Abstract: A method for the manufacture of spatial objects of a fleece or felt, wherein the fibers are deposited on a mold that is preferably air-permeable. The fibers may be attracted to the mold by a vacuum applied to the underside of said mold. Preferably, the mold has several spatial structures that define the shape of the fiber web that is being formed and that correspond at least approximately to the desired final shape. By subsequent compacting of the thusly obtained fiber web, a spatially three-dimensional felt object is obtained. In this method, subsequent deforming steps are unnecessary or reduced to a minimum, so that the material to be produced does not experience any substantial distortion.

Abstract: A heddle frame (1) is driven via drive rods (15), which pass through its lateral sampsons (13). To that end, the lateral sampsons (13) each have a corresponding channel (19). The play between the circumferential face (22) of the drive rods (15) and the channel wall face (21) of the respective channel (19) has an intermediate layer (24), which extends over the full length, or portions, of the drive rod (15). The intermediate layer (24) preferably comprises an impact-proof, permanent-elastic, damping material. A slight residual play allows the introduction of the drive rods (15) and the intermediate layer (24) into the channel (19) without force.

Abstract: A needle holder 45 for a textile machine comprising a needle board (46), in which are provided—on an upper side (44)—several grooves (48) extending parallel to each other. Arranged along each groove (48), there are several bores (51) at a distance from each other and completely extending through the needle board (46).

Abstract: A needle (15) for a textile machine, in particular, to a felting needle or a fork needle. A working section (17) extends along a longitudinal axis (16) and has a needle point (18). Adjoining the working section (17) are a lower shank section (20) and an upper shank section (25), both being arranged so as to extend coaxially relative to each other along the longitudinal axis (16). Adjoining the upper shank section (25), a needle foot (30) is provided, said needle foot comprising a holding means (32). The holding means (32) extends in a transverse direction (31) and comprises two legs (38, 39), said legs extending from the longitudinal axis (16) and away from each other.

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: A punching tool for green sheets or similar sheet-like work-pieces having a support plate with punched holes (7), and a holding-down plate disposed above the support plate and containing stripper openings (24). Operative portions (23) of dies (8) extend through the stripper openings (24) and are guided therein. The operative portions (23) are formed in graduated form with a punching portion (26) of reduced diameter. Each punching portion (26) has a length that is less than the length of the stripper opening (24), and is located entirely in the stripper opening (24) when the die (8) is at its top dead center. A part (25) of the operative portion (23) protrudes into the stripper opening (24) to guide the die (8). The punching portion (26) is only approximately as long as required for the punching stroke of the die (8). The slight length of the punching portion (26) makes possible an especially slender punching portion, and thus the creation of especially small punched holes.

Abstract: An improved tufting knife (20) has, at a distance from its cutting edge (36), a bending joint (27) from which extends one leg (26) to the cutting edge (36) and another leg (25) to a knife bar (21). The bending joint (27) ensures that the tufting knife (20) is highly flexible and that a desired contact pressure between the tufting knife (20) and the gripper (18) is maintained largely independently of the degree of lateral flexion and/or bending of the tufting knife (20). This has a strongly wear-reducing effect.

Abstract: A crochet galloon machine needle (26) in accordance with the invention is provided on its hook outside (39) with a guide projection (40) having a tip (43) that is preferably located above the center axis (A) of the needle (26). This needle (26) has an enlarged weft thread capture range and is thus particularly suitable for the manufacture of dense knitted goods. In addition, said needle enables the operation with reduced take-off tension and, optionally, also with reduced weft thread tension. This helps increase the service life of all system components.

Abstract: A heddle shaft (1) with heddles (3) that are supported with little play or free of play has at least one heddle support rail (7), which is supported movably for elastically tensing the heddles (3) as a whole, or has at least one movably supported part (55). A spring means (16, 56) serves to exert a tensing force on the heddle head (5) of each heddle (3) for supporting that heddle without play. This makes a high operating speed of a power loom, provided with such a heddle shaft, possible without the heddles digging into the heddle support rails and without producing excessive noise.

Abstract: In order to reduce or to prevent wear on the tufting gripper (16) at the contact point with the tufting needle (18), an additional insert 28 is provided in addition to a wear-resistant cutting insert (27), said additional insert (28) being directed at interacting with the tufting needle (18). Said additional insert consists of a material that, paired with the tufting needle (18), forms an optimal sliding combination. Preferably, the additional insert (28) is a soft needle-saving insert. Preferably, the cutting insert (27) is a hard wear-resistant insert. The two inserts (27, 28) may be accommodated separately in different pockets (36, 37) or together in one pocket (31). They may be connected with each other or be made in one piece.

Abstract: A tufting gripper (16) comprises a pocket (26) with an insert (25) that is associated with a spring means (34) in order to at least temporarily clamp and secure said insert in place in the pocket in a prespecified position. The spring means (34) pushes the insert (25) preferably in the direction of the tip of the gripper and creates a particularly smooth transition at this location between the base body (19) of the tufting gripper (16) and the insert (25), in particular the tip (33) of said insert.

Abstract: A knitting device (10) comprising a needle bed (12) and knitting tools (16), wherein the needle bed (12) is designed so as to be without joints and seams in view of the configuration of its channel walls (18, 19) as well as perpendicularly to the floor (23) of the channel through the base body (20) of the needle bed (12). The channel depth of the individual guide channels (13, 14, 15) is preferably less than three times the channel width. Consequently, in particular in the case of extremely fine needle divisions, the resultant channel walls (18, 19) are robust and stable and can be subjected to a hardening or coating treatment. The reduced overall weight, the smaller friction surfaces, and the sturdier design of the knitting device enable the operation at greater knitting speeds and with greater rotational accelerations, in particular in reciprocating mode, and an overall savings of lubricants and energy.

Abstract: The transport carriage (1) for the accommodation of a needle board (2) comprises a console (21) that is preferably supported so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis (22). Clamping jaws (24, 25) are provided on the console (21), with the clamping jaws clamping the needle board (2)—preferably in a force-limited manner—between each other and thus holding said needle board in a frictionally engaged manner.

Abstract: A gripper (3) for a tufting machine comprises a gripper body (9) having a cutout (22) for a cutting insert (10), said cutting insert preferably consisting of a hard metal. Connecting means acting in a form-closed manner are provided for the connection of the cutting insert (10) with the gripper body (9). In their simplest embodiment, said connecting means are formed by the deformation regions (37, 38) that are provided on the gripper body (9) and that reach around matching cutouts (33, 34) of the cutting insert (10).

Abstract: A knitting head (11) for a circular knitting machine (1), with the knitting head comprising the complete main bearing (29) of the cylinder and being provided, on its lower end, with a standardized interface (34) for accommodation with a carrier ring (35) located on the side of the machine frame. The carrier ring (35) supports the head ring (30) along the entire circumference of said head ring, preferably by means of a continuous seating surface (36) extending around the entire circumference.

Abstract: a weaving machine and a weaving method for direct three-dimensional weaving, wherein the weft thread (32) is imparted with its desired two-dimensional course already when the weft thread is being input. The position of the warp threads (12) is adapted to the weft thread path (23). The weft thread path (23) is defined by the lamellae (44) that extend into the shed (21) in between the warp threads (12). The lamellae (44) are arranged on a common bar (45) so that they can be individually adjusted, thus enabling the adjustment of the desired weft thread path (23) by positioning the lamellae (44). The lamellae (44) and the bar (45), at the same time, form the reed (43) that is used for casting on the weft thread (32) at the fabric edge (16).

Abstract: A gear mechanism for the drive assembly of a heald shaft (1), wherein the gear mechanism (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) comprises an input shaft (7, 7b, 7c) and an output shaft (5, 5b, 5c). The gear mechanism (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) generates a differential angle of rotation between the input shaft (7, 7b, 7c) and the output shaft (5, 5b, 5c) that is superimposed on the angle of rotation and, in dependence on the angle of rotation, is subjected to an oscillating change. This oscillating change can differ from a harmonic oscillation as a result of the non-circular design of the planet gears (11a, 12a, 13a) of the gear mechanism (6, 6b, 6c), thereby making it possible to realize almost any optional movements for the heald shaft (1), with low strain on the gears and the bearings. A simple production method and a compact design are disclosed.

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 damping material (11) in accordance with the invention consists of a ground material that is composed of fibers that are in loose connection with each other. For example, the fibers are minimally interlooped with each other or also glued to each other. This ground material is condensed in some areas in that the fibers are reoriented or interlooped with each other to a greater degree or glued to each other. Consequently, zones (17) and (18) of different densities are formed, thus making it possible to increase and adjust, as desired, the sound-damping effect of the damping material.