Freeform weaving loom

Abstract

A loom for freeform weaving and method of using thereof. The loom includes a plurality of rollers each selectively and individually promoting a respective one of a plurality of warp threads along a longitudinal axis, a first and second grippers selectively holding and carrying a weft thread perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, and at least pair of combs interchangeably holding odd and even numbered warp threads at opposite vertical offsets, and by at least one comb promoting along the longitudinal axis weft thread segments deposited by the grippers, wherein the grippers deposit in a plurality of sequential iterations a plurality of segments of the weft thread at a plurality of locations corresponding to a plurality of different subsets of the plurality of rollers, and respective rollers of one of the different subsets promote a respective subset of the plurality of warp threads in each iteration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A loom for freeform weaving, comprising:
 a controller;   a plurality of rollers each adapted to selectively and individually promote a respective one of a plurality of warp threads along a longitudinal axis;   a first and second grippers adapted to selectively hold and carry a weft thread perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis; and   at least pair of combs controlled by the controller to interchangeably hold odd and even numbered warp threads at opposite vertical offsets, and to promote along the longitudinal axis by at least one comb of the at least pair of combs segments of a weft thread deposited perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis;   wherein the controller is adapted to control the first and second grippers in a plurality of sequential iterations to deposit perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis a plurality of segments of the weft thread at a plurality of locations corresponding to a plurality of different subsets of the plurality of rollers, and in each iteration to control respective rollers of one of the different subsets to promote a respective subset of the plurality of warp threads.   
     
     
         2 . The loom of  claim 1 , wherein a roller of the plurality of rollers is coupled to a solenoid having at least one rotatable wheel operated by a motor, the solenoid is controlled by the controller and adapted to selectively engage and disengage the at least one wheel with the roller in response to respective control signals from the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The loom of  claim 2 , wherein the roller is engaged by the at least one rotatable wheel when the solenoid is in a long pin position and disengaged when the solenoid is in a short pin position. 
     
     
         4 . The loom of  claim 1 , further comprising a gripper-like holder adapted to selectively hold the weft thread interchangeably with each of the first and second grippers. 
     
     
         5 . The loom of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second grippers comprises a motorized reel controlled by the controller and adapted to selectively pull and wrap around thereon the weft thread, wherein the gripper-like holder is further adapted to move perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis towards a respective one of the at least one of the first and second grippers to receive therefrom a wrapped portion of the weft thread. 
     
     
         6 . The loom of  claim 5 , wherein the gripper-like holder is adapted to move vertically to a provide therefor a path clear of the plurality of warp threads. 
     
     
         7 . The loom of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the pair of combs is adapted to move respective ones of odd and even numbered warp threads to provide the gripper-like holder a path clear of the plurality of warp threads. 
     
     
         8 . The loom of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutter movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and adapted to cut the weft thread to obtain a segment of a predetermined length. 
     
     
         9 . The loom of  claim 8 , wherein the cutter is mounted on one of the first and second grippers. 
     
     
         10 . The loom of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second grippers are movable along the longitudinal axis and controlled by the controller to deposit two or more of the plurality of segments at different offsets along the longitudinal axis in a single iteration of the plurality of iterations. 
     
     
         11 . The loom of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor deployed at a respective end of one of the first and second grippers to detect presence of a thread at a predetermined location relative thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The loom of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of reels adapted each to store and dispense a respective yarn type to be applied as the weft thread. 
     
     
         13 . A method for freeform weaving, comprising:
 introducing a plurality of warp threads to a plurality of rollers each adapted to selectively and individually promote a respective one of the plurality of warp threads along a longitudinal axis;   by at least pair of combs interchangeably holding odd and even numbered warp threads at opposite vertical offsets, and by at least one comb of the at least pair of combs promoting along the longitudinal axis segments of a weft thread deposited perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis;   in a plurality of sequential iterations depositing perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis by a first and second grippers a plurality of segments of the weft thread at a plurality of locations corresponding to a plurality of different subsets of the plurality of rollers, and in each iteration by respective rollers of one of the different subsets promoting a respective subset of the plurality of warp threads.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising selectively holding the weft thread interchangeably with each of the first and second grippers by a gripper-like holder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising selectively pulling and wrapping around the weft thread on a motorized reel provided on at least one of the first and second grippers, and moving the gripper-like holder perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis towards a respective one of the at least one of the first and second grippers to receive therefrom a wrapped portion of the weft thread. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving the gripper-like holder vertically to a provide therefor a path clear of the plurality of warp threads. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving by at least one of the pair of combs respective ones of odd and even numbered warp threads to provide the gripper-like holder a path clear of the plurality of warp threads. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising cutting the weft thread to obtain a segment of a predetermined length. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising moving the first and second grippers along the longitudinal axis and depositing two or more of the plurality of segments at different offsets along the longitudinal axis in a single iteration of the plurality of iterations.