Side support, weaving machine and method for coupling a side support to a weaving machine

Abstract

The present invention describes a side support for a weaving shaft for a loom, a loom, and a method for coupling a side support to a loom. The side support is configured to move parallel to its longitudinal direction within the loom during weaving. The side support has its greatest extent in the longitudinal direction. Two connecting elements for each of a weaving shaft rods are arranged longitudinally spaced apart on the side support. The side support has a coupling element at one end in the longitudinal direction. The side support is characterized in that the coupling element is configured to be coupled to the loom by a linear relative movement in the longitudinal direction.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a side support for a heald frame, a weaving machine, and a method for coupling a side support to a weaving machine. Side supports, heald frames, and weaving machines are known in many designs. Likewise, a variety of couplings for coupling heald frames to weaving machines are known.

[0002] DE4343882C1 describes a coupling designed to ensure secure locking and, in particular, to enable simultaneous coupling and uncoupling of multiple heald shafts. The shaft-side coupling unit is screwed to the lower shaft rod of the heald shaft near its lateral end.

[0003] The shaft rods of heald frames are subjected to high loads on high-speed weaving machines and are subject to considerable deformation, particularly near their lateral ends. For this reason, CH643310A5 proposes equipping the connecting elements of the side support for the shaft rods with a swivel joint to mitigate the negative effects of shaft rod deformation on the connection between the shaft rod and the side support. EP1528130A2 describes a very expensive shaft rod that incorporates carbon fiber composite materials to minimize shaft rod deformation.

[0004] US5152324A, EP520540A1, and EP2586895A1 show couplings whose shaft-side coupling element is attached to the side support. The couplings are intended to enable height adjustment of the heald shafts, be quick and easy to release and close, or be equipped with replaceable coupling elements. All three of the aforementioned solutions are released and closed via a lateral movement (e.g., EP520540A1, column 4, line 10: "sideway shift") and thus inevitably involve play in the direction of movement of the heald shaft, as otherwise the lateral movement would be hindered or impossible. The play in the direction of movement causes increased wear on the coupling elements during operation, thus limiting the speed at which these couplings can be operated over an extended period.

[0005] Based on this prior art, it can be considered the object of the present invention to provide a lateral support which makes it possible to operate an inexpensive heald frame at a higher speed over a longer period of time in a weaving machine.

[0006] This object is achieved by a side support according to claim 1, a heald frame according to claim 9 and a method according to claim 12.

[0007] The inventive side support for a heald frame for a weaving machine is designed to move in the weaving machine during weaving parallel to a longitudinal direction of the side support. The side support has its greatest extent in the longitudinal direction. Two connecting elements, each for a shaft rod of a heald frame, are arranged on the side support at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction. The side support has a coupling element at one end in the longitudinal direction of the side support and is characterized in that the coupling element is designed to be coupled to the weaving machine by a rectilinear relative movement in the longitudinal direction.

[0008] The longitudinal coupling enables a play-free coupling between the heald frame and the loom. At the same time, the arrangement of the coupling element on the side support reduces or eliminates the shear forces between the frame bars, the frame-side coupling elements, and the machine-side coupling elements caused by the unavoidable deformation of the frame bars. The corner connection of the heald frame, which represents the connection between the connecting elements of the side support and the frame bar, can be made in the limited space at the end of the frame bar independently of the connection of the frame-side coupling element to the frame bar at this point. The two connections are therefore decoupled from each other, and at least the connection of the frame-side coupling element is decoupled from the deformation of the frame bar. This enables high weaving speeds even without complex and expensive frame bars or connecting elements.Although the various prior art couplings have been known for a long time (mostly disclosed between 1992 and 1995), the lateral support according to the invention and its advantages have not yet been known in the prior art, although durable and simple couplings for the heald shafts - as documented by the above-mentioned prior art - have represented a long-standing need.

[0009] Couplings that engage and disengage by relative movement in the thickness direction are also known in the prior art. However, these have the same disadvantages as the aforementioned couplings that engage by relative movement in the transverse direction.

[0010] The coupling element of the lateral support according to the invention can have its greatest extent in the longitudinal direction. The coupling element of the lateral support according to the invention can have its smallest extent in a thickness direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the coupling element of the lateral support according to the invention can extend in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction. The coupling element can have two flat first stop surfaces spaced apart in the transverse direction, the surface perpendiculars of which point parallel to the longitudinal direction in a first direction that corresponds to the direction of the rectilinear relative movement for coupling the coupling element to the weaving machine. The coupling element can have a flat first contact surface, the surface perpendiculars of which point parallel to the transverse direction in a second direction.The coupling element can have a flat first clamping surface, the surface normal of which comprises both a component opposite to the first direction and a component opposite to the second direction. The flat first clamping surface can be spaced in the first direction from the two transversely spaced, flat first stop surfaces. The flat first clamping surface can be spaced in the first direction from a part of the flat first contact surface. The flat first clamping surface can be arranged in the transverse direction between the two transversely spaced, flat first stop surfaces. The flat first clamping surface can be spaced opposite to the second direction from the flat first contact surface. The flat first contact surface can be arranged in the transverse direction between the two transversely spaced, flat first stop surfaces.The flat first contact surface can be spaced apart in the first direction from the two flat first stop surfaces spaced apart in the transverse direction. The coupling element can be secured to a weaving machine with the aforementioned functional surfaces in the direction of movement, which corresponds to the longitudinal direction, and in the transverse direction, without play.

[0011] The first clamping surface of the side support according to the invention can transition in the first direction into an insertion surface, the surface perpendicular to which has a component in the first direction and a component opposite the second direction. The insertion surface can be spaced apart from the first clamping surface in the first direction. The insertion surface can be arranged in the transverse direction between the two flat first stop surfaces spaced apart in the transverse direction. The insertion surface can serve to easily insert the coupling element into a machine-side coupling unit. The oblique orientation of the insertion surface can serve to increasingly deflect a clamping element of a machine-side coupling unit, which is subjected to a force, during insertion.

[0012] The first clamping surface of the side support according to the invention can transition counter to the first direction into a flat inclined surface whose surface normal has a component in the first direction and a component counter to the second direction. A first cylinder-segment-shaped surface, which has a first radius, can tangentially border the first clamping surface. A second cylinder-segment-shaped surface, which has a second radius that is greater than the first radius, can tangentially border the first cylinder-segment-shaped surface. A third cylinder-segment-shaped surface, which has a third radius that is greater than the second radius, can tangentially border the second cylinder-segment-shaped surface. The third cylinder-segment-shaped surface can tangentially border the flat inclined surface.This appropriately designed transition from the first clamping surface to the inclined surface can impart increased fatigue strength to the coupling element at this transition. The inclined surface can be spaced from the first clamping surface opposite to the first direction. The inclined surface can be arranged in the transverse direction between the two flat first stop surfaces spaced apart in the transverse direction. The inclined surface can be arranged at a distance in the first direction from the two flat first stop surfaces spaced apart in the transverse direction.

[0013] The side support according to the invention can comprise a longitudinally extending base body to which the two connecting elements are fixed and to which a device for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element is fixed. The base body can be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The base body can be formed integrally with the connecting elements. The base body can be anodized. The base body can have a flat surface with a surface perpendicular in the transverse direction to the guide in the weaving machine. Near one of its ends, the base body can have three bores in the longitudinal direction with bore axes in the thickness direction, which are arranged in a longitudinally aligned sequence.

[0014] The coupling element of the side support according to the invention can have a bore. Components of the device for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element can be accommodated in the bore, so that the coupling element is rotatably secured in the device for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element. The components for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element can comprise a bearing ring and a sliding ring. The bearing ring can be designed as a hardened steel ring. The bearing ring can be formed as a ring made of a material that includes friction-reducing plastic or can comprise such a material. The components for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element can, however, also comprise more than two or just a single component (e.g., just the support ring). An imaginary center line of the coupling element can be defined by a line that runs longitudinally through the center point of the bore of the coupling element.This imaginary centerline, viewed in the transverse direction, preferably runs at least approximately centrally through the base body of the side support, at least approximately through any three holes in the base body, and at least approximately through the clamping surface of the coupling element. Such an approximately linear arrangement of the elements for initiating the movement of the heald frame, in turn, avoids or reduces unnecessary moments and deformations of the side support and the frame rods.

[0015] The device for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element of the side support according to the invention can have two sheet metal tabs spaced apart in the thickness direction, which are fixed to the base body. The sheet metal tabs can be riveted to the base body on both sides with three rivets, for example. Accordingly, three bores can be provided on each of the two sheet metal tabs, which are aligned with three bores in the base body and fastened by rivets. A connecting means can penetrate the components of the device for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element, which are accommodated in the bore and between the sheet metal tabs, and connect them to the sheet metal tabs. Preferably, any support ring is rigidly fixed to the two sheet metal tabs by the connecting means. The connecting means can be formed, for example, by a rivet.

[0016] The connecting means of the side support according to the invention can be a screw connection. A screw connection makes it possible to replace the coupling element (e.g. in the event of wear) by loosening the screw connection. The two sheet metal tabs of the device for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element can form an intermediate space in which the components of the device for the rotatable mounting of the coupling element and the coupling element or at least parts of the coupling element are received. The intermediate space can be designed such that the components of the device for the rotatable mounting of the coupling element and the coupling element can be removed from the intermediate space without colliding with the two sheet metal tabs. In other words, the intermediate space can comprise a cuboid-shaped volume that corresponds to the cuboid-shaped region of the coupling element around the bore, without any overlap.By designing the coupling element as a replaceable component, the mechanism for rotatably arranging the coupling element and the coupling element as a whole can be maintenance-free, eliminating the need for additional devices for lubricating the coupling element bearings, for example. If necessary, additional thin sheet metal parts can be riveted between the sheet metal tabs and the base body. Such additional sheet metal parts, if appropriately shaped, can serve, for example, to limit the pivoting angle of the coupling element. For this purpose, the sheet metal part can be bent into the gap, for example, to come into contact with the coupling element in the event of excessive angular deflection, thus preventing further pivoting.

[0017] The weaving machine according to the invention comprises at least one heald frame with at least one side support according to one of claims 1 to 8. The weaving machine further comprises a machine-side coupling unit which two transversely spaced, flat second stop surfaces whose surface perpendiculars point parallel to the longitudinal direction and opposite to the first direction; a flat second contact surface whose surface perpendiculars point parallel to the transverse direction and opposite to the second direction; and a pivotably mounted clamping element to which a force is applied. The surface perpendicular of a second clamping surface of the clamping element comprises both a component in the first direction and a component in the second direction. The force urges the clamping element at least in the second direction.

[0018] The weaving machine according to the invention is characterized in that the coupling element of the side support is coupled to the machine-side coupling unit of the weaving machine by a linear relative movement in the longitudinal direction. The linear coupling of a coupling element enables a play-free and force-preloaded coupling between the side support and the weaving machine, allowing the weaving machine to operate faster without increased wear or even damage to the heald shafts or couplings. Advantageously, the weaving machine comprises two coupling units per heald shaft.

[0019] In the weaving machine according to the invention, the two flat first stop surfaces, spaced apart in the transverse direction, can abut against the two flat second stop surfaces, spaced apart in the transverse direction. The flat first contact surface can abut against the flat second contact surface. The second clamping surface of the clamping element can press against the flat first clamping surface with the force. This force leads to a pre-tensioned contact situation of the surface contacts mentioned in this paragraph.

[0020] A pivot axis of the clamping element can be spaced transversely from the second clamping surface, opposite to the second direction. This arrangement results in a self-locking coupling. The forces introduced into the coupling unit by the movement result in the forces in the respective surface contacts being amplified. Accidental release of the coupling cannot occur. The pivot axis of the clamping element can run in the thickness direction. The force on the clamping element can be provided by a tension spring or a compression spring.

[0021] The inventive method for coupling a side support according to the invention to a weaving machine is characterized by moving the side support in a rectilinear relative movement in the longitudinal direction relative to the weaving machine until the coupling is established. Heald frames are generally inserted into a weaving machine from above. At least one of the last movement sections when inserting the heald frames into a weaving machine comprises lowering the heald frames towards the corresponding coupling units. With the inventive method, no further displacement of the heald frames is necessary; instead, the coupling is closed directly by inserting the coupling elements of the side supports. This increases the reliability of the coupling, and the avoided play and the rectilinear introduction of the movement into the side support result in a durable coupling and frames with an increased service life.

[0022] The method according to the invention for moving the side support in a rectilinear relative movement in the longitudinal direction relative to the weaving machine can be divided into two sub-steps: First, rectilinear movement in the longitudinal direction such that the coupling element of the side support and the tensioning element of the machine-side coupling unit of the weaving machine are deflected at least counter to the second direction. Second, further moving the side support in a rectilinear relative movement in the longitudinal direction relative to the weaving machine such that the force pushes the tensioning element of the machine-side coupling unit of the weaving machine back in the second direction, so that the second tensioning surface of the tensioning element comes into contact with the first tensioning surface of the coupling element.

[0023] Further details and embodiments of the present invention are made clear by the figures listed below: Fig. 1 Figure 1shows a highly schematic diagram of a weaving machine with a heald frame and side supports. Fig. 2 Figure 2 shows a simplified overall view in the thickness direction of a side support according to the invention. Fig. 3 Figure 3 shows a simplified three-dimensional representation of a coupling element. Fig. 4 Figure 4 shows the coupling element of the Figure 3 in a view in the thickness direction. Fig. 5 Figure 5 shows a highly simplified view of the machine-side coupling unit. Fig. 6 Figure 6 shows the lower end of the side support Figure 1 in a simplified three-dimensional view.

[0024] Figure 1 shows a highly schematic diagram of a weaving machine 3 with a heald frame 2, which is formed from an upper frame rod 6, a lower frame rod 7 and two side supports 1. The side supports 1 are coupled downwards with a machine-side coupling unit 26. Details of the coupling are shown in Figure 1Not shown. Typically, the heald shafts 2 in the weaving machine 3 are guided laterally (i.e., in the transverse direction x) with little play, which is symbolized by the two weaving machine frames indicated to the sides of the heald shaft. The machine-side coupling unit 26 is typically operatively connected via a so-called undercarriage (not shown) to a gear mechanism, symbolized as a box to the left of the weaving machine 3, to provide the movement of the heald shafts 2 in the longitudinal direction y.

[0025] Figure 2shows a simplified overall view in the thickness direction z of a side support 1 according to the invention. The side support 1 comprises a base body 16, which extends in the longitudinal direction y from top to bottom. At the upper end of the base body 16, a connecting element 4 is arranged. Near the lower end of the base body 16, a connecting element 5 is arranged. The connecting element 4 and the connecting element 5 are made in one piece with the base body from an aluminum alloy. The connecting elements 4 and 5 are designed to be inserted into a chamber of a shaft rod 6 and 7 and to be fixed, for example, by means of a screw, in order to form a heald shaft 2. The arrow marked with the reference number 9 shows the direction of the rectilinear relative movement 9 for coupling the side support 1 to a Figure 2Weaving machine 3 (not shown). At the lower end of the base body 16, a sheet metal tab 20 is riveted to form a device 17 for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element 8, which is indicated by three small circles. The large, concentric circles near the lower end of the sheet metal tab 20 show a connecting means 34, which in the present embodiment is a screw connection, so that the inner concentric circles represent a screw or a nut. The sheet metal tab 20 conceals a sheet metal tab 21, which in the view of the Figure 2is riveted to the back of the base body 16 of the side support 1 together with the sheet metal tab 20. The coupling element 8 projects over the sheet metal tab 20 to the left and to the right in the transverse direction x and downwards in the longitudinal direction y. The first stop surface 11 and the first stop surface 12 point downwards in the longitudinal direction y. The arrow marked with the reference number 12 indicates the direction 12 in which the first stop surfaces 10, 11 are oriented. The coupling element 8 has a first contact surface 13 which points to the left in the transverse direction x and is oriented in the direction 14. The arrow marked with the reference number 14 indicates the direction 14. The coupling element 8 comprises, near its lower end, the clamping surface 15 which runs downwards to the right and whose surface perpendicular accordingly has a component opposite to the direction 12 as well as a component opposite to the direction 14.At the lower end of the coupling element 8, the insertion surface 33 is shown, which runs diagonally downwards to the left.

[0026] Figure 3 shows a simplified three-dimensional representation of a coupling element 8. The first contact surface 10 and the first contact surface 11 point downwards to the left in the direction 12, which is indicated by the arrow with the reference number 12. The direction 12 is parallel to the longitudinal direction y. The first contact surface 10 and the first contact surface 11 are each arranged in a region of maximum extension in the thickness direction z of the coupling element 8. Away from the regions of the coupling element 8 in which the first contact surface 10 and the first contact surface 11 are arranged, the coupling element has a uniform thickness (extension in the thickness direction z) except in the region of the insertion surface 33. The insertion surface 33 becomes narrower towards the bottom. The first contact surface 13 is in the lower, right-hand region of the Figure 3and points in the direction 14, which is indicated by the corresponding arrow. The direction 14 is parallel to the transverse direction x. The first clamping surface 15 and the inclined surface 22 are located in the left area of ​​the Figure 3 , but are not visible due to the perspective. The coupling element 8 has a bore 18 for its rotatable mounting.

[0027] Figure 4 shows the coupling element 8 of the Figure 3 in a view in the thickness direction z. Of the first stop surface 10 (oriented in direction 12), the first stop surface 11 (oriented in direction 12), the inclined surface 22, the first contact surface 13 (oriented in direction 14), the clamping surface 15, and the insertion surface 33, only the front edges are visible in this view. The same applies to the bore 18. The transverse direction x, the longitudinal direction y, the direction 12, and the direction 14 are indicated for orientation purposes.

[0028] Figure 5shows a highly simplified view of the machine-side coupling unit 26. The illustrated machine-side coupling unit 26 comprises a clamping element 30 with a second clamping surface 31 and a pivot bearing 32. The pivot bearing 32 is shown purely symbolically as a circle. The machine-side coupling unit 26 comprises a second stop surface 27, a second stop surface 28, and a second contact surface 29, of which only the front edge is visible in this view. Figure 5 is in your position to Figure 4 arranged so that the coupling element 8 of the Figure 4 from above into the machine-side coupling unit 26 of the Figure 5 could be introduced. Both Figures 4 and 5 are purely symbolic and not to scale, so that the coupling element 8 of the Figure 4 in the machine-side coupling unit 26 of the Figure 5does not have to be shown as lockable. Preferably, the machine-side coupling unit 26, similar to the device 17 for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element 8, is made of two spaced-apart metal sheets, between which the correspondingly shaped components are fixed.

[0029] Figure 6 shows the lower end of the side support 1 from Figure 1in a simplified three-dimensional view. The lower connecting element 5 is partially shown; the areas of the base body 16 above the connecting element 5 and the connecting element 4 are cut away. This view shows how the sheet metal parts 20 and 21 form a gap 19 into which the coupling element 8 can be inserted from below. The gap 19 is not completely filled by the base body 16 and the coupling element 8, so that the coupling element 8 can twist. On the sheet metal tab 20, three rivets are indicated by three circles, which are shown aligned in the longitudinal direction y and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction y. The thickness of the sheet metal tabs 20, 21 is small compared to the thickness of the base body 16.Below the three aligned small circles, two concentric circles can be seen on the sheet metal tab 20. These circles show the connecting means 34, which in this embodiment is designed as a screw connection. The screw and / or the nut of the screw connection penetrates the bore 18 of the coupling element 8 (not visible in this figure) in order to secure the latter between the sheet metal tabs 20 and 21. The insertion surface 33 becomes narrower towards the bottom in the thickness direction z in order to facilitate the insertion of the coupling element 8 into a machine-side coupling unit 26. The first clamping surface 15 merges into the inclined surface 22 by means of the first cylinder-segment-shaped surface 23, the second cylinder-segment-shaped surface and the third cylinder-segment-shaped surface 25.The radius of the first cylindrical segment-shaped surface 23 is 5 mm in this exemplary embodiment, the radius of the second cylindrical segment-shaped surface 24 is 20 mm in this exemplary embodiment, and the radius of the third cylindrical segment-shaped surface 25 is 200 mm in this exemplary embodiment. However, the value of each of the three aforementioned radii can also be selected to be up to half or up to twice as large. List of reference symbols 1 Side support 2 Webschaft 3 weaving machine 4 connecting element 5 connecting element 6 Upper shaft rod 7 Lower shaft rod 8 Coupling element 9 Relative motion 10 first stop surface 11 first stop surface 12 first direction 13 first plant area 14 second direction 15 first clamping surface 16 Basic body 17 Device for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element (8) on the side support 18 drilling 19 space 20 sheet metal tab 21 sheet metal tab 22 inclined surface 23 first cylinder-segment-shaped surface 24 second cylinder-segment-shaped surface 25 third cylinder-segment-shaped surface 26 machine-side coupling unit 27 second stop surface 28 second stop surface 29 second plant area 30 clamping element 31 second clamping surface 32 Pivot bearing axis 33 insertion area 34 connecting devices x Transverse direction y Longitudinal direction z Thickness direction

Claims

1. Side support (1) for a heald frame (2) for a weaving machine (3), wherein the side support (1) is designed to move in the weaving machine (3) during weaving parallel to a longitudinal direction (y) of the side support (1) and the side support (1) has the greatest extent in the longitudinal direction (y), wherein on the side support (1) two connecting elements (4, 5) for each shaft rod (6, 7) of a heald frame (2) are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction (y), and the side support (1) has a coupling element (8) at one end in the longitudinal direction (y) of the side support (1), characterized in that the coupling element (8) is designed to be coupled to the weaving machine (3) by a rectilinear relative movement (9) in the longitudinal direction (y).

2. Side support (1) according to claim 1 characterized in thatthe coupling element (8) has its greatest extent in the longitudinal direction (y), has its smallest extent in a thickness direction (z) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (y) and also extends in a transverse direction (x) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (y) and the thickness direction (z), the coupling element (8) has two flat first stop surfaces (10, 11) spaced apart in the transverse direction (x), the surface perpendiculars of which point parallel to the longitudinal direction (y) in a first direction (12) which corresponds to the direction of the rectilinear relative movement (9) for coupling the coupling element (8) to the weaving machine (3), the coupling element (8) has a flat first contact surface (13) whose surface perpendiculars point parallel to the transverse direction (x) in a second direction (14), and has a flat first clamping surface (15) whose surface perpendiculars have both a component opposite to the first direction (12) and a component opposite to the second direction (14).

3. Side support (1) according to claim 2 characterized in that the first clamping surface (15) merges in the first direction (12) into an insertion surface (33), the surface perpendicular of which has a component in the first direction (12) as well as a component opposite to the second direction (14).

4. Side support (1) according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in thatthe first clamping surface (15) merges counter to the first direction into a flat inclined surface (22), the surface normal of which has a component in the first direction (12) as well as a component counter to the second direction (14), and wherein a first cylinder-segment-shaped surface (23) having a first radius is tangentially adjacent to the first clamping surface (15), and a second cylinder-segment-shaped surface (24) having a second radius which is greater than the first radius is tangentially adjacent to the first cylinder-segment-shaped surface (23), and a third cylinder-segment-shaped surface (25) having a third radius which is greater than the second radius is tangentially adjacent to the second cylinder-segment-shaped surface (24), and the third cylinder-segment-shaped surface (25) is tangentially adjacent to the flat inclined surface (22).

5. Side support (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in thatthe side support (1) comprises a longitudinally extending base body (16) to which the two connecting elements (4, 5) are fixed and to which a device (17) for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element (8) is fixed.

6. Side support (1) according to claim 5 characterized in that the coupling element (8) has a bore (18) in which components of the device (17) for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element (8) are received, so that the coupling element (8) is rotatably fixed in the device (17) for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element (8).

7. Side support (1) according to claim 6 characterized in thatthe device (17) for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element (8) has two sheet metal tabs (20, 21) which are spaced apart in the thickness direction (z) and are fixed to the base body (16), and a connecting means (34) passes through the components of the device (17) for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element (8), which are accommodated in the bore (18) and between the sheet metal tabs (20, 21), and connects them to the sheet metal tabs (20, 21).

8. Side support (1) according to claim 7 characterized in thatthe connecting means (34) is a screw connection, and an intermediate space (19) is formed by the two sheet metal tabs (20, 21) of the device (17) for the rotatable arrangement of the coupling element (8), in which intermediate space the components of the device for the rotatable mounting of the coupling element (8) and the coupling element (8) are received and the intermediate space (19) is designed such that the components of the device for the rotatable mounting of the coupling element (8) and the coupling element (8) can be removed from the intermediate space (19) without collision with the two sheet metal tabs (20, 21).

9. Weaving machine (3) comprising at least one heald frame (2) with at least one side support (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and having a machine-side coupling unit (26) which has • two flat second stop surfaces (27, 28) spaced apart in the transverse direction (x), the surface perpendiculars of which point parallel to the longitudinal direction (y) against the first direction (12), • a flat second contact surface (29) whose surface perpendiculars point parallel to the transverse direction (x) against the second direction (14), • and a pivotably mounted tensioning element (30) subjected to a force, the surface perpendicular of a second tensioning surface (31) of the tensioning element (30) comprising both a component in the first direction (12) and a component in the second direction (14), and the force urges the tensioning element (30) at least in the second direction (14), characterized in thatthe coupling element (8) of the side support (1) is coupled to the machine-side coupling unit (26) of the weaving machine (3) by a rectilinear relative movement (9) in the longitudinal direction (y).

10. Weaving machine (3) according to claim 9 characterized in that the two flat first stop surfaces (10, 11) spaced apart in the transverse direction (x) bear against the two flat second stop surfaces (27, 28) spaced apart in the transverse direction (x), and the flat first contact surface (13) bears against the flat second contact surface (29) and the second clamping surface (31) of the clamping element (30) presses with the force against the flat first clamping surface (15).

11. Weaving machine (3) according to claim 9 or 10 characterized in that a pivot bearing axis (32) of the clamping element (30) is spaced from the second clamping surface (31) in the transverse direction (x) opposite to the second direction (14).

12. Method for coupling a side support (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 to a weaving machine (3) according to one of claims 9 to 11 characterized by moving the side support (1) in a rectilinear relative movement (9) in the longitudinal direction (y) relative to the weaving machine (3) until the coupling is established.

13. Method according to claim 12 characterized bymoving the side support (1) in a rectilinear relative movement (9) in the longitudinal direction (y) relative to the weaving machine (3), so that the coupling element (8) of the side support (1) deflects the tensioning element (30) of the machine-side coupling unit (26) of the weaving machine (3) at least counter to the second direction (14), and further moving the side support (1) in a rectilinear relative movement (9) in the longitudinal direction (y) relative to the weaving machine (3), so that the force pushes the tensioning element (30) of the machine-side coupling unit (26) of the weaving machine (3) back in the second direction (14), so that the second tensioning surface (31) of the tensioning element (30) comes to bear against the first tensioning surface (15) of the coupling element (8).

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