Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
METHOD FOR MOUNTING A NEW HARNESS ON A SEAM WEAVING MACHINE,
APPARATUS FOR MAKING A FLAT WOVEN FABRIC ENDLESS AND
HARNESS CARRIAGE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for mounting a harness
to on a seam weaving machine, an apparatus for making a flat
woven fabric endless by means of a woven seam joining
together opposite ends of the fabric and a harness carriage
for use in the harness mounting method. Forming fabrics used
in the wet end section of papermaking machines have to be
made endless by a woven seam. The weave pattern is continued
exactly in the woven seam so that the joining does not cause
markings in the paper.
2. RELATED PRIOR ART
2o U.S. Patent 9,581,794 and U.S. Patent 4,557,025 disclose
an automatic seaming machine for forming a seam in a length
of woven fabric for joining opposite ends of the fabric
together thereby to form an endless woven fabric belt. When
using that machine, a strip of woven material, cut from one
of the ends of the fabric, the so-called seam strip, is
supported between the opposite ends of the fabric. The seam
strip is clamped at one end and weights or springs are
attached to the opposite end of this seam strip so that it is
pulled taut. The warp threads are removed from the seam strip
located between the opposite ends of the fabric leaving only
the weft threads. The weft threads of the seam strip are
drawn in through a shedding mechanism and are controlled by
means of a Jacquard machine to form a shed opening. The
opposite ends of the fabric each include a fringe formed by
removing a majority of the weft threads within an end portion
of approx. 20 cm. A few weft threads are left at the edge of
the fringe to form a narrow lease functioning to maintain the
warp threads of the fringe in the proper position and
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sequence and to maintain proper relative alignment of the
warp threads with respect to each other. The woven seam is
formed by separating a first one of the warp threads of the
lease and drawing it through the shed opening formed by the
weft threads of the seam strip. The shed is then changed and
a warp thread drawn out of the lease at the opposite end of
the strip is separated and woven into the weft threads of the
seam strip. This cycle is repeated until a seam has been
woven along the entire width of the fabric. The warp thread
1o fringes and seam strip weft threads reproduce within the
woven seam exactly the weave pattern of the fabric because
the fabric has been thermoset after weaving so that tile warp
and weft threads of the fabric, which are synthetic
monofilaments, are permanently crimped. The warp thread
fringes and the seam strip weft threads will be forced by
their thermoset crimp knuckles to cross each other exactly as
in the fabric.
The automatic seam weaving machine comprises a Jacquard
machine carriage which supports the Jacquard machine and the
2o shedding mechanism including the heddling assembly and the
spring box. A plurality of eyeletted heddles are mounted
between the springs of the spring box and the vertically
reciprocal hooks of the Jacquard machine. The heddles are
designed such that they can be slidably placed over the weft
threads so that the individual weft threads do not have to be
threaded through the heddles. The heddling assembly is
fixedly mounted on the Jacquard machine.
U.S. Patent 5,386,854 discloses a seam weaving machine
wherein the Jacquard machine is arranged slightly offset
3o underneath the shedding mechanism, a plurality of harness
cords extending vertically downward from the jacquard machine
and being deflected by 180° prior to passage through the
shedding mechanism to return springs secured in the machine
above the shedding mechanism.
U.S. Patent 4,862,566 discloses an auxiliary device for
a seam weaving machine. The auxiliary device couples each
seam strip weft thread drawn in through one of the heddles to
a tensioning string of a tensioning device. Said auxiliary
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device simplifies the drawing in of the seam strip weft
threads through the heddles of the shedding mechanism.
U.S. Patent 5,791,382 discloses a separable collar or
coupling for the harness of the Jacquard machine. The
separable collar enables a simple and quick connection and
disconnection of a twine to one or several harness cords
which in turn are fastened to the eyeletted heddles.
U.S. Patent 5,636,663 discloses a harness system for
weaving looms wherein all twines are releasably connected to
to one or several harness cords by means of couplings. The
harness cords pass through openings in a plate which is
reciprocally moveable so as to connect or disconnect all of
the couplings simultaneously. In this way, the Jacquard
machine can be disconnected from and reconnected to the
shedding mechanism without the need to disconnect and connect
each twine individually from the harness cords. A similar
device for disconnecting and connecting a plurality of twines
to harness cords collectively and simultaneously is disclosed
in German Patent DE 42 13 958.
2o The width of the heddling assembly and the number of
heddles or eyelets are fixed so that only small variations in
the width of a woven seam and the density of the weft threads
are possible with a specific heddling assembly. Each seam
weaving machine can, therefore, be used only for fabrics
within a narrow range of weave parameters. If a rather coarse
fabric has to be made endless following a fine fabric on the
same machine, the shedding mechanism has to be disconnected
from the Jacquard machine and replaced by a shedding
mechanism adapted to the coarser fabric. Such conversion of a
3o seam weaving machine requires several days because each twine
has to be disconnected from the harness cords of the previous
shedding mechanism and reconnected to the harness cords of
the new shedding mechanism separately.
Even if a fabric having the same parameters as the
previous one has to be made endless, a standstill of several
hours occurs because a new harness has to be drawn in, i.e. a
new set of the seam strip weft threads has to be drawn in,
through the eyeletted heddles or the eyelets. A Jacquard
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machine as used for a seam weaving machine includes, for
example, 896 cords. Depending on the complexity of the weave
pattern, it takes about 2 to 8 hours to draw in a new
harness. A typical forming fabric for use in the wet end
section of a papermaking machine has an average width of 7
meters. The opposite ends of such a fabric can be made
endless by means of a seam weaving machine within about 10 to
hours. A standstill of several hours is, therefore, a
considerable economic factor.
1o The weft threads of the seam strip cut from the fabric
are arranged to form a shed opening so that they are used as
or function as the warp thread in the seam weaving machine.
Similarly, the warp thread fringes are drawn in through the
shed opening so that they are used as or function as the weft
15 threads in the seam weaving machine. The designations "weft
threads" and "warp threads" are used here in accordance with
the arrangement the threads had in the fabric rather than in
accordance with their function in the seam weaving machine.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a technique for adapting
the design of a seam weaving machine quickly and without
extended standstill periods of the seam weaving machine to
the weave pattern and parameters of different fabrics. The
improvement includes preparing the harness for a fabric
having parameters differing from those of the previous fabric
while the shedding mechanism is removed from the seam weaving
machine and mounting the prepared shedding mechanism on the
seam weaving machine, the twines and harness cords being
3o coupled collectively.
Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides a
method for mounting a new harness on a seam weaving machine
for making endless a flat woven fabric formed by interwoven
warp and weft threads by means of a woven seam joining
together opposite ends of the fabric, the opposite ends of
the fabric each including a fringe of warp threads, the warp
threads of the fringe being supported such that they can be
interwoven with weft threads taken out of the fabric and
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drawn in through a shedding mechanism controlled by a
Jacquard machine by means of twines and harness cords so that
the weft threads drawn in form a shed opening, each of the
harness cords being passed through one of a number of
5 openings in a first plate, the harness cords being connected
to the twines by means of couplings, each of the twines
passing through one of a number of openings in a second
plate, each coupling comprising a first and a second coupling
element, each of the first coupling elements being fastened
io to a number of the harness cords and each of the second
coupling elements being fastened to a twine, the first and
second coupling elements being connectable by movement to a
first position relative to each other and are disconnectable
by movement to a second position relative to each others the
method comprising the steps of:
providing a harness carriage including first means for
releasably supporting the shedding mechanism and second means
for releasably supporting the first plate;
installing the shedding mechanism on the first
2o supporting means;
installing the first plate on the second supporting
means;
transferring the first plate from the second supporting
means to the seam weaving machine and moving the first plate
to the second plate so that all couplings will be moved
together into the first positions so that the harness cords
extending from the shedding mechanism are connected to the
twines extending from the Jacquard machine; and
releasing the shedding mechanism from the first
3o supporting means of the harness carriage and fastening the
shedding mechanism to the seam weaving machine.
Preferably, the seam strip weft threads are be drawn in
through the shedding mechanism while the shedding mechanism
is detached from the seam weaving machine and is attached to
the harness carriage. Another shedding mechanism can be
mounted on the seam weaving machine in order to make a fabric
endless in the meantime.
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In another aspect, the present invention provides an
apparatus for making endless a flat woven fabric formed by
interwoven warp and weft threads by means of a woven seam
joining together opposite ends of the fabric. The apparatus
comprises:
a shedding mechanism suitable for the weft threads taken
out of the fabric being drawn in through the shedding
mechanism, the shedding mechanism being controllable by
harness cords to form a shed opening with the drawn in weft
io threads, into which shed opening the warp threads of the
fringe can be drawn through for interweaving with the weft
threads
a Jacquard machine for controlling the shedding
mechanism by means of twines connectable to the harness
cords:
separable couplings for selectively connecting and
disconnecting the twines to the harness cords, each coupling
comprising a first and a second coupling element, the first
coupling element being fastened to at least one of the
harness cords and the second coupling element being fastened
to one of the twines, the first and second coupling elements
being connectable by their relative movement up to a first
position so that the harness cords are connected to the
twines of the Jacquard machine and are disconnectable by
further movement up to a second position so that the harness
cords are disconnected from the twines of the Jacquard
machine;
a first plate having a number of openings, each of the
harness cords being able to be passed through one of the
openings;
a second plate having a number of openings, each of the
twines being able to be passed through one of the openings
the first plate and the second plate being moveable
relative to each other so that all separable couplings can be
moved together into the first and the second position; and
the shedding mechanism, including the harness cords and
the first coupling elements fastened thereto, and the first
plate being disconnectable from the seam weaving machine.
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Preferably, the movement by which the first and second
coupling elements are connectable and disconnectable is a
movement in axial direction of the first and second coupling
elements.
Preferably, the first plate is a deflector plate and the
second plate is a counterpressure plate, which are movable on
guiding rods extending on a carriage carrying the Jacquard
machine, the deflector plate being transferable onto similar
guiding rods mounted on the harness carriage.
1o In still another aspect, the invention provides a
harness carriage including means for holding the shedding
mechanism, including the harness cords connected thereto and
the first coupling elements fastened thereto, and the
deflector plate in the same relative position as when they
are connected with the seam weaving machine so that they are
transferable from the seam weaving machine to the harness
carriage.
Preferably, the harness carriage further includes a
support for the shedding mechanism, the support including
2o means for lowering and raising the shedding mechanism so that
the harness cords can be tensioned and slackened.
Preferably, the harness carriage includes a support for
storing the weft threads to be drawn in through the shedding
mechanism and a support for a tensioning device for
tensioning the drawn-in weft threads, the weft thread support
being releasably attached to the harness carriage and the
tensioning device being transferable from the seam weaving
machine to the harness carriage.
New weft threads can be drawn in through the eyeletted
3o heddles or eyelets of the shedding mechanism while the
shedding mechanism is supported by the harness carriage.
Another harness can in the meantime be mounted on the seam
weaving machine so that the operation of the seam weaving
machine does not have to be interrupted or stopped while new
weft threads are drawn in.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top view of a seam weaving machine for
making flat woven fabric endless by means of a woven seam,
the fabric being shown dotted
Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-section view along II-II of
Fig . 1;
Fig. 3 is a top view of the seam weaving machine with
the fabric having been taken out and the seam weaving machine
being ready for mounting a new harness, a harness carriage
to with the new harness being shown spaced from the seam weaving
machine:
Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-section view along IV-IV of
Fig. 3;
Figs. 5 to 8 are schematic cross-sections similar to
Fig. 4 showing the sequential steps carried out for mounting
the new harness on the seam weaving machine
Fig. 9 shows in axial section the first and the second
coupling elements separated from each other with the first
coupling element being seated in the bore of the
2o counterpressure plate and the second coupling element being
seated in the bore of the deflector plate;
Fig. 10 shows the means for forcing the deflector plate
towards the counterpressure plate for connecting first
coupling elements to and disconnecting them from the second
coupling elements;
Fig. 11 is a top view of the harness carriage holding
the seam strip bobbin, the fastening plate, the deflector
plate, the lower harness frame and the tensioning device,
part of the weft threads being drawn in through the eyelets
3o and being drawn taut by the tensioning device:
Fig. 12 is an isometric view of the harness carriage
holding the deflector plate, the heddling device the seam
strip bobbin and the tensioning device, all of the weft
threads being drawn in through the eyeiets and being drawn
taut by the tensioning device and the fastening plate being
removed;
Fig. 13 is an exploded view of a bushing for the second
coupling element; and
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Fig. 14 shows a bushing inserted in the bore of the
counterpressure plate.
Figs. 1 and 2 show a seam weaving machine 10 for joining
opposite ends 17 of a fabric 18 by means of a woven seam 19.
The seam weaving machine 10 comprises two elongated support
elements 12 extending between forward and rearward standards
14 and 16 at a spacing of somewhat more than the width of the
woven seam 19, typically 13 m. Tightening straps or belts are
to used as the two elongated support elements 12. The opposite
ends 17 of the fabric 18 which are to be joined are clamped
to the elongated support elements 12.
A Jacquard machine 20 and a shedding mechanism 22 are
mounted on a Jacquard machine carriage 24. As shown in Fig.
2, the shedding mechanism 22 is held by a support beam 23
between the two elongated support elements 12 and the
Jacquard machine 20 is held on the Jacquard machine carriage
24 below and beside the elongated support elements 12. The
Jacquard machine carriage 24 will be guided parallel to the
2o elongated support elements 12 by an induction rail 26. The
opposite ends 17 of the fabric 18 to be made endless are
clamped to the elongated support elements 12 and the fabric
is passed underneath the Jacquard machine carriage 24.
Protection belts 25 are laid on the fabric 18 so that it will
not be damaged by the rolls of the Jacquard machine carriage
24. As is known, the fabric 18 can also be guided above the
Jacquard machine carriage 24.
The drawings are not drawn at scale. The distance
between the standards is e.g. 13 m while the Jacquard machine
3o has a length of approx. 1.5 m.
A seam strip 28 extends between the forward standard 14
and the rearward standard 16. The seam strip 28 has been cut
from one end of the fabric 18 and the warp threads have been
removed from the seam strip 28 leaving only the weft threads
29. A few warp threads have been left at the one end of the
seam strip 28 to hold the weft threads of the seam strip 28
together and maintain the order and relative alignment of the
weft threads in the seam strip 28. That end of the seam strip
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28 is fastened to a fastening plate 30 at the forward
standard 14. A tensioning device 32 is clamped by clamping
jaws 33 to the elongated support elements 12 so that it is
positioned between the elongated support elements 12 near the
5 rearward standard 16. The seam strip weft threads 29 extend
from the fastening plate 30 through the shedding mechanism 22
and then to the tensioning device 32 where the free ends of
the seam strip weft threads 29 are fastened to coil springs
34 by means of weft thread couplings 118 so that the seam
1o strip weft threads 29 are pulled taut.
The Jacquard machine 20 controls the shedding mechanism
22 by means of twines 38 coupled to harness cords 40 which in
turn are connected to eyelets 42 of the shedding mechanism
22.
The opposite ends 17 of the fabric 18 each include a
fringe 43 formed by removing a majority of the weft threads
within an end portion of approx. 20 cm. The weft threads of
two weave pattern repeats are left at the edge of the fringe
43 to form a narrow lease 45 functioning to maintain the warp
2o threads of the fringe 43 in the proper position and sequence
and to maintain proper relative alignment of the warp threads
with respect to each other. The woven seam 19 is formed by
separating a first one of the warp threads out of one of the
leases 45 and drawing it through the shed opening formed by
the seam strip weft threads 29. The shed is then changed and
a warp thread drawn out of the lease 45 at the opposite end
of the fabric 18 is separated and interwoven with the seam
strip weft threads 29. This cycle is repeated until the seam
19 has been woven along the entire width of the fabric 18.
Thus far, the seam weaving machine 10 is conventional.
In accordance with the invention, the shedding mechanism
22 is designed such that it can be detached from the Jacquard
machine carriage 24 and replaced by another shedding
mechanism 22. The harness cords 40 remain connected to the
shedding mechanism 22 and will be disconnected from the
twines 38 for such a replacement. That construction enables
conversion of a seam weaving machine 10 quickly for making
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endless by a woven seam a fabric having a completely
different weave pattern.
The shedding mechanism 22 comprises a lower harness
frame 60 and an upper harness frame 62. The lower harness
frame 60 comprises a vertical opening for each of the harness
cords 40. The harness cords 40 pass through the openings in
the lower harness frame 60 and are fastened to the eyelets 42
which in turn are fastened to return springs 68 suspended
from the upper harness frame 62.
to The Jacquard machine 20 is arranged such that the twines
38 exit in horizontal direction from the Jacquard machine 20.
The Jacquard machine 20 is the type LX61 of St~ubli Faverges
SCA, F-74210 Faverges, France. It has CX modules for each
group of eight hooks. This type of Jacquard machine is
particularly suited for being mounted such that the twines 38
exit in horizontal direction from the Jacquard machine.
The twines 38 are guided horizontally through openings
44 in a counterpressure plate 46 and are connected by means
of couplings 36 to the harness cords 40. The harness cords 40
2o are passed through openings 47 in a deflector plate 48. The
counterpressure plate 46 and the deflector plate 48 are
guided on guiding rods 50 extending horizontally and parallel
to the twines 38 from the Jacquard machine 20. The
counterpressure plate 46 can be moved on the four horizontal
guiding rods 50 from a home position (Fig. 2) near the
Jacquard machine 20 to a change position (Figs. 4 to 7) in
which the counterpressure plate 46 engages the couplings 36.
The counterpressure plate 46 abuts first stops 53 in the
change position. The deflector plate 48 is moveable on the
3o four horizontal guiding rods 50 from a home position (Fig. 2)
at the free end of the guiding rods 50 to a change position
(Fig. 6), in which the deflector plate 48 abuts second stops
55. The distance between the stops 53, 55 is chosen such that
the couplings 36 are in their second position and will be
disconnected, when both plates 46, 48 abut the stops 53, 55.
The counterpressure plate 46 and the deflector plate 48 can
be tightened to the guiding rods 50 by suitable locking
screws not shown in the drawings. The deflector plate 48
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comprises a forward plate 52 which is proximal to the
Jacquard machine 20 and a rearward plate 54. The harness
cords 40 are deflected after the deflector plate 48 from the
horizontal direction at an angle of approximately 60' upwards
to the shedding mechanism 22 forming the weaving shed. The
guiding rods 50 have a length sufficient to move the
deflector plate 48 in such position underneath the shedding
mechanism 22.
The couplings 36 (Fig. 9) for selectively connecting and
1o disconnecting the twines 38 and the harness cords 40 are
collars as disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,791,382. Those
couplings 36 comprise a first or socket element 76 and a
second or male element 78. Each socket element 76 is fastened
to at least a harness cord 40 and each male element 78 is
fastened to a twine 38. The openings 44 through the
counterpressure plate 46 are conical with the greater
diameter facing to the deflector plate 98 so that conical
ends of the male elements 78 can be held in the openings 44
of the counterpressure plate. The openings 47 in the forward
2o plate 52 of the deflector plate 48 are counterbored, the
enlarged opening facing the counterpressure plate 46 so that
the cylindrical ends of the socket elements 76 can be held
frictionally in the counterbored openings 47. A socket
element 76 and a male element 78 are connected by inserting
the male element 78 in axial direction up to a first position
into the socket element 76. They are disconnected by
continuing the axial insertion movement up to a second
position, after which the male element 78 can be withdrawn
completely out of the socket element 76.
3o A plurality of socket elements 76 can be connected at
the same time with the corresponding male elements 78 by
first moving the counterpressure plate 46 and the deflector
plate 98 along the guiding rods 50 to each other from their
home positions into their change positions so that the socket
elements 76 are seated in the counterbored openings 47 and
the male elements 78 are seated in the conical openings 44.
Further axial movement of the counterpressure plate 46 and
the deflector plate 48 will bring the couplings into their
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first position so that all couplings 36 are connected
simultaneously. In the event that the couplings 36 are to be
disconnected, the counterpressure plate 46 and the deflector
48 have to be moved closer to each other so that the
couplings 36 are brought into their second position after
which they can be disconnected from each other by return
movement of the counterpressure plate 46 and/or the deflector
plate 48. As shown in Fig. 10, the counterpressure plate 46
and the deflector plate 48 can be moved relative to each
to other by means of threaded rods 56 passing through openings
57 in the margin area of those plates 46, 48. A head 58 at
the one end of the threaded rod 56 pushes against the
counterpressure plate 46 and a star handle 59 is screwed onto
the other end of the threaded rod 86 in order to move the
plates 46, 48 towards each other.
As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the conical openings 44 in
the counterpressure plate 46 are formed by synthetic resin
bushings 80 having a radial slit 82. The bushings 80 are
inserted into bores 84 of the counterpressure plate 46. Each
bushing 80 has a cylindrical body 86 and an enlarged diameter
collar 88 at its forward end. That collar 88 rests against
the side of the counterpressure plate 46 facing the deflector
plate 48. The diameters of the bores 84 and the outer
diameters of the bushing main bodies 86 are slightly greater
than the diameters of the male elements 78 so that the
counterpressure plate 46 can be detached from the Jacquard
machine 20 by pushing the bushings 80 out of the bores 84 and
then drawing the male elements 78 through the bores 84. The
bushings 80 can be detached from the twines 38 via the radial
3o slit 82.
The harness carriage 90 comprises a middle section 92, a
right-hand side section 94 and a left-hand side section 96
(as seen in Figs. 3 and 11). The right-hand side section 94
and the left-hand side section 96 will be neglected for the
time being since they are of importance solely for a
preferred embodiment of the invention described later on. The
middle section 92 encompasses a vertical wall 98, two support
beams 100 extending horizontally at the bottom end of wall
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98, four guiding rods 102 and a lifting mechanism 104 for
lifting and lowering the shedding mechanism 22 or at least
the upper harness frame 62. A roll 106 is provided at each
end of each support beam 100 so that the harness carriage 90
can be pushed or pulled in each direction. The four guiding
rods 102 extending horizontally from the vertical wall 98
have the same height above the floor and the same distance
between each other as the guiding rods 50 extending from the
Jacquard machine 20 so that they can be brought into
to alignment with those guiding rods 50 by proper positioning of
the harness carriage 24. The points of the Jacquard machine
carriage guiding rods 50 and the points of the harness
carriage guiding rods 102 can be provided with mutual
engagement means like a conical point and a conical recess so
that they form a continuous guiding rod when the harness
carriage 90 docks onto the Jacquard machine carriage 24.
The transfer of a new harness will now be described. The
shedding mechanism 22 comprising the new harness is mounted
on the harness carriage 90, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is
2o to be transferred to the seam weaving machine 10. It will be
assumed that the fabric last made endless has been taken out
of the seam weaving machine 10 and that the support element
12 proximal to the harness carriage 90 has been removed, so
that the seam weaving machine 10 is "empty". The terms
"upward movement stage" and "downward movement stage" of the
Jacquard machine 20 refer to the up and, respectively, down
position of the eyelets 42 rather than to the position of the
hooks of the Jacquard machine 20. The various parts of the
seam weaving machine 10 and the new shedding mechanism 22
3o have to be in the following positions and the following steps
have to be carried out for mounting the new harness on the
seam weaving machine 10:
1. The Jacquard machine 20 is in the upward movement stage.
2. The counterpressure plate 46 is forward (change
position) so that the coupling male elements 78 are
seated in the conical openings 44 of the counterpressure
plate 46 (Figs. 4, 9 and 14).
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3. Coupling socket elements 76 are centered in the
deflector plate 48 which is located on the harness
carriage guiding rods 102 {Fig. 9).
4. Approaching with new harness on harness carriage 90 so
5 that the harness carriage guiding rods 102 come into
engagement with the Jacquard machine carriage guiding
rods 50 (Fig. 5).
5. Relieving harness tension by lowering the shedding
mechanism 22 (Fig. 5).
l0 6. Moving the deflector plate 48 from the harness carriage
guiding rods 102 onto Jacquard machine carriage guiding
rods 50 (Fig. 5).
7. Disengaging the harness carriage guiding rods 102 from
the Jacquard machine carriage guiding rods 50 and
15 withdrawing the harness carriage 90 approx. 2 cm.
8. Screwing holding screws onto the ends of all four
Jacquard machine carriage guiding rods 50 in order to
avoid the deflector plate 48 sliding from guiding rods
50.
9. Moving the deflector plate 48 holding the socket
elements 76 forward as far as to a distance of approx. 7
cm to the second stops 55 so that the socket elements 76
slightly engage the male elements 78.
10. Mounting the star handles 59 and moving the deflector
plate 48 forward by turning the star handles 59 (Fig.
6) .
11. Continuing to turn the star handles 59 until all of the
couplings 36 are locked in their first position
(recognizable clicking noise)(Fig. 6).
3o 12. Removing the star handles 59 (Fig. 7). (They are stored
on a hook at the backside of the wall 98.)
13. Moving the deflector plate 48 to its home position at
the end of the Jacquard machine carriage guiding rods 50
and firmly fixing it by locking screws (Fig. 7).
14. Moving the counterpressure plate 46 to its home position
(Fig. 8) .
15. Tensioning the harness by raising the shedding mechanism
22 by means of the lifting mechanism 104 (Fig. 8).
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16. Fastening the shedding mechanism 22 to the support beam
23 of the weaving machine 10 and detaching it from the
harness carriage 90.
17. Moving the harness carriage 90 away from the seam
weaving machine 10.
After that, the second support element 12 has to be
reinstalled and the seam strip weft threads 29 have to be
drawn in in conventional manner. A fabric 18 can then be laid
l0 into the seam weaving machine 10 and the opposite ends 17 of
the fabric 18 can be clamped to the support elements 12 for
the fabric 18 being made endless by a woven seam 19.
When the woven seam 19 has been finished, the support
elements 12 will be removed and the fabric made endless will
15 be taken out of the seam weaving machine 10.
If the following fabric largely has the same thread
density and weave pattern as the previous one, the shedding
mechanism 22 will be left in the seam weaving machine 10 and
new seam strip weft threads 29 will be drawn in through the
20 shedding mechanism 22. If the following fabric has a thread
density and/or weave pattern rather different from those of
the previous one, the shedding mechanism 22 will be replaced.
The various parts of the seam weaving machine 10 and the new
shedding mechanism 22 have to be in the following positions
25 and the following steps have to be carried out for removing
the shedding mechanism 22 from the seam weaving machine 10:
1. The Jacquard machine 20 is in the upward movemen~c stage.
2. Approaching with the empty harness carriage 90.
30 3. Fastening the shedding mechanism 22 at the harness
carriage 90 and detaching it from the support beam 23 of
seam weaving machine 10.
4. Relieving the harness tension the shedding mechanism 22
by means of the lifting mechanism 104.
35 5. Releasing the deflector plate 48 from the home position
and moving it towards the couplings 36 (change position)
a distance of approx. 6 cm.
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6. Engaging the harness carriage guiding rods 102 with the
Jacquard machine carriage guiding rods 50.
7. Removing the holding screws from the ends of the
Jacquard machine carriage guiding rods 50.
8. Programming the Jacquard machine 20 for the downward
movement stage.
9. Moving the counterpressure plate 46 from the home
position forward into the change position and tightening
it slightly so that it moves on the guiding rods 50 when
to a force is exerted on it.
10. Rotating the main shaft of the Jacquard machine 20
(manually) up to the end position of the downward
movement stage being reached.
11. Programming the Jacquard machine 20 for the upward
movement stage.
12. Rotating the main shaft of the Jacquard machine 20 and
moving counterpressure plate 46 holding the male
elements 78 as far as to the first stops 53 (change
position). Tightening the counterpressure plate 78.
13. Firmly tightening the counterpressure plate 46.
14. Moving the deflector plate 48 forward to the change
position as far as to the couplings 36.
15. Mounting the star handles 59 and moving the deflector
plate 48 forward by turning the star handles 59.
16. Continuing until the complete deflector plate 48 is
resting against the second stops 55 so that the
couplings 36 come into their second position and are
unlocked.
17. Removing the star handles 59.
18. Releasing the deflector plate 48, moving it away from
the second stops 55 (approx. 5 cm) and tightening it
slightly on the guiding rods 50.
19. Tensioning the harness by lifting shedding mechanism 22
until the couplings 36 are disconnected.
20. Programming the Jacquard machine 20 for the downward
movement stage.
21. Slightly tightening the counterpressure plate 46.
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22. Moving the counterpressure plate 46 including the male
elements 78 to the downward movement stage end position.
23. Programming the Jacquard machine 20 for the upward
movement stage, rotating the main shaft of the Jacquard
machine 20 and moving counterpressure plate 46 holding
the male elements 78 as far as to the first stops 53 to
retain the male elements 78 in the conical openings 44.
(This step prepares the seam weaving machine 10 for the
mounting of a new harness.)
l0 24. Relieving harness tension.
25. Pushing the deflector plate 48 onto the harness carriage
guiding rods 102.
26. Disengaging the harness carriage guiding rods 102 from
the Jacquard machine carriage guiding rods 50.
27. Removing the harness carriage 90 from the seam weaving
machine 10.
The transfer of the shedding mechanism 22 from the seam
weaving machine 10 to the harness carriage 90 is now
2o concluded and another shedding mechanism 22 can be mounted on
the seam weaving machine 10.
For the sake of simplicity it has been assumed in the
above enumeration of steps that the upper and the lower
harness frames 60, 62 form a one-piece element of the
shedding mechanism 22, so that they are together attached to
and detached from the harness carriage 90 and the Jacquard
machine carriage 24. In practice, the upper harness frame 62
and the lower harness frame 60 are usually separate elements
and solely the upper harness frame 62 is attached to the
lifting mechanism 104 while the lower harness frame 60 is
attached direct to the wall 98 of the harness carriage middle
section 92. The lower harness frame 60 is usually transferred
prior to the upper harness frame 62 from the harness carriage
90 to the Jacquard machine carriage 24.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated
by Figs. 3, 11 and 12, the tensioning device 32 in addition
to the shedding mechanism 22 is designed such that it can be
detached from the seam weaving machine 10 and transferred to
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the harness carriage 90 and vice versa. Such construction
enables preparation of the shedding mechanism 22 while it is
detached from the seam weaving machine 10 and mounted on the
harness carriage 90. It enables in particular drawing in the
seam strip weft threads 29 through the shedding mechanism 22
while it is mounted on the harness carriage 90 so that the
seam weaving machine 10 does not have to be stopped while a
new harness is being drawn in for the next fabric.
To this end, the harness carriage 90 comprises the
to right-hand and left-hand side sections 94, 96 cantilevered
from opposite sides of the middle section 92 of the harness
carriage 90.
The tensioning device 32 can be mounted on the left-hand
side section 96 of the harness carriage 90 and comprises a
base plate 110 and a storage plate 112 mounted parallel on a
support plate 114 which in turn is mounted on the left-hand
side section 96 of the harness carriage 90. The plurality of
coil springs 34 are fastened to the base plate 110, the
fastening points being arranged in rows and columns. The
2o forward end of the coil springs 34 is connected by short
strings to the weft thread couplings 118. A plurality of
counterbored holes is provided in the storage plate 112. The
counterbored holes are arranged in rows and columns so that
each of the holes is in registry with one of the coil spring
fastening points on the base plate 110. As long as the weft
thread couplings 118 are not connected with the seam strip
weft threads 29 they will be drawn by the coil springs 34
half-way through the counterbored holes in the storage plate
112 so that an enlarged diameter portion of the weft thread
3o couplings 118 abuts to the shoulder in the counterbored holes
(position X in Fig. 11). When the weft thread couplings 118
are connected to seam strip weft threads 29, the coil springs
34 will be extended so that the weft thread couplings 118 are
in a position in front of the storage plate 112 (position Y
in Fig. 11). The construction of the tensioning device 32 is
conventional so that it is not shown in detail in the
drawings.
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A bobbin 120, on which the seam strip weft threads 29
can be wound, is mounted on a bobbin support 122 on the
right-hand side section 94 of the harness carriage 90. A
clamping plate 128 is provided for between the shedding
5 mechanism 22 on the middle section and the bobbin 120 and
somewhat offset away from the wall 98 in Fig. 3. The forward
end of the seam strip 28 can be held by this clamping plate
128.
All operations necessary for drawing in the weft threads
l0 29 through the shedding mechanism 22 can be carried out on
the harness carriage 90 separated from the seam weaving
machine 10. The harness carriage 90 is moved to a special
drawing-in site for threading in the weft threads 29 through
the shedding mechanism 22. The drawing-in site comprises a
15 wall from which four guiding rods extend horizontally like
the Jacquard machine carriage guiding rods 50 so that the
harness carriage 90 can be docked onto that drawing-in site
by means of the guiding rods. The purpose of that docking on
is to be able to move the deflector plate 48 somewhat away
2o from its position beneath the shedding mechanism 22 held on
the harness carriage 90 so that the harness cords 90 are
stretched taut, which facilitates threading the weft threads
29 through the eyelets 42 in the shedding mechanism 22. It
would be difficult and cumbersome to thread the weft threads
29 if the harness cords 40 were to be slack and got
entangled.
A transverse ribbon is cut from one of the ends of the
fabric to form the seam strip 28. That seam strip 28 has a
width of, for example, 10 cm. The warp threads are removed
from the ribbon with the exception of within the end portions
so that full length weft threads 29 are obtained which are
held together at their ends by the interwoven warp threads.
The first end portion is fixed to the bobbin 120 and the seam
strip weft threads 29 are wound on the bobbin 120. If
necessary, a paper layer can be wound together with the weft
threads 29 so that the wound layers of the weft threads 29
are separated by the paper layer. The second end portion 126
of the seam strip 28 is then drawn away from the bobbin 120
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up to the tensioning device 32 so that the bobbin 120 is
partially unwound and there is a distance of about 30 cm
between the end of the weft threads held in the second end
portion 126 and the storage plate 112 of the tensioning
device 32 when the weft threads 29 are straight. The second
end portion 126 is then fastened on a clamping plate 128
which is provided for between the shedding mechanism 22 and
the bobbin 120 and somewhat offset away from the wall 98. The
weft thread 29 nearest to the wall 98 is drawn out of the
to second end portion 126 held by the clamping plate 128, drawn
through the corresponding eyelet 42 of the shedding mechanism
22 and fastened to the corresponding weft thread coupling
118. The weft thread coupling 118 is connected to the coil
spring 34 which in turn is fastened to the base plate 110 of
the tensioning device 32 so that the weft thread 29 is
tensioned. All further weft threads 29 in the second end
portion 126 are, one after the other, separated from the
second end portion 126 held by the clamping plate 128, drawn
in through the corresponding eyelet 42 and fastened to the
2o corresponding weft thread coupling 118.
When all of the weft threads 29 are drawn in through the
shedding mechanism 22 and fastened to the weft thread
couplings 118, the new harness is completed so that it can be
mounted to the seam weaving machine 10. The clamping plate
128 will be removed at this juncture because it would
otherwise interfere with the Jacquard machine 10 when the
harness carriage 90 is moved to the seam weaving machine 10
so that the points of the harness carriage guiding rods
engage the points of the Jacquard machine carriage guiding
3o rods. Fig. 12 shows the harness carriage 90 with the new
harness and all the weft threads 29 drawn in through the
eyelets 42. For the sake of clarity, only three weft threads
29 are shown in Fig. 12. In reality, some hundreds of weft
threads are drawn in.
It will be assumed that the fabric last made endless has
been taken from the seam weaving machine 10 so that the seam
weaving machine 10 is "empty" and that at least the support
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element 12 proximal to the harness carriage 90 has been
removed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The various parts of the
seam weaving machine 10 and the new harness have to be in the
positions, and the steps have to be carried out, as described
above for the embodiment in which the shedding mechanism
without the seam strip weft threads has been transferred.
The tensioning device 32 can be transferred from the
harness carriage 90 to the seam weaving machine 10 before or
after the transfer of the shedding mechanism 22 and the
1o deflector plate 48. In each case, the tensioning device 32 is
clamped by the clamping jaws 13 only to the single support
element 12 installed at this juncture (Fig. 3) in the seam
weaving machine 10. The tensioning device 32 is provided with
an extendable leg or is supported in any other manner so that
it is held in its final position and does not hang down from
the single support element 12. Likewise, the seam strip weft
threads 29 can be unwound from the bobbin 120 and the first
~I, end portion of the seam strip 28 can be fastened to the
fastening plate 30 attached to the forward standard 14 before
or after the transfer of the shedding mechanism 22 and the
deflector plate 48.
' When the first end portion of the seam strip 28 has been
attached to the fastening plate 30, the tensioning device 32,
the deflector plate 48 and the shedding mechanism 22 have
been transferred and the couplings 36 have been connected,
the harness carriage 90 is empty and can be removed. After
removal of the empty harness carriage 90 from the seam
weaving machine 10, the second elongate support element 12
can be installed, the tensioning device can also be clamped
3o by the clamping jaws 13 to the second elongate support
element 12, a new fabric can be laid into the seam weaving
machine 10, the opposite ends 17 of a fabric 18 can be
clamped to the support elements 12 and, finally, the fabric
18 can be made endless by a woven seam 19.
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