BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus for a loom,
particularly a loom that includes a shedding device including multiple heald frames,
a shed driving device, and transmission mechanisms, and for adjusting the height of
the heald frames before the loom is operated, the shed driving device vertically raising
and lowering each heald frame, the transmission mechanisms being provided in a one-to-one
correspondence with the heald frames, and the transmission mechanisms each coupling
the shed driving device and the corresponding heald frame together. Each of the transmission
mechanisms can change the height of the corresponding heald frame at which the heald
frame is vertically supported.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a shedding device in a loom of the above-described
type. The shedding device includes multiple transmission mechanisms provided in a
one-to-one correspondence with heald frames. Each transmission mechanism couples the
corresponding heald frame with a swingable lever of a shed driving device. Each transmission
mechanism converts a reciprocating swing motion of the swingable lever of the shed
driving device into a vertical motion of the corresponding heald frame. Each transmission
mechanism includes a pair of rod-shaped support members. Each transmission mechanism
is coupled with the corresponding heald frame in such a manner that ends of the support
members are attached to the lower end of the heald frame. Thus, each heald frame is
supported by the pair of support members of the corresponding transmission mechanism
and its height is determined by the length of the support members.
[0003] In accordance with, for example, a change of a fabric that is to be woven, a loom
is often subjected to an operation of adjusting the height of each heald frame of
the shedding device (this operation is also referred to as a "height adjusting operation",
below) during an adjusting operation performed before the loom is operated so that
the height of each heald frame is suitable for the changed fabric. The height of each
heald frame in the above-described loom including a shedding device is adjusted by
matching the length of the pair of support members, which support the heald frame,
with the changed (adjusted) height of the heald frame.
[0004] Specifically, the support members of each transmission mechanism are each formed
of a connecting rod, connected to the corresponding heald frame at a first end portion,
and a tubular support body, into which a second end portion of the connecting rod
is inserted and fitted. The length of each support member as a whole (the full length
of the support member) is adjustable by changing the amount by which the connecting
rod is inserted into the support body. The position of the connecting rod relative
to the support body is fixed by a fixing screw screwed into the support body. Specifically,
the full length of each support member (or the amount by which the connecting rod
is inserted into the support body) is changeable by loosening the fixing screw and
the full length of each support member is fixed by tightening the fixing screw. As
described above, each support member supports the corresponding heald frame in the
vertical direction. Thus, the height of the corresponding heald frame in the shedding
device is adjusted in accordance with the change of the full length of each support
member.
[0005] Thus, to adjust the height of each heald frame, the following operations are performed:
a fixing screw is loosened so that the full length of the support members, which support
a heald frame whose length is to be adjusted, is rendered changeable; in this state,
the height of the heald frame is changed to the height corresponding to the subsequent
weaving; and the fixing screw is then tightened to fix the height of the heald frame
(full length of the support members).
[0006] As described above, each heald frame of the shedding device is supported by the support
members of the corresponding transmission mechanism. In other words, the weight of
each heald frame is borne by the support members of the corresponding transmission
mechanism. Thus, when the height of the heald frame is to be adjusted in the above-described
manner, if the fixing screws on the support members are loosened without the heald
frame being vertically supported, the heald frame would lose support and fall due
to its weight. Thus, the heald frame height adjusting operation has to be performed
while at least the heald frame is being supported. Besides, loosening or tightening
of the fixing screws, which are located at lower portions of the heald frame, requires
two or more operators.
[0007] Examples of the existing technology for facilitating the heald frame height adjusting
operation include a device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No.
11-107103 and a device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2009-293154.
[0008] The device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
11-107103 is usable in a device of a type different from that of the shedding device for which
the present invention is designed. A mechanism for adjusting the height of a heald
frame is incorporated in the device at a connection portion between a heald frame
and a rod of the transmission mechanism.
[0009] In contrast to the device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No.
11-107103, the device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2009-293154 is not incorporated in the shedding device. The device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No.
2009-293154 stands alone as a tool for a heald frame height adjusting operation. For the heald
frame height adjusting operation, the device is mounted on a fixing portion of the
loom. The device disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No.
2009-293154 includes engagement means for becoming engaged with a side stay of the heald frame.
When the device is mounted on the fixing portion of the loom, the device can hold
the heald frame (can support the heald frame) as a result of the engagement means
becoming connected with the heald frame. Concurrently, the device changes (adjusts)
the height of the heald frame by vertically changing the position of the engagement
means using an ascending-descending mechanism.
[0010] In the device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
11-107103, however, the above-described mechanism is incorporated in the shedding device corresponding
to each heald frame. This configuration may cause problems such as rendering the shedding
device complex and increasing the production cost. Moreover, this configuration increases
the weight of the portion (including the heald frame) that vertically moves during
the shedding motion. Thus, an adoption of the configuration in which the mechanism
is incorporated in the shedding device can hinder the speedup of the loom.
[0011] The device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2009-293154, on the other hand, does not cause the problems that can occur in the above-described
device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
11-107103 since the device is provided as a tool independent of the shedding device and is
coupled with the heald frame only at the time of adjusting the height of the heald
frame. As described above, the device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No.
2009-293154 adjusts the height of the heald frame by vertically changing the position of the
engagement means that becomes engaged with the heald frame. The configuration of the
device for engaging the engagement means and the heald frame together, however, causes
the following problems.
[0012] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2009-293154 discloses a holding mechanism (holding device) as an example of the engagement configuration,
the holding mechanism holding a side stay of the heald frame in the front-rear direction
(thickness direction of the heald frame). Specifically, this holding mechanism includes
a body, a fastening portion, and a clamp portion. When a male screw included in the
fastening portion is fastened, the body and the clamp portion hold the side stay so
that the holding mechanism becomes engaged with the heald frame. The holding mechanism
that holds the side stay in the front-rear direction in the above-described manner,
however, fails to vertically change (raise or lower) the position of the heald frame
in accordance with the positional change of the holding mechanism (engagement means)
unless the holding mechanism has a holding force sufficiently strong to hold the side
stay. Thus, the holding mechanism requires a considerable force to fasten the male
screw for producing such a strong holding force. Thus, the device disclosed in Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2009-293154 imposes a heavy load on operators when the operators perform an operation of engaging
the engagement means on the heald frame. In addition, when the loom has a large width,
the heald frame has a heavy weight. Thus, an engagement resulting from the holding
of the heald frame in the above-described manner may fail to reliably raise or lower
the heald frame in accordance with the positional change of the engagement means.
[0013] Besides the above-described holding mechanism, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No.
2009-293154 also discloses, as an example of the engagement configuration, another configuration
in which an engagement pin included in the engagement means is fitted into an engagement
hole formed in the side stay of the heald frame. Generally used heald frames, however,
do not have such an engagement hole. Thus, to mount the device disclosed in Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2009-293154 having such a configuration on an existing loom, a hole has to be additionally formed
in each heald frame. In the case where a heald frame having such an engagement hole
is newly produced, the number of processes increases by the process for forming the
hole and the production cost thus increases. Moreover, forming such an engagement
hole in the side stay may lower the strength of the heald frame, which is vertically
driven at a high speed during weaving of the loom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention is made in view of the above-described problems of existing
devices. An object of the present invention is to provide a heald-frame height adjusting
apparatus provided as a separate tool as in the case of the above-described device
disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2009-293154, the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus being engageable with a typical heald
frame without subjecting the heald frame to any additional processes and being capable
of securely adjusting the height of the heald frame.
[0015] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the loom heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus as described. The loom heald-frame height adjusting apparatus
includes a support base that is mounted on an upper surface of an upper frame stave
of each of the heald frames, the support base including a setup portion and a guiding
portion, the setup portion enabling the support base to be mounted on the heald frame,
and the guiding portion extending upward from the setup portion in a state where the
support base is mounted on the heald frame using the setup portion; an adjusting mechanism
including an adjusting portion and a shift portion, the adjusting portion being supported
by the support base and restrained from being shifted in a direction in which the
guiding portion extends, the adjusting portion including a screw portion, the shift
portion being allowed to be shifted in the direction in which the guiding portion
extends and screwed on the screw portion of the adjusting portion, the shift portion
being shifted in the direction in which the guiding portion extends in accordance
with a rotation of the adjusting portion; and an ascending-descending member including
a support portion and a hook portion, the support portion being supported by the shift
portion of the adjusting mechanism, the hook portion being capable of hooking a downward-facing
surface of the frame stave, the ascending-descending member being insertable into
a space between adjacent two of the heald frames on the loom, the ascending-descending
member having a length from the support portion to the hook portion that is larger
than a dimension of the frame stave in the vertical direction.
[0016] A heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to the present invention (hereinafter
also referred to as a "frame height adjusting apparatus") is installed in such a manner
that the setup portion of the support base of the apparatus is mounted on the upper
surface of the upper frame stave of a heald frame near (for example, adjacent to)
a target heald frame (hereinafter this frame is referred to as a "different heald
frame"). In the installed state, the adjusting mechanism supported by the support
base is positioned above the heald frame in the vertical direction. When the heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus is in the installed state, the adjusting mechanism supports
the ascending-descending member at its shift portion. The ascending-descending member
is engaged with the upper frame stave as a result of its hook portion hooking a downward-facing
surface of the upper frame stave of the target heald frame (for example, the undersurface
of the upper frame stave, hereinafter referred to as a "downward-facing surface").
In that state, the shift portion of the adjusting mechanism and the target heald frame
are connected together by the ascending-descending member.
[0017] Then, in the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus, when the adjusting portion of
the adjusting mechanism is rotated, the shift portion of the adjusting mechanism is
shifted in the vertical direction (the direction in which the guiding portion of the
support base extends). Accordingly, the target heald frame connected to the shift
portion with the ascending-descending member interposed therebetween is vertically
shifted (raised or lowered).
[0018] When the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to the invention is mounted
on the different heald frame at the support base as in the above-described manner,
the ascending-descending member supported by the support base with the adjusting mechanism
interposed therebetween hooks the downward-facing surface of the upper frame stave
of the target heald frame at its hook portion. Specifically, in that state, the target
heald frame is supported at its upper frame stave by the support base mounted on the
different heald frame with the ascending-descending member and the adjusting mechanism
interposed therebetween.
[0019] In the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to the invention, during
the operation of adjusting the height of a heald frame, the weight of the target heald
frame is borne by the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus (ascending-descending
member) even when the fixing screw of the support member of the corresponding transmission
mechanism of the shedding device is loosened to remove support on the target heald
frame from the support member. Thus, the target heald frame is supported by the heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus (more specifically, by the different heald frame with the
heald-frame height adjusting apparatus interposed therebetween). Thus, during the
operation of adjusting the height of the heald frame, the heald-frame height adjusting
apparatus according to the invention allows an operator to loosen the fixing screw
of the support member (allows an operator to vertically shift the heald frame) without
the operator having to support the target heald frame. The height adjustment of the
heald frame is thus enabled with fewer operators (one operator at minimum).
[0020] In the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to the invention, the heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus and the target heald frame are connected by, more specifically,
the target heald frame and the shift portion of the adjusting mechanism that is vertically
shifted are connected by the hook portion of the ascending-descending member hooking
the downward-facing surface of the upper frame stave of the target heald frame. Specifically,
in the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to the invention, the target
heald frame and the ascending-descending member of the heald-frame height adjusting
apparatus are engaged by simply causing the hook portion of the ascending-descending
member to face the downward-facing surface of the upper frame stave of the target
heald frame and to come into contact with the downward-facing surface. Here, if support
on the target heald frame from the support member of the transmission mechanism is
removed while the hook portion is hooking the downward-facing surface, the hook portion
bears the weight of the target heald frame, so that the hook portion hooks the downward-facing
surface more firmly. Thus, the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to
the invention allows an operator to easily connect the heald-frame height adjusting
apparatus and the target heald frame together without imposing a heavy load on the
operator. In addition, the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to the
invention secures connection between the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus (ascending-descending
member) and the target heald frame without the need for performing additional processes
on the heald frames.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021]
Fig. 1 illustrates a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present invention in a side view and a front view;
Fig. 2 illustrates a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present invention during use in a side view and a front view;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of part of a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 illustrates a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to another embodiment
of the present invention during use in a side view and a front view;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a support base of a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 illustrates an ascending-descending member of a heald-frame height adjusting
apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention in a side view
and a front view;
Fig. 7 illustrates a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to another embodiment
of the present invention during use in side views;
Fig. 8 is a schematic front view of an example of a shedding device for a loom for
which a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus according to the present invention
is used;and
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of part of a shedding device in a loom for which a heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus according to the present invention is used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Referring now to the drawings, embodiments (or examples) of the present invention
are described below.
[0023] Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an example of a shedding device in a loom for which a heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus according to the present invention (frame height adjusting
apparatus) is used. The shedding device includes multiple heald frames 10, a shed
driving device 30, which exerts a shedding motion on each heald frame 10 (drives the
each heald frame 10 so that the heald frame 10 reciprocates vertically), and transmission
mechanisms 20, which support the heald frames 10 and couple the heald frames 10 and
the shed driving device 30 together, as described above. Each heald frame 10 included
in the shedding device is formed of a pair of upper and lower frame staves 11 and
a pair of right and left side stays 12. The shed driving device 30 includes a number
of swingable levers 32 corresponding to the number of the heald frames 10 included
in the shedding device. Each swingable lever 32 is swingably driven to reciprocate
in accordance with weaving of the loom by a driving unit 31 including components such
as a cam mechanism. The transmission mechanisms 20 are provided so as to correspond
to the heald frames 10 in the shedding device so as to each couple the corresponding
heald frame 10 and the corresponding swingable lever 32 of the shed driving device
30 together.
[0024] Although the configuration of each transmission mechanism 20 is publicly known, the
configuration is schematically illustrated as below. Each transmission mechanism 20
includes a pair of support members 21, coupled with lower end portions of the corresponding
heald frame 10, a pair of swing arms 22 provided so as to correspond to the pair of
support members 21, a coupling lever 23 that couples one of the swing arms 22 and
the swingable lever 32 of the shed driving device 30 together, and a link member 24
that couples both swing arms 22 together.
[0025] Each support member 21 includes a connecting rod 21a, including a connection portion
at its first end portion at which the connecting rod 21 a is coupled to the corresponding
heald frame 10, and a support body 21 b having a substantially cylindrical shape.
In each support member 21, the connecting rod 21 a is fitted into the support body
21 b at a second end portion of the support member 21 and the position of the connecting
rod 21 a relative to the support body 21 b in the axial direction is fixed by a fixing
screw 21 c. The pair of support members 21 are coupled to the corresponding heald
frame 10 at connection portions disposed adjacent to the first end portion with a
pair of connecting members 13 interposed therebetween, the pair of connecting members
13 being attached to the lower end portions of the heald frame 10. The pair of connecting
members 13 attached to the heald frame 10 are fixed to the undersurface of the lower
frame stave 11 while being spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction (in
the direction in which the frame stave 11 extends).
[0026] Each swing arm 22 is a plate member having a substantially bifurcated shape. Each
swing arm 22 is swingably supported via a shaft member 22a at its substantially middle
portion by components such as a beam disposed between frames of the loom. The pair
of swing arms 22 are coupled together by the link member 24 at connection points 22b
at their respective first end portions so as to swing synchronously. A second end
portion of the support member 21, coupled with the corresponding heald frame 10 at
its first end portion as described above, is coupled to a connection point 22c at
a second end portion of the corresponding swing arm 22. The swing arms 22, the link
member 24, and the support members 21 are coupled together using components such as
shaft members and bearings so as to be rotatable relative to one another. In each
swing arm 22, the positions of the connection points 22b and 22c with respect to the
support position of the shaft member 22a are determined so that a line segment connecting
the axis of the shaft member 22a and the center of the connection point 22b together
is substantially perpendicular to a line segment connecting the axis of the shaft
member 22a and the center of the connection point 22c together.
[0027] One of the swing arms 22 (right swing arm 22 in Fig. 8) is coupled to the swingable
lever 32 of the shed driving device 30 with the coupling lever 23 interposed therebetween,
the coupling lever 23 being coupled to another connection point 22c at the first end
portion. Thus, the swing arm 22 is restrained from freely swinging by the swingable
lever 32. The other swing arm 22 (left swing arm 22 in Fig. 8) coupled to the swing
arm 22 by the link member 24 is also restrained from freely swinging by the swingable
lever 32. When the swingable lever 32 is driven to swing, both swing arms 22 swing
synchronously. Here, the one swing arm 22 and the coupling lever 23 are also coupled
together so as to be rotatable relative to each other.
[0028] In the shedding device, the position of each heald frame 10 in the vertical direction
is fixed by the pair of support members 21 of the corresponding transmission mechanism
20 since the support members 21 are coupled to and supported by the swing arms 22
at their second end portions, the swing arms 22 being restrained from swinging as
described above.
[0029] The positions of each heald frame 10 in the lateral direction and the front-rear
direction (or thickness direction of the heald frame 10) are restricted by heald frame
guides 40 disposed on both sides of the heald frame 10 in the lateral direction. Each
heald frame guide 40 has a configuration as specifically illustrated in Fig. 9. Each
heald frame guide 40 is supported by a bracket 41 attached to the loom frame with
a support shaft 42 interposed therebetween. Each heald frame guide 40 includes a pair
of upper and lower guide portions 43. Each of the guide portions 43 of each heald
frame guide 40 has a number of guide grooves corresponding to the number of heald
frames 10 included in the shedding device.
[0030] Each heald frame 10 is disposed in such a manner that the side stays 12 on both sides
in the lateral direction are inserted into corresponding guide grooves 43a of the
guide portions 43. The position of each heald frame 10 in the lateral direction is
restricted by the bottom surfaces of the corresponding guide grooves 43a and the position
of each heald frame 10 in the front-rear direction is restricted by opposing inner
side surfaces of the corresponding guide grooves 43a. The multiple heald frames 10
included in the shedding device are arranged in the loom in such a manner that each
heald frame 10 has a gap between itself and a heald frame 10 adjacent to itself in
the front-rear direction by a distance corresponding to the interval between adjacent
guide grooves 43a of the heald frame guide 40. At the shedding motion during weaving,
the position of each heald frame 10 in the vertical direction is changed while being
guided by the corresponding guide grooves 43a of the heald frame guides 40.
[0031] Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, an example of a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus
(frame height adjusting apparatus 50) according to the invention is described. The
frame height adjusting apparatus 50 is used in the shedding device in the loom as
described above when the height of each heald frame 10 is adjusted before the loom
is operated (before weaving is started). During the height adjusting operation, the
frame height adjusting apparatus 50 according to the embodiment is used while being
mounted on a heald frame 10 adjacent, in the front-rear direction, to the heald frame
10 whose height is to be adjusted. In the following description, the heald frame 10
whose height is to be adjusted among multiple heald frames 10 is referred to as a
target heald frame 10a and a heald frame 10 that is adjacent to the target heald frame
10a and on which the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 is mounted as described above
is referred to as a neighboring heald frame 10b.
[0032] The frame height adjusting apparatus 50 is used while being mounted on the upper
frame stave 11 of one of the heald frames 10 during the height adjusting operation.
The frame height adjusting apparatus 50 includes a support base 51, which is a portion
mounted on the heald frame 10 and serves as a main body (Figs. 1 and 2). As illustrated
in Fig. 1, the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 also includes an ascending-descending
member 53 and an adjusting mechanism 52. The ascending-descending member 53 is engaged
with the target heald frame 10a while in use. The adjusting mechanism 52 supports
the ascending-descending member 53. The adjusting mechanism 52 includes a shift portion
52b, whose position is vertically changed to adjust the height of the target heald
frame 10a. The frame height adjusting apparatus 50 is described in detail below.
[0033] In this embodiment, the support base 51 is formed of a single plate. When viewed
in the thickness direction, the support base 51 is substantially rectangular. More
specifically, the support base 51 includes a guiding portion 51 a, which has a thin
rectangular shape when viewed in the thickness direction, and an insertion portion
51 b, which is located on a first end side of the guiding portion 51 a in the longitudinal
direction. The insertion portion 51 b has a larger dimension in the width direction
(direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction on the plate surface) than
the guiding portion 51 a. The insertion portion 51 b is disposed so as to be continuous
with an edge of the guiding portion 51 a on a first end side while having its middle
in the width direction aligned with the middle of the guiding portion 51 a in the
width direction. Thus, the insertion portion 51 b protrudes from both sides of the
guiding portion 51 a in the width direction. In other words, the insertion portion
51 b includes portions (protrusions) on both sides that protrude beyond the guiding
portion 51 a in the width direction.
[0034] The support base 51 also includes a support table 51 c on a second end side of the
guiding portion 51 a (the side opposite to the first end side in the longitudinal
direction). The support table 51 c extends in a direction substantially perpendicular
to the plate surface of the guiding portion 51 a (extends in the above-described thickness
direction). In this embodiment, the support table 51 c is disposed so as to be continuous
with the edge of the guiding portion 51 a on the second end side.
[0035] The support base 51 also includes setup portions 51 d at a boundary between the guiding
portion 51 a and the insertion portion 51 b of the support base 51, the setup portions
disposed so as to extend in the thickness direction. As to the thickness direction
here, the direction in which the setup portions 51 d extend from the guiding portion
51 a is opposite to the direction in which the support table 51c extends. The length
of the setup portions 51 d in the thickness direction is substantially equivalent
to the thickness of the heald frames 10 (frame staves 11). In this embodiment, a pair
of setup portions 51 d are disposed so as to be continuous with the edges of the protrusions
of the insertion portion 51 b located adjacent to the guiding portion 51 a. In other
words, the support base 51 includes a pair of setup portions 51 d in this embodiment.
[0036] As described above, the support base 51 is formed of a single plate and the guiding
portion 51 a, the insertion portion 51 b, the support table 51 c, and the pair of
setup portions 51 d are formed as an integrated unit. More specifically, the support
table 51 c is formed by bending a plate portion located on the side of the guiding
portion 51 a opposite to the side on which the insertion portion 51 b is disposed.
In addition, the pair of setup portions 51 d are formed by bending plate portions
that protrude from the edges of the protrusions of the insertion portion 51 b on the
side adjacent to the guiding portion 51 a, the protrusions of the insertion portion
51 b protruding toward both sides of the guiding portion 51 a in the width direction.
[0037] While the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 is in use, that is, during the operation
of adjusting the height of the heald frame 10, the frame height adjusting apparatus
50 is installed in such a manner that the undersurfaces of the pair of setup portions
51 d of the support base 51 are mounted on the upper surface of the upper frame stave
11 of a neighboring heald frame 10b. When the frame height adjusting apparatus 50
is in the installed state, the guiding portion 51 a of the support base 51 extends
upward from the setup portions 51 d. In this installation state, the insertion portion
51 b of the support base 51 is inserted into the above-described gap between the target
heald frame 10a and the neighboring heald frame 10b. Thus, the thickness of the insertion
portion 51 b, that is, the thickness of the plate member constituting the guiding
portion 51 a and the insertion portion 51 b is determined so that the insertion portion
51 b is insertable into the gap between the heald frames 10.
[0038] The guiding portion 51 a of the support base 51 has a long hole 51 a1, which extends
in the longitudinal direction and extends through the guiding portion 51 a in the
thickness direction. The long hole 51a1 guides the positional change of the shift
portion 52b of the adjusting mechanism 52, described below, in the direction in which
the guiding portion 51 a extends (in the above-described longitudinal direction of
the support base 51). The support table 51 c of the support base 51 has an insertion
hole 51 c1 into which the shift portion 52b is inserted. The insertion hole 51c1 extends
through the support table 51 c in the longitudinal direction of the support base 51.
This support table 51 c functions as a position control portion that restricts the
positions of the adjusting mechanism 52 in the width direction and the thickness direction.
[0039] The adjusting mechanism 52 includes an adjusting portion 52a and a shift portion
52b. The adjusting portion 52a is supported by the support base 51 and includes a
screw portion. The shift portion 52b is supported by the support base 51 with the
adjusting portion 52a interposed therebetween as a result of being screwed on the
adjusting portion 52a. In this embodiment, the adjusting portion 52a is formed of
a butterfly nut disposed on the support base 51. Thus, the screw portion of the adjusting
portion (butterfly nut) 52a is a female thread portion 52a1, which is an internally-threaded
hole formed in the butterfly nut 52a.
[0040] In this embodiment, the shift portion 52b includes a bolt member 52b1 and a support
block 52b2 as main components. The bolt member 52b1 is screwed on the female thread
portion 52a1 of the butterfly nut (adjusting portion) 52a and the support block 52b2
is attached to the bolt member 52b1. The bolt member 52b1 is a screw member externally
threaded throughout its shank portion extending from its head portion. The shank portion
has a length that is longer than the distance by which the heald frames 10 are assumed
to be adjusted (shifted) at the time of adjusting the height of the heald frames 10.
[0041] The support block 52b2 is a rectangular parallelepiped block member. The support
block 52b2 is attached to the tip end portion of the bolt member 52b1 (end portion
located opposite to the head portion) and constitutes the shift portion 52b together
with the bolt member 52b1. When the support block 52b2 is attached to the bolt member
52b1, the direction of the long sides of the side surfaces (four surfaces whose long
sides are equal) is directed so as to coincide with the direction of the axis of the
bolt member 52b1.
[0042] In this embodiment, the support block 52b2 has an attachment hole 52bx that is open
in one of the end surfaces (two surfaces of the support block 52b2 excluding the side
surfaces) and that has an internally threaded inner surface. The support block 52b2
is attached to the bolt member 52b1 in such a manner that the bolt member 52b1 is
screwed into the attachment hole 52bx of the support block 52b2. Thus, the support
block 52b2 is attachable to and detachable from the bolt member 52b1.
[0043] The support block 52b2 also has through holes 52by that are open in two parallel
side surfaces among all the side surfaces and that extend through the support block
52b2 so as to be parallel to the remaining side surfaces. In this embodiment, these
two through holes 52by are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other in the
direction of the long sides of the side surfaces. Each of the through holes 52by is
an internally threaded hole.
[0044] A screw member 52b3 is screwed into each of the through holes (internally-threaded
hole) 52by. Specifically, two screw members 52b3 are attached to the support block
52b2 in the form of being screwed into the through holes 52by. In the attached state,
the screw members 52b3 protrude from the side surfaces of the support block 52b2.
In this configuration, pegs that support the ascending-descending member 53, as described
below, are provided on the shift portion 52b. In other words, the shift portion 52b
including the support block 52b2 includes pegs that support the ascending-descending
member 53 and the screw members 52b3 attached to the support block 52b2 function as
the pegs.
[0045] In the support block 52b2, the dimension of the short sides of the side surfaces
parallel to the through holes 52by among all the side surfaces is substantially equivalent
to (or slightly larger than) the thickness of the heald frames 10 (frame staves 11).
[0046] When the adjusting mechanism 52 having such a configuration is attached to the support
base 51, first, the butterfly nut 52a is screwed on the bolt member 52b1. Then, the
bolt member 52b1 on which the butterfly nut 52a is screwed is inserted, with its end
ahead, into the insertion hole 51 c1 of the support table 51 c of the support base
51. Then, the support block 52b2 is attached to the bolt member 52b1 in the above-described
manner. Thus, the adjusting mechanism 52 (shift portion 52b) is assembled to the support
base 51 in the state where the bolt member 52b1 is inserted into the insertion hole
51 c1 of the support table 51 c. The insertion hole 51 c1 in the support table 51
c of the support base 51 is sized so as to allow the shank portion of the bolt member
52b1 to pass therethrough and to be shifted inside the insertion hole 51 c1 but not
to allow the butterfly nut 52a and the support block 52b2 to pass therethrough.
[0047] In the above-described assembled state, the support block 52b2 is in the state where
the side surface opposite to the side surface to which the screw member (peg) 52b3
is attached faces the plate surface of the guiding portion 51 a of the support base
51. Specifically, in the above-described assembled state, the openings of the through
holes 52by in the support block 52b2 face the long hole 51a1 formed in the guiding
portion 51a of the support base 51.
[0048] In the above-described assembled state, the shift portion 52b according to this embodiment
is attached so that a screw member 52b4 is inserted into the long hole 51 a1 of the
guiding portion 51 a of the support base 51 from the side surface of the guiding portion
51 a opposite to the side surface on which the support block 52b2 is disposed and
so that the screw member 52b4 is screwed on the support block 52b2 from the side surface
opposite to the side surface on which the support block 52b2 is disposed. Here, the
screw member 52b4 is attached to the support block 52b2 in such a manner that a distance
between the side surface of the support block 52b2 opposite to the side surface on
which the support block 52b2 is disposed and the head portion of the screw member
52b4 is slightly larger than the thickness of the guiding portion 51 a of the support
base 51. The dimension of the long hole 51a1 in the guiding portion 51 a in the width
direction is sized so as to be slightly larger than the diameter of the shank portion
of the screw member 52b4 and so as to allow the shank portion of the screw member
52b4 to be shifted inside the long hole 51a1 in the direction in which the long hole
51a1 extends.
[0049] In the assembled state, a positional change of the support block 52b2 (shift portion
52b) in the direction in which the long hole 51a1 in the support base 51 extends (that
is, the longitudinal direction of the guiding portion 51 a) is guided by the long
hole 51a1 and the screw member 52b4. Concurrently, the support block 52b2 is restrained
from being spaced apart from the guiding portion 51 a of the support base 51 to a
large degree in the thickness direction.
[0050] As described above, in the installed state of the frame height adjusting apparatus
50 during the operation of adjusting the height of the heald frame 10, the guiding
portion 51 a of the support base 51 extends upward from the setup portions 51 d mounted
on the neighboring heald frame 10b. In the installed state, the shift portion 52b
of the adjusting mechanism 52 is supported by the support table 51 c of the support
base 51 using the butterfly nut 52a screwed onto the bolt member 52b1. Specifically,
in the installed state, the butterfly nut 52a of the adjusting mechanism 52 is mounted
on the support table 51 c of the support base 51 while bearing the weight of the shift
portion 52b or other components. When the height of the heald frames 10 is adjusted,
as described below, the butterfly nut 52a also bears the weight of the target heald
frame 10a with the ascending-descending member 53 being interposed therebetween.
[0051] As described above, during the operation of adjusting the height of the heald frame
10, the butterfly nut 52a of the adjusting mechanism 52 serving as an adjusting portion
is mounted on the support table 51 c of the support base 51 so as to be restrained
from being shifted downward by the support table 51 c and pressed against the support
table 51c while bearing the weights of components such as the shift portion 52b and
the heald frame 10. In other words, the butterfly nut 52a is restrained from being
vertically (direction in which the guiding portion 51 a of the support base 51 extends)
shifted.
[0052] In this state, when the butterfly nut 52a is rotated to change, in the axial direction
of the bolt member 52b1, the portion of the bolt member 52b1 on which the butterfly
nut 52a is screwed, the bolt member 52b1 is shifted in the direction in which the
guiding portion 51 a extends while the butterfly nut 52a is restrained from being
shifted in the direction in which the guiding portion 51 a extends (vertical direction),
as described above. In other words, when the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 is
in the installed state, the shift portion 52b including the bolt member 52b1 is shifted
in the direction in which the guiding portion 51 a of the support base 51 extends,
by rotating the butterfly nut 52a of the adjusting mechanism 52 serving as an adjusting
portion.
[0053] In this embodiment, the ascending-descending member 53 is formed of a stick (a round-bar-shaped
member). The stick serving as the ascending-descending member 53 has such an outside
diameter that the stick is insertable into the gap between multiple heald frames 10
installed in the loom.
[0054] The ascending-descending member 53 has such a shape that end portions of the stick
are bent. The ascending-descending member 53 includes a hook portion 53a at its first
end portion and a support portion 53b at its second end portion (end portion opposite
to the end portion on which the hook portion 53a is disposed). The hook portion 53a
is a portion at which each heald frame 10 is hooked by the ascending-descending member
53. The support portion 53b is a portion at which the ascending-descending member
53 is supported by the shift portion 52b of the adjusting mechanism 52. In the ascending-descending
member 53, the hook portion 53a and the support portion 53b are connected together
with a rod-shaped base portion 53c.
[0055] Each portion is described in detail. The hook portion 53a is formed by bending the
first end portion of the stick at two points in the same direction and forms a substantially
U shape when viewed sideways. In the hook portion 53a, the angle at which the first
end portion is bent at two points is substantially a right angle. When a portion located
farther from the base portion 53c beyond the distal one of the two bent points of
the hook portion 53a is referred to as a distal portion and a portion located closer
to the base portion 53c than the proximal one of the two bent points is referred to
as a proximal portion, the distal portion and the proximal portion of the hook portion
53a are substantially parallel to each other. The distance between the distal portion
and the proximal portion, that is, the length of a portion between the distal portion
and the proximal portion, that is, the portion (intermediate portion) extending substantially
perpendicular to the base portion 53c is substantially equivalent to the thickness
of each heald frame 10 (frame stave 11), so that the frame stave 11 of each heald
frame 10 is receivable between the distal portion and the proximal portion.
[0056] The support portion 53b is formed by bending the second end portion of the stick
in the arc shape. Here, the support portion 53b is formed so that the portion bent
into the arc shape is engageable with the shank portion of the screw member 52b3 of
the shift portion 52b of the adjusting mechanism 52, the screw member 52b3 serving
as a peg. In other words, the support portion 53b is formed so that the inner radius
of the arc portion is substantially equivalent to the radius of the shank portion
of the screw member 52b3. In addition, the support portion 53b is formed so that it
is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intermediate portion of
the hook portion 53a when viewed in the axial direction of the base portion 53c.
[0057] When the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 is in use, that is, during the operation
of adjusting the height of the heald frame 10, the ascending-descending member 53
having the above-described configuration is hooked, at its support portion 53b, on
one of the pegs 52b3 of the adjusting mechanism 52 (shift portion 52b) supported by
the support base 51 in the installed state. In this state, the ascending-descending
member 53 is supported by the shift portion 52b, and in a general sense, the ascending-descending
member 53 is supported by the support base 51 with the adjusting mechanism 52 including
the shift portion 52b interposed therebetween.
[0058] As described above, the direction in which the support portion 53b of the ascending-descending
member 53 is bent is substantially perpendicular to the intermediate portion of the
hook portion 53a when viewed in the axial direction of the base portion 53c. Thus,
in the state where the ascending-descending member 53 is supported in the above-described
manner, the intermediate portion of the hook portion 53a extends so as to be substantially
parallel to the thickness direction of the support base 51. During the operation of
adjusting the height of the heald frame 10, the ascending-descending member 53 is
hooked on the peg 52b3 in the above-described manner while the intermediate portion
of the hook portion 53a is so oriented as to be positioned below the support block
52b2 of the adjusting mechanism 52.
[0059] During the operation of adjusting the height of the heald frame 10, while the ascending-descending
member 53 is supported in the above-described manner, the downward-facing surface
of the upper frame stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a is hooked by the hook portion
53a. In this embodiment, the downward-facing surface of the upper frame stave 11 is
an undersurface of the upper frame stave 11. The undersurface is hooked by the hook
portion 53a as a result of the hook portion 53a receiving the upper frame stave 11,
as described above. Thus, the ascending-descending member 53 is capable of receiving
the upper frame stave 11 at the hook portion 53a while being supported in the above-described
manner, at the support portion 53b, by the shift portion 52b of the adjusting mechanism
52 located above the upper frame stave 11. In other words, the length of the base
portion 53c between the support portion 53b and the hook portion 53a is larger than
the vertical dimension of the frame stave 11.
[0060] The frame height adjusting apparatus 50 having the above-described configuration
is operated in the following manner by an operator during the operation of adjusting
the height of the heald frame 10.
[0061] In a first step, in the state where the ascending-descending member 53 is detached
from the frame height adjusting apparatus 50, the frame height adjusting apparatus
50 is installed in such a manner that the undersurfaces of the pair of setup portions
51 d of the support base 51 are mounted on the upper surface of the upper frame stave
11 of the neighboring heald frame 10b. During installation, the frame height adjusting
apparatus 50 is so oriented that the insertion portion 51 b of the support base 51
is positioned between the neighboring heald frame 10b and the target heald frame 10a
in the front-rear direction. Thus, in the installed state, the support table 51 c
of the support base 51 of the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 and the shift portion
52b of the adjusting mechanism 52 of the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 are disposed
above the target heald frame 10a (Fig. 2).
[0062] Then, in a second step, the ascending-descending member 53 is changed into a state
in which the hook portion 53a receives a lower portion of the upper frame stave 11
of the target heald frame 10a while the base portion 53c is positioned on the side
of the target heald frame 10a opposite to the side on which the neighboring heald
frame 10b is disposed.
[0063] In this second step, if another heald frame 10 is also disposed on the side of the
target heald frame 10a opposite to the side on which the neighboring heald frame 10b
is disposed in the front-rear direction, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the upper frame
stave 11 of the heald frame 10 disposed on the opposite side is positioned so as to
face the upper frame stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a, the second step is performed
by inserting the ascending-descending member 53 into a space between the target heald
frame 10a and the heald frame 10 disposed on the opposite side.
[0064] Specifically, in the second step, the ascending-descending member 53 is first inserted
into the gap, with the hook portion 53a ahead, in the state where the intermediate
portion of the hook portion 53a is directed in the lateral direction of the heald
frame 10. Subsequently, in the state where the hook portion 53a is located below the
upper frame stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a, the ascending-descending member
53 is rotated around the axis of the base portion 53c so that the intermediate portion
faces the undersurface of the upper frame stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a.
When the ascending-descending member 53 is raised in that state, the lower portion
of the upper frame stave 11 is received by the hook portion 53a.
[0065] Then, in a third step, the ascending-descending member 53 that has received the upper
frame stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a at the hook portion 53a, as described
above, is supported by the adjusting mechanism 52 as a result of the support portion
53b being hooked on one peg 52b3 of the adjusting mechanism 52 (shift portion 52b).
Before performing the third step, the vertical position (height) of the peg 52b3 (support
block 52b2) of the adjusting mechanism 52 is adjusted in such a manner that, as described
above, the height of the peg 52b3 coincides with the height of the support portion
53b of the ascending-descending member 53 in the state of receiving the upper frame
stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a at the hook portion 53a.
[0066] In the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 according to this embodiment, the adjusting
mechanism 52 (shift portion 52b) includes two pegs 52b3 attached to the support block
52b2 at positions vertically apart from each other in the installed state. The two
pegs 52b3 are provided for allowing the operator to select one of the pegs 52b3 depending
on various parameters such as the vertical dimension of the upper frame stave 11 of
the target heald frame 10a. Thus, the adjusting mechanism 52 does not necessarily
have to include two pegs 52b3 and may include only one peg 52b3. These pegs 52b3 are
not limited to screw members such as those described above and may be other members
such as pins inserted into holes formed in the support block 52b2. The same holds
true for the configuration (screw members 52b4) for guiding a positional change of
the shift portion 52b (support block 52b2) in the vertical direction.
[0067] After the completion of the third step described above, the upper frame stave 11
of the target heald frame 10a and the adjusting mechanism 52 of the frame height adjusting
apparatus 50 are connected together by the ascending-descending member 53. Thus, the
frame height adjusting apparatus 50 can adjust the height of the target heald frame
10a by performing the first to third steps described above.
[0068] To adjust the height of the target heald frame 10a, as described above, the support
member 21 of the transmission mechanism 20 that supports the target heald frame 10a
is first changed into a state in which the full length of the support member 21 is
changeable, that is, a state in which the fixing screw 21 c, which fixes the position
of the connecting rod 21 a relative to the support body 21 b, is loosened. Accordingly,
the target heald frame 10a loses support from the support member 21. The target heald
frame 10a, however, is received at the upper frame stave 11 by the hook portion 53a
of the ascending-descending member 53 of the frame height adjusting apparatus 50,
as described above. Thus, the intermediate portion of the hook portion 53a remains
in contact with the undersurface of the upper frame stave 11 in the vertical direction.
Thus, regardless of the loss of support from the support member 21, the undersurface
of the upper frame stave 11 remains being hooked by the hook portion 53a (intermediate
portion). Thus, the target heald frame 10a is in the state of being supported by the
frame height adjusting apparatus 50, in other words, supported by the neighboring
heald frame 10b, on which the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 is mounted, with
the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 interposed therebetween.
[0069] Subsequently, the butterfly nut 52a of the adjusting mechanism 52 serving as an adjusting
portion is rotated in that state. Thus, the shift portion 52b is vertically (the direction
in which the guiding portion 51a extends) shifted so that the height of the target
heald frame 10a connected to the shift portion 52b by the ascending-descending member
53 is changed. When the target heald frame 10a arrives at an intended height, the
fixing screw 21 c of the support member 21 of the transmission mechanism 20 is fastened
to fix the height. The height of the target heald frame 10a here is set with reference
to, for example, the upper surface of the heald frame guide 40. The height is adjusted
while the distance from the reference to the upper surface of the upper frame stave
11 is measured using a scale or other devices in accordance with the change of the
height.
[0070] An embodiment of the invention has been described thus far. However, a heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus according to the invention is not limited to the one described
in the above-described embodiment and may be embodied in the following embodiments
(modified examples).
- (1) In the above-described embodiment, the adjusting mechanism includes the butterfly
nut 52a, serving as an adjusting portion, the bolt member 52b1, and the support block
52b2 in combination. However, the adjusting mechanism of a heald-frame height adjusting
apparatus according to the invention is not limited to a mechanism having this configuration
and may have a configuration such as the one illustrated in Fig. 4. A heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus 60 illustrated in Fig. 4 adopts a feed screw mechanism
as an adjusting mechanism. The configuration of the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus
60 is described in detail below.
[0071] In the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60, a support base 61 includes a guiding
portion 61 a and an insertion portion 61 b as in the case of the support base 51 of
the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 according to the above-described embodiment.
The support base 61 also includes setup portions 61 d at a boundary portion (first
end side of the guiding portion 61 a in the longitudinal direction) between the guiding
portion 61 a and the insertion portion 61 b. Each setup portion 61 d extends in the
thickness direction of the guiding portion 61 a. As in the case of the support base
51 according to the above-described embodiment, the guiding portion 61 a has a long
hole 61 a1 that extends in the direction in which the guiding portion 61 a extends
(in the longitudinal direction).
[0072] The support base 61 also includes a receiving portion 61 c on a second end side (the
side opposite to the first end side in the longitudinal direction) of the guiding
portion 61 a. The receiving portion 61 c extends in the thickness direction of the
guiding portion 61 a. With respect to the thickness direction of the guiding portion
61 a, the direction in which the receiving portion 61 c extends is opposite to the
direction in which the support table 51c of the support base 51 according to the above-described
embodiment extends. The side of the guiding portion 61 a on which the receiving portion
61c is disposed is the same as the side of the guiding portion 61 a on which the setup
portions 61 d are disposed. The receiving portion 61 c has an insertion hole 61 c1
into which a feed screw 62a of an adjusting mechanism 62, described below, is insertable.
As in the case of the support table 51 c of the support base 51 according to the above-described
embodiment, the receiving portion 61 c functions as a position control portion that
restrains the positions of the adjusting mechanism 62 in the width direction and the
thickness direction.
[0073] In the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60, the support base 61 includes a
rear wall portion 61 e. The rear wall portion 61 e extends parallel to the insertion
portion 61 b from the end portion of each setup portion 61 d opposite to the end portion
near the guiding portion 61 a in the thickness direction. Specifically, the support
base 61 includes portions each including the corresponding setup portion 61 d and
shaped in a substantially U shape (U-shaped portion) at the second end side of the
guiding portion 61 a. When the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60 is mounted
on the neighboring heald frame 10b, the setup portions 61 d are mounted on the upper
frame stave 11 of the neighboring heald frame 10b while receiving an upper portion
of the upper frame stave 11 of the neighboring heald frame 10b in the U-shaped portions.
In contrast to the support base 51 according to the above-described embodiment, the
support base 61 includes another setup portion 61 d at a middle portion of the insertion
portion 61 b in the width direction besides the setup portions 61 d on both sides
of the insertion portion 61 b in the width direction. Thus, the setup portion 61 d
in the middle (hereinafter referred to as a "middle setup portion 61d1" to be distinguished
from the setup portions 61 d on both sides) of the support base 61 faces the receiving
portion 61c in the longitudinal direction.
[0074] As described above, the adjusting mechanism 62 is formed of a feed screw mechanism
and includes a feed screw 62a and a nut member 62b. The feed screw 62a is assembled
into the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60 in the state of being inserted
into the insertion hole 61c1 of the receiving portion 61c of the support base 61 while
having its axis oriented so as to be parallel to the longitudinal direction (the direction
in which the guiding portion 61 a extends). As described above, the receiving portion
61 c and a middle setup portion 61d1 of the support base 61 face each other in the
longitudinal direction. Thus, in the state where the feed screw 62a is inserted into
the insertion hole 61d1 as described above, the tip end of the feed screw 62a can
come into contact with the middle setup portion 61d1. In the state where the guiding
portion 61a is in the installed state in which it extends vertically, the weight of
the feed screw 62a or other components is received by the middle setup portion 61d1.
[0075] The nut member 62b has such a shape that two rectangular parallelepiped blocks are
integrated together. The nut member 62b includes a rectangular parallelepiped screwed
portion 62b1, which is screwed on the feed screw 62a, and a rectangular parallelepiped
stand portion 62b2, to which pegs 62b3 on which an ascending-descending member 63
is hooked are attached. In the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60 according
to this modified example, the ascending-descending member 63 has the same configuration
as the ascending-descending member 53 of the frame height adjusting apparatus 50 according
to the above-described embodiment. The pegs 62b3 have the same configurations as the
pegs (screw members) 52b3 according to the above-described embodiment. The way how
the pegs 62b3 are attached to the nut member 62b (stand portion 62b2) is similar to
that way in which the pegs 52b3 are attached to the support block 52b2 according to
the above-described embodiment.
[0076] The screwed portion 62b1 of the nut member 62b has an internally-threaded hole that
extends through the nut member 62b in the long side direction of the side surfaces
(four surfaces having long sides with the same length) so as to be parallel to the
side surfaces. The internally-threaded hole can be screwed on the feed screw 62a.
The nut member 62b is screwed on the feed screw 62a in the state where the feed screw
62a is screwed into the internally-threaded hole of the screwed portion 62b1. The
stand portion 62b2 is integrated with the screwed portion 62b1 so as to protrude from
one side surface of the screwed portion 62b1.
[0077] In the screwed portion 62b1 of the nut member 62b, the dimension of the short side
of the side surface from which the stand portion 62b2 protrudes (protrusion side surface)
is larger than the width of the long hole 61a1 formed in the guiding portion 61a of
the support base 61. In the stand portion 62b2 of the nut member 62b, on the other
hand, the dimension of the short side of each side surface parallel to the protrusion
side surface of the screwed portion 62b1 is substantially the same as the width of
the long hole 61 a1 of the guiding portion 61 a so that the stand portion 62b2 is
insertable into the long hole 61a1 and slidable in the direction in which the long
hole 61a1 extends.
[0078] In the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60, while the nut member 62b is screwed
at the screwed portion 62b1 on the feed screw 62a inserted into the insertion hole
61 c1 of the receiving portion 61c, the protrusion side surface of the screwed portion
62b1 faces the guiding portion 61 a and the stand portion 62b2 is inserted into the
long hole 61a1 of the guiding portion 61a.
[0079] The dimension of a portion of the stand portion 62b2 that protrudes from the screwed
portion 62b1 (protrusion dimension) is larger than the thickness of the guiding portion
61 a. Thus, when the stand portion 62b2 is inserted into the long hole 61a1 of the
guiding portion 61 a in the manner as described above, the stand portion 62b2 protrudes
from the guiding portion 61 a toward the side opposite to the side on which the screwed
portion 62b1 is disposed. The protrusion dimension of the stand portion 62b2 is set
so that the amount of the stand portion 62b2 by which it protrudes from the guiding
portion 61 a is substantially equivalent to the thickness of the heald frame 10 (frame
stave 11). In other words, the protrusion dimension of the stand portion 62b2 is substantially
equivalent to the dimension obtained by adding the thickness of the heald frame 10
(frame stave 11) to the thickness of the guiding portion 61 a.
[0080] During the operation of adjusting the height of the heald frame 10, the heald-frame
height adjusting apparatus 60 is mounted on the neighboring heald frame 10b and the
ascending-descending member 63 is hooked on one peg 62b3 attached to the nut member
62b of the adjusting mechanism 62 in the same manner as in the case of the above-described
embodiment. The ascending-descending member 63 connects the target heald frame 10a
and the nut member 62b to each other and thus supports the target heald frame 10a.
In the state where the ascending-descending member 63 is supporting the target heald
frame 10a in this manner, the feed screw 62a bears the weights of the target heald
frame 10a and other components with the ascending-descending member 63 and the nut
member 62b interposed therebetween. Thus, the feed screw 62a is pressed against the
middle setup portion 61 d1. In this state, the feed screw 62a is restrained from being
shifted in the vertical direction (direction in which the guiding portion 61 a extends).
Here, the nut member 62b is hindered from rotating since the stand portion 62b2 is
inserted into the long hole 61 a1 of the guiding portion 61 a.
[0081] When the feed screw 62a is rotated in this state, the position at which the nut member
62b is screwed on the feed screw 62a is changed and, accordingly, the nut member 62b
is shifted in the direction in which the guiding portion 51 a extends (vertical direction).
Thus, the target heald frame 10a connected to the nut member 62b with the ascending-descending
member 63 interposed therebetween is vertically shifted, so that the height is adjusted.
The positional change of the nut member 62b in the vertical direction is guided by
the stand portion 62b2 sliding in the long hole 61 a1 of the guiding portion 61 a.
[0082] In the above-described configuration of the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus
60, the feed screw 62a corresponds to an adjusting portion of the adjusting mechanism
62. The male screw portion of the feed screw 62a thus corresponds to the screw portion
of the adjusting portion on which the shift portion is screwed. The nut member 62b
and the pegs 62b3 attached to the nut member 62b correspond to the shift portion of
the adjusting mechanism 62. In relation to the configuration of the frame height adjusting
apparatus 50 according to the above-described embodiment, the feed screw 62a corresponds
to the butterfly nut 52a, the screwed portion 62b1 of the nut member 62b corresponds
to the bolt member 52b1, and the stand portion 62b2 corresponds to the support block
52b2.
(2) In the embodiment or the modified example described above, a support base of the
heald-frame height adjusting apparatus is formed of a single plate. The support base,
however, is not limited to this configuration and may be formed by combining multiple
plates.
In the configuration of the modified example described above, different plate members
functioning as the setup portion 51 d or 61 d, the support table 51c, or the receiving
portion 61 c may be bonded to the plate constituting the guiding portion 51 a or 61
a by welding or other methods. In that case, the support table 51 c or the receiving
portion 61 c does not have to be positioned at the second end portion of the guiding
portion 51 a or 61 a and may be positioned at a position set back toward the setup
portion 51 d or 61 d from the second end portion of the plate constituting the guiding
portion 51 a or 61 a (Fig. 5).
As in the case of a support base 71 illustrated in Fig. 5, the support base 71 may
be formed by combining together a member (L-shaped member) including a portion corresponding
to a guiding portion 71 a and a member (L-shaped member) including a portion corresponding
to an insertion portion 71 b. Unlike the support base 51 according to the above-described
embodiment, a setup portion 71 d of the support base 71 extends over the range over
which the guiding portion 71 a extends in the width direction.
(3) In the above-described embodiment or other examples, the ascending-descending
member of the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus is formed of a round-bar-shaped
member. However, the configuration of the ascending-descending member is not limited
to such a configuration. For example, the ascending-descending member may be formed
of a plate-shaped member, as illustrated in Fig. 6. In an ascending-descending member
73 illustrated in Fig. 6, the portion denoted by the reference symbol 73a corresponds
to a hook portion and the portion denoted by the reference symbol 73b corresponds
to a support portion. In addition, the portion denoted by the reference symbol 73c
corresponds to the base portion 53c of the ascending-descending member 53 according
to the above-described embodiment.
In the above-described embodiment, the hook portion of the ascending-descending member
is formed into a substantially U shape. The hook portion may, however, be formed in
a substantially L shape, as illustrated in Fig. 6, since the hook portion suffices
if it can hook the downward-facing surface of the upper frame stave 11 of each heald
frame 10. In addition, the support portion of the ascending-descending member is not
limited to the one having a hook shape as in the case of the above-described embodiment
or as illustrated in Fig. 4. When, for example, the ascending-descending member is
formed of a plate member as illustrated in Fig. 6, the ascending-descending member
may include a support portion including a hole that extends through the plate member
in the thickness direction and the ascending-descending member may be supported by
the adjusting mechanism in such a manner that a peg of the adjusting mechanism is
inserted into the hole formed through the plate member.
In the case where the ascending-descending member is formed of a plate member as above,
an insertion of the ascending-descending member into the gap between the upper frame
stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a and the upper frame stave 11 of the neighboring
heald frame 10b has to be performed from below the upper frame staves 11. Thus, in
terms of ease of use, it is favorable to use an ascending-descending member according
to the above-described embodiment or other examples that is formed of a round-bar-shaped
member and is insertable into the gap from above the upper frame staves 11.
(4) In the above-described embodiment or the example illustrated in Fig. 4, the support
base 51 or 61 includes a portion (insertion portion 51 b or 61 b or a rear wall portion
61 e) that extends toward the side of the setup portion 51 d or 61 d opposite to the
side on which the guiding portion 51 a or 61 a extends in the longitudinal direction.
This portion, however, may be omitted since a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus
according to the invention suffices if it can be mounted on the upper frame stave
11 of the heald frame 10 at the setup portion of the support base. Specifically, in
contrast to the above-described embodiment or the example illustrated in Fig. 4, the
support base may exclude the insertion portion 51 b or 61 b or the rear wall portion
61 e.
Here, the position at which the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus is installed
and the position of the target heald frame 10a are apart from each other in the front-rear
direction. Thus, during the operation of adjusting the height of the target heald
frame 10a, when the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus mounted on the neighboring
heald frame 10b starts supporting the target heald frame 10a, the force of bringing
the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus down toward the target heald frame 10a
is exerted on the frame height adjusting apparatus due to causes such as the weight
of the target heald frame 10a. To address exertion of such a force, the support base
preferably includes at least the insertion portion according to the above-described
embodiment or other examples.
(5) In the above-described embodiment or other examples, the position at which the
heald-frame height adjusting apparatus is installed during the operation of adjusting
the height of the target heald frame 10a is determined to be on a heald frame 10 adjacent
to the target heald frame 10a in the front-rear direction (that is, the neighboring
heald frame 10b). However, the position at which the heald-frame height adjusting
apparatus is installed is not limited to be on the neighboring heald frame 10b and
may be on any of other heald frames 10. For example, as described in Fig. 7A, a case
is assumed where the ascending-descending member 53 of the frame height adjusting
apparatus 50 according to the above-described embodiment is hooked on one peg 52b3
in such a manner that the hook portion 53a is oriented in a direction opposite to
the direction in which the hook portion 53a according to the above-described embodiment
is oriented, that is, the hook portion 53a is oriented toward the side of the support
block 52b2 opposite, in the front-rear direction, to the side on which the guiding
portion 51 a of the support base 51 is disposed. In this case, the frame height adjusting
apparatus 50 is installed on a heald frame 10 (hereinafter referred to as an "installation
heald frame 10c") disposed across from the target heald frame 10a in the front-rear
direction with respect to the neighboring heald frame 10b. In this state, the upper
frame stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a can be hooked on the hook portion 53a
of the ascending-descending member 53.
Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 7B, for example, the heald-frame height adjusting
apparatus may have such a configuration in which the peg of the adjusting mechanism
is spaced apart from the guiding portion of the support base in the front-rear direction
to a larger extent than in the case of the configuration according to the above-described
embodiment or other examples and the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus may be
installed on any of other heald frames 10.
The example illustrated in Fig. 7B is a heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60',
which is an example acquired by modifying the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus
60 illustrated in Fig. 4. In the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60', a stand
portion 62b2' of a nut member 62b' has a larger protrusion amount than in the case
of the configuration illustrated in Fig. 4 (specifically, twice as large as the protrusion
amount in the case of the configuration illustrated in Fig. 4). In this configuration,
when the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60' is installed on an installation
heald frame 10c in the above described manner, the side surface of the stand portion
62b2' of the nut member 62b' on which the peg 62b3' is attached is substantially aligned,
in the front-rear direction, with the position of the surface of the upper frame stave
11 of the target heald frame 10a, the surface facing away from the neighboring heald
frame 10b. This configuration thus allows the ascending-descending member 63' hooked
on the peg 62b3' to hook the upper frame stave 11 of the target heald frame 10a in
the state where the heald-frame height adjusting apparatus 60' is installed on the
installation heald frame 10c.
(6) In the above-described embodiment or other examples, an undersurface of the upper
frame stave 11 is used as the downward-facing surface of the upper frame stave 11
of the target heald frame 10a hooked by the hook portion of the ascending-descending
member. The downward-facing surface, however, is not limited to the undersurface of
the upper frame stave 11 and may be another downward-facing surface of existing heald
frames 10.
[0083] In some so-called riderless heald frames, which are publically-known heald frames
and in which a carrier rod that supports healds is directly attached to a lower end
portion of an upper frame stave, a support portion of the carrier rod of the upper
frame stave has multiple holes that extend through the support portion in the lateral
direction to allow an operator to visually recognize the healds supported by the carrier
rod or to perform maintenance of the healds. In the case where the heald frame has
such holes, the heald frame may be hooked by the hook portion of the ascending-descending
member at the inner circumferential surface of one of the holes. In that case, a portion
of the inner circumferential surface of the hole facing downward serves as the above-described
downward-facing surface. Also in other cases, if the heald frame includes another
downward-facing surface that the hook portion can hook, the surface may be used as
the above-described downward-facing surface.
[0084] To perform the operation of adjusting the height of the target heald frame 10a using
heald-frame height adjusting apparatuses according to the invention, for example,
two heald-frame height adjusting apparatuses are actually used. Specifically, heald-frame
height adjusting apparatuses are installed on the upper frame stave 11 of the neighboring
heald frame 10b or installation heald frame 10c at positions near the side stays 12
on both sides in the lateral direction so that the target heald frame 10a can be supported
by the pair of heald-frame height adjusting apparatuses. Then, the full length of
the pair of support members 21 of the transmission mechanism 20 that supports the
target heald frame 10a is rendered changeable as described above. In that state, the
height of the target heald frame 10a is adjusted.
[0085] To perform the operation of adjusting the height of the target heald frame 10a using
the heald-frame height adjusting apparatuses according to the present invention, however,
two heald-frame height adjusting apparatuses are not necessarily required in contrast
to the above-described case. The height adjustment can be performed using only one
heald-frame height adjusting apparatus. In this case, the height adjustment is firstly
performed in the above-described manner on one side of the target heald frame 10a
in the lateral direction and then, after the completion of the height adjustment on
one side, the height adjustment is performed on the other side of the target heald
frame 10a in the lateral direction.
[0086] The present invention is not limited to any of the above-described embodiments or
examples and is changeable in various manners without departing from the gist of the
invention.