Device for forming a selvedge on a fabric

Abstract

Device for forming a selvedge on a fabric comprising at least one thread guiding element ( 8 - 9 ) for what is called a leno thread ( 10 - 11 ), provided on an arm ( 16 ), whereby this thread guiding element ( 8 - 9 ) can be moved by means of a drive mechanism ( 24 ), characterised in that the drive mechanism ( 24 ) comprises the combination of an oscillating drive element ( 25 ); coupling parts ( 26 ), and a mechanism ( 27 ) with which the movement of one of the above-mentioned coupling parts ( 26 ) can be translated in a lateral movement of the above-mentioned thread guide ( 17 - 18 ).

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . Device for forming a selvedge on a fabric comprising at least one thread guiding element for a leno thread carried by an arm, said at least one thread guiding element being provided with a thread guide and wherein at least said at least one thread guiding element is moveable by a drive mechanism so that its position may be laterally changed on the one hand, and may be changed in height on the other hand, and wherein said drive mechanism comprises: an oscillating drive element; coupling parts forming a connection between the drive element and the arm in order to move the respective thread guide in height; and a mechanism arranged to effect movement of one of the coupling parts to cause a lateral movement of the respective thread guide to thereby laterally change its position.  
   
   
       27 . Device according to  claim 26 , wherein the oscillating drive element comprises a motor having a motor shaft which may be rotated to and fro, in an oscillating manner.  
   
   
       28 . Device according to  claim 27 , wherein the motor is a stepping motor.  
   
   
       29 . Device according to  claim 26 , wherein the arm carrying said at least one thread guiding element is rotatable, and wherein the coupling parts comprise at least a crank that is rotatable to and fro by means of the oscillating drive element and a connecting arm provided between the crank and the arm carrying said at least one guiding element.  
   
   
       30 . Device according to  claim 26 , including means for enabling, in case of successive shed formations, by means of control of the movement of the oscillating drive element changing either or both the height and lateral position of each thread guide.  
   
   
       31 . Device according to  claim 26 , wherein said mechanism comprises a cam mechanism by which a to and fro input movement is converted to a rotational output motion.  
   
   
       32 . Device according to  claim 31 , wherein said cam mechanism comprises a cam guide on the one hand, and a cam follower working in conjunction with the cam guide on the other hand that enables generation of said rotation output motion as a result of its movement, and wherein the cam guide is provided on said connecting arm.  
   
   
       33 . Device according to  claim 27 , wherein said oscillating drive element is moveable between at least three positions, namely a first position from where the drive element may be brought into the second position in one direction and into the third position in the other direction, and in that said coupling parts and mechanism are configured such that the respective thread guide is moved in height both when the drive element is moved from the first position into the second position, as when it is moved from the first position into the third position, but in that a lateral movement of a respective thread guide only takes place in case of the movement from the first position into the third position.  
   
   
       34 . Device according to  claim 33 , wherein said cam mechanism comprises a cam guide on the one hand, and a cam follower working in conjunction with the cam guide on the other hand that enables generation of said rotation output motion as a result of its movement, and wherein the cam guide is provided on said connecting arm, and further wherein the cam guide is positioned such that the cam follower, when the drive element is moved from the first into the second position, makes contact with a cam guiding part which leaves the lateral position of the cam follower unaltered or practically unaltered, and in that the cam follower, as the drive element is moved from the first into the third position, makes contact with a cam guiding part which causes a lateral movement of the cam follower and thus brings about a lateral movement of a respective thread guide.  
   
   
       35 . Device according to  claim 26 , comprising at least one thread guiding element which is eccentrically situated in relation to a shaft onto which it is fixed, and wherein the mechanism comprises a crank-shaped part which is connected to the shaft in a fixed manner and thus forms a laterally protruding part, said crank-shaped part being connected to one of the coupling parts by a connecting rod.  
   
   
       36 . Device according to  claim 35 , wherein the arm carrying said at least one thread guiding element is rotatable, and wherein the coupling parts comprise at least a crank that is rotatable to and fro by means of the oscillating drive element and a connecting arm provided between the crank and the arm carrying said at least one guiding element, and further wherein the connecting rod is coupled to the connecting arm.  
   
   
       37 . Device according to claim  10 , wherein the connecting rod is coupled to a respective coupling part via a first hinge point on the one hand, and in that it is connected to the crank-shaped part via a second hinge point on the other hand, wherein said hinge points comprise rotary shafts which extend mutually in different directions and which are provided at a slanting angle on the sides of the connecting arm and the crank-shaped part respectively, such that a Bennet four-bar mechanism is thereby formed.  
   
   
       38 . Device according to  claim 26 , including at least one arm carrying at least one thread guiding element for a fixed thread, said fixed thread forming a shed together with at least one leno thread.  
   
   
       39 . Device according to  claim 26 , including multiple thread guiding elements carried by respective arms, wherein each arm is formed as a lever and wherein each such lever may be coupled to another such lever.  
   
   
       40 . Device according to  claim 26 , including at least one thread guiding element provided on an arm and that is arranged to guide a fixed thread and wherein other arms and respective thread guiding elements may be moved crosswise in planes disposed next to each other.  
   
   
       41 . Device according to  claim 26 , including at least two thread guiding elements for leno threads and at least one thread guiding element for a fixed thread, wherein the thread guiding elements for the leno threads are provided on one and the same arm.  
   
   
       42 . Device according to  claim 26 , wherein fixed and leno threads extend directly backwards relative to respective thread guides and wherein at least one of the thread guides is configured as a thread guiding eye situated in a plane which extends crosswise to a plane in which the respective thread guiding element can be moved in height.  
   
   
       43 . Device according to  claim 42 , wherein at least one of the thread guiding elements includes a thread eye provided at its free end, said thread eye formed of a passage extending slantingly relative to the crosscut end of the thread guiding element, slantingly backwards, to thereby open into the side wall of the thread guiding element.  
   
   
       44 . Device according to  claim 26 , wherein a thread guiding element includes a thread eye provided at its free end that is formed of a bent wire.  
   
   
       45 . Device according to  claim 26 , wherein said coupling parts exclusively consist of parts moveable to and fro.  
   
   
       46 . Device according to  claim 26 , wherein at least one thread guiding element is provided on an arm which can rotate around a point of rotation situated in or near the central plane of a weaving surface and in that the bisector of the angle described by such a thread guiding element does not substantially deviate from the central plane.  
   
   
       47 . Device according to  claim 46 , wherein said point of rotation is situated at a distance from the central plane which is smaller than 2 cm, and in that the bisector, if it deviates from the above-mentioned central plane, forms an angle with this plane which is smaller than 15 degrees.  
   
   
       48 . Device for forming a selvedge on a fabric comprising different thread guiding elements, including for example at least one thread guiding element for a leno thread and at least one thread guiding element for a fixed thread, said thread guiding elements being configured as protruding elements, in particular needle-shaped elements provided with a thread guide at least on their front ends, wherein the respective threads extend mainly along either or both the longitudinal direction of the thread guiding elements and along the thread guiding elements and wherein the thread guiding elements are moveable in height by means of a drive mechanism and wherein the thread guides are formed as thread guiding eyes situated in surfaces situated crosswise to a plane in which the thread guiding element concerned can be moved in height.  
   
   
       49 . Device according to  claim 48 , wherein at least one of the thread guiding elements has a thread eye provided at its free end, formed of a passage extending slantingly relative to the crosscut end of the thread guiding element, slantingly backwards, to thereby open into the side wall of the thread guiding element.  
   
   
       50 . Device according to  claim 49 , wherein at least one of the thread guiding elements has a thread eye provided at its free end that is formed of a bent wire.