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(19)

(11) EP 1 849 897 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.:

31.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/44 D03C 19/00 (2006.01) D03C 13/00 (2006.01)
D03J 1/00 (2006.01)
(21) Application number: 07003660.3

(22) Date of filing: 22.02.2007

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors:

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR • Yamazaki, Koki
HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI Kanazawa-shi
SK TR Ishikawa-ken, 921-8650 (JP)
Designated Extension States: • Kontani, Hideyuki
AL BA HR MK YU Kanazawa-shi
Ishikawa-ken, 921-8650 (JP)
(30) Priority: 28.04.2006 JP 2006124546 • Asaka, Shinichi
Kanazawa-shi
(71) Applicant: TSUDAKOMA KOGYO KABUSHIKI Ishikawa-ken, 921-8650 (JP)
KAISHA
Kanazawa-shi, (74) Representative: Samson & Partner
Ishikawa-ken 921-8650 (JP) Patentanwälte
Widenmayerstraße 5
80538 München (DE)

(54) Shedding-pattern setting device for loom

(57) A shedding-pattern setting device (40) is used each of a plurality of weaving cycles. The shedding-pat-
in a loom including a shedding device (30) capable of tern setting device (40) includes a display (41) capable
electrically controlling the motion of each of a plurality of of displaying the shedding pattern on a display screen
heald frames (30a), the shedding device (30) being driv- and a controller (42) for changing the shedding pattern
en to move the heald frames (30a) in accordance with a on the display screen of the display (41). The controller
shedding pattern that shows whether each heald frame (42) has a function of changing the shedding pattern such
(30a) is to be at an upper position or a lower position for that patterns set for two of the heald frames (30a) are
exchanged between said two of the heald frames (30a).
EP 1 849 897 A1

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

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Description ated by selectively changing the display states of cells

corresponding to the heald frames for each shedding
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION step.
In the example shown in Fig. 4B, for each shedding step,
1. Field of the Invention 5 the display states of the cells corresponding to the heald
frames that are to be placed at the highest position are
[0001] The present invention relates to shedding-pat- changed to those distinguishable from the display states
tern setting devices for looms. More particularly, the of the cells corresponding to the heald frames that are
present invention relates to a shedding-pattern setting to be placed at the lowest position. In the thus-set shed-
device for a loom including a shedding device capable 10 ding pattern, the cells corresponding to each heald frame
of electrically controlling the motion of each of a plurality are shown in different display states depending on wheth-
of heald frames. The shedding device is driven to move er the heald frame is to be at the highest position or the
the heald frames in accordance with a shedding pattern lowest position. Thus, the driving pattern of each heald
that shows whether each heald frame is to be at an upper frame can be visually recognized. The display state of
position or a lower position for each of a plurality of weav- 15 each cell can be changed by, for example, moving a cur-
ing cycles. sor to the cell and performing a button operation or the
like.
2. Description of the Related Art [0007] The shedding-pattern setting device may in-
clude a display device (for example, a display device hav-
[0002] In a typical loom including a shedding device 20 ing a touch-panel display) provided on the loom. Alter-
(e.g., an electronic dobby shedding device, an electric natively, as described below, the shedding pattern may
shedding device, etc.) capable of electrically controlling be created using a personal computer or the like that is
the motion of each of a plurality of heald frames, the shed- disposed outside the loom and be read into the loom’s
ding device is driven in accordance with a preset shed- setting device using a storage medium, such as a mem-
ding pattern. In a weaving process, each heald frame is 25 ory card, or via a local area network (LAN).
moved upward and downward in accordance with the [0008] The creation of the shedding pattern is per-
shedding pattern, thereby forming a shed between warp formed as one of weave preparation processes before
yarns (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent starting the weaving process. In another weave prepa-
Application Publication No. 8-311741. ration process, warp yarns to be used in the weaving
[0003] The shedding pattern is a combination of driving 30 process are threaded through healds supported by the
patterns of the heald frames for obtaining a desired heald frames. Normally, the process of creating the shed-
weave structure. ding pattern and the process of threading the warp yarns
[0004] The shedding pattern is set, for example, in the through the healds are performed by different operators.
form shown in Fig. 4A. In this example, a shedding pattern [0009] In the process of threading the warp yarns, the
is set for a loom that performs a weaving process using 35 warp yarns are let off from a warp beam and are threaded
twelve heald frames. In the following description, one of through the healds supported by the corresponding heald
the heald frames that is closest to a cloth fell is defined frames in accordance with the positions and kinds of the
as the first frame, and the other heald frames are defined warp yarns. In this process, failure may occur in which
as the second frame, the third frame, ..., and the twelfth the warp yarns are threaded through healds supported
frame in that order from the cloth fell. More specifically, 40 by a heald frame that is different from the intended heald
in the shedding pattern shown in Fig. 4A, the position of frame by mistake. In this case, if the driving pattern set
each of the heald frames (the first to twelfth frames) is for the intended heald frame in the shedding pattern dif-
set to the highest or lowest position for each of a plurality fers from the driving pattern set for the heald frame at
of shedding steps (= weaving cycles), and the thus-set which the warp yarns are actually threaded, the weave
positions of the heald frames are shown in the form of a 45 structure of a cloth obtained after the weaving process
matrix. Accordingly, each column of the matrix shown in will be different from the desired weave structure. In ad-
Fig. 4A corresponds to a driving pattern for the corre- dition, there is a risk that warp streaks will appear on the
sponding heald frame, the driving pattern being carried woven cloth depending on the shedding pattern, and the
out in steps of weaving cycles. quality of the woven cloth will be severely degraded in
[0005] The above-mentioned shedding pattern is cre- 50 such a case. Accordingly, in the process of threading the
ated or edited by an operator and is input to the loom’s warp yarns through the healds, the operator must cor-
setting device. The operator creates the shedding pattern rectly pass the warp yarns through the healds supported
using a shedding-pattern setting device. For example, by the corresponding heald frames.
as shown in Fig. 4B, the operator sets the position of [0010] However, the above-described failure due to
each heald frame (the highest or lowest position) for each 55 the operator’s mistake in the process of threading the
shedding step on an edit screen shown on a display of warp yarns cannot be completely avoided. Since such
the shedding-pattern setting device. failure causes degradation in the quality of woven cloth,
[0006] More specifically, the shedding pattern is cre- correction based on the shedding pattern must be per-

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formed if the failure is detected. However, the process spective heald frames can be automatically exchanged
of threading the warp yarns through the healds requires between two of the heald frames simply by designating
considerable time and labor, and therefore it is a heavy the two heald frames. Therefore, the process of changing
burden on the operator to redo the process. In addition, the shedding pattern can be easily performed within a
since this process takes a long time, the operating rate 5 short time.
is reduced. Accordingly, as another countermeasure, the [0015] In addition to the case in which the above-de-
shedding pattern may be changed. For example, a case scribed failure occurs in the process of threading the warp
is considered in which warp yarns intended to be thread- yarns, the above-described process of changing the
ed through the healds on heald frame A are all threaded shedding pattern may also be used in the case of chang-
through the healds on heald frame B and the driving pat- 10 ing a shedding pattern created (set) in advance to create
tern set for the heald frame A in the shedding pattern a new shedding pattern for another weave structure.
differs from the driving pattern set for the heald frame B. More specifically, depending on the weave structure,
In this case, there is a possibility that the above-described there may be a case in which a new shedding pattern
quality problem can be prevented by inputting the driving can be obtained simply by exchanging driving patterns
pattern for the heald frame B in the column corresponding 15 between two or more heald frames in a shedding pattern
to the heald frame A and inputting the driving pattern for that is already completed. In such a case, compared to
the heald frame A in the column corresponding to the the case in which the entire part of the new shedding
heald frame B in the shedding pattern. pattern is created from the start, the new shedding pattern
[0011] If the problem can be prevented by changing can be more easily and quickly created by using the shed-
the shedding pattern, it is more preferable to change the 20 ding pattern that is already completed and exchanging
shedding pattern rather than to redo the process of the driving patterns between the heald frames.
threading the warp yarns, considering the burden on the
operator and other factors. However, to change the shed- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
ding pattern using the known shedding-pattern setting
device, it is necessary to perform a cumbersome process 25 [0016]
of deleting the driving patterns and setting them again.
Therefore, the process of changing the shedding pattern Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embod-
also requires time and labor, although not as much as iment of the present invention;
the process of re-threading the warp yarns. In particular, Fig. 2 is another schematic diagram illustrating the
the shedding pattern corresponds to a weave structure 30 embodiment of the present invention;
of a single repeat that includes a plurality of weaving cy- Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a loom according
cles, and a single repeat may include a large number of to the embodiment of the present invention; and
weaving cycles. For example, the number of picks may Figs. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating
be as large as several thousands in dobby weaving. In the known structure.
such a case, the process of changing the shedding pat- 35
tern also requires considerable time and labor. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0017] An embodiment of the present invention will be

described below with reference to the accompanying
[0012] Accordingly, it is an object of the present inven- 40 drawings.
tion to provide a shedding-pattern setting device that fa- [0018] Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate an embodiment of the
cilitates a process of changing a shedding pattern by ex- present invention. In this embodiment, a shedding pat-
changing driving patterns in units of heald frames, there- tern is created and edited using a personal computer,
by reducing the burden on an operator and the time re- and is read into a setting display device of a loom using
quired for changing the shedding pattern. 45 a storage medium, such as a memory card. Referring to
[0013] In order to achieve the above-described object, Fig. 3, in the present embodiment, a shedding-pattern
according to the present invention, a shedding-pattern setting device 40 corresponds to the combination of a
setting device for a loom having the above-described display 41, a computer main unit 42 which includes a
structure includes a display capable of displaying the program (software) executed for creating the shedding
shedding pattern on a display screen and a controller for 50 pattern to be precise, a keyboard 43, a mouse 44, etc.
changing the shedding pattern on the display screen of In addition, the computer main unit 42 corresponds to
the display. The controller has a function of changing the control means. However, a device for creating the shed-
shedding pattern such that patterns set for two of the ding pattern and a device for changing the shedding pat-
heald frames are exchanged between the two heald tern may also be separately provided. More specifically,
frames. 55 if the shedding pattern is created using the personal com-
[0014] In the shedding-pattern setting device for the puter as described above, the shedding pattern may be
loom according to the present invention, when the shed- changed using another device (for example, the setting
ding pattern is changed, driving patterns set for the re- display device of the loom). In such a case, the device

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for changing the shedding pattern corresponds to the when a shed is formed between warp yarns T.
shedding-pattern setting device according to the present [0026] The shedding pattern is created, that is, the driv-
invention. ing patterns for the heald frames 30a are set on the pat-
[0019] The shedding pattern created by the shedding- tern-editing screen 50 by the following method. That is,
pattern setting device 40 is stored in a storage medium 5 for each shedding step, it is checked whether each heald
MC. The storage medium MC is inserted into a reader frame 30a is to be at the highest position or the lowest
21 provided in a setting display device 20 of the loom, position at the time when the shed is formed between
and the shedding pattern is read out by the reader 21. the warp yarns T. Then, the display state (color or the
Then, the shedding pattern is stored in a memory 22 like) of each of the cells 51 that correspond to the heald
through a central processing unit (CPU) 23. 10 frames 30a to be placed at the highest position is
[0020] When an operator operates an input unit 25 to changed.
issue a display request command to the CPU 23 through [0027] When the shedding pattern is created using a
the input unit 25, the shedding pattern stored in the mem- personal computer as in the present embodiment, the
ory 22 is read out by the CPU 23 and displayed on a display state of each cell 51 may be changed by moving
display 24. 15 a mouse pointer (not shown) to the cell 51 using the
[0021] The shedding pattern stored in the memory 22 mouse 44 and clicking on the cell 51. Alternatively, the
is also output to a main controller 10 of the loom via the display state of each cell 51 may also be changed using
CPU 23 in response to a request issued by the main a cursor (not shown) displayed on the cell section 55. In
controller 10. The main controller 10 outputs a signal this case, the cursor is moved to the cell 51 using cursor
based on the shedding pattern to a shedding device 30, 20 buttons 62 shown in Fig. 4B or cursor keys provided on
the signal representing the state of selection (between the keyboard 43. Then, a "high" button 63a or a "low"
the highest and lowest positions) of heald frames 30a for button 63b (see Fig. 4B) is operated. The display state
each weaving cycle. The shedding device 30 moves the may also be changed by operating specific keys on the
heald frames 30a upward and downward at predeter- keyboard 43 that are assigned to the position-setting op-
mined timing on the basis of the signal from the main 25 eration.
controller 10. [0028] The process of changing the shedding pattern
[0022] A process of creating (editing) the shedding pat- when the above-described failure occurs in the process
tern on the display 41 included in the shedding-pattern of threading the warp yarns in a weave preparation step
setting device 40 will be described below. will be described below. Here, a case will be considered
[0023] First, the operator displays a pattern-editing 30 in which the warp yarns T to be threaded through the
screen 50 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on the display 41 using healds on the seventh frame are threaded through the
the computer main unit 42, which functions as the control healds on the first frame by mistake and the warp yarns
means. Figs. 1 and 2 show the state in which the shedding T to be threaded through the healds on the eighth frame
pattern is already set on the pattern-editing screen 50. are threaded through the healds on the second frame by
However, driving patterns for only some of the heald 35 mistake. The process of changing the shedding pattern
frames are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and driving patterns is performed on the display 41 included in the shedding-
for the remaining heald frames are omitted. pattern setting device 40.
[0024] The pattern-editing screen 50 will be described [0029] To prevent problems caused by the failure in
in more detail below. In Figs. 1 and 2, the shedding pat- threading the warp yarns, the shedding pattern is
tern is set in a section (hereinafter called a "cell section 40 changed such that the driving patterns are exchanged
55") at the left of the screen in which cells 51 are arranged between the seventh frame and the first frame and also
in a matrix. The numbers shown in a number field 52 between the eighth frame and the second frame. The
above the cell section 55 indicate the frame numbers of process of exchanging the driving patterns is performed
the heald frames 30a corresponding to the respective by a program installed in the control means (computer
columns of the cells 51. More specifically, the column of 45 main unit) 42.
the cells 51 numbered 1 shows the driving pattern for the [0030] To change the shedding pattern, first, the op-
first frame, the column of cells 51 numbered 2 shows the erator reads out the shedding pattern stored in the control
driving pattern for the second frame, and the column of means 42 and causes the display 41 to display the shed-
the cells 51 numbered 12 shows the driving pattern for ding pattern on the pattern-editing screen 50. Then, the
the twelfth frame. 50 operator operates a "pattern exchange" button 54 in a
[0025] The numbers shown in a number field 53 on the "command" field at the right of the pattern-editing screen
left of the cell section 55 indicate the step numbers of the 50. Accordingly, the control means 42 executes a pro-
shedding pattern. The step numbers of the shedding pat- gram for exchanging the driving patterns. When this pro-
tern show the order of steps of the shedding motion that gram is executed, first, a pattern-exchange setting win-
is performed in steps of weaving cycles. Accordingly, 55 dow 70 shown in Fig. 1 is displayed on the pattern-editing
each row in the cell section 55 shows the positions (high- screen 50 of the display 41.
est or lowest) of the heald frames 30a (i.e., the state of [0031] Next, in this state, one or more heald frames
selection) in the corresponding weaving cycle at the time which are to exchange the driving patterns with other

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heald frames are selected. In the present embodiment, in Fig. 2. When the driving patterns are exchanged in the
the warp yarns to be threaded through the healds on the above-described manner, the control means 42 termi-
seventh and eighth frames are threaded through the nates the program for exchanging the driving patterns
healds on the first and second frames, respectively, by and finishes the process of changing the shedding pat-
mistake and accordingly the seventh and eighth frames 5 tern.
are selected. The heald frames can be selected by, for [0035] In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a "can-
example, clicking the corresponding frame numbers in cel" button 73 on the pattern-exchange setting window
the number field 52. Then, the display state (color or the 70 is used to change the frame number input in the input
like) of the columns corresponding to the selected frame field 71. When the cancel button 73 is operated, the input
numbers may be changed. A plurality of heald frames 10 frame number is deleted so that another frame number
can be selected by, for example, clicking on one of the can be input.
frame numbers and dragging the mouse pointer in a hor- [0036] The control means 42 may also have a function
izontal direction. In such a case, the heald frames can of displaying an error message if an unused heald frame
be selected without clicking on each of the corresponding is designated as a target frame. For example, referring
frame numbers. However, the method of selecting the 15 to Fig. 1, a case is considered in which "16" is input in
heald frames is not limited to the above-mentioned meth- the input field 71 although the number of frames being
ods, and other kinds of methods may also be used. For used is twelve. In this case, the control means compares
example, the heald frames may also be selected by di- the number of frames being used with the value input in
rectly inputting the corresponding frame numbers. the input field 71 (frame number of target frame), and
[0032] When the frames to be selected (the seventh 20 displays an error message if the number of frames being
and eighth frames) are determined, the frame numbers used is smaller than the value in the input field 71. The
(7-8) of the selected frames are displayed on the pattern- error message may be, for example, "values higher than
exchange setting window 70 as the selected frames. the number of frames cannot be input". In addition, even
Then, the heald frames which are to exchange the driving when the number of frames being used is equal to or
patterns with the selected frames are designated as tar- 25 higher than the value in the input field 71, an error mes-
get frames. In Fig. 1, the frame numbers of the heald sage similar to that provided above is displayed if the
frames designated as the target frames may be input to frame number of one or more of the target frames deter-
a "target frame" input field 71 in the setting window 70. mined in accordance with the number of selected frames
[0033] In the example shown in the figure, the frame is higher than the number of frames being used.
number "1" is input instead of inputting both of the frame 30 [0037] In the above-described embodiment, the shed-
numbers "1" and "2" corresponding to the first and second ding pattern is created using the personal computer 40
frames which are to exchange the driving patterns with provided outside the loom, and is changed using the
the seventh and eighth frames, respectively. In this case, same personal computer 40. However, the present in-
not only the driving pattern for the first frame but also the vention is not limited to this, and a device for creating the
driving pattern for the second frame can be exchanged 35 shedding pattern and a device for changing the shedding
at the same time. More specifically, when a plurality of pattern may be separately provided. For example, the
successive heald frames are to exchange the driving pat- shedding pattern may be created using the personal
terns with other heald frames, it is not necessary to input computer 40 provided outside the loom, and be changed
all of the frame numbers of the heald frames designated using the setting display device 20 of the loom. In this
as the target frames if the smallest one of the frame num- 40 case, the setting display device 20 of the loom corre-
bers is input. In this case, a plurality of heald frames can sponds to the shedding-pattern setting device according
exchange the drive patterns with other heald frames au- to the present invention and the CPU 23 functions as the
tomatically. More specifically, the control means 42 de- control means.
termines the number of target frames on the basis of the [0038] The present invention is not limited to the
number of selected frames, and then determines the 45 above-described embodiment, and various modifica-
heald frames which are to exchange the driving patterns tions are possible within the scope of the present inven-
with the selected frames on the basis of the number of tion.
target frames and the frame number input in the input
field 71. However, it is not necessary that the control
means 42 have such a function, and all of the frame num- 50 Claims
bers of the heald frames designated as the target frames
may be input in the input field 71. 1. A shedding-pattern setting device (40) for a loom
[0034] After the selected frames and the target frames including a shedding device (30) capable of electri-
are set, an "OK" button 72 in the setting window 70 is cally controlling the motion of each of a plurality of
operated. Accordingly, the driving patterns are ex- 55 heald frames (30a), the shedding device (30) being
changed between the seventh frame and the first frame driven to move the heald frames (30a) in accordance
and between the eighth frame and the second frame. As with a shedding pattern that shows whether each
a result, the shedding pattern is changed to that shown heald frame (30a) is to be at an upper position or a

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lower position for each of a plurality of weaving cy-

cles, the shedding-pattern setting device (40) com-
prising:

a display (41) capable of displaying the shedding 5

pattern on a display screen; and
control means (42) for changing the shedding
pattern on the display screen of the display (41),
the control means (42) having a function of
changing the shedding pattern such that pat- 10
terns set for two of the heald frames (30a) are
exchanged between said two of the heald
frames (30a).

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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• JP 8311741 A [0002]

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