Weft feeding device with gripper disc

Abstract

The present invention relates to a weft feeding device for providing a plurality of weft yarns in a loom and for selectively feeding a movable weft yarn to a yarn clamp, comprising: a rotatably driven color selection disk having a plurality of holes arranged at its outer periphery, the holes being used to respectively receive at least one weft yarn; a rotatably driven clamping disk having a plurality of clamps arranged at its outer periphery, the clamps being used to respectively hold at least one weft yarn in its closed position; and a delivery needle arranged between the color selection disk and the clamping disk, via which at least one movable weft yarn to be fed can be handed over from a delivery position to the yarn clamp at a handover position and the movable clamp is brought to an open position after the handover, and at least one movable weft yarn can be brought to the delivery position by rotating the color selection disk and the movable clamp together with the clamping disk to a delivery-rotation position. In addition, the present invention relates to a loom having such a weft feeding device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a weft feeding device for providing a plurality of weft yarns in a loom and for selectively feeding the weft yarns to a gripper (or rapier, i.e., Greifer) for weft insertion (or weft input, i.e., Schusseintrag), and a loom having the weft feeding device. Background Art

[0002] In loom, especially in gripper loom, weft yarn utilizes gripper to drop into shed from the input side of loom.At this, usually keep a plurality of weft yarns, and described weft yarn is alternately dropped into according to corresponding weaving pattern.

[0003] WO 2020 / 052822 A1 discloses a loom with a weft color selection device, by means of which a plurality of weft yarns can be fed to a gripper in a selected order. To this end, the weft color selection device comprises a thread guide having thread guide eyelets at its outer periphery. The weft yarn to be delivered is fed to the gripper by a delivery needle.

[0004] The weft threads are held in hems (also known as catch strips, i.e. Fangliste) for example. However, hems have the disadvantage that they must be removed when the textile is finished and thus constitute waste. This increases the material consumption required to produce the fabric.

[0005] Furthermore, a weft handling device for a gripper loom is known from EP3425094A1. Each of the provided weft yarns is guided through a closed eyelet of a selection arm, by means of which the weft yarn is fed to the gripper. A gripper is mounted on a carriage for each weft yarn, wherein the carriage can pivot about an axis of rotation. Before the weft yarns are again fanned out to the corresponding gripper on the carriage, the weft yarns converge from the corresponding selection arm toward a convergence point. The axis of rotation of the carriage extends through the convergence point of the weft yarns. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In contrast, the object is to provide a weft thread feeding device which can reduce the deflection of the weft thread during feeding and also reduce yarn waste.

[0007] This object is achieved by a weft thread feeding device according to the invention and a weaving machine according to the invention having such a weft thread feeding device. Preferred embodiments of the invention are apparent from the description.

[0008] According to the present invention, a weft yarn feeding device for providing a plurality of weft yarns in a loom and for selectively feeding a movable weft yarn to a yarn clamp has a rotatably driven color selection disk, the color selection disk having a plurality of holes arranged at its outer periphery, the holes being used to respectively receive at least one weft yarn. In addition, the weft yarn feeding device according to the present invention includes a rotatably driven clamping disk, the clamping disk having a plurality of clamps arranged at its outer periphery, the clamps being used to respectively hold at least one weft yarn in its closed position. A delivery needle is arranged between the color selection disk and the clamping disk, via which at least one movable weft yarn to be fed can be handed over (or called transfer, i.e., transferred) from a delivery position to a handover position. ) to the yarn gripper, and at least one movable weft yarn can be brought to the delivery position by rotating the color selection disk and the movable gripper together with the gripper disk to the delivery-rotation position. In addition, the movable gripper can be brought to the open position to release the movable weft yarn, and the movable gripper is in this open position after handing over the weft yarn to the yarn gripper.

[0009] Normally, only one weft yarn is received by each eyelet. However, depending on the weaving pattern, it is possible that two or more weft yarns are fed from the eyelet by means of a delivery needle to a yarn gripper and brought in by the yarn gripper during weft insertion. However, this is only possible if the position of the individual weft yarns in the fabric does not have to be twist-free during weft insertion. In such a case, each eyelet of the color selection disk can receive more than one weft yarn. However, for the sake of simplicity, the invention will be described below with only one weft yarn per eyelet, wherein the embodiment described should also be applicable to multiple weft yarns (i.e. weft strips) per eyelet. By means of such a weft yarn guide, double wefts can be brought in in a simple manner.

[0010] However, if two weft yarns are to be inserted into a double weft without twist, it is preferred that these weft yarns are guided into separate eyes. In such a case, the delivery needle has a double receiving eyelet, i.e. a double sinker for separately receiving the two weft yarns. Therefore, a unique weft yarn is delivered to the yarn clamp from each of the two eyes in one stroke using a unique delivery needle. For example, a yarn clamp for bringing two weft yarns into a double weft without twist is described in DE 10 2018 222 722 B3. The two movable weft yarns for the double weft are held in a unique movable clamp of the clamping disc and are also clamped again in the same movable clamp after the weft insertion. Therefore, the clamping disc usually has only half as many clamps as the eyelets of the color selection disc. Usually, the corresponding two weft yarns in adjacent eyes (i.e. two adjacent weft yarns) are grouped and held in the clamp. Thus, the combination of weft yarns inserted into the double weft is preset by the yarn guiding portion.

[0011] The color selection disk is constructed as a multi-piece color selection disk with a plurality of sub-disks, in particular two sub-disks. The two sub-disks can usually rotate independently of each other around a common axis of rotation. For this purpose, each sub-disk usually has its own drive device. The sub-disks can be arranged axially one after another or in the same plane. For example, the sub-disks are arranged axially one after another, and preferably the two sub-disks have different pitch circle diameters, on which the holes are arranged. Therefore, the first sub-disk at the rear has, for example, a larger pitch circle diameter than the second sub-disk at the front. In order to thread the weft yarn held in the hole of the second sub-disk, the first sub-disk has, for example, a curved groove on the pitch circle diameter of the hole of the second disk, and a radial groove leading outward therefrom to deliver the active weft yarn. If the two sub-disks are arranged in one plane, the holes of the two sub-disks can, in particular, pivot in a common pivot plane. If the sub-disks can pivot around a common axis of rotation, the two sub-disks can have a crank (or crank / bend, i.e. ), so that the bearings of the two sub-disks are arranged axially offset from each other and the holes are in a common pivot plane. For example, a color selection disk with multiple sub-disks is described in the publication WO 2020 / 052 822 A1 cited at the beginning.

[0012] The eyelet of the color selection disk is preferably configured as an open eyelet. In this regard, the open eyelet is especially understood to be a weft yarn that can be taken out radially outward from the eyelet, that is, the open eyelet is especially configured as a radial notch at the outer periphery of the color selection disk. Preferably, only at least one weft yarn to be fed (which may also be referred to as an active weft yarn) can be taken out from the corresponding eyelet in the delivery-rotation position. The remaining weft yarns are fixed in the corresponding open eyelet. The open eyelet of the active weft yarn in the delivery-rotation position is also referred to as the active eyelet. All eyes except the active eyelet can, for example, be mechanically closed by a latch in the form of a slip ring disk (or referred to as a slide plate, i.e., Kulissenscheibe). The eyelet is preferably arranged around the rotation point of the color selection disk on the same, predefined pitch circle diameter and is radially open outward. The slip ring disk has a circumferential recess around the rotation point of the color selection disk on the pitch circle diameter. Only in the region of the delivery-rotation position, the slip ring disk has a recess radially outward that reaches the outer edge of the slip ring disk and releases the active weft yarn. In an alternative embodiment, each open eyelet has its own closing portion, which closes the corresponding eyelet in the normal state and opens the movable eyelet only when it is rotated to the delivery-rotation position. The eyelets can also be configured as closed eyelets instead of open eyelets. In the case of closed eyelets, the movable weft thread is also guided by the eyelet and held in the eyelet during feeding to the gripper and insertion.

[0013] The gripper disc usually has a number of grippers corresponding to the total number of eyes of the color selection disc or sub-disc, or a number of grippers corresponding to half the total number in the case of double wefts without twist. Each weft thread to be provided is thus taken from the yarn accumulator or prewinder. The eyelet of the color selection disk extends to the corresponding clamp of the clamp disk. The weft yarn extends between the color selection disk and the clamp disk in a direct path, especially without turning. The clamp at which the movable weft yarn to be fed is located is also called an active clamp, similar to the active eyelet at which the same movable weft yarn is located. In order to select the movable weft yarn to be fed from the multiple weft yarns provided, the color selection disk and the clamp disk are rotated to a rotation position, in which the movable clamp and the active eyelet are in a delivery-rotation position and therefore the movable yarn is in a delivery position. The rotation position of the clamp disk and the color selection disk is different for each of the delivery-rotation positions of the clamp or eyelet, because the weft yarn held by the corresponding clamp and eyelet must always be brought to the same delivery position to be received by the delivery needle. The delivery position is defined by the receiving position of the delivery needle and is the same for each of the multiple weft yarns provided in the case of a delivery needle with a unique sinking portion (or called a sinking portion, a recessed portion, i.e., an absenkung). In the case of a double fork with two sinkers, there is one transfer position each for the first and second moving weft thread.

[0014] After the color selection disk and the gripper disk are rotated to a rotation position (in which at least one active weft yarn to be fed is in a delivery position), the delivery needle receives at least one active weft yarn between the color selection disk and the gripper disk and brings the at least one active weft yarn to its handover position, from which the yarn gripper receives the active weft yarn. For this purpose, a sinker or a double sinker is preferably constructed at the front side of the delivery needle, which receives and reliably carries the weft yarn or two weft yarns. The delivery needle can here move in a circular path, either translationally or rotationally, from its receiving position for receiving the active weft yarn to its delivery position (or delivery position, i.e., Abgabeposition) at its handover position for bringing at least one weft yarn to the yarn gripper.

[0015] After the active weft yarn is handed over to the yarn gripper, the active clamp is brought to the open position, so as to release at least one active weft yarn like this, to pick weft. The opening of the clamp can be carried out during or after being handed over to the yarn gripper at this.

[0016] The clamp is preferably operable via an actuator. In particular, the clamp can be transferred by the actuator from a closed position (in which the weft yarn is securely clamped) to an open position. In a first construction scheme, the actuator is fixedly arranged at the weft feeding device. The actuator is constructed so that the movable clamps, which are respectively in the delivery-rotation position, can be manipulated. The clamp can be brought from the closed position to the open position and / or from the open position to the closed position by the actuator. The construction scheme with a fixed-position actuator includes at least one actuator. The clamp rotates when the clamp disc rotates relative to the fixed-position actuator. In the delivery-rotation position, the movable clamp is at least opened so that the weft yarn can be released and inserted. In the case of a single actuator, the delivery-rotation position of the clamp corresponds to the receiving-rotation position of the clamp, so that the movable clamp is brought to the open position by the one actuator to release the movable weft yarn before weft insertion and to receive the movable weft yarn after weft insertion. The delivery-rotation position and the reception-rotation position are located near the joining point so that the moving weft yarn can be received by the gripper after picking.

[0017] Preferably, the weft feeding device has a second fixed-position actuator. The second fixed-position actuator is preferably arranged so that the clamp can be manipulated in a receiving-rotating position different from the delivery-rotating position. The receiving-rotating position rotates relative to the delivery-rotating position in the direction of the joining point of the fabric or in the direction of a straight line along the joining point of the fabric. In a construction scheme with two actuators, the delivery position of the movable clamp is optimized and rotates away from the joining point of the fabric in the direction of the movement path of the clamp. The movable weft yarn is received by the movable clamp in the receiving-rotating position after being inserted. This involves a clamp that is the same as the following clamp, from which the weft yarn is taken out in the delivery-rotating position before weft insertion. The movable clamp rotates in the direction of the joining point of the fabric during weft insertion. Due to the optimized delivery-rotation position (in which the movable gripper is placed closer to the gripper when handing over the movable weft yarn to the gripper), the distance between the movable gripper and the gripper gripper (or gripper gripper, Greiferklemme) is shortened, so that the yarn protrusion at the gripper gripper is reduced. As a result, the waste yarn in the form of yarn protrusion is reduced, which is handed over from the sender gripper (or sender gripper, Gebergreifer) to the receiver gripper (or receiver gripper, Nehmergreifer) when picking with the movable weft yarn and is pulled out of the fabric.

[0018] When a single, fixed-position actuator is used, it is sufficient to open the movable gripper before weft insertion and to close the movable gripper after weft insertion, after the movable weft thread has been received again, in order to securely grip the movable weft thread. When at least two fixed-position actuators are used to actuate the gripper, the movable gripper is opened and closed again in the delivery position before weft insertion to deliver the weft thread, and then opened again in the receiving position after weft insertion to receive the weft thread and closed again to grip the received weft thread.

[0019] In an alternative design, each gripper is assigned its own actuator. The actuator is rotationally fixed to the gripper disc and rotates along with the gripper when the gripper disc rotates. The number of actuators corresponds to the number of grippers. This design, in which each gripper has its own actuator, has the advantage that the actuation of the respective gripper is not limited to discrete rotational positions of the gripper disc or gripper, in particular the delivery and / or take-up rotational positions, but can also be performed during the rotation of the gripper disc. Furthermore, the gripper can remain open during rotation, for example, between delivery before weft insertion and take-up after weft insertion. This reduces the number of opening and closing operations and, therefore, the mechanical load on the individual components and, if necessary, the cycle time.

[0020] Preferably, the clamp is configured as a clamp that is closed in the normal state. These clamps are also commonly referred to as "normally closed" clamps. For this purpose, a preload is applied to the clamp so that the clamp is kept closed and reliably clamps the weft yarn. Preferably, the clamp is held in the closed position by a spring. In particular, this is a coil spring. The clamping force of the clamp can be adjusted via the spring force of the spring or the preload of the spring. The clamping force can be adjusted by changing the preload of the spring, which is necessary in particular for different weft yarns and weft yarn materials and weft yarn thicknesses. A change in the clamping force may also be necessary when each clamp is to reliably hold two or more weft yarns instead of just one.

[0021] The at least one actuator preferably actuates the gripper pneumatically, electrically, mechanically, or magnetically. The type of actuator and the actuation of the gripper by the actuator are irrelevant whether it is a positionally fixed actuator or a rotationally fixed actuator. In the case of rotationally fixed actuators, these actuators can be integrated into the gripper.

[0022] Preferably, a yarn returner is also provided, which is used to guide the weft yarn back into the movable clamp (i.e. the clamp from which the weft yarn is taken out) after the weft insertion. In particular, the following device is used as a yarn returner, which reliably guides the weft yarn into the clamp after insertion, i.e., in particular, guides it into the clamping area of the clamp so that the weft yarn is reliably clamped. For this purpose, the yarn returner has, for example, a sickle-shaped area in which the weft yarn is received and guided. The sickle-shaped area can be arc-shaped or can also be constructed, for example, in a U-shaped or V-shaped manner. The receiving area performs a movement in the direction of the clamp during the retrieval process. Here, the receiving area of the yarn returner moves back and forth, for example, on a circular or elliptical movement path, wherein the inserted weft yarn is guided only in one area of the movement path.

[0023] In a preferred construction scheme, the weft feeding device has a clamper blow-out portion for blowing out the clamper after giving the weft yarn or before receiving the weft yarn. Therefore, the clamper blow-out portion is arranged so that the clamper blow-out portion can be manipulated in the open position of the clamper and blows the clamper out in the open position. The clamper blow-out portion can be arranged in the weft feeding device in a fixed position just like an actuator. Preferably, the clamper blow-out portion is arranged so that the movable clamper can blow out in the delivery-rotation position or the reception-rotation position of the clamper disk. If the delivery-rotation position is different from the reception-rotation position, the clamper blow-out portion can be constructed in the delivery-rotation position or the reception-rotation position. Alternatively, the clamper blow-out portion is arranged in a fixed rotation position at the clamper disk or at each clamper. So, each in the clamper is provided with a clamper blow-out portion, thereby realizing blowing out in the open position of the movable clamper between the weft yarn giving and the weft yarn receiving. The gripper blow-out unit is particularly preferably combined with the pneumatic control unit of the gripper (i.e., at least one pneumatic actuator). The compressed air supplied to the actuator can be used for the gripper blow-out. Depending on the design of the actuator, the gripper blow-out unit is preferably designed to be stationary or rotationally fixed. During the gripper blow-out, contaminants (e.g., thread ends or lint) are removed from the gripper, thereby ensuring reliable gripping of the weft thread.

[0024] Preferably, the color selection disk and the gripper disk are arranged parallel to each other. Further preferably, the rotation axes of the color selection disk and the gripper disk are arranged identically, i.e., the color selection disk and the gripper disk are arranged concentrically about a common rotation axis. Preferably, the grippers of the gripper disk and the apertures of the color selection disk are arranged on a pitch circle diameter, which is further preferably identical.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the weft threads run parallel to each other between the color selection disk and the gripper disk. In any case, each weft thread runs directly and straight from the eyelet of the color selection disk to the gripper of the gripper disk, i.e., without deflection, as long as it is an inactive (or passive) weft thread, which, unlike the active weft threads, does not participate in the current weft insertion. Therefore, the active weft thread is deflected around the sinker of the delivery needle, for example, by being brought to the handover position by means of the delivery needle.

[0026] Preferably, the gripper disc and / or the color selection disc are rotationally driven by an electric motor, in particular a stepper motor or servo motor. Preferably, both the gripper disc and the color selection disc have their own drive, in particular their own electric motor. Furthermore, preferably, the color selection disc is driven or rotated synchronously with the gripper disc. This reduces weft yarn deflection and, therefore, weft yarn loading, which leads to fewer defects in the fabric.

[0027] Alternatively, the synchronous drive of the color selection disk and the gripper disk can be achieved by a single drive device that drives both the color selection disk and the gripper disk. If a different weft yarn is required for a subsequent weft pick than for the previous pick, the color selection disk and the gripper disk are usually at least rotated. Preferably, the color selection disk is rotated between two consecutive weft picks. In the case of the gripper disk, it may also be necessary to rotate the gripper disk between weft delivery and weft reception when a weft yarn is to be received at a position different from that at which the weft yarn was delivered. This is the case when the delivery rotation position differs from the reception rotation position.

[0028] The present invention also comprises a loom having the above-mentioned weft yarn feeding device.Preferably, the gripper disc of the weft yarn feeding device is arranged parallel to the warp yarns of the fabric.

[0029] Preferably, a weft cutter is further arranged between the gripper disc and the warp threads, preferably parallel to the warp threads. The weft cutter is controlled electronically or mechanically. Preferably, the control is carried out via a dedicated drive, in particular a dedicated electric motor, or via a mechanical transmission, for example, of a secondary driven device serving as the main drive of the weaving machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The preferred embodiments and details of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 A first embodiment of the weft feeding device according to the invention in a weaving machine is shown;

[0032] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 Detailed view of the weft feeding device according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 A first embodiment of a gripper plate according to the invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 4 A second embodiment of a gripper plate according to the invention is shown;

[0035] Figure 5 A second embodiment of the weft feeding device according to the present invention is shown;

[0036] Figure 6 A third embodiment of a weft feeding device according to the invention is shown for introducing double wefts without twist; and

[0037] Figure 7 A fourth embodiment of a weft feeding device according to the invention is shown, which has a double disc. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figure 1 and Figure 2 An area of a weaving machine 1 with a fabric 3 and a weft feeding device 10 according to the invention is shown, wherein Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A partial area of the loom in the second state. The active weft yarn 2 to be brought in among the multiple weft yarns 2a-h is fed to the yarn gripper 50 via the weft yarn feeding device 10 and is brought into the shed 4 by the yarn gripper 50 to manufacture the fabric 3. In the present example, eight weft yarns 2a-h are stored in the weft yarn feeding device 10 and can be optionally fed to the yarn gripper 50. The different weft yarns 2a-h are in particular weft yarns made of different materials or different colors and / or different thicknesses. By combining the predefined feeding sequence of the weft yarns 2a-h with the predefined closed shed position or open shed position of the various handles of the loom 1, a fabric 3 with a predefined structure or a predefined pattern can be woven.

[0039] The weft feeding device 10 has a color selection disk 20, a gripper disk 40 and a delivery needle 30 arranged therebetween for selective feeding. The color selection disk 20 has eight outwardly open holes 21a-h at its outer diameter. The number of holes here corresponds at least to the number of weft yarns 2a-h or weft yarn bundles that should be fed individually to the gripper 50. The open holes 21a, ch are closed by latches in the form of slip ring disks 22 so that the weft yarns 2a, ch cannot be pulled out of the corresponding open holes 21a, ch. The color selection disk 20 is here in a rotation position 12b so that the open holes 21b are in the delivery-rotation position 12 and constitute active open holes 21, which are not closed by the slip ring disk 22. For this purpose, the slip ring disk 22 has an arcuate slip ring groove 25, the outer edge of which has an opening to release the active weft yarn 2. Thus, the active weft yarn 2 to be brought in, in the case shown, the weft yarn 2b, can be brought in by the gripper 50 in the receiving position 31 (as in Figure 1 The weft yarn 2 is received by a delivery needle 30 (shown in FIG) and guided by the delivery needle to a delivery position 32 for handing over to the yarn gripper 50. For this purpose, the delivery needle 30 has a sinker 33 on its front side to receive the weft yarn to be brought in. The moving weft yarn 2 brought to the delivery position 32 can be caught by the yarn gripper 51 of the yarn gripper 50 and brought into the shed 4.

[0040] The gripper disc 40 of the weft feeding device 10 includes a number of grippers 41a-h, corresponding to the number of open holes 21a-h of the color selection disc 20, along a pitch circle diameter. In this case, the color selection disc 20 includes eight open holes 21a-h, and the gripper disc 40 includes eight grippers 41a-h, wherein each of the open holes 21a-h or grippers 41a-h is occupied by a respective weft yarn 2a-h. Thus, each weft yarn 2a-h extends through its associated open hole 21a-h and is gripped in its associated gripper 41a-h. The gripper disc 40, like the color selection disc 20, is shown in a rotational position 12b, with the grippers 41b and holes 21b in the delivery rotational position 12 and the weft yarn 2b in the delivery position 11.

[0041] The weft feeding device 10 further comprises two fixed-position actuators 49, 49', wherein the first actuator 49 is arranged such that the movable gripper 41 can be actuated in the delivery-rotational position 12, and the second actuator 49' is arranged such that the movable gripper 41 can be actuated in the receiving-rotational position 14. Since the delivery-rotational position 12 differs from the receiving-rotational position 14 due to the two actuators 49, 49', the delivery-rotational position 12 is optimized in the direction of the yarn gripper 50. The yarn protrusion 6 at the yarn gripper 50 is thereby shortened, since the distance between the movable gripper 41 and the yarn gripper 50 is thereby shortened.

[0042] By securing the weft threads 2a-h in the grippers 41a-h of the gripper disc 40, the individual weft threads 2a-h can be held without fringing and provided with a defined pretension to the delivery needle 30. The color selection disc 20 can be driven in rotation by a first servomotor 23. The gripper disc 40 can be driven in rotation by a third servomotor 46 as a gripper disc drive. The delivery needle 30 can be driven in translation by a second servomotor 34 so that the delivery needle can bring the active weft thread 2 from the delivery position 11 to the handover position 13.

[0043] In the embodiment shown, the gripper disc 40 is arranged parallel to the warp threads 5 of the fabric 3. The pitch circle diameter at which the weft threads 2a-h are held by the grippers 41a-h on the gripper disc 40 essentially corresponds to the pitch circle diameter at which the open holes 21a-h of the color selection disc 20 are located. The rotation axis 24 of the color selection disc 20 forms a straight line that is tilted relative to the rotation axis 42 of the gripper disc 40.

[0044] In order to select and bring one of the weft yarns 2a-h into the shed 4, first not only the color selection disk 20 but also the clamping disk 40 are brought to one of the rotation positions 12a-h, so that the active weft yarn 2 to be brought in is in the delivery position 11. The color selection disk 20 and the clamping disk 40 are rotated synchronously here. The individual clamps 41a-h are fastened to the clamping disk 40 at a predefined angle offset from each other. The division between the individual clamps 41a-h can be constant or variable. In order to bring the weft yarn 2a-h held in one of the clamps 41a-h to the delivery position 11, the clamping disk must be rotated to the corresponding rotation position 12a-h. The same applies to the color selection disk 20 and the eyelets 21a-h. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 In FIG, the weft thread 2b is the active weft thread 2, and not only the color selection disc 20 but also the gripper disc 40 are shown in the rotated position 12b.

[0045] The weft yarn 2 to be brought in is brought from the delivery position 11 to the handover position 13 by means of the delivery needle 30. At the handover position 13, the weft yarn 2 to be brought in is received by the yarn gripper 50. To this end, the yarn gripper 50 grabs the weft yarn 2 to be brought in when the yarn gripper holder 51 is open, which is then closed and reliably carries the weft yarn 2 to be brought in. After the movable weft yarn 2 is handed over to the yarn gripper 50, the movable gripper 41 is opened by means of the actuator 49 and releases the weft yarn 2 to be put into the shed 4. Figure 25. The position of the yarn clamp 50 after the handover is shown in FIG. The weft yarn 2 to be brought in is fixed in the yarn clamp holder 51. The yarn clamp 50 shown is a transmitter yarn clamp, which receives the weft yarn 2 on the left side of the fabric 3 as the input side and transfers it to the center of the fabric. There, the weft yarn 2 is handed over to the receiver yarn clamp on the right side, which is not shown. The yarn clamp holder of the receiver yarn clamp engages with the yarn clamp holder 51 of the yarn clamp 50 and fixes the active weft yarn 2. Subsequently, the active weft yarn 2 is transported through the entire shed 4. After the weft yarn is put in, the weft yarn 2 to be brought in is brought in and clamped in the corresponding active clamp 41, from which the weft yarn has been taken out. Similarly, the weft yarn 2 is introduced back into the active eyelet 21, from which the weft yarn has been taken out. In order to receive the brought-in weft thread 2 by the movable gripper 41, the movable gripper is rotated clockwise into the receiving-rotated position 14 for the weft thread 2b. After the weft thread 2 is clamped in the corresponding movable gripper 41, it is cut by the weft yarn shears 60. In addition, the movable weft thread 2 is released by the gripper of the receiver gripper.

[0046] After the weft insertion, the same weft yarn 2b or one of the other weft yarns 2a, ch can be selected for the subsequent weft insertion via the weft feeding device 10 and handed over to the yarn gripper 50.

[0047] Figure 3 A first embodiment of a gripper disc 40 according to the invention is shown. The gripper disc 40 has eight grippers 41a-h on a pitch circle diameter. The individual grippers 41a-h are offset from one another by the same angle α. The gripper 41b is shown open, and the gripper disc 40 is in a rotational position 12b, such that the gripper 41b is in a transfer rotational position 12. The number of grippers 41a-h can vary depending on the embodiment and, in particular, depends on the number of different weft threads 2a-h required for the fabric 3.

[0048] The clamps 41a-h are constructed identically. For example, the structure of the clamps 41a-h is described with reference to the clamp 41a. The clamp 41a comprises a base 44, which is fixed to the clamp disc 40 and in which a clamping element 45 is supported. The clamping element 45 has a handle which is translationally supported in a bushing in the base 44. The clamp 41a is constructed as a "normally closed" clamp and is closed in the normal state. To this end, the clamping element 45 is preloaded against the base 44 by a coil spring 48. The clamping force of the clamp 41a can be adjusted via the force of the coil spring 48.

[0049] In order to bring the clamps 41a-h from the closed position to the open position, the weft feeding device 10 comprises two actuators 49, 49' for operating the clamping elements 45. Figure 3In the embodiment shown, two actuators 49, 49' are arranged in a fixed position in the weft feeding device 10. Fixed position is understood here to mean that the actuators 49, 49' do not rotate together with the gripper disc 40. The first actuator 49 is arranged in such a way that it can actuate the movable gripper 41 in the delivery-rotated position 12. Figure 3 In FIG, the clamping plate is shown in the rotational position 12b. To this end, the clamping plate 41b is actuated by the actuator 49 and brought from the closed position to the open position against the spring force of the coil spring 48. The actuator 49 comprises a drive device. Figure 3 The embodiment further comprises a second actuator 49'. The second actuator 49' is arranged in a fixed position so that the movable gripper 41 can be actuated in the receiving-rotated position 14. The delivery-rotated position 12 is rotated relative to the receiving-rotated position 14, away from the weft thread or the binding point of the active weft thread 2, in the direction of the weft insertion line. In the illustrated illustration, the delivery-rotated position 12 is rotated counterclockwise relative to the receiving-rotated position 14.

[0050] Due to the different rotational positions when the active weft yarn 2 is handed over to the yarn clamp 50 and when the active weft yarn 2 is received after weft insertion, the yarn protrusion 6 or waste spinning length on the right side (i.e., the side of the fabric 3 opposite to the weft yarn feeding device 10) can be reduced.

[0051] In accordance with Figure 4 In the implementation form of Figure 3 In a different embodiment, each gripper 41a-h is assigned its own actuator 49a-h. For this purpose, the actuators 49a-h are not arranged in a fixed position, but are connected to the gripper plate 40 in a rotationally fixed manner, that is, they rotate together with the gripper plate 40. Therefore, the actuators 49a-h and the grippers 41a-h rotate together with the gripper plate 40. The assignment of each gripper 41a-h to an actuator 49a-h increases the flexibility when opening and closing the movable gripper 41 and can also lead to time savings. Figure 4 In the embodiment, the clamp 41b is brought to the open position by the actuator 49b and constitutes the movable clamp 41. Figure 3 In the embodiment of FIG, the movable gripper 41 is opened twice for weft insertion. On the one hand, the gripper is opened and closed again by the actuator 49 before weft insertion (i.e., especially when the gripper 50 has already gripped the movable weft yarn 2) for weft delivery. On the other hand, the movable gripper 41 is opened and closed again by the actuator 49' for weft reception. In contrast, according to FIG. Figure 4 In the embodiment shown in FIG, the movable gripper 41 can remain open between the giving of the weft yarn 2 before weft insertion and the taking in of the movable weft yarn 2 after weft insertion, because the actuators 49a-h rotate together with the grippers 41a-h. Figure 3In the embodiment of the present invention, the manipulation of the clamps 41a-h is limited to two discrete rotational positions, while in accordance with Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, the grippers 41a-h can be operated in any rotational position. Therefore, the operation of the grippers 41a-h can also be carried out during the rotation of the gripper disk 40.

[0052] exist Figure 5 1 shows a second embodiment of a weft feeding device 10 according to the invention, which has a gripper disc 40 and grippers 41a-h. The grippers 41a-h are similar to those in Figure 4 The embodiment of the clamping plate 40 shown in FIG is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner at the clamping plate 40. The structure and operation of the clamps 41a-h are essentially the same as in FIG. Figure 3 . In contrast, the weft feeding device 10 has only one fixed actuator 49. Therefore, the delivery-rotation position 12 also corresponds to the receiving-rotation position 14. The weft feeding device 10 also has a gripper blow-out section 47, by means of which remaining thread ends or fluff are blown out in the clamping area of the movable gripper 41 with the help of compressed air, so that the movable weft thread 2 can always be reliably clamped. The gripper blow-out section 47 is shown as an example in the form of a blowpipe in the area of the gripper 41b. The gripper blow-out section 47 is here arranged in a fixed position in the area of the receiving-rotation position 14, which in the embodiment shown also constitutes the delivery-rotation position 12.

[0053] In addition, according to Figure 5 In the embodiment of FIG, a yarn return device 15 is shown. The yarn return device is arranged so that the moving weft yarn 2 is reliably brought into the clamping area of the movable clamp 41 (here, clamp 41b) after the weft yarn is inserted into the fabric 3. The yarn return device 15 works together with the weaving reed (or weaving shuttle) 7 so that both of them cause the inserted moving weft yarn to be guided back into the movable clamp 41. The yarn return device has a drive device 16. The movement of the yarn return device 15 and the weaving reed 7 is schematically represented by two movement arrows.

[0054] Figure 6A third embodiment of the weft feeding device 10 according to the invention is shown, which is used for introducing double wefts without twisting. The color selection disk 20 includes eight open holes 21a-h, and the clamping disk 40 has four clamps 41a-d. Each of the clamps 41a-d can be operated by a rotationally fixed actuator 49a-d (i.e., rotating together with the clamping disk 40). The two weft yarns guided in the adjacent holes are thus held in the clamps. Thus, the weft yarn 2a in the hole 21a and the weft yarn 2b in the hole 21b are held in the clamp 41a. The two weft yarns 2a, b therefore extend fan-shaped from the clamp 41a to the holes 21a, b. The same applies to weft yarns 2c, d, 2e, f, and 2g, h, which are guided through eyelets 21c, d, 21e, f, and 21g, h, respectively, and held in grippers 41b, 41c, and 41d. The delivery needle 30 is constructed with a double fork and has two depressions 33. The two depressions 33 are spaced apart so that two adjacent moving weft yarns 2 can be grasped by the delivery needle 30 in the receiving position 31 and brought to the delivery position 32. In the illustrated illustration, weft yarns 2a, b are the moving weft yarns 2, which are in the transfer position 13, and the delivery needle 30 is in the delivery position 32. The gripper 50 is designed so that the two moving weft yarns 2 are clamped in the gripper holder 51 and brought into the shed 4 without twisting. After the double weft is inserted, the two moving weft yarns 2 are brought back to the movable gripper 41 by the reed 7 (not shown) and clamped there.

[0055] exist Figure 7 FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a weft feeding device 10 according to the invention, which has a color selection disk 20 having two sub-disks 20', 20". Such an arrangement with two sub-disks 20', 20" is also generally referred to as a double disk. The weft feeding device 10 is similar to the embodiment according to FIG. Figure 1The embodiment has a clamping disc 40 with eight clamps 41a-h and two fixed actuators 49, 49', in which one of the weft yarns 2a-h is held. In contrast, the color selection disc 20 consists of two sub-discs 20', 20", which can rotate independently of each other and each have its own sub-disc drive 23', 23". The two sub-discs 20', 20" are arranged parallel to each other and can be pivoted in parallel pivot planes about a common rotation axis 24. If the definition is taken into account with respect to the insertion side as the left and the opposite side of the fabric 3 as the right, the weft insertion takes place from left to right. The first sub-disc 20' faces away from the left side of the fabric 3 in the weft insertion direction and is also called the rear sub-disc. The second sub-disc 20" faces the left side of the fabric 3 in the weft insertion direction and is called the front sub-disc. The first sub-disc 20' has a larger diameter than the second sub-disc 20". The eight open holes 21a'-h' of the first sub-disc 20' are arranged on the pitch circle diameter D. The four open holes 21a"-d" of the second sub-disc 20" are arranged on the pitch circle diameter d. The pitch circle diameter D is larger than the pitch circle diameter d. The color selection disk 20 has a total of twelve open holes, of which only eight are occupied by one of the eight weft yarns 2a-h. The number of open holes at the color selection disk 20 (that is, here the sub-discs 20', 20") and the number of occupied holes can generally vary depending on the embodiment and application.

[0056] The first sub-disk 20' also has a lead-in portion 26, which is used to hold the weft yarn in the open eyes 21a"-d" of the second sub-disk 20". The lead-in portion 26 is configured as an arcuate groove and has an outlet extending radially outward so that the active weft yarn 2 can be delivered from the delivery needle 30 to the yarn clamp 50 when the active weft yarn 2 is held in one of the open eyes 21a"-d". In the embodiment shown, the outlet is centrally arranged in the first sub-disk 20' between the two open eyes 21d' and 21e'. In addition to the arcuate slip ring groove 25 for the weft yarn of the first sub-disk 20', the slip ring disk 22 also has a second arcuate slip ring groove 25' for the weft yarn of the second sub-disk 20". Due to the configuration of the color selection disk 20 with two sub-disks 20 ′, 20 ″, the maximum angular range over which the color selection disk 20 must be rotated for selecting the active weft thread 2 is reduced, or the number of eyelets is increased with a constant rotation angle. This can be particularly advantageous in particular in weft feeding devices 10 for twist-free double weft insertion.

[0057] Reference Signs List

[0058] 1 loom

[0059] 2 Active weft yarns

[0060] 2a-h Weft

[0061] 3 Fabric

[0062] 4 sheds

[0063] 5 Warp

[0064] 6 Yarn protrusion

[0065] 7 Weaving reed

[0066] 10 Weft feeding device

[0067] 11 Delivery position of active weft yarn

[0068] 12 Delivery-Rotation Position

[0069] 12a-h Rotation position

[0070] 13 Intersection position of active weft yarn

[0071] 14 Receive-rotate position

[0072] 15 Yarn return device

[0073] 16. Drive device of yarn returner

[0074] 20 color palette

[0075] 20' First Draw

[0076] 20” second sub-plate

[0077] 21 movable eyelets

[0078] 21a-h open eyelet

[0079] 21a'-h' Open holes of the first sub-plate

[0080] 21a”-d” Open holes of the second sub-plate

[0081] 22 Latch in the form of a slip ring disc

[0082] 23 First servo motor

[0083] 23' First sub-disk drive device

[0084] 23” second sub-disk drive

[0085] 24 Color selection wheel rotation axis

[0086] 25,25' slip ring groove

[0087] 26 Piercing

[0088] 30 Delivery Needle

[0089] 31 Delivery needle receiving position

[0090] 32 Delivery needle location

[0091] 33 Settlement

[0092] 34 Second servo motor

[0093] 40 gripper plate

[0094] 41 movable clamp

[0095] 41a-h Gripper

[0096] 42 Rotation axis of the gripper plate

[0097] 44 matrix

[0098] 45 Clamping element

[0099] 46 Third servo motor

[0100] 47 Gripper Blowout Section

[0101] 48 Coil Spring

[0102] 49,49' Fixed position actuator

[0103] 49a-h Rotationally fixed actuator

[0104] 50 Yarn Gripper

[0105] 51 Yarn gripper holder

[0106] 60 Weft Yarn Shears

Claims

1. A weft feeding device (10) for providing a plurality of weft yarns (2a-h) in a loom (1) and for selectively feeding a movable weft yarn (2) to a gripper (50), comprising: a. a color selection disc (20) capable of being driven in rotation, the color selection disc having a plurality of holes (21a-h) arranged at its outer periphery, the holes being used to receive at least one weft yarn (2a-h) respectively, b. a rotatably driven gripper disc (40) having a plurality of grippers (41a-h) arranged at its outer periphery for holding at least one weft thread (2a-h) in its closed position, and c. A delivery needle (30) arranged between the color selection disk (20) and the clamping disk (40), via which at least one active weft yarn (2) to be fed can be handed over from the delivery position (11) to the yarn clamp (50) at the handover position (13) and the active clamp (41) is brought to the open position after the handover, and the at least one active weft yarn (2) can be brought to the delivery position by rotating the color selection disk (20) and the active clamp (41) together with the clamping disk (40) to the delivery-rotation position (12).

2. The weft yarn feeding device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The grippers (41a-h) are manipulable via at least one actuator (49, 49a-h, 49').

3. The weft yarn feeding device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that The actuator (49) is arranged in a fixed position and can manipulate the movable gripper (41) in the delivery-rotation position (12).

4. The weft yarn feeding device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that The movable gripper (41) in the receiving-rotating position (14) can be manipulated via a second actuator (49').

5. The weft yarn feeding device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that Each gripper (41a-h) is assigned its own actuator (49a-h), wherein the actuator (49a-h) is fastened to the gripper disk (40) in a rotationally fixed manner.

6. The weft yarn feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The clamps (41a-h) are configured as clamps that are closed in a normal state.

7. The weft yarn feeding device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that The clamps (41a-h) are held in a closed position by respective springs (48), and the clamping force of the clamps (41a-h) can be adjusted via the spring force of the respective spring (48).

8. The weft yarn feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The at least one actuator (49, 49a-h, 49') pneumatically, electronically, mechanically or magnetically manipulates the gripper (41a-h).

9. The weft feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that A yarn returner (15) is provided for guiding the at least one movable weft yarn (2) back into the movable clamper (41) after weft insertion, from which the at least one movable weft yarn (2) has been taken out.

10. The weft feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that A clamper blowing portion (47) is provided for blowing out the clamper (41a-h) after the at least one movable weft yarn (2) is delivered to the yarn clamper (50).

11. The weft feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The color selection disk (20) and the holder disk (40) are arranged parallel to each other.

12. The weft feeding device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that The color selection disk (20) and the gripper disk (40) are arranged concentrically with respect to a common axis of rotation (24, 42).

13. The weft feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The weft yarns (2a-h) extend parallel to each other between the color selection disk (20) and the gripper disk (40).

14. The weft feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The gripper plate (40) can be rotationally driven by an electric motor.

15. The weft feeding device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that The electric motor is a stepper motor or a servo motor.

16. The weft feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The color selection disk (20) is driven synchronously with respect to the clamper disk (40).

17. A weaving machine (1) having a weft feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. The weaving machine (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that The gripper disc (40) is arranged parallel to the warp yarns (5).

19. The weaving machine (1) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that A weft cutter (60) is arranged between the gripper disc (40) and the warp threads (5) parallel to the warp threads (5), and is controlled electronically or mechanically.

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