. M. Hamer, Gregor Gebald, Manfred Langen, Helmut Bungter, Hans-Peter Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5246039
    Abstract: Elements forming part of a textile machine are controlled and supervised with the aid of a computerized system. This comprises one or more units which serve the element and which together with other units form a network. One or more units can, if necessary, serve more than one element. Each unit is connected to a connection which forms part of the network formed by the units. Message transmission within the system takes place serially and digitally at the connection. The message transmission at the connection includes message types which are ranked from the point of view of priority, and the units and the connection are arranged to discriminate in the message transmission effected so as to guarantee a transmission time, for a finally transmitted message between units concerned, of a maximum of 2.0 ms for at least three different instantaneous signals or trigger signals which are attributable to functions in or on the textile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Iro AB
    Inventor: Lars-Berno Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 5228480
    Abstract: A shedding controlling apparatus for a loom wherein each of a plurality of heald frames is driven by a drive motor for the exclusive use therefor. During steady operation of the loom, when a crank angle is inputted to a position instructing section, the position instructing section produces an aimed amount of rotation, and a position controlling section controls the drive motor to rotate in accordance with the aimed amount of rotation to eliminate a deviation thereof from a crank shaft of the loom to establish a synchronized relationship between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Zenji Tamura
  • Patent number: 5226922
    Abstract: A storage station for full weft packages transferred to a weft package stand of a weaving machine by a carrier or the carrier is provided with a direction adjusting device for arranging the direction of the full packages in a corresponding direction to the full package accepting direction of the weft package stand. A rail for the carrier is composed of a main rail and a subrail, wherein the main rail is composed of a first rail portion extending through the storage station and a second rail portion connected to the first rail portion and extending along each row of weaving machines in a weaving machine installation region, and the subrail is a closed loop subrail connected to the main rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Mori
  • Patent number: 5224522
    Abstract: A method and device for producing woven hollow fiber tape, for use in exchange devices such as blood oxygenators and heat exchangers, having weft threads and hollow fibers as warp threads, formed as a double weft tape. The device feeding a plurality of parallel hollow fibers as warp threads in a first direction, dividing alternating adjacent hollow fibers to create two sets of hollow fibers, separating one set of the hollow fibers from the second set to create a gap therebetween, inserting a double weft thread into the gap and knitting the double weft thread at a side of the plurality of parallel hollow fibers away from that side where the double weft thread is initially inserted. The hollow fibers are separated into the two sets by a reciprocating shedding device thereby creating the gap for insertion of the weft threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Akzo N.V.
    Inventor: Ulrich Baurmeister
  • Patent number: 5224518
    Abstract: A device for attaching an element in a frame includes a seating, a supply path via which the element to be attached is brought to the seating, and a pivotable member. In a first position of the pivotable member, a first end thereof is situated in the supply path. In a second position, the first end is situated outside the supply path and a second end of the pivotable member to move the pivotable member between its first and second positions. The first position of the pivotable element is an overcenter position in which the relative positions of the pivotable member's pivot point, the seated element, and the point of contact between the seated element and the first end of the pivotable member are arranged to retain the seated element in place within the seating. In the second position of the pivotable member, the transport device moves the element via the supply path into and out of position in the seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Picanol N.V., naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Bart Lefever, Geert Ostyn
  • Patent number: 5224517
    Abstract: A transporter has transfer elements for moving an empty cloth beam into a position between a loom and a transporter or into a winding station of the loom. In addition, the transporter carries a curved wedge for engaging against the positioned empty cloth beam so as to hold a length of cloth between the full cloth beam on the transporter and the wedge. A cutting device serves to cut the cloth between the two beams. In one embodiment, the wedge moves about the cloth beam to form and insert a loop of cloth in a pressing zone formed by the cloth beam and the incoming cloth. In a second embodiment, the cloth beam carries resilient elements to form a pressing zone and is rotated relative to a stationary wedge in order to insert a loop of cloth between the resilient elements and the surface of the empty cloth beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Gunther Veith, Tonny Raaijmakers
  • Patent number: 5197521
    Abstract: A warp beam lifting carriage for removing an empty warp beam from a loom or for inserting a full warp beam into a loom, is equipped with positioning devices that permit a precise positioning of the carriage in the three directions of space. An insertion stop mechanism limits the movement of the carriage toward the loom. A lateral restraining device makes sure that the carriage is horizontally centered relative to the loom in a direction perpendicularly to the movement direction toward the loom. A third leveling device makes sure that the longitudinal axis of the warp beam shaft can be precisely aligned with the horizontal axis of floating axle stubs that are inserted through bearings into sockets at the free ends of the wrap beam shaft. The precise alignment is quickly achieved and increases the productivity of the loom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Helmut Graser, Armin Hiemer
  • Patent number: 5184650
    Abstract: To secure a cloth beam (2 ) of a loom in an open bearing shell (6) a resiliently borne tongue (7)is provided. The tongue includes a nosing (11) between two arms (10, 12) and is connected at one end of the first arm (10) to a bearing table (5). The nosing (11) secures a cloth beam journal (4) in the bearing. When the tongue (7) is pivoted by a lever (14) on the second arm (12) of the tongue (7), the nosing (11) moves away from the shell (6) so that the journal (4) can be moved out of the shell. Satisfactory securing of the journal (4) is therefore provided and the cloth beam (2) can be changed readily without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Somm
  • Patent number: 5158119
    Abstract: A device to form the selvedge in shuttleless looms, includes a weft yarn gripping member, a first shaft reciprocable lengthwise to operate the weft yarn gripping member, a first linear electric motor to reciprocate the first shaft, a cutting member for cutting weft yarn gripped by the gripping member, a second shaft reciprocable lengthwise to actuate the cutting member, and a second linear electric motor for reciprocating the second shaft. A yarn engaging hook is carried by a needle to insert weft tails cut off by the cutting member, into a strip of warp yarns, thereby to form a selvedge. A third shaft carries the needle, from which said needle extends transversely. A third linear electric motor reciprocates the third shaft lengthwise. A sensor senses the reciprocated position of the third shaft thereby to control the third linear electric motor. A fourth linear electric motor rotates the third shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Vamatex S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Pezzoli, Rossano Maffeo
  • Patent number: 5146954
    Abstract: A method and a device for replacing a cloth beam in a weaving machine utilize the steps of removing a cloth beam from a winding device, pressing an empty cloth beam against a fabric and against a guide piece such that the fabric is turned over the guide piece, subsequently releasing the fabric, and driving the empty cloth beam such that the fabric is wound thereon, and finally mounting the empty cloth beam in the winding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Picanol N.V., Naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Geert Ostyn, Kristof Roelstraete
  • Patent number: 5136859
    Abstract: An automated apparatus and method for winding and doffing a roll of knitted cloth from a circular knitting machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a winding roller for winding knitted cloth produced on the knitting machine. A universal joint pivotably connects one end of the winding roller to one support arm. The other end of the winding roller is removably supported by an opposing support arm. After a roll of knitted cloth is wound, the other end of the winding roller is moved to an unloading, doffing position by swinging the free end of the winding roller using the universal joint as a fulcrum. At this position, the roll of knitted cloth is inclined downwardly and one end is placed on a receiver tray. The cloth roll is then pushed from the winding roller onto the receiver tray. The receiver tray is moved and the other end of the winding roller is moved back to the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Precision Fukuhara Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Nitta
  • Patent number: 5131435
    Abstract: A warp mending operation control method includes the steps of: dividing a warp line in a loom into a plurality of sections each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of warp mending devices; storing operation programs for controlling the respective warp mending devices corresponding to the plurality of sections and detecting the section where the warp line is broken; and driving the warp mending device which has been positioned in the section in which a broken warp line has been detected after reading the operation program corresponding to that section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Corporation
    Inventor: Yujiro Takegawa
  • Patent number: 5127445
    Abstract: An air jet loom provided with a main nozzle, a plurality of auxiliary nozzles, and a weft measuring and storing device including a measuring pawl disengagable from a weft yarn to allow the weft yarn to be inserted. During a gaiting operation, a timing (in a loom main shaft rotational angle) of operation of the main nozzle, each auxiliary nozzle and the measuring pawl is controlled in timed relation to a slow rotational speed of the loom main shaft and in a different manner from that during a normal weaving operation, thereby automatically achieving a stable and accurate weft picking even during the gaiting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company Limited
    Inventor: Norio Kakehashi
  • Patent number: 5116276
    Abstract: A method of locating a slit between the dents of the reed of a loom corresponding to a broken warp and to an apparatus for positioning a threading device at a position corresponding to the slit between the dents corresponding to the broken warp. The broken warp or a normal warp in a specific vertically displaced relation with the broken warp is detected by a yarn sensor. The position of a slit between the dents corresponding to the broken warp or that of the normal warp is determined on the basis of the distance traveled by the yarn sensor from its standby position, and a threading device is position corresponding to the slit between the dents corresponding to the broken warp on the basis of the distance traveled by the yarn sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Corp.
    Inventors: Yujiro Takegawa, Souichi Nakai
  • Patent number: 5111851
    Abstract: When a warp is broken during weaving on a loom, the broken warp is mended and restored by a method of restoring a broken warp after mending the same, comprising steps of connecting a mending yarn to the trailing portion of the broken warp to form a mended warp; cutting a normal warp which has been drawn through the same slit between dents as the broken warp is to be drawn through and inserting a mending yarn with a sufficient length between the cut ends of the normal warp, tying the mending yarn connected to the trailing portion of the broken warp to the normal warp drawn through the same slit between the dents as the broken warp is to be drawn through; and pulling the normal warp toward the take-up side so that the mended warp and the normal warp are tightened properly. Thus, the mended warp is drawn through the slit between the dents together with the normal warp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Corp.
    Inventor: Yujiro Takegawa
  • Patent number: 5092368
    Abstract: A cloth roller replacement system for at least one weaving machine, includes an actuating system for removing a full cloth roller from the machine and then installing an empty cloth roller in its place. The system further includes an instrument for measuring a fabric take-up quantity of the machine, a device for presetting a timing for preparation, and a controller for preliminarily making the actuating system ready for replacement at the preset timing for preparation, and then controlling the actuating system to perform the cloth roller replacement without stopping the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Tanaka, Shuichi Kojima, Susumu Kaneko, Takayuki Chikuma
  • Patent number: 5082030
    Abstract: An apparatus for repairing a yarn break includes a housing which is first positioned roughly by being guided towards the stop motion wire belonging to the broken warp yarn. After the broken warp yarn has been removed, a fresh separate warp yarn is introduced into the stop wire and a heddle by a pair of laterally slotted threading in tubes. In the process, the fresh warp yarn travels from a blowing opening of one tube into a suction opening in the other tube while passing through an opening in the respective stop motion wire or heddle. During this operation, the tubes are moved stepwise in the warp direction of the weaving machine until reaching a guide inserted through the reed and into which the fresh warp yarn is finally threaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Robert Bucher
  • Patent number: 5065796
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an air jet loom and, in particular, for controlling a loom used for weaving cloth having move than one pick range. One use of such cloth is for tire-cord fabric having a body portion having between 1 and 3.5 ppi and at least one tab portion having between 3.5 and 50 ppi. The system includes an automatic temple insertion device. The system further includes dual nozzles to automatically switches from tab to body; automatic pick spacing change from tab to body; and an automatic tension level control. The system permits multiple tabs on a roll for separating multiple body portions of the roll, providing an inspection segment per roll, and providing a cut line either by "no picks" or by changing the filling within the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Draper Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest F. Roach, Stephen D. Frick, Randell F. Sample
  • Patent number: 5063970
    Abstract: A loom for automatically exchanging a full cloth beam for an empty one without stopping its weaving operation. The loom has a driving mechanism for driving a cloth beam to rotate and wind thereon woven fabric. After having wound thereon a predetermined amount of woven fabric, the cloth beam is ejected by an ejector mechanism and moved from the driving mechanism to a cloth beam support to be supported thereon. A cloth beam holder holding thereon an empty cloth beam, has a supplying mechanism for supplying the empty cloth beam to the driving mechanism. The ejector mechanism and the supplying mechanism are mechanically connected so as to operate in timed relation to each other. The woven fabric is separated from the full cloth beam by a cutting mechanism and has a loom side cut end portion. The loom side cut end portion of the woven fabric is wound on the empty cloth beam by a winding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Tanaka, Shuichi Kojima, Susumu Kaneko, Takayuki Chikuma
  • Patent number: 5050643
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically mending warp yarn selects broken warp yarns from among a group of the warp yarns at the time of breakage of the warp yarn. The spacings between the reed wires of a reed through which the broken warp yarn is passed or the spacings between the adjoining reed wires are then enlarged. A yarn passing member is then positioned at the reed wires through which the broken warp yarn is passed on the basis of the position of the reed wires having large spacings therebetween. The yarn passing member is then inserted into space of the reed wires through which the broken warp yarn is passed. A mending yarn tied to the broken warp yarn is then passed and guided into corresponding reed wires by the yarn passing member. In such a manner, it is possible to then set the loom to be re-started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Corp.
    Inventors: Yujiro Takegawa, Souichi Nakai
  • Patent number: 5042533
    Abstract: In construction of an auto-doffer for weaving looms, a pair of arm mounted to a carriage carry out full automatic doffing separation by means of their three dimensional movement and a cutter unit also mounted to the carriage disconnects, in cooperation with a cloth pressor unit, a full roll held by the arms from a cloth being woven. The carriage is designed to travel along selected paths in a weaving mill to visit a loom in need of doffing operation on receipt of a command from a central processing unit. After the doffing operation, the auto-doffer carrying a full roll travels to a station aranged in the mill for transfer of the full roll to and receipt of an empty roll from a transporter which reciprocate between the station and a cloth roll stocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Kuwahara, Hideho Kyoda
  • Patent number: 5038835
    Abstract: A loom, especially a loom equipped with a Jacquard mechanism is supported by a vibration isolating device. At least one, preferably two or four such devices are arranged in positions most effective for the vibration damping, with due regard to the center of gravity of the wrap beam and/or of the entire loom. At least one, preferably all vibration dampers are constructed to include a controllable level controlling element in the form of an air spring. The compression in the air spring is controlled in response to the spacing of a fixed point of the loom from the loom supporting surface. Thus, spacing variations between the loom and the Jacquard mechanism that could otherwise be caused due to weight changes of the loom, are eliminated or compensated, whereby the loom-Jacquard spacing is maintained constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Werner Breyer
  • Patent number: 5034897
    Abstract: An optimum loom control method controls a loom so that the overall profit of a weaving mill is maximized. A profit evaluation function defining a profit evaluation valve includes variables including those affecting the profit of the weaving mill, such as information on the quality of fabric woven, the number of effective picks representing the quantity of fabric produced, and the energy consumption of the loom. A controlled factor or factors corresponding to a controllable variable or variables from among those of the profit evaluation function, namely, the operating speed of the loom, the pressure of the picking fluid or both the operating speed of the loom and the pressure of the picking fluid, are controlled so that the profit evaluation value is increased to a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Sainen
  • Patent number: 5031666
    Abstract: A cloth beam changer includes a conveyor having gripping arms which carry gripping elements at the ends. A transmission is provided in the form of a slide with a spindle and nut arrangement for raising and lowering the slide. A guide rail and stop are provided in the winding-on station of the loom to position the gripping elements accurately while at the same time preventing further downward movement of the gripper arms and slide. A spring between the slider and spindle nut compressers should the transmission overshoot the position of the gripper elements. A second spring is also provided between two parts of the gripper arm to permit deflection of the lower part upon engagement and sliding on the guide rail of the loom. Sensors are provided to measure the amount of deflection of the respective springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Tonny Raaijmakers, Christian Huguenin
  • Patent number: 5022439
    Abstract: A system for replacing a filled cloth roller with an empty cloth roller for a loom is comprised of two rotatable shafts which are oppositely disposed and respectively supported by side frames of the loom. Each rotatable shaft is fixedly provided with an engaging member engageable with an end section of the cloth roller. The two rotatable shafts are automatically driven to move axially under the action of a pneumatically operated actuator, so that the engaging members are disengaged respectively from the opposite end sections of the cloth roller for the purpose of removing the filled cloth roller from the loom while engaged respectively with the same end sections for the purpose of installing the empty cloth roller to the loom. One of the rotatable shafts is driven from a loom main shaft to rotate the cloth roller, thus taking up a woven cloth on the cloth roller during the weaving operation of the loom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Yano, Takatsugu Kato
  • Patent number: 5016677
    Abstract: An automatic cop changing device for a weaving machine in which a shuttle carrying a cop consisting of a bobbin around which a weft is wound is reciprocated between warps so as to weave the weft between the warps, comprising: a cop positioning unit for securing the shuttle stationary near a terminal point of its reciprocating movement when the weft of a current cop mounted on the shuttle is consumed by more than a precribed amount; a cop storage unit for storing a plurlaity of new cops; a robot arm carrying a weft gripping hand for drawing the weft from the current cop and a weft from one of the new cops stored in the cop storage unit, and crossing the two wefts, a cop engaging hand for moving the cop in the shuttle between its upright position and its retracted position, and a cop gripping hand for removing the old cop from the shuttle and carrying the new cop into the shuttle; a weft tying unit for tying the crossed part of the wefts; and a weft trimming unit for trimming an extraneous part of the tied weft
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Felt Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Murakami, Sadaaki Okazaki, Takayoshi Aoyagi, Tokuji Iwasaki, Tetsuya Konno
  • Patent number: 5014754
    Abstract: Attachment for guard plates in weaving machines, characterized in that it essentially consists of at least three couplings (3), each formed by a cylinder-shaped element (4) which is attached to the guard plate (1), and a seating (5) which is mounted to the frame (2) of the weaving machine and which closes flexibly round the cylinder-shaped element (4), whereby at least one coupling (3) is situated at the top of the guard plate (1), whose cylinder-shaped element (4) has a vertical or almost vertical axis (6), and whereby at least two couplings (3) are situated at the bottom of the guard plate (1), whose cylinder-shaped elements (4) have horizontal or almost horizontal axes (7) in line with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Michel Vandeweghe, Willy Vanheule
  • Patent number: 4998566
    Abstract: A yarn splicing system for splicing a warp in a loom wherein a yarn splicing apparatus is provided with apparatus for searching for a yarn end on the warp beam side of a cut warp. The yarn splicing apparatus may also include a liquid tank for removing size of a sized yarn and a pneumatic yarn splicing device for splicing the yarn end with one end of an additional yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Akiyama
  • Patent number: 4986315
    Abstract: A weaving installation includes a weaving machine and a dobby which can be driven by the weaving machine. In order for the weaving machine to drive the dobby, the weaving machine may be provided with a pulse generator for the transmission of pulses to a control unit which, in turn, regulates a motor coupled to the dobby. Alternatively, the camshaft of the weaving machine may be provided with an extension which is directly connected to the dobby. The dobby may also be driven independently of the weaving machine. In the case where the weaving machine has a pulse generator which controls a motor coupled to the dobby, this is accomplished in that the motor is operable even in the absence of pulses from the pulse generator. In the case where the camshaft of the weaving machine has an extension which is directly connected to the dobby, the dobby can be driven independently by a planetary gear on the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Inventors: Fred Borisch, Georg Kreisel
  • Patent number: 4974641
    Abstract: An automatic cop replacing apparatus for a shuttle-type loom with which a cop contained in the shuttle is automatically replaced, including tying the threads together of the old and new cops, and requiring no operator intervention. The apparatus includes a hand for gripping the cop. A rotary arm plate on which the hand is mounted, a drive device for rotating the rotary arm plate and for straightly moving the rotary arm plate in the axial direction, and a drive shaft for moving the rotary arm plate to an exchange position for the cop. A thread tying device holds and ties together the treads of the old and new cops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Ichikawa Woolen Textile Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Yarita, Hideo Komori, Koji Ogasawara, Hiroaki Takami