WO2009005340A1

WO2009005340A1 - Injector device for inserting yarns into the shed of a weaving machine by means of a flowing medium, as well as such a weaving machine

Info

Publication number: WO2009005340A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/000167
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Puissant; Hendrik Hiemstra; Antonius Wilhelmus Maria De Corte; Gerardus Cox; Roeland Christiaan Van Den Berg; Godefridus Petrus Maas
Original assignee: Te Strake Textile B.V.
Priority date: 2007-07-03
Filing date: 2008-07-03
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Also published as: NL1034078C2

Abstract

The invention relates to an injector device (1) for inserting yarns into the shed (12) of a weaving machine (10) by means of a flowing medium, which device is provided with at least one injector assembly, each injector assembly being made up of a housing (2) provided with a through bore; an injector tube (4) accommodated within said bore, which is provided with a channel for passing a yarn to be inserted, wherein a first inlet end of the injector tube can be accommodated in a mixing chamber forming part of said bore and wherein an outlet end of the injector tube can be disposed beside the shed; a supply channel (3) formed in the housing for supplying said medium under pressure, which supply channel connects to the mixing chamber; as well as an injector tube connecting to said mixing chamber for supplying the yarn to the shed. According to the invention, the injector device is to that end characterised in that a nozzle (20, 200, 200') can be mounted to the outlet end(46) of the injector tube, which nozzle is provided with at least one outlet end (40) having an outlet opening, which outlet end has a central axis (40') which is oriented eccentrically relative to the central axis (4') of the injector tube.

Description

Injector device for inserting yarns into the shed of a weaving machine by means of a flowing medium, as well as such a weaving machine

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to an injector device for inserting yarns into the shed of a weaving machine by means of a flowing medium, which device is provided with at least one injector assembly, each injector assembly being made up of: a housing provided with a through bore; an injector tube accommodated within said bore, which is provided with a channel for passing a yarn to be inserted, wherein a first inlet end of the injector tube can be accommodated in a mixing chamber forming part of said bore and wherein an outlet end of the injector tube can be disposed beside the shed; a supply channel formed in the housing for supplying said medium under pressure, which supply channel connects to the mixing chamber; as well as an injector tube connecting to said mixing chamber for supplying the yarn to the shed.

Such an injector device is known, for example from Dutch patent No. 1022173, whilst a weaving machine provided with such an injector device is for example shown in Dutch patent publication No. 1031481 , both in the name of the present applicant.

The current developments in weaving machines tend towards the use of injector devices of the kind referred to in the introduction, by means of which several, as many as eight, yarns of different colours (and/or composition) are inserted into the shed of the weaving machine. The use of several, different yarns, requires the use of several injector assemblies - one for each yarn type and/or colour - which, when mounted on a chassis, form the injector device. This compound injector device is mounted to the reciprocating insertion side of the shed of the weaving machine in question.

A drawback of the (multiple) injector device that is currently known is that the outlet ends of the various injector tubes must be positioned within a small target area near the insertion side of the shed of the weaving machine in question. In particular in the case of multiple injector assemblies, the outlet ends of a few injectors may not be correctly oriented or positioned relative to the shed, or it may not be possible to do so, as a result of which the weft yarn in question is not correctly inserted, which can only result in more weaving faults.

The object of the invention is to provide an injector assembly as referred to in the introduction, by means of which a better orientation of the outlet end of the injector tube relative to the shed can be realised and thus a better control of the insertion of the weft yarn into the shed.

According to the invention, the injector device is to that end characterised in that a nozzle can be mounted to the outlet end of the injector tube, which nozzle is provided with at least one outlet end having an outlet opening, which outlet end has a central axis which is oriented eccentrically relative to the central axis of the injector tube.

The use of an eccentric outlet opening makes it possible to realise an improved positioning of the injector tube relative to the shed and consequently an improved positioning and control of the insertion of the left yarn into the shed.

The eccentric orientation of the outlet end relative to the central axis of the injector tube furthermore makes it possible to use larger dimensions for the injector tube, so that the weft yarn can be inserted into the shed with an even higher speed. In a general sense this leads to a higher operating speed of the weaving machine.

A more effective utilisation of the limited positioning space directly beside the shed can be realised in that according to the invention at least a part of the circumferential edge of the outlet end coincides with at least a part of the circumferential edge of the injector tube. Another functional embodiment of the injector device is characterised in that near the outlet end, the circumferential edge thereof is at least in part configured to allow the pressurized medium to pass therethrough. By configuring at least a part of the circumferential edge to allow the pressurized medium to pass therethrough, the medium being carried through the injector tube can in part exit the injector tube via said partially open part of the circumferential edge rather than via the outlet end. As a result, less pressurized medium is blown into the shed simultaneously with the weft yarn, so that the pressurized medium will not interfere with the flight or movement of the left yarn through the shed as much. This in turn decreases the number of weaving faults in the fabric to be produced. In a functional embodiment, one or more openings are present in the circumferential edge of the outlet end, which openings enable at least part of the pressurized medium being supplied to flow out. Said openings may be provided in the circumferential edge in such a manner that the pressurized medium flowing out essentially does not comprise a velocity component in the direction of insertion of the yarns into the shed. In this way part of the pressurized medium is deflected from the shed, so that it cannot interfere with the movement of the weft yarn through the shed.

In a number of functional embodiments, the openings may be provided perpendicularly to the central axis of the injector tube or at an angle relative to the central axis of the injector tube, facing away from the outlet end. In another embodiment, said openings are circular in shape, whilst in another embodiment said openings may have an elongated shape.

In the latter embodiment, the elongated openings may extend parallel to the central axis of the injector tube, whilst in another functional embodiment the elongated openings may furthermore extend at an angle relative to the central axis of the injector tube.

In another embodiment of a circumferential edge through which a medium can pass, said circumferential edge is made of a partially open material, in particular a mesh.

Another embodiment of the injector device is characterised in that the device comprises several injector assemblies, whose individual injector tubes are arranged with their outlet ends in abutment with each other, in such a manner that the individual eccentric outlet ends are adjacent to each other. This leads to a compact arrangement of the various abutting eccentric outlet openings near the insertion side of the shed of the weaving machine in question. Because of this correct orientation or position, the weft yarns can be inserted into the shed in a correct manner, so that weaving faults can are prevented.

The invention also relates to an individual injector tube as described herein, whilst the invention further relates to a weaving machine provided with an injector device according to the invention.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an injector device according to the prior art;

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a weaving machine provided with an injector device according to the prior art;

Figures 3a-3d show a first embodiment of an injector device according to the invention;

Figures 4a-4d show a second embodiment of an injector device according to the invention;

Figures 5a-5d show a third embodiment of an injector device according to the invention; Figures 6a-6d show a fourth embodiment of an injector device according to the invention;

Figures 7a-7d show a fifth embodiment of an injector device according to the invention;

Figures 8a-8d show sixth a embodiment of an injector device according to the invention;

Figures 9a-9d show a seventh embodiment of an injector device according to the invention;

Figures 10a-10d show an eighth embodiment of an injector device according to the invention. For a better understanding of the invention, like parts will be indicated by the same numerals in the following description of the Figures.

Figure 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an injector device 1 according to the prior art, more in particular an injector device comprising several injector assemblies. The injector device 1 has a housing 2, which accommodates a number of injector assemblies. A number of injector tubes 4 (four in all in this case) connect to the end surface 2b of the housing 2 with their inlet ends 4a, as do a number of supply hoses 3 for the pressurized medium (for example compressed air).

The housing 2, the supply hoses 3, as well as the injector tubes 4 are mounted on a chassis 5-5a, which is in turn mounted to the insertion side of the shed of a weaving machine 10 (see Figure 2).

For each injector assembly, an injector tube 4 connects to a mixing chamber (not shown) present in the housing 2 with its inlet end 4a (not shown) and a supply hose 3. Via said supply hose 3, a pressurized medium, for example compressed air, can be supplied to the mixing chamber and the injector tube 4, carrying along a yarn 8 (see Figure 2), which is passed into the mixing chamber via the surface 2a of the housing 2 remote from the end surface 2b, and carrying it further through the injector tube 4 to the outlet end 4b thereof. Via said outlet end 4b, the yarn will be carried into the shed 12 of a weaving machine 10 (Figure 2). By suitably controlling the various injector assemblies 3-4 via the pressurized medium, various yarns can be blown or shot into the shed in succession in dependence on the adjusted weaving pattern.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a weaving machine according to the invention. The weaving machine 10 is provided with a shed 12 formed by warp yarns 11 , whilst an injector assembly 2 as shown in Figure 1 is disposed on one side (or on both sides) of the shed 12. The weft yarn 8 is unwound to the desired weft length from a supply bobbin in a known manner and subsequently inserted into the shed 12 by the injector device 2.

The injector device 1 is made up of an injector assembly (see also Figure 1) provided with an injector tube 4. The movement of the weft yarn 8 through the injector tube 4 can be accelerated by means of a pressurized medium, for example compressed air. The weft yarn 8 has a length such that the front end thereof is substantially in line with the right-hand side of the shed 12 shown in Figure 2. Cutting means 16 are disposed near the exit side of the shed 12 for cutting the weft yarn 8 to the desired length. Such cutting means may also be disposed at the insertion side of the shed 12.

To control or influence the movement of the weft yarn 8 through the shed - in order to prevent weaving faults - the weaving machine 10 is provided with a guide 12c, which forms part of the reed in this embodiment. Said reed is built up of a large number of lamellae 12a extending parallel to each other, which are connected to the lay 12b. The guide 12c is formed by a recess in the side-by-side lamellae 12a. The movement of the weft yarn 8 can be further controlled and influenced by means of auxiliary blowers 15, which blow the medium under pressure, for example air, in the direction of the recess. In this way the weft yarn 8 is prevented from undesirably getting out of the guide 12c during its movement through the shed 12 due to an erratic flight behaviour.

Figures 3a-3d, 4a-4b, 5a-5b, 6a-6b and 7a-7b show various embodiments of an injector device according to the invention.

According to the invention, and as shown in said Figures, the outlet end 4b of each injector tube 4 is configured to have an outlet opening 40 which is eccentrically disposed relative to the central axis 4¹ of the injector tube. As shown in Figures 3b-4b-5b-6b-7b, the outlet end 40 has a central axis 40' which extends substantially parallel to the central axis 4', but which is oriented eccentrically with respect thereto. All this is clearly shown again in Figure 3c, and in particular in Figure 3d.

As shown in Figure 3b, the outlet end 4b and the outlet end 40 are tubular in shape, whilst the diameter of the tubular outlet end 4b is larger than the diameter of the tubular outlet end 40. The eccentric orientation of the outlet end 40 makes it possible to realise a better orientation of the injector tube 4 near the insertion side of the shed 12 of the weaving machine. As a result of the improved orientation of the eccentric outlet opening 40 relative to the insertion side of the shed 12, the insertion of the weft yarn takes place in a more controlled, more trouble-free manner, so that the weaving machine can be operated at a higher speed, and, in addition, the number of weaving faults can be reduced.

As is clearly shown in Figures 3a-7a, the injector tube 4 comprises a transition area 22 near the outlet end 40, in which the wide, concentric diameter of the injector tube gradually blends into a reduced, eccentric diameter. As is clearly shown in the Figures, and more particularly in Figure

3d, at least a part of the circumferential edge 41 of the outlet end 40 coincides with the circumferential edge 21 of the injector tube 4. This, too, makes it possible to position the outlet end 40 even closer to the recess 12c in the lamellae 12a of the shed 12, which functions as a guide. As is shown in Figures 3a-3b and 4a-4b, the nozzle 20 is provided with an end 20a having a smaller diameter, which can be accommodated with a proper fit in the end 4b of an injector tube 4. Thus, the nozzle 20 provided with the eccentric outlet opening 40 can be mounted to an injector tube 4, which adaptation can also be realised in a simple manner with existing injector devices 1. This manner of mounting is also possible with the embodiments shown in Figures 5a-5b, 6a-6b and 7a-7b.

Although each injector tube 4 may be provided with an eccentric outlet opening as shown in Figures 3a-7b in a first embodiment, a cheaper and simpler construction can be realised by having the eccentric outlet opening form part of a nozzle 20, which can be mounted to the outlet end 4b of the injector tube 4. To that end, also existing injector devices can be readily adapted to accommodate an injector tube having an eccentric outlet opening.

The Figures also show additional functionality of the injector tube according to the invention.

According to this additional aspect of the invention, at least a part of the circumferential edge 21 near the eccentric outlet opening is adapted to allow the pressurized medium to pass therethrough. To that end one or several openings having varying circumferential configurations are formed in the circumferential edge 21 in Figures 3a-3d, 4a-4b, 5a-5b, 6a-6b and 7a-7b, which openings are indicated at 23. In Figures 3a-3d said openings 23 are circular in shape, whilst the openings of Figures 4a-4b, 5a-5b and 6a-6b are configured as elongated, slotted holes.

In Figures 4a-4b the slotted circumferential openings 23 extend parallel to the central axis 4', whilst in the embodiment shown in Figures 5a-5b said openings extend radially about the central axis 4'. In Figures 6a-6b the elongated, slotted circumferential openings 23 extend at an angle relative to the central axis 4'.

In Figures 7a-7b the circumferential edge 21 is not provided with the circumferential openings 23 shown in the preceding embodiments, but the circumferential edge 21 is configured as a mesh. The partially open circumferential edge 21 shown in Figures 3a-3d,

4a-4b, 5a-5b, 6a-6b and 7a-7b functions to enable at least part of the pressurized medium being supplied to flow out of the injector tube 4. Allowing the pressurized medium to escape at least in part via the circumferential openings 23/the mesh material 23 rather than via the eccentric outlet opening 40 makes it possible to prevent any undesirable excess of pressurized medium being blown into the shed 12, where it might interfere with the movement of the weft yarn 8 through the shed 12.

Because at least part of the pressurized medium is "blown off" via the partially open circumferential edge 21' rather than via the outlet end 40, the flight of the weft yarn through the shed is not adversely affected and weaving faults are prevented. Less pressurized medium is blown into the shed 12 simultaneously with the weft yarn 8, resulting in less interference with the flight or movement of the weft yarn through the shed. This in turn leads to a reduction of the number of weaving faults in the fabric to be produced. The openings 23 must be formed in the circumferential edge 21 in such a manner that the pressurized medium flowing out will not comprise a velocity component in the direction of insertion of the yarn 8 into the shed 12. Thus, the pressurized medium is in part deflected from the injector tube 4 of the shed 12, so that it cannot interfere with the movement of the weft yarn 8 through the shed. The openings 23 may extend perpendicularly to the central axis 4' of the injector tube 4 or at an angle relative to the central axis 4' of said injector tube 4, facing away from the outlet end 40.

An additional advantage of the eccentric outlet opening 42 is furthermore the fact that this construction makes it possible to increase the overall diameter of the injector tube 4, and that thus a larger amount of pressurized medium can be passed through the injector tube. This makes it possible to impart a higher initial speed to the weft yarn 8.

Figure 8 shows yet another embodiment of an injector device according to the invention. In this embodiment the nozzle 20 having the eccentric outlet opening is made up of at least two parts 20'-20", with interspaces 50', 50", respectively, being present between said parts and the injector tube 4. Via said interspaces 50'-50", the pressurized medium can escape in part without interfering with the flight of the yarn through the shed. Although the segments 20'-20" as well as the injector tube 4 are connected to the chassis 5 by means of support members 45-25'-25" in this Figure, the two segments 20'-20" may also be suitably moved relative to each other and to the injector tube 4 in another embodiment for the purpose of varying the passages 50'-50".

Figures 9a-9b show another embodiment of the device, in which a multiple injection device made up of four injector assemblies 4 is disclosed. In this case, too, the various outlet ends 4b of the individual injector tube 4 end in an eccentric outlet opening 40 via a nozzle 200. The four eccentric outlet openings 40 each form part of one nozzle 200, such that the individual eccentric outlet openings are closely spaced. See Figures 9c-9d, which show a sectional side view and a sectional top plan view, respectively, of Figure 9b.

The nozzle 200 has several outlet openings 40 and can be simply moved over the common outlet ends 4b of the several injector tubes 4. This makes it possible to realise an effective positioning of the various outlet openings relative to the insertion side of the shed 12 of the weaving machine. The eccentric outlet openings 40 are spaced closer together, as is seen in Figures 9a-9b.

Figures 10a-IOc show another embodiment of the device corresponding to the embodiment of Figures 9a-9b. In the embodiment shown in Figure 10a, a nozzle 200' is disclosed, which nozzle is provided with the four eccentric outlet ends 40, which are each in communication with one of the outlet ends 4b of the several injector tubes 4. The central axes 40' of the outlet ends 40 are oriented eccentrically relative to the central axis 4' of the outlet ends 4b of the injector tubes 4. The eccentric arrangement of the outlet ends 40 in proximity to each other is furthermore shown in the sectional view of Figure 10b and the front view of Figure 10c. On account of the eccentric arrangement of the outlet ends 40, said outlet ends are spaced closer together than the outlet ends 4b of the injector tube 4 arranged in proximity to each other.

In this embodiment, the nozzle 200' is provided with several passages 50" in the outer circumference thereof for the purpose of allowing the pressurized medium to escape in part without interfering with the flight of the yarn through the shed.

Claims

1. An injector device (1) for inserting yarns into the shed (12) of a weaving machine (10) by means of a flowing medium, which device (1) is provided with at least one injector assembly, each injector assembly being made up of: a housing (2) provided with a through bore; an injector tube (4) accommodated within said bore, which is provided with a channel for passing a yarn to be inserted, wherein a first inlet end

(4a) of the injector tube can be accommodated in a mixing chamber forming part of said bore and wherein an outlet end (4b) of the injector tube can be disposed beside the shed (12); a supply channel (3) formed in the housing for supplying said medium under pressure, which supply channel connects to the mixing chamber; as well as an injector tube (4) connecting to said mixing chamber for supplying the yarn to the shed, characterised in that a nozzle (20-200-200') can be mounted to the outlet end (4b) of the injector tube (4), which nozzle is provided with at least one outlet end (40) having an outlet opening, which outlet end (40) has a central axis (40') which is oriented eccentrically relative to the central axis (4¹) of the injector tube (4).

2. An injector device according to claim 1 , characterised in that at least a part of the circumferential edge of the outlet end (40) of the nozzle coincides with at least a part of the circumferential edge of the injector tube.

3. An injector device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that near said outlet end (40), the circumferential edge of the outlet end of the nozzle is at least in part configured to allow the pressurized medium to pass therethrough.

4. An injector device according to claim 3, characterised in that one or more openings (23; 50'; 50") are present in the circumferential edge of the outlet end of the nozzle, which openings enable at least part of the pressurized medium being supplied to flow out.

5. An injector device according to claim 4, characterised in that the diameter of said openings at the outlet end thereof is adjustable.

6. An injector device according to claim 4, characterised in that the circumferential edge of the outlet end of the nozzle is made of a partially open material, in particular a mesh.

7. An injector device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device comprises several injector assemblies, whose individual injector tubes are arranged with their outlet ends in proximity to each other, whilst a nozzle provided with an eccentric outlet end (40) can be fitted to each injector tube.

8. An injector device according to claim 7, characterised in that the nozzle comprises a number of eccentric outlet ends corresponding to the number of injector tubes, which outlet ends each individually connect to one of the several injector tubes.

9. An injector device according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that said eccentric outlet ends (40) face towards each other.

10. A weaving machine provided with an injector device according to any one or more of claims 1-8.