Thread Clamp for a Rapier Head and Method for the Operation of the Same

Abstract

A thread clamp for a rapier head ( 10 ) for the firm clamping of weft threads ( 2, 2′, 2″, 2′″ ) in a rapier weaving machine is presented. The thread clamp ( 1 ) has first and second holding members ( 3, 4 ) which can be pressed against one another in a clamping region ( 3 a, 4 a ) in order to hold the weft threads. Moreover, one or more deflection elements ( 7, 7′ ) are provided at the thread clamp in order to deflect the weft thread or threads ( 2, 2′, 2″, 2′″ ) and to increase the holding force, with at least one deflection element ( 7, 7′ ) being controllable.

1 . Thread clamp for a rapier head ( 10 ) for the firm clamping of weft threads ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) in a rapier weaving machine, said thread clamp ( 1 ) having first and second holding members ( 3 ,  4 ) which can be pressed against one another in a clamping region ( 3   a ,  4   a ) in order to hold one or more weft threads, and in which one or more deflection elements ( 7 ,  7 ′) are provided at said thread clamp in order to deflect the weft thread or threads ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) and to increase the holding force, characterized in that at least one deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is controllable. 
   
   
       2 . Thread clamp in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) has its own actuator ( 8 ) in particular a magnetic actuator, in order to actuate the deflection element, in particular actuate it separately from the two holding members ( 3 ,  4 ). 
   
   
       3 . Thread clamp in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) can be controlled, when the weft thread or threads ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) are clamped in the thread clamp. 
   
   
       4 . Thread clamp in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the two holding members ( 3 ,  4 ) are made to clamp automatically and/or as a passive clamping device. 
   
   
       5 . Thread clamp in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is formed as a lever arm or is arranged on a lever arm. 
   
   
       6 . Thread clamp in accordance with one of the  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is arranged in the clamping region ( 3   a ,  4   a ). 
   
   
       7 . Thread clamp in accordance with one of the  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is arranged to the side of the clamping region ( 3   a ,  4   a ). 
   
   
       8 . Rapier head with a thread clamp ( 1 ) in accordance with  claim 1 . 
   
   
       9 . Method for the operation of a thread clamp ( 1 ) for a rapier head ( 10 ) of a rapier weaving machine having first and second holding members ( 3 ,  4 ), in which method the two holding members are pressed towards one another in a clamping region ( 3   a ,  4   a ), one or more weft threads ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) are held in the clamping region and one or more deflection elements ( 7 ,  7 ′,  12   a ) are provided by means of which the weft thread or threads are deflected and the holding force of the thread clamp is increased, characterized in that at least one deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is controlled for the insertion of the weft thread or threads respectively. 
   
   
       10 . Method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the at least one controlled deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is controlled for each individual weft insertion. 
   
   
       11 . Method in accordance with  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein, during the take-up and/or the transfer of the weft thread or threads ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) the at least one controlled deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is withdrawn and/or wherein the weft thread or threads is or are additionally held by the at least one controlled deflection element during the insertion in that it is dipped into the path of the thread. 
   
   
       12 . Method in accordance with one of the  claim 9 , wherein the weft thread or threads ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) is/are drawn for the reception into the clamping region ( 3   a ,  4   a ), is/are held in the clamping region by the holding members ( 3 ,  4 ) which are pressed towards each other and wherein at least one controlled deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is subsequently moved into the path of the thread. 
   
   
       13 . Method in accordance with one of the  claim 9 , wherein, for the transfer of the weft thread or threads ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) to the taker rapier, the at least one controlled deflection element ( 7 ,  7 ′) is withdrawn from the path of the thread and following this the weft thread or threads ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) is/are withdrawn from the clamping region ( 3   a ,  4   a ). 
   
   
       14 . Rapier weaving machine having a thread clamp ( 1 ) in accordance with  claim 1 . 
   
   
       15 . Rapier weaving machine having a rapier head ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 8 . 
   
   
       16 . Rapier weaving machine equipped to carry out a method in accordance with  claim 9 .