Abstract: A terry weaving method and a terry loom for carrying out the method. Subject matter of the terry weaving method is that a slay travel shortening does not result during the carrying out of partial beat-ups for the formation of a weft thread group, and thus the original weft thread insertion window remains maintained. The terry loom has a servo drive (7) that displaces the reed support shaft (4) in the direction of the shed forming means by at least the pre-beat-up distance (VD) while maintaining the basic stroke H of the reed (11) before the forming of the weft thread group, and that reverses or undoes the displacement by at least the pre-beat-up distance (VD) after the forming of the weft thread group.

Abstract: A drive arrangement is constructed for permitting the separate operation of a weaving machine and a shed forming machine. The drive arrangement compensates any r.p.m. variations of the weaving machine drive and of the shed forming machine relative to the drive shaft of the respective machine. This drive arrangement permits keeping the energy drawn from the electrical supply network during the start phase and the drive power to be provided for a normal operation of the weaving machine and of the shed forming machine optimally low.

Abstract: The filaments in a weft thread or yarn in a pneumatic loom are tangled and consolidated to prevent untangling of the weft thread when it is transported, after the tangling, through the weft insertion channel in a loom shed. For this purpose the leading end of the weft thread is temporarily stopped in a weft insertion nozzle pipe by a first air stream the so-called holding air stream (19) with a first pressure (P1) between two weaving cycles following each other for holding the weft thread stretched. At the same time a second air stream (20) having a higher pressure (P2) than the first pressure (P1) and a different flow direction than the first air stream (19) is applied to or along a leading end portion of the weft thread for tangling the filaments and thereby locking or consolidating the filaments in the weft thread. Each weft insertion nozzle pipe has a first port and a second port through which the first and second air streams are introduced into the weft insertion the nozzle pipe.

Abstract: A method of operating a weaving machine and a shedding machine aims, to achieve so-called soft starts and soft stops, in particular, of the shedding machine. The weaving machine is equipped with an electromotive main drive and the shedding machine is equipped with an electromotive auxiliary drive. In the method the shedding machine is started at a time point (t1) that lies before the starting time point of the weaving machine, and, upon a triggered interruption of the weaving process, a shedding machine comes to the standstill at a time point (t5) that lies after the standstill time point (t4) of the weaving machine.

Abstract: A fabric spreader arrangement for a loom includes a spreader rod rotatably received in a hollow space of a spreader body. The fabric is looped around the spreader rod in the hollow space. To achieve a low wear, a light weight, and an excellent fabric spreading effect, the spreader rod is a one-piece hollow cylindrical metal body extending entirely over the weaving width, preferably made of V4A stainless steel, having an outer diameter of at least 10 mm (and preferably 15 mm) with a wall thickness of at least 0.4 mm (and preferably 0.7 mm), and having an outer circumferential surface that has been surface treated to achieve a surface roughness with a peak-to-valley roughness measurement of at least 10 ?m (and preferably 20 to 50 ?m).

Abstract: A direct drive for a loom reed includes a linear motor carrying out a linear oscillating motion, or an arc segment motor carrying out a pivoting oscillating motion, or a circular coaxial motor carrying out a pivoting oscillating motion. The circular coaxial motor has a hollow shaft rotor arranged within a hollow shaft stator, and may further have an additional hollow shaft stator arranged within the rotor in a sandwich motor construction. The arc segment motor and the linear motor may similarly have a rotor member sandwiched between two stator members. Two motor units can be provided respectively above and below the weaving plane to drive the reed together. With these measures, the driving force is increased, yet the drive arrangement is confined to the available installation space.

Abstract: The leading end of a weft thread exiting from a weft insertion channel in an air jet weaving loom is monitored by a weft stop motion positioned in a weft stretching channel directly downstream, as viewed in the weft motion direction, of an exit of the weft insertion channel. The weft stop motion is either an additional weft stop motion monitor or it is the first weft stop motion device repositioned from a location at the exit of the weft insertion channel to a location in the weft stretching channel. In such a position in the weft stretching channel faults or deformations such as a loop in the leading end section of the weft thread are readily or positively detected for generating a respective loom control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for dosing lubricant into a compressed air flow includes a lubricant container, a pneumatically operated lubricant pump, an injection channel, a non-return valve interposed between the outlet of the pump and the injection channel, and an electronic sensor cooperating with or coupled to the non-return valve so that the sensor emits an electrical signal responsive and corresponding to the stroke travel of the non-return valve. When the pump carries out a lubricant injection cycle, the pressurized lubricant pushes open the non-return valve, flows into the injection channel and from there into a main channel through which compressed air flows. The travel of the valve is sensed by the sensor, and the sensor signal indicates whether the lubricant injection was proper or faulty, e.g. if the proper amount of lubricant was injected.

Abstract: A supply spool supplies a weft thread through an adjustable actuated thread brake and a thread tension sensor to a weft thread accumulator, from which an accumulated insertion length of the thread is provided to a weft insertion device. The tension sensor provides a measured actual thread tension signal to a control arrangement, which compares the actual tension to a selected rated tension, and, dependent on the deviation therebetween, provides a control signal to an actuator of the thread brake, so that the actual thread tension constantly corresponds to the selected rated tension. Another sensor provides a signal indicating a change from an empty spool to a full spool. Responsive thereto, the control arrangement actuates the thread brake to an adjustable starting brake setting as a coarse adjustment. Then the self-regulating fine adjustment is continued. A constant winding tension and thread accumulation length are achieved in the thread accumulator.

Abstract: A weft holder device holds the free weft thread ends in an air jet loom, using pressurized air and without requiring a suction device. The body of the device has a tapering opening through which the end of the inserted weft thread extends. The opening tapers into a narrower slot in the beat-up and drawing-off direction. An air flow channel communicates downwardly from the slot. Nozzles blow pressurized air downwardly through the slot and into the channel, to pneumatically push the weft thread ends into the channel, so as to hold the weft thread ends from when they are beat-up and bound into the woven cloth and a catch selvage, until the catch selvage is trimmed from the cloth. The weft holder device may be stationarily mounted at a location between a weft detector and a weft tensioner that are connected to the reed so as to move therewith.

Abstract: An arrangement for supplying air with a controlled pressure to the main weft insertion nozzles of an air jet loom includes a single servovalve connected between a pressurized air source, an air vent, and a pressure manifold, and individual shut-off valves respectively interposed in branch lines connected from the pressure manifold to the individual nozzles. A pressure sensor measures the actual pressure provided to the manifold. An electronic controller receives a pressure control signal and controls the servovalve responsive to any difference between the pressure control signal and the actual measured pressure signal. The arrangement is simple, economical, and rapidly reacting, to avoid the need of individual throttle valves or pressure regulators for the individual nozzles.

Abstract: Tubular knit goods including natural fibers and synthetic elastomeric fibers are steam treated and then circularly expanded and heat-fixed while being transported vertically downwardly over a circular spreader in a heat fixing chamber. The goods build up a buffer or excess material reserve on the conical feed section of the circular spreader, either by using a greater transport velocity into the feed section than that out of the feed section and along the spreader, or by starting to feed the goods into the feed section for a time before starting to draw the goods out of the feed section and then transporting the goods to and from the feed section at the same velocity. The goods relax in the buffer. Transporting the goods vertically downwardly over the circular spreader during the heat-fixing uses gravity advantageously, and reduces tension in the goods.

Abstract: A thread brake arrangement for use in a textile processing machine includes two brake elements with the thread running therebetween. An actuator, preferably a piezoelectric actuator, variably actuates one of the brake elements relative to the other to exert an adjustable braking force onto the thread. The thread exerts a reaction force in the thread running direction onto the brake elements. At least one of the brake elements is movably supported to be movable along the thread running direction, and is mechanically coupled to a force transducer that measures the reaction force, which is proportional or equal to the thread tension force. A regulating arrangement receives the measured force signal, and controls the actuator to adjust the adjustable brake element, so as to vary the applied braking force and thus regulate the arising thread tension responsive to and dependent on the measured reaction force.

Abstract: In a gripper weaving loom which weaves several different types of weft threads into a fabric, it is desirable to keep weft material waste to a minimum. For this purpose a weft thread (7) already inserted into the loom shed is simultaneously held by a weft presenting clamp (13) and by a holding clamp (18). As soon as the weft is held by both clamps the weft is cut by a cutter (20) effective between the two clamps to form a trailing weft end (7B) of the already inserted weft and a leading weft end (7A) of a weft yet to be inserted. The holding clamp (18) keeps holding the trailing end (7B) until beat-up of the weft by the reed (4) is completed. For this purpose, the holding clamp (18) moves with the reed (4) into the beat-up position. When beat-up is completed the holding clamp (18) releases the trailing weft end (7B) and returns into a weft receiving position (22B). The weft presenting clamp (13) still holds the leading end (12A).

Abstract: A fabric spreader arrangement for a loom includes a spreader rod rotatably received in a hollow space of a spreader body. The fabric is looped around the spreader rod in the hollow space. To achieve a low wear, a light weight, and an excellent fabric spreading effect, the spreader rod is a one-piece hollow cylindrical metal body extending entirely over the weaving width, preferably made of V4A stainless steel, having an outer diameter of at least 10 mm (and preferably 15 mm) with a wall thickness of at least 0.4 mm (and preferably 0.7 mm), and having an outer circumferential surface that has been surface treated to achieve a surface roughness with a peak-to-valley roughness measurement of at least 10 &mgr;m (and preferably 20 to 50 &mgr;m).

Abstract: A circular spreader for spreading tubular textile goods includes a spreader arrangement with an inlet mandrel and an outlet mandrel at opposite ends thereof inside the tubular goods, an inlet support structure arranged around the inlet mandrel outside of the tubular goods with an inlet guide gap therebetween, and an outlet support structure arranged around the outlet mandrel outside of the tubular goods with an outlet guide gap therebetween. The mandrels and the support structures are magnetic, to magnetically repel each other across the guide gaps. The components may be permanent magnets or electromagnets, or have separate discrete magnets provided thereon. The spreader arrangement is supported by magnetic levitation relative to the support structures, without direct contact therebetween. The tubular goods pass through the guide gaps with low friction, no pressing force exerted thereon, and no impairment of the structure or quality thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus continuously monitor the functional condition of the successive bearings of the tenter clips or claws of a tenter chain as the bearings roll along a contact surface of the endless guide rail of a tentering machine. A sensing arrangement is integrated into the guide rail in the area of the contact surface thereof. The sensing arrangement senses a physical value indicative of the presence and condition of the respective bearing passing by the sensing arrangement. The sensing arrangement may include a pressurized air outlet and an adjacent pressure measuring channel connected to a pressure sensor to sense the back pressure created by a passing bearing. The sensing arrangement may alternatively include an electromagnetic eddy current sensor, or an optoelectronic light beam sensor.

Abstract: A circular spreader for spreading tubular textile goods includes a spreader arrangement with an inlet mandrel and an outlet mandrel at opposite ends thereof inside the tubular goods, an inlet support structure arranged around the inlet mandrel outside of the tubular goods with an inlet guide gap therebetween, and an outlet support structure arranged around the outlet mandrel outside of the tubular goods with an outlet guide gap therebetween. The mandrels and the support structures are magnetic, to magnetically repel each other across the guide gaps. The components may be permanent magnets or electromagnets, or have separate discrete magnets provided thereon. The spreader arrangement is supported by magnetic levitation relative to the support structures, without direct contact therebetween. The tubular goods pass through the guide gaps with low friction, no pressing force exerted thereon, and no impairment of the structure or quality thereof.

Abstract: A supply spool supplies a weft thread through an adjustable actuated thread brake and a thread tension sensor to a weft thread accumulator, from which an accumulated insertion length of the thread is provided to a weft insertion device. The tension sensor provides a measured actual thread tension signal to a control arrangement, which compares the actual tension to a selected rated tension, and, dependent on the deviation therebetween, provides a control signal to an actuator of the thread brake, so that the actual thread tension constantly corresponds to the selected rated tension. Another sensor provides a signal indicating a change from an empty spool to a full spool. Responsive thereto, the control arrangement actuates the thread brake to an adjustable starting brake setting as a coarse adjustment. Then the self-regulating fine adjustment is continued. A constant winding tension and thread accumulation length are achieved in the thread accumulator.

Abstract: The shed of a fluidic weaving loom is not changed simultaneously for all warp threads, but rather continuously starting at the weft entrance and continuing helically, so to speak, to the exit of the warp shed. This sequential shed closure takes place with a so-called domino effect along a helical line curved in space, whereby additional time is gained for stretching the inserted weft thread and temporarily stopping the shed formation or shedding is avoided.