Title of Invention	DEVICE FOR THE SELECTIVE CONTROL OF AN OSCILLATING TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF A YARN, ESPECIALLY OF A WARP YARN OF A WEAVING MACHINE
Abstract	The device for the selective control of the oscillating transverse movement of a yam (4) contains lifters (6) which are capable of being driven in oscillation and which are equipped with drivers (22a, 2 2b) . For the individual control of a yarn {4} to be moved transversely, the drivers are each provided with an actuator {60) which can move the driver out of the basic position, in which there is no yarn take-up, into a take-up position. A simple take-up and control of the trans¬verse movement of the yarn is thereby possible.

Title of Invention

DEVICE FOR THE SELECTIVE CONTROL OF AN OSCILLATING TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF A YARN, ESPECIALLY OF A WARP YARN OF A WEAVING MACHINE

Abstract

The device for the selective control of the oscillating transverse movement of a yam (4) contains lifters (6) which are capable of being driven in oscillation and which are equipped with drivers (22a, 2 2b) . For the individual control of a yarn {4} to be moved transversely, the drivers are each provided with an actuator {60) which can move the driver out of the basic position, in which there is no yarn take-up, into a take-up position. A simple take-up and control of the trans¬verse movement of the yarn is thereby possible.

Full Text	Technical field The invention relates to a device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movesment of a yam, especially of a warp yarn of a weaving machine, according to the pre-characterizing clause of Claim 1. Prior art Many devices of the type mentioned in the introduction are known. Thus, for example in the production of patterned fabrics, dobbies or Jaccpiard machines are used for the selective control of the warp yarns. In this case, each warp yam is guided through the closed eye of a heald and is raised or lowered indirectly via the heald frames of a dobby or the harness chord of a Jacquard siachlne. Such devices are known, inter alia, from US-A-4 936 352, EP-B-0 421 370, EP-A-0 302 798, EP-A-0 534 523 and DE-C-40 23 512. A disadvantage of this type of selection and movement of the individual warp yarns is the considerable electronic and mechauiical outlay which is zaanifest in a large space requirement of the dobby or Jackguard machine next to or above the weaving machine and in high costs. The more individual yams are controlled, the more expensive the solution becomes. Another serious disadvantage of existing shedding devices, irrespective of whether they use the Jacquard or heald-frsune technique, is that all the warp yarns are guided individually through the closed eyes of healds. Considere±>le manual exertion or mechanical outlay is necessary for drawing In the waxp yams. Guidance in the closed eye of a heald restricts the degree of freedom of P-484600 DSC Direct End Control 15 September 1995/lh the warp yam, so that it is freely movable only in the warp direction, and this has to be compensated by a complicated control and actuation of direct elements, such as healds, and of indirect elements, such as heald frames, harness, Jacguard lifters, xoagnets, etc., the elements for the warp yarns executing, individually in Jacquard machines or in groups in dobbies, movements which occur at different times. US-A-5 261 464 describes a device which has open heald eyes in a lifter moving up and down. However, this device has several disadvantages. The design of the orifice does not allow a yam to be coupled and uncoupled during weaving, but serves merely for drawing in the warp yarn while the weaving machine is at a standstill. Furthermore, due to the design of the guide elements, only low yarn densities are possible. The actuation of the healds entails a high mechanical outlay. Presentation of the invention The object of the invention is to design a device of the type mentioned in the introduction, in such a way that direct control of a yarn is possible, the previous closed yam orifices in healds are replaced, direct elements, such as a dobby or Jacguard machine, are dispensed with, and the selection of an individual yarn, especially a warp yam, is possible, at the same time with a substantially smaller space requirement. This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of the characterizing features of Claim 1. Since the driver drives the yam only when the actuator actuates the control meams in such a way that the yam comes into engagement with the corresponding driver and the yam is otherwise exposed, on the one hand the insertion of the yam into the device becomes substantially easier auad, on the other hand, the yarn can be controlled and driven individually in the simplest possible way, thereby appreciably iioproving the control of the yarn and consequently, in the case of a weaving machine, the possibilities for patterning a fabric to be produced. The device is suitable for the most diverse uses, thus, for example, in order selectively to present weft yarns of different colours and qualities to a weft insertion member so as to be gripped by the latter. The device has further appreciable advantages, especially in connection with a weaving machine. The integration of a selection mechanism into the lifter dispenses with numerous complicated mechanical elements for the control and deflection of warp yarns, such as a dobby, Jacquard machine and harness. If the lifters are arranged, for example, on heald frames of a weaving machine, these no longer have to be driven irregularly in confonnity with the fabric pattern, but uniformly, for example with a sinusoidal movement, and can thereby be made sxibstantially simpler and more robust, thus reducing the costs and increasing operating reliability. Since indirect control and actuating elements between the selection member and controlled yarn are dispensed with, the necessary forces are diminished, thus considerably reducing the space requirement and energy demand. The warp yarns are no longer drawn in fixedly in healds, but are freely movable in the vmcoupled state along the lifter. They can be coupled and uncoupled both while the weaving machine is in operation and during standstill, thereby affording advantages in terms of the weave and during the drawing-in of the yarns. Advantageous embodiments of the device are described in Claims 2 to 16. The device can be implemented in various ways. Thus, the driver can be connected fixedly to the lifter, the control means actuated by the actuator serving, when required, for feeding the yarn to the driver for take-up by the lifter. A preferred embodiment of the said type is described in Claim 2. In a fundamentally different embodiment of the invention, the driver itself is moved by means of the actuator out of the basic position, in which there is no yarn take-up, into a take-up position, in which a yarn is deflected by means of the lifter. Advantageous alternative versions of the second tyi:)e of control are described in Claims 3 and 4. The driver of a lifter can, if appropriate, take effect in both directions of movement of the lifter,. For this purpose, the driver can be of fork-shaped design, the fork aperture lying transversely to the direction of movement of the lifter. A design according to Claim 5 is more advantageous, however, and in this case the lifter itself can also have a second driver effective in the other direction of movement or the driver necessary for the other direction of movement is arranged on a further lifter. There are various alternatives for the design and arrangement of the driver. Thus, the driver can be hook-shaped or have at least one notch for the reliable gripping of the yarn. The arrangement of the driver at the end of an outwardly bendable control tongrue is also particularly advantageous. The driver can be formed, for example, either by a shaping of the control tongue or by mounting an individual part on the control tongue. The function of the control tongue can also be performtid by a special shaped-out portion of the lifter, the said shaped-out portion already having been mentioned above. A development of the control element accoi-ding to Claim 6 is expedient. The reliability of the gripping of the yarn can be improved by means of an embodiment according to Claim 7, a development according to Claim 8 being preferred. An embodiment according to Claim 9 is particularly advantageous, as a result of which the yarns selected by the lifter are separated from other yarns by means of a separating lifter. The latter can also limit the deflection of the control tongue or of another movable control means. A particularly advantageous arrangement and design of the lifter and of the separating lifter is described in Claim 10. The actuator can advantageously be activated electrically according to Claim 11. The actuator can consist of various components, for example a piezoelectric element, a magnetizable coil, a permanent magnet, a memory alloy, a bimetal and the like. The electrical activatability of the actuator is essential. Actuators with low energy consumption, such as, for example, piezoelectric elements, are particularly advan¬tageous. The embodiment according to at least one of Claims 12 to 15 is advantageous, according to which the elements for controlling, regulating and monitoring the lifter and for activating the actuator are integrated in the lifter itself. Via contacts or wireless, for excimple optical connections in the foot region of the lifter and via conductive layers which are integrated onto or into the lifter, the actuators can be controlled or regulated electrically and the state of deflection and consequently operability can be monitored. The lifter can be drawn off from the carrier and slipped on again individually, for example for repair purposes. The bundling of a plurality of lifters into groups is advantageous both for activation and for assembly, for example for exchanging the lifters. The lifters and separating lifters are connected to one another in the foot region by means of spacer pieces, which can have different thicknesses, in such a way that the spacing of the said lifters corresponds to the desired yarn density. The elements necessary for controlling the group can be accommodated either on at least one of the lifters themselves or in the foot region of the group or externally, that is to say outside the lifter and foot region. The embodiment according to Claim 16 is advantageous, according to which the upper ends of the lifters are shaped or characterized in such a way that, on the one hand, they are supported relative to one another at the correct distance, that is to say at that distance which corresponds to the spacing in the foot region, and, on the other hand, they simultaneously differ from one another, so that they can be recognized and selected manually and/or by an automatic yarn read-in device. The lifters are expediently connected to a known control unit which controls a multiplicity of lifters, so that a specific weaving pattern can be woven. Such a control unit contains a computer or can be connected to such and makes it possible to input an original (for example, an image), for example by means of a scanner or CAD program, and to convert it according to the boundary conditions of the weaving machine (thread density in warp and weft). At the same time, the high points and low points of the fabric weave are converted into corresponding control signals for the drivers located in the lifters, so that the desired weaving pattern is obtained. Accordingly the present invention provides device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movement of a yam, especially of a warp yam of a weaving machine, with at least one lifter capable of being driven in oscillation and having at least one Aiver for the yam, characterized in that it has a control means actuable by means of an actutor, in order to bring the yam into engagement with the driver. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below \|l^ with reference to diagrammatic drawings in which: ^ Figure 1 showsaside view of the weaving region of a weaving machine in ;f t a diagrammatic representation; Figure 2 shows a detail of a device for controlling the warp yams m a view transverse relative to the yam running direction. Figure 3 shows an end piece of the device according to Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a first lijfter for the control of yams in a view towards the drivers; Figure 5 shows the lifter of Figure 4 in the section V-V of Figure 4 on a larger scale; Figure 6 shows a detail of the lifter of Figure 4 in vertical section and on a larger scale; Figure 7 shows a plurality of lifters and separating lifters combined into a group and arranged on a base in detail and in a view transverse relative to the yam mnning direction; Figure 8 shows a further lifter in a view towards the drivers; Figure 9 showslhelifter of Figure 8 in the section IX-IX of Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a further lifter in a view towards the drivers; and Figure 11 shows the lifter of Figure 10 in the section XI-XI of Figure 10. Ways of implementing the invention Figure 1 describes a device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movement of a yarn by the example of the control of warp yarns of a weaving machine. In this case, the weaving region of such a weaving machine is represented diagrammatically in Fiigure 1. Figure 1 shows a warp beam 2 which supplies warp yarns 4 which, by means of lifters 6, 6a, 6b arranged on carriers 8, 8a, 8b, are moved up and down in oscillation transversely to the direction of movement out of the position of rest, that is to say the middle shed position 10, in order to form a shed 12. A weaving reed 14 serves for beating up a weft thread 15, inserted into the shed 12, onto a cloth edge 16. The fabric 18 produced is discharged via a cloth beam 20. The individual lifters 6, 6a, 6b contain drivers 22 which can each be extended by means of an actuator and a control means out of a basic position, in which there is no yarn take-up, into a take-up position, in which yarn take-up occurs. A control unit 24, which is connected to each individual lifter 6 via lines 26, serves for actuating the actuator described in more detail below. Each lifter contains two drivers 22a, 22b which each take effect in only one direction of movement of the lifter 6 and which deflect the warp yarn 4 out of the middle shed position 10 into the upper shed 2 8 or the lower shed 30, in order to form the shed 12. However, it is also possible that two lifters 6a, 6b, which are arranged on two carriers 8a, 8b, serve in each case for deflecting a warp yarn 4 out of the middle shed position 10. Thus, the lifter 6a can deflect a warp yarn 4 only into the upper shed 28, whilst the second lifter 6b moves the warp yarn into the lower shed 3 0 for an imminent weaving cycle. It is thereby possible to operate the lifter at doiible its normal rate with the frequency of the drivers which is half the weaving frequency. Both the construction of weaving machines and the drive of the carriers designed as heald frames are sufficiently known, and, in this respect, reference is made, for example, to the publications mentioned in the introduction, in particular EP-A-0 534 523. Details of the design and arrangement of the lifters are described in Figures 2 to 6. Figure 2 shows how a plurality of lifters 6 are lined up in a row with specific spacing on a carrier 8, each lifter 6 being assigned on both sides a separating lifter 32, the distances between which are determined by spacers, such as spacer pieces 34, which are lined up in a row on the carrier 8 between the lifters. Arranged and fastened at each of the two ends of the carrier is an end piece 3 6 which fixes the lifters 6, 32 and spacer pieces 34 in their position on the carrier 8 and which, furthermore, can serve in a way not shown in any more detail for the supply of energy and/or for data exchange. At the end region facing away from the carrier 8, the lifters 6^ and separating lifters 32 are px-ovided with further spacers 3 8 which are formed, for excunple, by bulges of the lifter housing. These spacers limit the distance between the lifters and, moreover, have guide faces 39 for the passage of a yarn. The separating lifters 32 serve, on the one hand, as a stop for extended drivers 22a, 22b and, on the other hand, for the separating of warp yarns 4a which are not to be processed on the respective lifter 6. The processing of a multiplicity of yarns can also be distributed to various lifter sets, as indicated by the lifter sets I and II in Figure 1. The warp yarn density can be increased by such a staggering of the lifters at successive carrier levels. Figures 4 to 6 show details of the design of a lifter which is used in Figures 1 to 3. The lifter has a housing 42 formed from two shells 42a, 42b, the shells 42a, 42b being, for example, welded to one another at the edges 44. The housing possesses a foot part 46 with two legs 48 which embrace the carrier 8, so that the lifter is arranged so as to be capable of being slipped and/or pushed on the carrier. However, the lifter can also be connected to the carrier in any other way, such as, for example, by screwing, adhesive bonding and the like. Furthermore, the lifter contains a head part 50, via which the individual yarns are fed. Arranged on each side between the foot part 46 and the head part 50 is a pair of drivers 22a, 22b which take effect in each case in the two directions of movement of the lifter. The drivers are fastened to the end of a control means designed as a control element in the form of a control tongue 52 which is fastened at its other end facing the fastening part 54 to a reinforcing layer 56 in the housing 42 by adhesive bonding and/or by means of studs 58. An actuator 60 which is designed, for example, as a piezoelectric element is fastened to the control tongue which can be produced from the most diverse materials, but preferably consists of spring steel. This actuator 60 is activated by means of conductor tracks 64 which are arranged on an intermediate layer 62. As soon as current is applied to the actuator 60 via the conductor track 64, an outward bending of the control tongue 52 takes place, with the result that the hook-shaped driver 22b, which, in the basic position, is located within the housing 42 of the lifter, is moved outwards through the orifice 66 in the housing 42 into the take-up position, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, and, in this position, takes up a warp yarn 4 during the up or down movement of the lifter. The actuators 60 of the drivers 22a, 22b on both sides of the lifter are connected via the conductor tracks 64 to a circuit 6 8 which is, for example, an integrated circuit, called an IC, and which is likewise arranged within the housing of the lifter. The circuit serves, for example, for activating and monitoring the actuators 60. The circuit is connected to contact 72 in the foot part 46 via a plurality of conductors 7 0 which serve, for example, for the supply of energy and/or for data exchange. The contacts 72 are connected to further contacts 74 in the carrier 8 which are themselves connected via lines 26 to the external control unit 24 which controls the lifter or the drivers 22a, 22b of the lifter according to the particular pattern, so that the warp yarns 4 are taken up by the lifters in accordance with the fabric pattern to be produced. In contrast to the individual arrangement of the lifters 6 and separating lifters 32 on the carrier 8 according to Figure 2, Figure 7 shows how a plurality of such lifters 6c and separating lifters 32a are combined into a group and cast or otherwise fastened, such as, for example, adhesively bonded, into a common base 76. The base 76 can then itself be fastened to the carrier 8 in the way already described above. In this example, the lifters 6c are connected via lines 64a to a circuit 68a coimnon to all the lifters of the group. The lines 7 0a for the supply of energy and/or for data exchange for the circuit 68a are parallel to the carrier 8 here. The conductors serving for data exchange can be designed as channels 70b for the transmission of optical signals, the said channels being connected in a way not shown in any more detail to the conductors of an adjacent base. The conductors 70a and/or channels 70b are directly or indirectly connected to a transmission unit 77, arranged at the end of the carrier, for energy and/or data exchange for the control of the lifters. Instead of energy being supplied from outside via a line, a battery for energy supply can be arranged in the base. Figures 8 and 9 show a detail of a further lifter 6d, in which the control means are designed, for exaimple, as a diaphragm 7 8 which can be part of the housing 82. The diaphragms 78 carry actuators 60a. The diaphragms 78 are moved, as required, by means of the actuators 60a out of a basic position inside the housing 82 into and out of a take-up position, in which they project from the housing. Figures 10 and 11 show a detail of a further version of a lifter 6e, the control means being designed as deflecting means and having deflecting tongues 84 which are arranged in pairs on each side of the housing 86 and which are provided with actuators 60b. The deflecting tongues, in their foot region, cover drivers 22d which are arranged fixedly in the housing 86 of the lifter 6e. In the take-up position, the free end 88a of a deflecting tongue 84a projects outwards into the path of displacement of the yarn 4, and the free end 88b of the other associated deflecting tongue 84b tJoints inwards and forms a slideway for guiding the yarn 4 towards the dr-iver 22d. In the basic position, both deflecting tongues 84a and 84b point inwards and thus prevent the yarn 4 from being taken up. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 2 Warp beam 4 Warp yarn 6 Lifter 6a Lifter 6b Lifter 6c Lifter 6d Lifter 6e Lifter 8 Carrier 8a Carrier 8b Carrier 10 Middle shed position 12 Shed 14 Weaving reed 15 Weft yarn 16 Cloth edge 18 Fabric 20 Cloth beam 22 Driver 22a Driver 22b Driver 22c Driver 22d Driver 24 Control unit 26 Line 2 8 Upper shed 3 0 Lower shed 32 Separating lifter 32a Separating lifter 34 Spacer piece 3 6 End piece 3 8 Spacer 39 Guide face 42 Housing 42a Shell 42b Shell 44 Edge 46 Foot part 48 Leg 50 Head part 52 Control tongue (control means) 52a Control tongue (control means) 52b Control tongue (control means) 54 Fastening part 58 Studs 6 0 Actuator 60a Actuator 60b Actuator 62 Intermediate layer 64 Conductor track 66 Orifice 68 Circuit 68a Circuit 7 0 Conductor 7 0a Conductor 7 0b Channel 72 Contact 72a Contact 74 Contact 76 Base 77 Transmitting unit 78 Diaphragm 82 Housing 84a Deflecting tongue (control means) 84b Deflecting tongue (control means 86 Housing WE CLAIM: 1. A device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movement of a yam (4,4a), especially of a warp yam of a weaving machine, with at least one lifter (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) capable of being driven in oscillation and having at least one driver (22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) for the yam (4, 4a), characterized in that it has a control means (52, 52a, 52b, 78, 84a, 84b) actuable by means of an actuator (60, 60a, 60b), in order to bring the yam into engagement with the driver. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is designed as a deflecting means, preferably a deflecting tongue (84a, 84b), which can be moved in oscillation by means of the actuator (60b) between a basic position, in which there is no take-up of the yam (4), and a take-up position, in which yam deflection towards a driver (22d) connected to the lifter(6e) takes place (Figures 10 and 11). 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means is designed as a control element, preferably a control tongue (52, 52a, 52b), which carries the driver (22a, 22b) and which can be moved by means of the actuator (60) between a basic position, in which there is no yam take-up, and a take-up position for yam take-up (Figures 2, 4 and 6). 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the control element is designed as a diaphragm (78) which can be part of the housing (82) and which carries the driver (22c) (Figures 8 and 9). 5. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the driver (22,22a, 22c, 22d) is effective in only one direction of movement of the lifter (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e), and in that the lifter has a futher driver (22b) effective in the other direction of movement. 6. The device according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the control element has regions of differing rigidity, for example a first region assigned to a foot of the control element being preferably more flexible than a second region facing the driver. 7. The device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lifter (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) is assigned, on the side of the driver (22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d), a separating lifter (32,32a), against which the control means (52, 52a, 52b, 78, 84a, 84b) bears in the take-up position. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein spacers (34, 38) are arranged between the lifters (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) and the separating lifter (32, 32a) preferably an upper spacer (38) having guide faces (39) allowing the passage of the yam (4). 9. The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein it has, for controlling one or more yams (4, 4a), a plurality of lifters (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) arranged in a manner distributed to one carrier (8, 8a, 8b) or to a plurality of carriers, whilst separating lifters (32, 32a) can be arranged between adjacent lifters. 10.The device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lifters (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) and the separating lifters (32, 32a) are exchangeably arranged on the carrier (8) individually or in a manner combined into groups via a base (76). 11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the actuator (60, 60a, 60b) is designed so as to be activatable electrically and can preferably be connected to a separate control unit (24). 12. Tlie device according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the lifter (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) has at least one at least partially conductive layer (62) for activating the actuator (60, 60a, 60b) and or for monitoring the state of the lifter. 13. The device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein it contains, for an individual lifter (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) or for a group of lifters, a circuit (68, 68a) for control and/or regulation and or monitoring. 14. Tlie device according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the lifter (6, 6c) has a foot part (46) or base (76) which has a contact part (72, 72a) for connection to a control line (26). 15. The device according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the lifter (6, 6c) and/or a base (76) connected to the latter and/or the carrier (8) for the lifter (6) or for the base (76) has or have an electrooptical device (70, 70a, 72, 72a, 77) for data transmission. 16. The device according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherien the upper ends of the lifters (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) comprise characterizing elements which are different from adjacent lifters. 17. A device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movement of a yam substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Full Text

Technical field
The invention relates to a device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movesment of a yam, especially of a warp yarn of a weaving machine, according to the pre-characterizing clause of Claim 1.
Prior art
Many devices of the type mentioned in the introduction are known. Thus, for example in the production of patterned fabrics, dobbies or Jaccpiard machines are used for the selective control of the warp yarns. In this case, each warp yam is guided through the closed eye of a heald and is raised or lowered indirectly via the heald frames of a dobby or the harness chord of a Jacquard siachlne. Such devices are known, inter alia, from US-A-4 936 352, EP-B-0 421 370, EP-A-0 302 798, EP-A-0 534 523 and DE-C-40 23 512.
A disadvantage of this type of selection and movement of the individual warp yarns is the considerable electronic and mechauiical outlay which is zaanifest in a large space requirement of the dobby or Jackguard machine next to or above the weaving machine and in high costs. The more individual yams are controlled, the more expensive the solution becomes. Another serious disadvantage of existing shedding devices, irrespective of whether they use the Jacquard or heald-frsune technique, is that all the warp yarns are guided individually through the closed eyes of healds. Considere±>le manual exertion or mechanical outlay is necessary for drawing In the waxp yams. Guidance in the closed eye of a heald restricts the degree of freedom of
P-484600
DSC Direct End Control
15 September 1995/lh

the warp yam, so that it is freely movable only in the warp direction, and this has to be compensated by a complicated control and actuation of direct elements, such as healds, and of indirect elements, such as heald frames, harness, Jacguard lifters, xoagnets, etc., the elements for the warp yarns executing, individually in Jacquard machines or in groups in dobbies, movements which occur at different times.
US-A-5 261 464 describes a device which has open heald eyes in a lifter moving up and down. However, this device has several disadvantages. The design of the orifice does not allow a yam to be coupled and uncoupled during weaving, but serves merely for drawing in the warp yarn while the weaving machine is at a standstill. Furthermore, due to the design of the guide elements, only low yarn densities are possible. The actuation of the healds entails a high mechanical outlay.
Presentation of the invention
The object of the invention is to design a device of the type mentioned in the introduction, in such a way that direct control of a yarn is possible, the previous closed yam orifices in healds are replaced, direct elements, such as a dobby or Jacguard machine, are dispensed with, and the selection of an individual yarn, especially a warp yam, is possible, at the same time with a substantially smaller space requirement.
This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of the characterizing features of Claim 1. Since the driver drives the yam only when the actuator actuates the control meams in such a way that the yam comes into engagement with the corresponding driver and the yam is otherwise exposed, on the one hand the insertion of the yam into the device becomes substantially easier auad, on the other hand, the yarn can be controlled and driven individually in the simplest possible way, thereby appreciably iioproving the control of the yarn and consequently, in the case of a weaving machine, the possibilities for patterning a fabric to be

produced.
The device is suitable for the most diverse uses, thus, for example, in order selectively to present weft yarns of different colours and qualities to a weft insertion member so as to be gripped by the latter.
The device has further appreciable advantages, especially in connection with a weaving machine. The integration of a selection mechanism into the lifter dispenses with numerous complicated mechanical elements for the control and deflection of warp yarns, such as a dobby, Jacquard machine and harness. If the lifters are arranged, for example, on heald frames of a weaving machine, these no longer have to be driven irregularly in confonnity with the fabric pattern, but uniformly, for example with a sinusoidal movement, and can thereby be made sxibstantially simpler and more robust, thus reducing the costs and increasing operating reliability. Since indirect control and actuating elements between the selection member and controlled yarn are dispensed with, the necessary forces are diminished, thus considerably reducing the space requirement and energy demand. The warp yarns are no longer drawn in fixedly in healds, but are freely movable in the vmcoupled state along the lifter. They can be coupled and uncoupled both while the weaving machine is in operation and during standstill, thereby affording advantages in terms of the weave and during the drawing-in of the yarns.
Advantageous embodiments of the device are described in Claims 2 to 16.
The device can be implemented in various ways. Thus, the driver can be connected fixedly to the lifter, the control means actuated by the actuator serving, when required, for feeding the yarn to the driver for take-up by the lifter. A preferred embodiment of the said type is described in Claim 2. In a fundamentally different embodiment of the invention, the driver itself is moved by means of the actuator out of the basic position, in which there is no yarn take-up, into a take-up position, in which a yarn is deflected by means of the lifter.

Advantageous alternative versions of the second tyi:)e of control are described in Claims 3 and 4.
The driver of a lifter can, if appropriate, take effect in both directions of movement of the lifter,. For this purpose, the driver can be of fork-shaped design, the fork aperture lying transversely to the direction of movement of the lifter. A design according to Claim 5 is more advantageous, however, and in this case the lifter itself can also have a second driver effective in the other direction of movement or the driver necessary for the other direction of movement is arranged on a further lifter. There are various alternatives for the design and arrangement of the driver. Thus, the driver can be hook-shaped or have at least one notch for the reliable gripping of the yarn. The arrangement of the driver at the end of an outwardly bendable control tongrue is also particularly advantageous. The driver can be formed, for example, either by a shaping of the control tongue or by mounting an individual part on the control tongue. The function of the control tongue can also be performtid by a special shaped-out portion of the lifter, the said shaped-out portion already having been mentioned above. A development of the control element accoi-ding to Claim 6 is expedient. The reliability of the gripping of the yarn can be improved by means of an embodiment according to Claim 7, a development according to Claim 8 being preferred.
An embodiment according to Claim 9 is particularly advantageous, as a result of which the yarns selected by the lifter are separated from other yarns by means of a separating lifter. The latter can also limit the deflection of the control tongue or of another movable control means. A particularly advantageous arrangement and design of the lifter and of the separating lifter is described in Claim 10.
The actuator can advantageously be activated electrically according to Claim 11. The actuator can consist of various components, for example a piezoelectric element, a magnetizable coil, a permanent

magnet, a memory alloy, a bimetal and the like. The electrical activatability of the actuator is essential. Actuators with low energy consumption, such as, for example, piezoelectric elements, are particularly advan¬tageous. The embodiment according to at least one of Claims 12 to 15 is advantageous, according to which the elements for controlling, regulating and monitoring the lifter and for activating the actuator are integrated in the lifter itself. Via contacts or wireless, for excimple optical connections in the foot region of the lifter and via conductive layers which are integrated onto or into the lifter, the actuators can be controlled or regulated electrically and the state of deflection and consequently operability can be monitored.
The lifter can be drawn off from the carrier and slipped on again individually, for example for repair purposes. The bundling of a plurality of lifters into groups is advantageous both for activation and for assembly, for example for exchanging the lifters. The lifters and separating lifters are connected to one another in the foot region by means of spacer pieces, which can have different thicknesses, in such a way that the spacing of the said lifters corresponds to the desired yarn density. The elements necessary for controlling the group can be accommodated either on at least one of the lifters themselves or in the foot region of the group or externally, that is to say outside the lifter and foot region.
The embodiment according to Claim 16 is advantageous, according to which the upper ends of the lifters are shaped or characterized in such a way that, on the one hand, they are supported relative to one another at the correct distance, that is to say at that distance which corresponds to the spacing in the foot region, and, on the other hand, they simultaneously differ from one another, so that they can be recognized and selected manually and/or by an automatic yarn read-in device.
The lifters are expediently connected to a known

control unit which controls a multiplicity of lifters, so that a specific weaving pattern can be woven. Such a control unit contains a computer or can be connected to such and makes it possible to input an original (for example, an image), for example by means of a scanner or CAD program, and to convert it according to the boundary conditions of the weaving machine (thread density in warp and weft). At the same time, the high points and low points of the fabric weave are converted into corresponding control signals for the drivers located in the lifters, so that the desired weaving pattern is obtained.
Accordingly the present invention provides device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movement of a yam, especially of a warp yam of a weaving machine, with at least one lifter capable of being driven in oscillation and having at least one Aiver for the yam, characterized in that it has a control means actuable by means of an actutor, in order to bring the yam into engagement with the driver.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below
|l^ with reference to diagrammatic drawings in which:
^ Figure 1 showsaside view of the weaving region of a weaving machine in
;f t a diagrammatic representation;
Figure 2 shows a detail of a device for controlling the warp yams m a view
transverse relative to the yam running direction.
Figure 3 shows an end piece of the device according to Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a first lijfter for the control of yams in a view towards the drivers;
Figure 5 shows the lifter of Figure 4 in the section V-V of Figure 4 on a larger scale;
Figure 6 shows a detail of the lifter of Figure 4 in vertical section and on a larger scale;
Figure 7 shows a plurality of lifters and separating lifters combined into a group and arranged on a base in detail and in a view transverse relative to the yam mnning direction;
Figure 8 shows a further lifter in a view towards the drivers;
Figure 9 showslhelifter of Figure 8 in the section IX-IX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 shows a further lifter in a view towards the
drivers; and Figure 11 shows the lifter of Figure 10 in the section
XI-XI of Figure 10.
Ways of implementing the invention
Figure 1 describes a device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movement of a yarn by the example of the control of warp yarns of a weaving machine. In this case, the weaving region of such a weaving machine is represented diagrammatically in Fiigure 1.
Figure 1 shows a warp beam 2 which supplies warp yarns 4 which, by means of lifters 6, 6a, 6b arranged on carriers 8, 8a, 8b, are moved up and down in oscillation transversely to the direction of movement out of the position of rest, that is to say the middle shed position 10, in order to form a shed 12. A weaving reed 14 serves for beating up a weft thread 15, inserted into the shed 12, onto a cloth edge 16. The fabric 18 produced is discharged via a cloth beam 20. The individual lifters 6, 6a, 6b contain drivers 22 which can each be extended by means of an actuator and a control means out of a basic position, in which there is no yarn take-up, into a take-up position, in which yarn take-up occurs. A control unit 24, which is connected to each individual lifter 6 via lines 26, serves for actuating the actuator described in more detail below.
Each lifter contains two drivers 22a, 22b which each take effect in only one direction of movement of the lifter 6 and which deflect the warp yarn 4 out of the middle shed position 10 into the upper shed 2 8 or the lower shed 30, in order to form the shed 12. However, it is also possible that two lifters 6a, 6b, which are arranged on two carriers 8a, 8b, serve in each case for deflecting a warp yarn 4 out of the middle shed position 10. Thus, the lifter 6a can deflect a warp yarn 4 only into the upper shed 28, whilst the second lifter 6b moves the warp yarn into the lower shed 3 0 for an imminent

weaving cycle. It is thereby possible to operate the lifter at doiible its normal rate with the frequency of the drivers which is half the weaving frequency.
Both the construction of weaving machines and the drive of the carriers designed as heald frames are sufficiently known, and, in this respect, reference is made, for example, to the publications mentioned in the introduction, in particular EP-A-0 534 523.
Details of the design and arrangement of the lifters are described in Figures 2 to 6. Figure 2 shows how a plurality of lifters 6 are lined up in a row with specific spacing on a carrier 8, each lifter 6 being assigned on both sides a separating lifter 32, the distances between which are determined by spacers, such as spacer pieces 34, which are lined up in a row on the carrier 8 between the lifters. Arranged and fastened at each of the two ends of the carrier is an end piece 3 6 which fixes the lifters 6, 32 and spacer pieces 34 in their position on the carrier 8 and which, furthermore, can serve in a way not shown in any more detail for the supply of energy and/or for data exchange. At the end region facing away from the carrier 8, the lifters 6^ and separating lifters 32 are px-ovided with further spacers 3 8 which are formed, for excunple, by bulges of the lifter housing. These spacers limit the distance between the lifters and, moreover, have guide faces 39 for the passage of a yarn. The separating lifters 32 serve, on the one hand, as a stop for extended drivers 22a, 22b and, on the other hand, for the separating of warp yarns 4a which are not to be processed on the respective lifter 6. The processing of a multiplicity of yarns can also be distributed to various lifter sets, as indicated by the lifter sets I and II in Figure 1. The warp yarn density can be increased by such a staggering of the lifters at successive carrier levels.
Figures 4 to 6 show details of the design of a lifter which is used in Figures 1 to 3. The lifter has a housing 42 formed from two shells 42a, 42b, the shells 42a, 42b being, for example, welded to one another at the

edges 44. The housing possesses a foot part 46 with two legs 48 which embrace the carrier 8, so that the lifter is arranged so as to be capable of being slipped and/or pushed on the carrier. However, the lifter can also be connected to the carrier in any other way, such as, for example, by screwing, adhesive bonding and the like. Furthermore, the lifter contains a head part 50, via which the individual yarns are fed. Arranged on each side between the foot part 46 and the head part 50 is a pair of drivers 22a, 22b which take effect in each case in the two directions of movement of the lifter. The drivers are fastened to the end of a control means designed as a control element in the form of a control tongue 52 which is fastened at its other end facing the fastening part 54 to a reinforcing layer 56 in the housing 42 by adhesive bonding and/or by means of studs 58. An actuator 60 which is designed, for example, as a piezoelectric element is fastened to the control tongue which can be produced from the most diverse materials, but preferably consists of spring steel. This actuator 60 is activated by means of conductor tracks 64 which are arranged on an intermediate layer 62. As soon as current is applied to the actuator 60 via the conductor track 64, an outward bending of the control tongue 52 takes place, with the result that the hook-shaped driver 22b, which, in the basic position, is located within the housing 42 of the lifter, is moved outwards through the orifice 66 in the housing 42 into the take-up position, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, and, in this position, takes up a warp yarn 4 during the up or down movement of the lifter.
The actuators 60 of the drivers 22a, 22b on both sides of the lifter are connected via the conductor tracks 64 to a circuit 6 8 which is, for example, an integrated circuit, called an IC, and which is likewise arranged within the housing of the lifter. The circuit serves, for example, for activating and monitoring the actuators 60. The circuit is connected to contact 72 in the foot part 46 via a plurality of conductors 7 0 which serve, for example, for the supply of energy and/or for

data exchange. The contacts 72 are connected to further contacts 74 in the carrier 8 which are themselves connected via lines 26 to the external control unit 24 which controls the lifter or the drivers 22a, 22b of the lifter according to the particular pattern, so that the warp yarns 4 are taken up by the lifters in accordance with the fabric pattern to be produced.
In contrast to the individual arrangement of the lifters 6 and separating lifters 32 on the carrier 8 according to Figure 2, Figure 7 shows how a plurality of such lifters 6c and separating lifters 32a are combined into a group and cast or otherwise fastened, such as, for example, adhesively bonded, into a common base 76. The base 76 can then itself be fastened to the carrier 8 in the way already described above. In this example, the lifters 6c are connected via lines 64a to a circuit 68a coimnon to all the lifters of the group. The lines 7 0a for the supply of energy and/or for data exchange for the circuit 68a are parallel to the carrier 8 here. The conductors serving for data exchange can be designed as channels 70b for the transmission of optical signals, the said channels being connected in a way not shown in any more detail to the conductors of an adjacent base. The conductors 70a and/or channels 70b are directly or indirectly connected to a transmission unit 77, arranged at the end of the carrier, for energy and/or data exchange for the control of the lifters. Instead of energy being supplied from outside via a line, a battery for energy supply can be arranged in the base.
Figures 8 and 9 show a detail of a further lifter 6d, in which the control means are designed, for exaimple, as a diaphragm 7 8 which can be part of the housing 82. The diaphragms 78 carry actuators 60a. The diaphragms 78 are moved, as required, by means of the actuators 60a out of a basic position inside the housing 82 into and out of a take-up position, in which they project from the housing.
Figures 10 and 11 show a detail of a further version of a lifter 6e, the control means being designed

as deflecting means and having deflecting tongues 84 which are arranged in pairs on each side of the housing 86 and which are provided with actuators 60b. The deflecting tongues, in their foot region, cover drivers 22d which are arranged fixedly in the housing 86 of the lifter 6e. In the take-up position, the free end 88a of a deflecting tongue 84a projects outwards into the path of displacement of the yarn 4, and the free end 88b of the other associated deflecting tongue 84b tJoints inwards and forms a slideway for guiding the yarn 4 towards the dr-iver 22d. In the basic position, both deflecting tongues 84a and 84b point inwards and thus prevent the yarn 4 from being taken up.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
2 Warp beam
4 Warp yarn
6 Lifter
6a Lifter
6b Lifter
6c Lifter
6d Lifter
6e Lifter
8 Carrier
8a Carrier
8b Carrier
10 Middle shed position
12 Shed
14 Weaving reed
15 Weft yarn
16 Cloth edge
18 Fabric
20 Cloth beam
22 Driver
22a Driver
22b Driver
22c Driver
22d Driver
24 Control unit
26 Line
2 8 Upper shed
3 0 Lower shed
32 Separating lifter
32a Separating lifter
34 Spacer piece
3 6 End piece
3 8 Spacer
39 Guide face
42 Housing
42a Shell
42b Shell
44 Edge

46 Foot part
48 Leg
50 Head part
52 Control tongue (control means)
52a Control tongue (control means)
52b Control tongue (control means)
54 Fastening part
58 Studs
6 0 Actuator
60a Actuator
60b Actuator
62 Intermediate layer
64 Conductor track
66 Orifice
68 Circuit
68a Circuit
7 0 Conductor
7 0a Conductor
7 0b Channel
72 Contact
72a Contact
74 Contact
76 Base
77 Transmitting unit
78 Diaphragm
82 Housing
84a Deflecting tongue (control means)
84b Deflecting tongue (control means
86 Housing

WE CLAIM:
1. A device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movement of
a yam (4,4a), especially of a warp yam of a weaving machine, with at least
one lifter (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) capable of being driven in oscillation and
having at least one driver (22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) for the yam (4, 4a),
characterized in that it has a control means (52, 52a, 52b, 78, 84a, 84b)
actuable by means of an actuator (60, 60a, 60b), in order to bring the yam
into engagement with the driver.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is designed as
a deflecting means, preferably a deflecting tongue (84a, 84b), which can be
moved in oscillation by means of the actuator (60b) between a basic
position, in which there is no take-up of the yam (4), and a take-up position,
in which yam deflection towards a driver (22d) connected to the lifter(6e)
takes place (Figures 10 and 11).
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means is
designed as a control element, preferably a control tongue (52, 52a, 52b),
which carries the driver (22a, 22b) and which can be moved by means of the
actuator (60) between a basic position, in which there is no yam take-up, and
a take-up position for yam take-up (Figures 2, 4 and 6).
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the control element is designed

as a diaphragm (78) which can be part of the housing (82) and which carries

the driver (22c) (Figures 8 and 9).

5. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the driver (22,22a,
22c, 22d) is effective in only one direction of movement of the lifter (6, 6a,
6b, 6c, 6d, 6e), and in that the lifter has a futher driver (22b) effective in the
other direction of movement.
6. The device according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the control element
has regions of differing rigidity, for example a first region assigned to a foot
of the control element being preferably more flexible than a second region
facing the driver.
7. The device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lifter (6, 6a, 6b,
6c, 6d, 6e) is assigned, on the side of the driver (22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d), a
separating lifter (32,32a), against which the control means (52, 52a, 52b, 78,
84a, 84b) bears in the take-up position.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein spacers (34, 38) are arranged
between the lifters (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) and the separating lifter (32, 32a)
preferably an upper spacer (38) having guide faces (39) allowing the passage
of the yam (4).

9. The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein it has, for
controlling one or more yams (4, 4a), a plurality of lifters (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d,
6e) arranged in a manner distributed to one carrier (8, 8a, 8b) or to a
plurality of carriers, whilst separating lifters (32, 32a) can be arranged
between adjacent lifters.

10.The device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lifters (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) and the separating lifters (32, 32a) are exchangeably arranged on the carrier (8) individually or in a manner combined into groups via a base (76).
11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the actuator (60,
60a, 60b) is designed so as to be activatable electrically and can preferably
be connected to a separate control unit (24).
12. Tlie device according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the lifter (6, 6a,
6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) has at least one at least partially conductive layer (62) for
activating the actuator (60, 60a, 60b) and or for monitoring the state of the
lifter.
13. The device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein it contains, for an
individual lifter (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) or for a group of lifters, a circuit (68,
68a) for control and/or regulation and or monitoring.
14. Tlie device according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the lifter (6, 6c)

has a foot part (46) or base (76) which has a contact part (72, 72a) for
connection to a control line (26).
15. The device according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the lifter (6, 6c) and/or a base (76) connected to the latter and/or the carrier (8) for the lifter (6) or for the base (76) has or have an electrooptical device (70, 70a, 72, 72a, 77) for data transmission.

16. The device according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherien the upper ends of the lifters (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) comprise characterizing elements which are different from adjacent lifters.
17. A device for the selective control of an oscillating transverse movement of a yam substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1677-mas-1996 abstract.pdf

1677-mas-1996 claims.pdf

1677-mas-1996 correspondence others.pdf

1677-mas-1996 correspondence po.pdf

1677-mas-1996 description (complete).pdf

1677-mas-1996 drawings.pdf

1677-mas-1996 form-1.pdf

1677-mas-1996 form-13.pdf

1677-mas-1996 form-26.pdf

1677-mas-1996 form-4.pdf

1677-mas-1996 form-6.pdf

1677-mas-1996 petition.pdf

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Patent Number

193794

Indian Patent Application Number

1677/MAS/1996

PG Journal Number

08/2007

Publication Date

23-Feb-2007

Grant Date

29-Dec-2002

Date of Filing

23-Sep-1996

Name of Patentee

M/S. TEXTILMA AG

Applicant Address

SEESTRASSE 97, CH-6052 HERGISWIL,

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	KUONI CHRISTIAN	SONNENWEG 4, CH-4314 ZEININGEN
2	DE ANGELIS MARCO	ALBISRIEDERSTRASSE 271, CH-8047 ZURICH

PCT International Classification Number

D03C13/00

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA