Giver Rapier Head Design for High-Speed Weaving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current rapier weaving machines are limited by heavy and inefficient giver rapier heads, which restrict high weaving speeds due to their design, causing vibrations and unbalanced mass forces, especially in double-face weaving machines.

Innovation Solution

A lighter and more compact giver rapier head design with a guide nose and selection nose, allowing for a presentation space at a right angle to the direction of movement, eliminating the need for double-function guide arcs and enabling the rapier head to be driven with less weight, allowing for reduced motion and increased weaving speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cutting device is attached to the batten in double-face weaving machines, then the weft threads can be cut between insertion cycles, but the additional weight and unbalanced mass forces cause vibrations and limit high weaving speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweaving speedVSAvoidvibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the cutting device from the batten, making it a fixed component in the weaving machine. This segmentation removes the cutting device's weight from the moving batten system, eliminating the unbalanced mass forces that cause vibrations during high-speed operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If traditional giver rapier heads with double-function guide arcs are used, then warp threads can be guided freely and weft threads can be presented, but the design is heavy and complex, restricting high weaving speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweaving speedVSAvoidrapier head weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The giver rapier head is divided into separate functional components: a guide nose for guiding warp threads and a selection nose for presenting weft threads. This segmentation eliminates the need for heavy double-function guide arcs, reducing the overall weight and complexity of the rapier head.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a presentation space that extends at right angles to the direction of movement of the rapier head. This dimensional change allows weft threads to be presented from a different spatial orientation, eliminating the need for complex double-function guide arcs and reducing the rapier head's weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the giver rapier head moves completely outside the zone next to the fabric selvedge to grip weft threads, then weft insertion can be achieved, but the motion distance is excessive, limiting weaving speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweaving speedVSAvoidmovement distance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The presentation space extends at right angles to the direction of movement, allowing the weft thread to be presented from a position that does not require the rapier head to travel completely outside the fabric selvedge zone. This dimensional approach reduces the unnecessary motion distance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The weft thread is presented to the selection nose in advance, before the rapier head needs to grip it. This preliminary positioning of the weft thread in the presentation space reduces the motion distance required for the rapier head to complete the insertion cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3060707B1Giver rapier head, giver rapier, rapier weaving machine and method for inserting a weft thread in such a rapier weaving machine using such a giver rapier head
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 VANDEWIELE NV
  • EP3060707B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3060707B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3060707B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The present invention relates, on the one hand, to a giver rapier head (1) which comprises a presentation space (9) between a successive guide nose (11), for leading off warp threads (23) on one side (7), and a selection nose (8), for leading off warp threads (23) on the other side, so that a weft thread (2) can be directly presented in this presentation space (9) and can engage from there in an insertion space (15) between the selection nose (8) and the first-mentioned side (7). The present invention relates, on the other hand, to a giver rapier (1), the limit guide arc (10) of which is arranged at the front side of the giver rapier (1) and the selection nose (8) of which is arranged on the top side, with its top (26) facing the guide arc (10). In addition, the present invention relates to a rapier weaving machine (20) comprising such a giver rapier head (1) and to a method for inserting a weft thread (2), in which the giver rapier head (1) is moved towards this weft thread (2) while the reed (19) beats up an inserted weft thread (2).