Abstract: A tufting machine (100) comprises a needle bar (10) shiftable in a needle bar longitudinal direction (L), a plurality of needles (12) being provided on the needle bar (10) following each other in the needle bar longitudinal direction (L), each needle (12) being individually selectable for carrying out a stitch and thereby generating a pile on a backing fabric, further comprising such a yarn threading that, on the needle bar (10), groups (G) of the needles (12) following each other in the needle bar longitudinal direction (L) and comprising a predetermined number of needles (12) are generated, the needles (12) of each group (G) having yarns of different properties threaded therethrough, the number of yarns of different properties associated with each group (G) being less than the number needles (12) within each group (G), such that, within each group (G), at least two needles (12) have yarns of the same property threaded therethrough.

Abstract: A method of operating a tufting machine including a sliding needle bar with a plurality of needles, a presser foot mounted slidable with the needle bar, an end yarn feed, a needle selection mechanism, a plurality of loopers, a plurality of knives to cut a loop of yarn on a respective looper, and a dislodge mechanism to selectively dislodge a loop of yarn from the looper before the yarn is cut. The method controls the feed of yarn to the needles and, when a cut end is required, a determination is made whether a predetermined yarn condition is present in the yarn at its cut end and, in response to such a determination, an additional loop of yarn, not required by the pattern data is formed, such that the additional loop of yarn forms a yarn buffer that can be pulled back through the backing medium.

Abstract: A rapier weaving machine and a method for converting an existing rapier weaving machine into a rapier weaving machine, which includes an insert rapier head for inserting a weft yarn into a fabric, a receiver rapier head for receiving and holding the weft yarn and subsequently pulling the weft yarn out of the fabric in a movement direction, an opening element for opening the receiver rapier head in order to release the weft yarn, and a guiding device, positioned on the side of the receiver rapier head opposite the opening element, and comprising a guiding block for adjusting the movement direction of the receiver rapier head, and a rotatable guiding wheel for restraining the receiver rapier head when opening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a weaving machine, including: a yarn tensioning system for keeping a pile-warp yarn under tension, including a local control unit, a drive motor Wand a drive roller; and a detection device for detecting abnormal variations in the pile-forming, including: a measuring system, for measuring, with the aid of the drive motor and the drive roller, pile-warp yarn consumption xm of the pile-warp yarn per cycle unit of one or more weft insertion cycles; a reference system, for determining for each cycle unit whether the pile-warp yarn is interlaced in a figure-forming manner and for determining the expected pile-warp yarn consumption xt; and a computing system, for comparing the measured with the expected pile-warp yarn consumption when the pile-warp yarn is interlaced in a figure-forming manner, and for detecting, on the basis of this comparison, abnormal variations. In addition, disclosed is an associated method for detecting abnormal variations in pile-forming in a weaving machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a weaving method with which the yarn tension of several part groups with at least one warp thread per part group is controlled or adjusted separately, in order to follow a respective reference yarn tension profile during weaving, where, for at least one part group, the reference yarn tension profile is changed during weaving, where the reference yarn tension profile is determined and changed separately for at least two part groups, and where each reference yarn tension profile is selected from a collection of different reference yarn tension profiles. Also disclosed is a weaving machine provided with yarn tensioning elements, a storage unit in which said collection is provided, and a control or steering unit in order, in cooperation with the yarn tensioning elements, to adjust or control the yarn tension in separate warp threads using the indicated weaving method.

Abstract: A guide device including a guide (1) with one or more guide elements (2) for guiding a rapier bar (3) in a rapier weaving machine, wherein this guide device is provided with an air circuit (5) through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations (7) for cooling the rapier bar (3) by compressed air, and wherein this guide device is provided with a cooling circuit (8) through which coolant can flow for cooling the rapier bar (3) by coolant. In addition, an assembly of a rapier bar (3), drive (4) and such a guide device. Furthermore, a rapier weaving machine including such an assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a yarn storage device for a yarn processing machine, a method for supplementing a yarn store in said yarn storage device and a yarn processing machine provided with said yarn storage device, wherein the yarn storage device comprises storage units (2, 7) and loading means (3) in order to add yarn in a selected storage unit, wherein at least one storage unit comprises a winding holder (7) that is provided to keep a yarn store in a state wound round a holder body (7c), and wherein preferably yarn is added in windings with a winding diameter (D1) that is greater than the radial dimensions (D3) of the holder body (7c).

Abstract: A hook (5) for a tufting machine to provide an enhanced J-cut effect. The hook comprises a shank portion (12) via which the hook is connected to the tufting machine, in use, and a working portion (4) extending from the shank portion. The working portion (4) comprises a cutting edge (6) on one side of a lower face of the working portion. A J-cut forming portion is formed at the working portion (4), in that the working portion in the region above the cutting edge has a greater thickness than the thickness of the shank portion (12).

Abstract: A tufting machine and method for operating a tufting machine operating a needle selection mechanism based on pattern data by selecting a needle with yarn required for the pattern such that the selected needle is driven by a needle bar through the backing medium, to form a tuft while a needle that is not required for the pattern is not selected by the needle selection mechanism. Yarn is fed via a yarn feed mechanism comprising a plurality of actively driven yarn drives each driving a respective yarn to a respective needle, the yarn drives being at a location between a yarn creel and the needle. The method being characterised by operating the yarn feed mechanism to deliver at least 70% of the yarn required for a tuft as the needle moves from top dead center to bottom dead center.

Abstract: A tufting machine comprising a plurality of needle holders (11) associated with a needle bar (5) and slidably supported in a frame for reciprocation in a needle reciprocation direction. A respective needle (10) is attached to each needle holder (11), each needle holder having an engagement portion. The needle bar (5) has means (7, 13) for selectively latching with the engagement portion of each selected needle holder so as to selectively drive latched needle holders in the needle reciprocation direction. A stop bar (21) is positioned to limit the upward movement of the needle holders (11). At least one magnet (20) retains non-latched needle holders in its uppermost position as the needle bar is reciprocated. The magnets (20) are embedded in the stop bar (21). The machine further comprises a cushioning member (27) attached to the magnet (20) and facing the top of each needle holder (11).

Abstract: A tufting machine (100) comprises a needle bar (10) shiftable in a needle bar longitudinal direction (L), a plurality of needles (12) being provided on the needle bar (10) following each other in the needle bar longitudinal direction (L), each needle (12) being individually selectable for carrying out a stitch and thereby generating a pile on a backing fabric, further comprising such a yarn threading that, on the needle bar (10), groups (G) of the needles (12) following each other in the needle bar longitudinal direction (L) and comprising a predetermined number of needles (12) are generated, the needles (12) of each group (G) having yarns of different properties threaded therethrough, the number of yarns of different properties associated with each group (G) being less than the number of needles (12) within each group (G), such that, within each group (G), at least two needles (12) have yarns of the same property threaded therethrough.

Abstract: A textile machine includes a main driven system driven by a plurality of main motors, a plurality of slave driven systems each driven by at least one slave motor, and an energy supply/control arrangement for supplying energy to the main motors and the slave motors and for controlling the flow of energy between a power supply system and the main motors and the slave motors. The energy supply/control arrangement includes a first energy exchange unit, a first main motor unit, a second energy exchange unit, a second main motor unit, and a controller. The slave motors include at least one first slave motor connected to a first DC voltage bus system by an associated first slave motor unit and at least one second slave motor connected to a second DC voltage bus system by an associated second slave motor unit.

Abstract: A method of preparing a tufting process for tufting a fabric, preferably carpet, having regions (14, 16, 18) of different color appearance by using at least two different kinds of yarns, yarns of different kinds of yarns (b, w) alternately following each other in a needle bar longitudinal direction of a needle bar of a tufting machine, comprises the steps of: a) defining a predetermined number of color mixing values, b) assigning with each color mixing value a color-related tufting aspect instruction, c) providing a color pattern representation (11) of the fabric to be tufted comprising a plurality of color regions (14, 16, 18), d) assigning with each color region (14, 16, 18) one of the color mixing values.

Abstract: A method of preparing a tufting process for tufting a fabric comprises the steps of: a) providing a pattern representation (10) representative of a fabric to be tufted comprising at least one tufting structure region (14), said at least one tufting structure region (14) corresponding to an area of the fabric to be tufted having a plurality of piles, b) in association with at least one tufting structure region (14), providing a tufting structure defined by a plurality of tufting structure parameters, each tufting structure parameter having an effect on the appearance of at least a part of the piles to be tufted in association with this tufting structure region and having no effect on the appearance of piles to be tufted in an area not corresponding to this tufting structure region (14).

Abstract: A method of preparing a tufting process for tufting a fabric comprises the steps of: a) selecting at least one object to be shown on a tufted fabric as a three-dimensional tufting structure element (116), b) three-dimensionally scanning the at least one object for providing a set of three-dimensional scan data representing at least a portion of the three-dimensional structure of the at least one object, c) providing a set of tufting instruction data on the basis of the three-dimensional scan data, the tufting instruction data, in association with the at least one three-dimensional tufting structure element (116) to be tufted, comprising information relating to at least one tufting aspect of the piles to be tufted for providing the at least one three-dimensional tufting structure element (116).

Abstract: A method of preparing a tufting process comprises the steps of: a) providing a pattern representation representative of a fabric to be tufted, b) providing at least one group of tufting aspect instruction layers, each group of tufting aspect instruction layers comprising at least one tufting aspect instruction layer, each tufting aspect instruction layer being associated with a tufting aspect instruction, each tufting aspect instruction referring to a tufting aspect, c) assigning at least one tufting aspect instruction to at least one tufting aspect instruction layer.

Abstract: A tufting machine comprises a needle bar and a needle bar drive mechanism for moving the needle bar towards and away from a backing material passed through a tufting zone by means of a backing material feed mechanism. The machine further comprises at least one controller and a cooling liquid system for cooling at least one controller, the cooling liquid system comprising at least one cooling member having a cooling liquid channel for the passage of a cooling liquid and being in heat transfer contact with at least a part of the electrical components of a controller.