Abstract: A heddle frame for supporting a plurality of heddles comprises a top rail separate from a bottom rail Each of the rails defines a front wall and a rear wall opposed to the front wall A carrying flange extends from the front wall of the top rail and toward the bottom rail Each of the rails carries a heddle bar disposed toward the back of the respective rail, and the top heddle bar is connected to the carrying flange The top rail defines a first cut out portion extending through a section of the carrying flange The heddle frame further includes at least one intermediate brace extending between the top rail and the bottom rail at a position aligned with the first cut out portion and configured for assisting in maintaining parallelism of the top and bottom rails.

Abstract: A heddle support rod for use in a heddle frame includes a first vertical segment along one of the longitudinal edges of the rod. The first vertical segment defines a first vertical front face. A second vertical segment is disposed along an opposite longitudinal edge of the support rod and defines a second vertical face. The first and second vertical faces are essentially parallel and laterally off-set a predetermined distance so that an attaching device, such as a rivet, can attach the support rod to the heddle frame assembly in the area of the second vertical segment. The offset distance is provided so that the protruding head of the attaching device or rivet is not more than flush with the front face of the first vertical segment that engages within a rod slot of a conventional J-type heddle.

Abstract: A heddle frame has a pair of laterally extending slats and a pair of end braces connected to the slats to form a generally rectangular frame. An elongated opening is defined at least in the ends of the slats, and typically throughout the slat. A locking mechanism is configured to lock the end braces to the slats and typically includes a device housed at least in part within the slats. A corner sleeve member is adhesively fixed on the slats at the ends thereof directly adjacent to the end braces to structurally reinforce the slats at the position of the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A heddle frame for supporting a plurality of heddles includes a top rail and a bottom rail extending longitudinally relative to the frame. End members connect the top rail and bottom rail so as to form a generally rectangular frame structure. A center brace extends between the top rail and the bottom rail at a position between the end members. A locking clamp block is attached to the bottom rail. The clamp block defines a first section and a second section which is movable towards the bottom rail relative to the first section. The clamp block defines a threaded hole through the first and second sections. The portion of the threaded hole through the second section becomes misaligned when the second section is tightened or drawn in the direction of the bottom rail while the first section of the clamp block remains stationary. This misalignment of the threaded hole portions securely locks the center brace within the clamp block.

Abstract: A heddle for use in a weaving loom has an end-loop configured at one or both ends thereof for mounting on a slide bar of a harness frame. The heddle includes a substantially flat width section which is substantially parallel to the warp threads in a weaving loom when the heddle is mounted on the slide bar of a harness frame within the loom. An eye is disposed through the width section and is defined by a first side segment and a second side segment. The side segments are oppositely laterally disposed a predetermined distance relative to the width section so that a plane through the eye forms a predetermined angle with the plane of the width section. The side segments are also formed so that a plane through each of the side segments also forms a predetermined angle with the plane of the eye. In a preferred embodiment, the side segments are formed parallel to the width section.

Abstract: A nose guide including a fastening mechanism for attaching the nose guide to a harness frame on a weaving loom. The fastening mechanism includes a pair of elongated straps and a pair of bosses carried on the inner surfaces of the straps which are provided to fit within elongated complimentary recesses provided in the straps. Fasteners extend through the bosses for securing the opposed straps together for attaching the nose guide to a slat of the harness frame.

Abstract: A lightweight frame slat for use in a heddle frame assembly. Each of said slats comprises an upper hollow portion and a heddle bar support portion integral with and extending from the hollow elongated portion. The hollow portion is made up of a vertically extending back portion and a vertical front portion so that when the front portion is in place three longitudinal cavities are formed. Adjacent each of the edge of the hollow elongated upper portion is disposed elongated stiffening bars of a carbon fiber reinforced stiffening element. The intermediate cavity between the edge cavities is filled with a strip of ridged foam to add structural stability to the slat without greatly increasing its weight.Extending from, and integral with the back portion of the slat is a heddle bar support portion which has extending from it near its bottom edge two horizontal ledges which define a heddle bar support channel.

Abstract: A heddle frame assembly for a weaving machine comprising elongated top and bottom slats supported at each end by side members. Each of the top and bottom slats includes a symmetrically depending heddle support bar at one of its edges. The heddle support bar includes opposed heddle support surfaces which lie in intersecting planes which intersect with a vertical plane taken through the longitudinal axis of the slat at a point which is between said heddle support surface and the free end of the heddle bar.

Abstract: Methods and means for allowing heddles to be drawn-in with warp yarns away from a loom for subsequent loading into the loom. A heddle holder allows rows of drawn-in heddles to be carried to the loom. Removable heddle rod sections allow for the heddle holder to load the rows of drawn-in heddles into intermediate portions of heddle rods of adjacent harness frames. The heddle holder also positions the adjacent harness frames during loading of the drawn-in heddles. Individual warp yarn beam canisters provided with the drawn-in heddles facilitate the heddle holder loading of the drawn-in heddles into the harness frames. A protective covering protects the drawn-in warp yarns as they are transferred from the remote drawing-in site to the loom.

Abstract: Lifting heddles A and B are disclosed as including interfitting heddle elements C and D of which C is a female heddle element and D is a male heddle element. C-shaped rod slots E and F are formed in the ends of heddle element D. Slots E, E' are formed in the ends of female heddle element C. Slot E' includes an extended upper slot portion 86 which receives a reduced neck 98 of the shank 40 of male heddle element D. A shoulder 100 of the male heddle element interfits with a ledge 92 of slot E' of the female heddle element. Interfitting slots E' and F form a resultant C-shaped slot which corresponds in shape to opposing juxtaposed end slots E and F providing mobility of the lifting heddles A and B on the heddle frame avoiding sectionalization thereof.

Abstract: A loom reed (10) comprised of plastic dent strips (A, B) is illustrated having a profiled section (32, 34) which is reinforced for weft yarn beat-up into the cloth (C). The profiled section includes a web (38, 48) of reduced thickness which creates additional air space facilitating passage of knots and the like in the warp yarn through the space between adjacent dent strips. A rim (40, 50) created by the reduced web maintains the warp yarn generally out of contact with the remaining plastic surface of the dent to reduce surface drag and friction. A metal insert (56) is utilized in the dent strips at the edge of the reed for additional stiffness where the cloth beat-up forces are attenuated. A tunnel forming recess (36, 52) is formed in the dent strips to form a tunnel across a length of the reed facilitating weft insertion by containment of a fluid jet.

Abstract: A heddle frame construction for a loom is disclosed which includes a bottom frame slat 14 constructed of a roll-formed steel tubular element which carries a latch block 30 which connects with a hook connector 28 of a heddle frame drive mechanism 26. A top frame slat 12 is constructed in part of a light extrusion and in part of a steel tubular element. Preferably, a first part includes a hollow steel tubular slat beam 36, 50, 70, 90, 100 having a shoulder on which a neck of a second part in the form of a connector flange 42, 56, 76, 92, 104 is carried. The connector flange has affixed thereto an upper supporting heddle rod 20 by means of rivet connections 21. The neck is uniquely constructed to include groove means 44, 62, 82 which interlock with free ends 38 and 40, 56a and 56b, 72 and 74 of the shoulder of the slat beam.

Abstract: A rod hook (A) is fixed to a heddle rod (20, 22) by which heddles (24) are supported in the frame (10) with unrestricted mobility. A slidable connecting sleeve (C, D) is carried by frame slats (12, 14) which releasably connects the heddle rod hook (A) to the frame slat for convenient connection and disconnection.

Abstract: A heddle frame 10 for a loom is disclosed which includes an extruded, light frame slat 12 and heddle rod 20 construction wherein a hardened metal cap B is received over outer free ends 40, 42 of the heddle rod 20. Cap B includes rear and forward wear surfaces 44, 46 which protrude past planar surfaces 30, 32 of a web portion 26 to take the wear and hold the opposing interior surfaces of the end slots 24a, 24b of the heddles 24 out of contact with the soft material of the web portion. Cap B is formed of resilient legs 58, 60 which provide a mechanical clamp when received over the free ends of the heddle rod.

Abstract: A dual-face composite frame slat for a heddle frame of a loom includes a long-wall face (30) and a parallel short-wall face (32). Faces (30) and (32) are spaced from one another and define a core space (45) and upper and lower frame slat edges (36) and (38). Integral channel stiffeners (40) and (42) are interposed in the frame slat edges to provide integral beam structure. Faces (30) and (32) are constructed as a ten ply graphite reinforced plastic layup. Channel strips (40) and (42) have a four ply construction. A plastic heddle rod (22) is carried by a free flange portion (34) of the long-wall face and includes metal wear resistant caps (50).

Abstract: An encapsulated shuttle grip (B) is disclosed as including a molded housing (28) which co-operates with a shelf cut (C, C') in shuttle block (A) to interlock the shuttle grip positively and firmly in place. Compressible protrusions (58) carried on molded side wall ribs (54, 56) are compressed in lateral side cut grooves (66, 68) to resist rotation of gripping jaws (14, 16) about the axis of attachment bolt 38 during weaving and bobbin transfer along with other molded structural features of the molded housing 28.

Abstract: An assembly and method for a heddle frame A for a weaving loom is disclosed wherein the heddle rod 20 upon which the end eyes of the heddles H are hooked and travel is more securely and reliably attached to the slat 12 of the heddle frame. The assembly and method includes a plurality of studs 24 having a uniform effective rivet length welded at spaced intervals to the rod 20 which are then inserted into countersink openings 28 in the ledge 18 of the slat 12 and headed therein for a more accurate and reliable rivet connection. The face 20a of the heddle is smooth and completely unbroken to reduce wear between the heddles and rod.

Abstract: A rod hook device C, D is illustrated for holding and supporting a heddle rod 18 on a heddle frame 10 which includes a resilient slot B in which the rod is squeezed and held. Slot portion B is carried by a resilient neck A which flexes laterally to align a diagonal opening 40 of slot B in alignment for receiving the heddle rod. Return of neck A to an upright position squeezes rod 18 behind slanted protuberances 42 and 44 which define opening 40.

Abstract: A guide device A is disclosed for attachment to a heddle frame to space and align adjacent heddle frames on a weaving loom during shedding which includes a pair of guide legs 26 and 28 which pivot from a guide position to a folded position for accommodating placement of the heddle frame on an automatic warp threading machine.

Abstract: An encapsulated shuttle grip for use in shuttles for holding bobbins in a properly aligned position during weaving. The grip includes a pair of opposed leaves which have opposed gripping jaws for receiving a butt end of a bobbin. Inner shank portions of the leaves are imbedded in a molded housing with the gripping jaws extending outwardly from the housing. The molded housing extends around the remote sides of the inner shank portions and in the space provided between the shank portions positively positioning the gripping jaws for receiving the butt end of the bobbin.