Abstract: Avivage deposits on and between the dents of a reed, especially in an air weaving loom, are removed by heating at least a portion of the reed dents in the vicinity of the weft insertion channel to a temperature sufficient to melt the avivage which can then be discharged from the reed dents and the spaces between the reed dents by dripping downwardly, for example, into a collecting trough.

Abstract: A weft guide channel (6) in a reed of an air jet loom can be lengthened or shortened by telescoping sections forming one or two channel extension members (10, 18) and/or by intermediate inserts (21, 22, 23) that also have a weft guide channel portion (21A, 22A, 23A). The extension member (10) and the inserts are mounted to a mounting bracket (9) which itself is secured to the reed and/or the sley carrying the reed. At least one weft stop motion device is provided for each extension member and/or for the respective insert. One of the extension members is provided with air ducts (14, 15) for a crosswise air flow for stretching a weft thread.

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.

Abstract: An air weaving loom is equipped with a reed in which the weft thread insertion channel has an inlet channel section and an outlet channel section. Both the inlet and outlet sections have enlarged cross-sectional areas to provide space for the operation of a respective hold-down member that keeps the weft thread in position when the ends (8A) of the weft thread (8), after cutting at the inlet end, are blown back into the selvage formation by respective nozzles (20) that cooperate with the respective hold-down member (2).

Abstract: A weft clamp (8) of a gripper head in a shuttleless loom is operated by a finger (10) driven by a coupling rod (13) which in turn is activated by a cam drive (18; 30, 31). The finger is mounted to the upper end of the coupling rod which is guided by a rocker arm (24) that follows the reed or sley motion. The lower end of the coupling rod is directly coupled through a cam follower roller (17) to the cam drive (18; 30, 31), either by one or more springs that assure a continuous engagement of the cam follower roller with the cam or by a bellcrank lever that engages a double cam with two rollers, one at each end of the two bellcrank arms. In both instances only one pivot or journal is needed in the transmission link for the actuating force for operating the clamp operating finger (10) in synchronism with the sley oscillating movement and in synchronism with the gripper movement.

Abstract: The warp threads (30) in a weaving loom are guided by a warp guide roller (16) and tightened by a warp tension roller (21). Both rollers (16, 21) are rotatably supported on a plurality of carrier brackets (15) spaced from each other along the loom weaving width and secured to a crossbar (2) operatively mounted in the loom frame by mountings (4, 6, 7). Each carrier bracket (15) has at its free end a bearing (15A) in which the warp guide roller (16) rotatably rests. Each carrier bracket (15) further carries at least one warp tensioning lever (19) journalled to the respective bracket (15) and having a bearing (19A) for supporting the warp tensioning roller (21). A cam drive (28, 29) biased by a spring (12) operates the warp tensioning levers (19) and thus the warp tensioning roller (21) into a warp tensioning position.

Abstract: A warp tensioning mechanism for a weaving loom is so constructed that a crossbar (8) that carries the tensioning mechanism is mounted at each end in the loom frame for a three-dimensional adjustment (5, 5A, 5B) vertically up and down, horizontally back and forth, and angularly about the longitudinal axis of the crossbar. After adjustments have been made, the crossbar is locked in position. The crossbar carries two sets of bearing brackets. One set (16) of bearing brackets holds a carrier beam in first bearings. The carrier beam in turn holds a warp tensioning roller (23) in second bearings (18). The second set of carrier brackets (16A) holds a warp guide roller (25) in third bearings (27).

Abstract: A film or web stretcher particularly for thermoplastic film has a plurality of stretching cylinders, at least one or more of which cooperate with a press-on roller particularly at the inlet and/or outlet of the stretcher. A mounting arm (6) at each end of the stretcher cylinder permits the mounting of the press-on roller in such a way that the latter can be tilted through a limited angular range about the rotational axis of the stretching cylinder by a first drive. A second drive, such as a piston cylinder device adjusts the press-on roller relative to the stretching cylinder to thereby apply a press-on force. The first drive may, for example, be accomplished by a manually driven device for positioning the press-on roller and its cooperating components in any one of two end positions and in any position between the two end positions. The press-on roller may be directly mounted to the mounting arms (6) or through support brackets (9) to the arms (6).

Abstract: A leno selvage device for a loom has a leno rotor ring (7) which is directly driven by its own reversible electric motor, for example, through a power transmission such as a gear belt (6) running around a drive gear pulley (5). The controllable electric motor (20) is operated through a respective program for either oscillating the leno rotor back and forth, e.g. through 180.degree. or for revolving the leno rotor for a number of revolutions in one direction and then for the same number of revolutions in the opposite direction and so forth. The arrangement is such that the central rotational axis (5A) of the drive pulley (5) and the central rotational axis (7A) of the leno rotor ring (7) are positioned in different geometrical planes relative to a carrier arm (2), but in parallel to each other and to the weft insertion direction.

Abstract: A high proportion of fly lint and dust is intercepted inside a loom before settling, by a suction device (17, 18) positioned inside the loom below the rear shed and the heald frames so that air from a blower head (3) movably mounted (at 4) above the loom must pass through the rear shed and between the heald frames. The suction device has a plurality of suction boxes (18) pivotally interlinked with each other to form a suction channel chain (17) which is flexible so that the position of the suction channel chain (17) can be adapted to the space available inside the loom for an effective interception of fly lint and dust. One section of the suction channel chain extends approximately horizontally parallel to and below the rear shed, while another suction channel chain section extends approximately vertically and approximately parallel to the heald frames.

Abstract: Tubular knitted fabric is circularly spread and simultaneously squeezed for removing treatment liquor. Spreader components are separated from squeezing components in order to relieve the spreader components from the squeezing forces. For this purpose, pairs (23) of squeezer rollers (23A, 23B) are mounted on brackets (24, 25) which are rigidly secured to the outer pipe section (19A) of the central carrier column (19). The brackets (24, 25) are so arranged that they do not interfere with the spaced struts or braces (20, 21) of the spreader rollers (12). Each pair of squeezer rollers (23) cooperates with a revolving single squeeze roller (26) that is radially adjustable by a power drive such as a piston cylinder device (27) relative to the central column (19) to thereby adjust the squeezing gap between the pair of squeezer rollers and the single squeeze roller and thus also the squeezing force.

Abstract: A leno device for tying weft threads in the selvage of a fabric is constructed as an electric motor in which the stator is connected to a mounting bracket and the rotor forms the leno rotor disk or ring. A very compact structure results that can be mounted in the free space between the longitudinal struts and heddles of the first heald shafts in the loom.

Abstract: A coupling device for connecting a heald shaft to a heald drive such as a push-pull rod and for disconnecting the heald shaft from the heald drive such as a push-pull rod has a plug-in member connected to the heald shaft and a socket member connected to the heald drive. The socket member is equipped with a toggle mechanism for locking and unlocking a pawl that engages or disengages the plug-in member. The toggle mechanism is spring loaded so that a separate locking device is not necessary. A plurality of such coupling devices are arranged in groups for operation in unison by a drive mechanism that includes a cam drive for each coupling device. All the cam drives for a group of coupling devices are secured to a splined shaft for operation in unison so that all coupling devices can be coupled or decoupled simultaneously.

Abstract: A weft thread brake for a loom has brake force application members controlled by a drive such as a high resolution stepping motor or a continuously adjustable drive for reducing or increasing a gap between the brake force application members. The weft thread moves through this gap. A thread tension sensor is arranged downstream of the brake and produces an actual thread tension signal that is used for producing in a closed loop unit, a brake force control signal for controlling the brake force in dependence on the actual thread tension signal. A rated weft thread tension value may be compared in the control unit with the measured actual weft thread tension signal and the result of this comparison is then used to produce the control signal to adapt the brake force to the thread characteristics and to maintain at all times during a weft thread insertion the required weft thread tension.

Abstract: In a method for controlling the pile warp thread tension in weaving terry cloth webs, a thread tension is applied to the pile warp by the spanner beam during partial beat-up operations. The tension is removed or reduced in a controlled manner during each full beat-up motion of the weaving reed and is then reapplied in a controlled manner after the binding-in or interlacing of each pile loop row. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes a spanner beam (7) carried on the free ends of swing arms (6) of which the other ends are rotationally mounted on a supporting shaft (8). A pushing force element is operatively connected to at least one of the swing arms (6) to push the swing arm and therewith the spanner beam in one swinging direction and thereby apply a bias thread tension to the pile warp (4).

Abstract: A weft thread or weft threads are selected from a plurality of weft thread supply spools in a shuttleless loom for presenting the selected weft thread or weft threads to the gripper of the gripper rod. In order to equip each loom with the required number of weft selector and needle moving devices and in order to make these devices exchangeable, the individual selector and needle moving devices are constructed as insert cassettes which are exchangeable against one another as desired. For this purpose the exchangeable cassette which is equipped with an electric drive motor and preferably also with a control for the electric drive motor, is combined with a carrier and guide mechanism for supporting the cassette and guiding the respective weft presenting needle. Each cassette comprises at least one weft presenting needle and each cassette is individually connected in a releasable manner to the carrier and guide mechanism and independently of all other cassettes.

Abstract: Moist sewage sludge is dried in a sludge dryer having several zones. The initial moisture content of the sewage sludge may range up to 80% by weight, while the dried bulk material shall have a remainder moisture content of about 5% by weight. The drying gas temperature is maintained at a level up to 50.degree. C. to avoid activating additives that may be present in the sludge in the form of harmful substances to avoid the entry of these substances into the atmosphere. Furthere, the escape of processing air that has a noxious odor is avoided by passing the air through a deodorizer. The drying gas itself is reconditioned by reducing its moisture in a separate gas drying circuit from which the dried gas is again returned as a drying gas into the sludge dryer. A gas drying agent, such as a hygroscopic material is used in the gas dryer and the gas drying agent itself is regenerated by withdrawing moisture therefrom in a regenerating circuit.

Abstract: Clogging and prolonged down times are avoided in a pelletizer for paste type materials such as sludge by providing an extruder hopper with at least one, preferably two, lower edge slide gates which can be opened to permit movement of a clogged screen zone out of alignment with the discharge opening of the hopper. The clogging material can be scraped off from the screen portion that is taken out of alignment with the hopper discharge opening. The cutting of the extruded sludge is accomplished by an oscillating lower screen section that slides back and forth below the upper screen section. The upper screen section is provided with two, preferably three zones, two of which are perforated and one of which is unperforated to form a closure for the hopper discharge opening. Screeding non-pelletizable material off the screen surface is accomplished either by a separate screeding device or by operating the slide gate or gates as screeds.

Abstract: A drive system for a weaving loom includes at least one four-pivot three-link drive or preferably two such drives for transmitting drive power from a main loom shaft through a cam drive to a slay shaft coupled to the cam drive through the four-pivot three-link drive. The use of two four-pivot three link drives permits operating the weaving loom selectively for producing terry cloth and/or smooth fabric. Each of the four-pivot three-link drives (DL, DR) has four pivots or journals (A, B, C, D) and three links (24, 38, 43; 25, 40, 44). Each four-pivot three-link drive cooperates with a roller carrying cam follower (15) that is controlled by an eccentric cam assembly (7). Both four-pivot three-link drives effectively operate the slay shaft (46) of the loom. A control and engagement mechanism (33, 54) provides for the switching from one four-pivot three-link drive to the other and vice versa, whereby a switch-over from the production of one type of fabric to the other is facilitated.

Abstract: In a weft thread brake mechanism with a controllable braking effect, a controllable braking force is applied to a weft thread as it passes between two lamellar braking members, such as leaf spring members. A servomotor, preferably a stepper motor, rotatingly drives an eccentric brake effect control member that cooperates with at least one of the lamellar brake members. Through the eccentric rotation of the braking effect control member, it presses to a varying degree against at least one of the lamellar braking members. Thus, a varying braking force is applied by the lamellar braking members to the weft thread. A programmable computer control provides control signals for the stepper motor.