EP0439440A1

EP0439440A1 - Computer controlled modular electromagnetic device for driving warp yarns for making figured fabrics

Info

Publication number: EP0439440A1
Application number: EP91830020A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Benedetto Bobbio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-01-23
Filing date: 1991-01-23
Publication date: 1991-07-31
Also published as: IT9019129A1; IT9019129A0; IT1238334B

Abstract

There is disclosed a computer controlled modular electromagnetic device for driving warp yarns for making figured fabrics.

The device substantially comprises two rods (2,2′) of any suitable shape, which can slide along parallel vertical guides formed along a substantially elongated parallelepipedal body, under the control of conventional blade members (7) which are driven with opposite reciprocating movements.

The mentioned rods jointly restrain, through a flexible connecting element (17), a first sheave (18) coupled to a second sheave (19) coplanar with the first sheave and operating on the central element of the link arrangement of a heddle.

Between the two rods there is arranged an electromagnet (13) which is power supplied under the control of a programmed computer, the electromagnet being adapted to restrain, through lever arm members (10), one of he mentioned rods.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a computer-controlled modular electromagnetic device for driving warp yarns for making figured fabrics.
As known, for making figured fabrics there are conventionally used weaving machines, or knitting machines, usually of the so-called Jacquard type, which drive the warp yarns in order to form the shed thereinto the weft yarns will be suscessively introduced.
Also known is the fact that a loom provided with a conventional weaving apparatus has a comparatively large size, since the weaving apparatus is conventionally supported by a bearing structure having a great vertical extension.
This requirement is substantially due to the need of properly slanting the cord elements coupling the lifters of the weaving apparatus with the warp yarns.
Moreover, in conventional weaving machines, the required deflection of the lifters, in order to form the shed, is made through a complex cooperating needle system, including a plurality of driving and pushing needle members.
This needle driving device, however, being rather complex construction-wise, usually requires frequent maintenance operations as well as calibration operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a device for selecting and raising warp yarns, on weaving apparatus or machines, which is very simple construction-wise as well as very reliable in operation.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide a device for selecting and raising warp yarns in weaving machines, which can be operated under the control of a programmed computer or processor means.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a device for selecting and raising warp yarns which has a very reduced size.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a computer controlled modular electromagnetic device for selecting and raising warp yarns for making figured fabrics, characterized in that said device comprises a pair of rods which can slide along parallel vertical guides, formed on an elongated parallelepipedal body, under the control of conventional driving blade members which are driven with opposite reciprocating movements, said rods jointly restraining, through a flexible coupling member, a first sheave, coupled to a second sheave, said second sheave being coplanar with said first sheave, and operating on a central link element of a heddle link, an electromagnet being moreover provided arranged between said two rods, said electromagnet being power supplied under the control of programmed processor means so as to restrain, through lever arm members, one of said rods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the device for selecting and raising warp yarns, according to the present invention, will become more apparent hereinafter, from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment thereof, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a front schematic view showing the warp yarn selecting and raising device according to the present invention,
Figure 1a is a side view of one of the rods associated with the device according to the invention,
Figures 2, 2a and 2b show the raising movement of one of the mentioned rods;
Figures 3 and 4 respectively illustrate the operations for restraining a rod at a high position and for releasing said rod;
Figure 5 illustrates a possible condition of an excessive over-stroke of one of the rods; and
Figures 6 and 7 show two variations of the rods, provided for bringing the lever arm directly to contact the pole portions of the electromagnet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the computer controlled electromagnetic device for selecting and raising warp yarns for making figured fabrics according to the invention, and which has been overally indicated at the reference number 1, comprises a pair of rods 2 and 2′ which can slide along parallel vertical guides 3, formed on a body 4 having a substantially alongated parallelepipedal shape.
More specifically, said rods are provided, at corresponding opositions, with a respective window 5 and a bottom ridge 6 which can be engaged by driving blade members 7, which are vertically reciprocated.
Between the above mentioned sliding guides, there is arranged a bottom plate 8 provided, at the top thereof, with a pair of resilient foil members 9 which upward extend.
These foil members engage with a respective end portion of corresponding lever arms 10, pivoted at 11, which are made of a ferromagnetic material and have a specifically designed perimetrical contour, and being moreover provided with a beak top outer projection 12.
Between the opposite end portions of the lever arms, there is moreover arranged an electromagnet 13, the poles of which are indicated at 14, whereas, on the mentioned sliding guides, there are provided corresponding notches 15.
The electromagnet, as shown, is power supplied through a suitable printed board 16 adapted to connect the electromagnet to a driving circuit therefor.
In this connection it should be pointed out that the spacing between the mentioned lever arms, or movable armatures, and the poles of the electromagnet is reduced to a minimum (of the order of tenths of a millimeter) in order to prevent the electromagnet from being excessively energized as the corresponding armature is pulled thereby.
In operation, the above mentioned rods are alternately upward entrained by the coordinated movement of the above mentioned elements 7, and then they will be downward returned by suitable resilient return means.
As shown, the rods support, through a flexible member 17, a first sheave 18 which bears a second sheave 19 engaging the shed forming cord 20.
In operation, one of the rods 2 or 2′ will engage, during an upward stroke, its corresponding lever arm, through its top beak member 12, so as to cause said lever arm to approach the pole of the electromagnet 13.
Thus, if the electromagnet is energized, it will restrain the lever arm so as to allow the adjoining rod to downward move.
On the other hand, if the electromagnet is not energized, the resilient foil element 9 will automatically displace the lever arm from the electromagnet (see Figure 3) so as to bring said lever arm to engage in the window 5 of the rod, for preventing the latter from being lowered.
As shown in Figures 6 and 7, on said rods a resilient projection 21 can be moreover provided, which will be formed at a set level, said resilient projection or ridge having an inward turned convex configuration.
This projection will aid the rods or movable armatures 2 and 2′ to properly abut on the electromagnet poles so as to reduce to a minimum value the energizing current necessary for restraining said armatures.
From the above disclosure and the figures of the accompanying drawings, it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A computer controlled modular electromagnetic device for selecting and raising warp yarns for making figured fabrics, characterized in that said device comprises a pair of rods which can slide along parallel vertical guides, formed on an elongated parallelepipedal body, under the control of conventional driving blade member which are driven with opposite reciprocating movements, said rods jointly restraining, through a flexible coupling member, a first sheave, coupled to a second sheave, said second sheave being coplanar with said first sheave, and operating on a central link element of a heddle link, an electromagnet being moreover provided arranged between said two rods, said electromagnet being power supplied under the control of programmed processor means so as to restrain, through lever arm members, one of said rods.
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said rods are provided, at corresponding positions thereof, with a window and a bottom projection adapted to be engaged by conventional blade members which are vertically reciprocated.
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that between said sliding guides there is arranged a bottom plate provided, at the top thereof, with a pair of upward extending resilient foil elements, said foil elements each engaging with one end portion of a corresponding lever arm made of a ferromagnetic material and having a set perimetrical contour as well as a beak top projection.
A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the end portions of said lever arms opposite to the first mentioned end portions there is arranged an electromagnet, and on the sliding guides of said rods there being formed corresponding notches, said electromagnet being power supplied through a printed board connecting said electromagnet to a driving circuit.
A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacing of said lever arms and the poles of said electromagnet is of the order of some tenths of millimeters, so as to prevent said electromagnet from being excessively energized.
A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rods are alternately entrained upward by the coordinated movements of suitable blade members and said rod being downward recovered through suitable resilient return means, said rods supporting, through a flexible element, a first sheave, bearing a second sheave, said second sheave being coplanar with said first sheave, and engaging a shed forming cord element.
A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on said rods there is formed a resilient projection formed at a set position and having an inward facing convex portion, adapted to cause said rods to abut on the poles of said electromagnet.