Apparatus for supplying weft threads to a warp knitting machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for supplying weft threads to a warp knitting machine, comprising transporting conveyor means for successively and continuously transporting weft threads having the same length in one direction to said machine with the ends of said weft threads aligned in said one direction; weft supplying means including a plurality of means aligned in said one direction and movable in a direction perpendicular to said one direction for simultaneously engaging the ends of a plurality of weft threads having the same length, and for supplying in said perpendicular direction said plurality of weft threads to a position in which both ends of said weft threads of said plurality are aligned in said one direction; and control means for simultaneously effecting transfer of said plurality of weft threads of the same length in said position to said transporting conveyor means, and for successively effecting transfer of said weft threads of said plurality from said transporting conveyor means to said machine.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising cutting means for cutting off said weft threads so that the cut off weft thread lengths are transported by said transporting conveyor means to said machine, said control means releasing said weft threads from said transporting conveyor means at said machine.

Claim 4

Apparatus for making a fabric of warp threads and weft threads, comprising a warp knitting machine; transporting conveyor means for successively and continuously transporting weft threads of the same length in one direction to said machine; weft supplying means for supplying in a direction perpendicular to said one direction a plurality of weft threads to said transporting conveyor means, said weft supplying means including supply means and supply conveyor means located at the same level above the level of said transporting conveyor means, said weft supplying means crossing said transporting conveyor means and simultaneously drawing supplied weft threads across said transporting conveyor means; and control means for effecting transfer of said weft threads having said length from said weft supplying means to said transporting conveyor means, and for successively effecting transfer of said weft threads from said transporting conveyor means to said macHine, said control means including means for moving at least a portion of said transporting conveyor means to the level of said weft supplying means, and means for transferring said plurality of weft threads at said level from said weft supplying means to said transporting conveyor means, said moving means of said control means including a rotary control cam, and cam follower means for raising a portion of said transporting conveyor means to said level of said supply conveyor means; and cutting means for cutting off said weft threads so that the cut off weft thread lengths are transported by said transporting conveyor means to said machine, said control means releasing said weft thread length from said transporting conveyor at said machine.

Claim 5

Apparatus for making a fabric of warp threads and weft threads, comprising a warp knitting machine; transporting conveyor means for successively and continuously transporting weft threads of the same length in one direction to said machine; weft supplying means for supplying in a direction perpendicular to said one direction a plurality of weft threads to said transporting conveyor means, said weft supplying means including supply means and supply conveyor means located at the same level above the level of said transporting conveyor means, said weft supplying means crossing said transporting conveyor means and simultaneously drawing supplied weft threads across said transporting conveyor means; and control means for effecting transfer of said weft threads having said length from said weft supplying means to said transporting conveyor means, and for successively effecting transfer of said weft threads from said transporting conveyor means to said macHine, said control means including means for moving at least a portion of said transporting conveyor means to the level of said weft supplying means, and means for transferring said plurality of weft threads at said level from said weft supplying means to said transporting conveyor means, said moving means of said control means including a rotary control cam, and cam follower means for raising a portion of said transporting conveyor means to said level of said supply conveyor means; and cutting means for cutting off said weft threads so that the cut off weft thread lengths are transported by said transporting conveyor means to said machine, said control means releasing said weft thread length from said transporting conveyor at said machine.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transporting conveyor means include two transversely spaced endless transporting loops extending in said one direction, and two rows of transporting grippers mounted on the same, respectively, and forming pairs for holding lengths of weft threads; wherein said weft supplying means include a supply conveyor having two endless supply loops extending in said transverse direction and tranversing said endless transporting loops, at least one support between said supply loops, a plurality of supply grippers mounted on said support in a row, and supply means for supplying a plurality of weft threads to said plurality of supply grippers, respectively, so that said supply conveyor pulls a plurality of weft threads from said supply means and across said transporting conveyor means so that the weft threads are located above pairs of transporting grippers, respectively; and wherein said control means include first cam means and cam follower means for opening said pairs of transporting grippers when the same register with said supply grippers, respectively, second cam means and cam follower means for raising said pairs of opened transporting grippers so that the same engage weft threads pulled out by said plurality of supply grippers whereupon said transporting grippers are controlled by said first cam means and cam follower means to close and to clamp said weft threads, cutting means for cutting the clamped weft threads at said supply means so that said transporting conveyor means transport the cut off lengths of weft threads to said machine, and third cam means and cam follower means for opening and closing said transporting grippers in the region of said machine for delivering weft threads to the same.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weft supplying means include a plurality of air nozzles, a plurality of air guiding tubes, and supply means for supplying a plurality of weft threads to said nozzles so that the weft threads are blown into said air guiding tubes, respectively, and project out of the same, said air guiding tubes being located above said transporting conveyor means, and having bottom slots for the passage of weft threads; and wherein said control means include means for moving at least a portion of said transporting conveyor means to the level of said air guiding tubes, and means for transferring said weft threads at said level through said slots to said transporting conveyor means; and comprising cutting means for cutting off said weft threads between said nozzles and said tubes so that the cut off weft lengths are transported by said transporting conveyor means to said machine.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transporting conveyor means include two transversely spaced endless transporting loops extending in said one direction, and two rows of transporting grippers mounted on the same, respectively, and forming pairs for holding lengths of weft threads; and wherein said control means include first cam means and cam follower means for opening pairs of transporting grippers when the same register with said guiding tubes, respectively, second cam means and cam follower means for raising said pairs of opened transporting grippers so that the sAme engage at the ends of said tubes, weft threads pulled out by said nozzles, respectively, whereupon said transporting grippers are controlled by said first cam means and cam follower means to close and clamp said weft threads and to move the same down through said slots whereupon said cutting means cut off said clamped weft threads so that said transporting conveyor means transport the cut off lengths of weft threads to said machine, and third cam means for opening and closing said transporting grippers in the region of said machine for delivering weft threads to the same.

Claim 9

Apparatus for supply weft threads, comprising a warp knitting machine; supporting conveyor means for successively and continuously transporting weft threads in one direction to said machine; weft supplying means including a plurality of stationary weft supply means, and weft supply conveyor means for simultaneously transporting a plurality of weft threads from said weft supply means, respectively, across said transporting conveyor means in a direction transverse to said one direction; and control means for effecting simultaneous transfer of said plurality of weft threads from said supply conveyor means to said transporting conveyor means, and for effecting successive transfer of said weft threads from said transporting conveyor means to said machine.

Claim 10

Apparatus for supply weft threads, comprising a warp knitting machine; supporting conveyor means for successively and continuously transporting weft threads in one direction to said machine; weft supplying means including a plurality of stationary weft supply means, and weft supply conveyor means for simultaneously transporting a plurality of weft threads from said weft supply means, respectively, across said transporting conveyor means in a direction transverse to said one direction; and control means for effecting simultaneous transfer of said plurality of weft threads from said supply conveyor means to said transporting conveyor means, and for effecting successive transfer of said weft threads from said transporting conveyor means to said machine.