Rapier and gripper weaving machine

[0001] The invention relates to a rapier for a gripper weaving machine,
wherein the rapier comprises a gripper band and a wear-resistant element
arranged at the front end of the rapier. In addition, the invention relates to a
wear-resistant element for such a rapier and a gripper weaving machine
with such a rapier.
[0002] With gripper weaving machines, also referred to as rapier weaving
machines, a gripper is attached at the front end of a rapier for moving the
gripper through the shed. A rapier for a gripper weaving machine usually
comprises a flexible gripper band or a relatively stiff gripper band, also re
ferred to as a gripper bar. The gripper band is generally made substantially
of a reinforced and relatively flexible material, such as epoxy with carbon
fibers. The front end of the rapier is generally intended for guiding the ra
pier and is usually reinforced and of a stiff design in order to ensure a good
guiding of the rapier through the shed. Also, the front end of the rapier is
generally reinforced and of a stiff design in order to ensure a secure and
tight mounting of the gripper at the front end of the rapier.
[0003] During weaving, the front end of the rapier is the first part of the ra
pier which enters the shed and the first part that makes contact with the
warp threads and/or with guide hooks which guide the gripper and/or the
rapier in the shed, resulting in wear at the front end. In addition, the wear
can be negatively affected by an eccentricity of the weight of the gripper
arranged at the front end, which causes torsional forces in the rapier and
may cause unintended contact with the guide hooks and the warp threads,
which may also cause further wear of the rapier and the guide hooks.
[0004] EP 1 586 683 A2 describes a gripper band made of a reinforced
synthetic material on which layers of wear-resistant material are provided in
order to extend the service life of the gripper band.
[0005] It is known in the prior art to provide a wear-resistant element at the
front end of the rapier in order to extend the service life of the rapier. The
wear-resistant element is generally made of wear-resistant material and is
reinforced and of a stiff design. The wear-resistant element is usually intended
for guiding the rapier. A wear-resistant element can be added to the
rapier permanently, for example by welding, gluing or casting, as described
in WO 2008/155105, but when the wear-resistant element is worn down
and replacement is required, than the rest of the rapier is lost as well. It is
therefore advantageous to provide a replaceable wear-resistant element
which can be replaced while the rest of the rapier, more particularly the
gripper band, can further be used.
[0006] EP 1 0 13 806 B 1 describes a rapier with a gripper, which comprises
a gripper band, a support plate with a stiff structure and a wearing plate in
order to protect the underside of the gripper. The elements are screwed
together.
[0007] EP 0 623 694 B2 and JP U 60-60482 each describe a rapier,
formed in two different parts, which comprises a base part and a ex¬
changeable part which is made of a different material and can be con
nected to the base part, wherein the exchangeable part has a profiled insert
which accommodates a profiled end part of the base part.
[0008] The combinations of wear-resistant elements and gripper bands
known from the prior art have the disadvantage that the alignment and the
stiffness between the wear-resistant element and the rest of the rapier,
more particularly the gripper band, is not ensured. Each of the known solutions
always has the risk that the wear-resistant element is incorrectly
aligned with respect to the gripper band during an assembly, for example
due to an imprudent fastening, dirt, a defective screw or by a small defor¬
mation. This is particularly disadvantageous when the wear-resistant ele¬
ment of the rapier can come into contact with warp threads or with guide
hooks, wherein both the incorrectly aligned wear-resistant element, the
gripper band, the warp threads and/or the guide hooks may be damaged.
[0009] US 3,5802,291 describes a feeding gripper comprising a main body
made of a plastic material and having an upper jaw and a lower jaw for re
ceiving a weft yarn therebetween. The main body is fixed within a support
made of the same plastic material, which support is in turn mounted at the
end of a strap that causes the alternate movement of the gripper.
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a rapier which com¬
prises a gripper band with a stiff top and a wear-resistant element which is
connected removably to the stiff top of the gripper band, wherein the wearresistant
element is connected to the stiff top reliably and correctly aligned
with respect to the gripper band.
[001 ] This object is solved by a rapier, a weaving machine and a wear
resistant element with the features of claims 1, 0 and 1.
[0012] According to the invention, the rapier comprises a gripper band and
a wear-resistant element which is added to the gripper band, wherein the
gripper band comprises a stiff top to which the wear-resistant element can
be connected, wherein the stiff top and the wear-resistant element have
complementary connecting parts which comprise a tongue and a recess,
wherein the tongue can be introduced into the recess by sliding it in an in¬
troduction direction and wherein the tongue is held in the recess in a formfitted
manner in the directions other than the introduction direction, more
particularly in the directions perpendicular to the introduction direction. A
gripper can be attached to the stiff top and to the wear-resistant element by
means of fastening elements which are positioned in zones which do not
coincide with connecting parts of the wear-resistant element or with connecting
parts of the stiff top.
[0013] According to the invention, a wear-resistant element for a rapier
comprising a gripper band is also provided, which can be connected to a
stiff top of the gripper band, wherein the stiff top and the wear-resistant
element have complementary connecting parts which comprise a tongue
and a recess, wherein the tongue can be introduced into the recess by sliding
it in an introduction direction and wherein the tongue is held in the re¬
cess in a form-fitted manner in the directions other than the introduction
direction, more particularly in the directions perpendicular to the introduc
tion direction. A gripper can be attached to the wear-resistant element by
means of fastening elements which are positioned in zones which do not
coincide with connecting parts of the wear-resistant element.
[0014] According to the invention, a gripper weaving machine with a rapier
according to the invention is also provided.
[001 5] In the context of the invention, an element which is made of a material
having a higher wear- resistance than the gripper band under identical
conditions is referred to as a wear-resistant element. According to preferred
embodiments, a wear-resistant element is made of a fiber-reinforced polyamide,
wherein the fibers comprise for example carbon fibers, glass fibers
or aramide fibers. The wear-resistant element may also comprise additives
which improve wear- resistance, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon).
[0016] In the context of the invention, "to be held form-fitted" means that a
connection is established wherein the tongue and the recess are held in a
certain mutual position which is determined by the shape of the connecting
parts which form the connection between both.
[001 7] In the context of the invention, "stiff top" means a top of a gripper
band which is of a sufficiently stiff design, for example is sufficiently rein
forced, in order to allow a connection of a wear-resistant element with the
gripper band and in order to allow a good guiding of the gripper band
through the shed.
[0018] By means of the connection according to the invention, the wearresistant
element can easily be connected to the stiff top by a relative
movement of both parts in the introduction direction. The form-fitted con
nection with recess and tongue allows a perfect alignment between the
gripper band and the wear-resistant element and the thus formed rapier
has a stiffness which is comparable to that of a rapier made in one piece.
For this reason, screws or other fixing elements for fastening the gripper
band and the wear-resistant element to one another can be omitted in the
connecting zone. Avoiding the use of fixing elements in the connecting
zone between the wear-resistant element and the gripper band is advanta
geous since local weaknesses at the location of the connection, for exam
ple resulting from openings, screw holes and the like, are avoided. This
also allows to connect the wear-resistant element removably to the gripper
band.
[0019] Both the stiff top and the wear-resistant element are provided with
openings for fastening elements in order to fasten a gripper to the stiff top
and to the wear-resistant element. In order to be fastened, the wearresistant
element and the gripper band are connected by a relative move¬
ment in the introduction direction, this is preferably the longitudinal direction
of the gripper band. This is achieved, for example, by sliding the wearresistant
element on the stiff top. Subsequently, the gripper is attached to
both the wear-resistant element and to the gripper band. After the gripper
has been attached, an unintended relative movement between the wearresistant
element and the gripper band is prevented this way. Preferably,
the gripper is fastened by means of screws, so that the gripper and/or the
wear-resistant element can always easily be replaced if necessary. Accord¬
ing to the invention, a quick and simple assembly of the rapier is possible,
wherein both an incorrect alignment of the wear-resistant element is pre
vented and the use of adhesive is superfluous. The fastening elements are
positioned in zones which do not coincide with the connecting parts of the
wear-resistant element and of the stiff top, in other words which do not co¬
incide with the surroundings of the recess and the tongue, in order not to
weaken the connecting parts. According to one embodiment, the screws
which are used for an attachment of the gripper are not situated in the con¬
necting zone for connecting the wear-resistant element and the stiff top.
[0020] According to one embodiment, the wear-resistant element is pro¬
vided with a recess into which an elongate tongue, which protrudes from
the stiff top of the gripper band, can be introduced in the introduction direc
tion. In order to connect the wear-resistant element to the stiff top, the
elongate tongue is slid into the recess, wherein the tongue and the recess
function as positioning elements for aligning the wear-resistant element. In
this manner, a connection is formed wherein the wear-resistant element is
held in a substantially form-fitted manner in each direction other than the
introduction direction. A wear-resistant element with a recess and a tongue
arranged to a stiff top of a gripper band are easy to manufacture.
[0021] Preferably, the gripper band is formed integrally with the stiff top. As
a result thereof, the wear-resistant element can be fastened to the gripper
band without any possible incorrect alignment and a loss of stiffness of the
rapier is prevented.
[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the introduction direction co¬
incides with the longitudinal direction of the rapier, more particularly, the
introduction direction coincides with the axis of movement of the rapier,
wherein the wear-resistant element and/or the stiff top of the gripper band
are moved mutually along the axis of movement of the rapier in order to
form the connection. This allows to design both the recess and the tongue
with limited dimensions while still a form-fitted connection is possible that
prevents any incorrect alignment.
[0023] According to another embodiment, a tolerance, more particularly a
certain positive play between the tongue and the recess is minimized, for
example a play chosen in the order of magnitude up to 0.2 mm, for exam¬
ple a p ay of approximately 0.05 mm to 0.1 mm. In other words, the wearresistant
element and the gripper band are formed in such a manner that a
play is so small that any possible incorrect alignment is prevented. Prefera¬
bly, a play may be such that an assembly of the wear-resistant element to
the gripper band remains easily possible, wherein, according to one em¬
bodiment, the connection between the gripper band and the wear-resistant
element is fixed, for example is fixed by means of screws which are fitted at
a distance from the recess and the tongue.
[0024] According to another embodiment, the connection between the
gripper band and the wear-resistant element is fixed with adhesive, pref
erably using an adhesive which can be unfastened, for example, can be
thermally unfastened. According to one embodiment, the wear-resistant
element and the gripper band are securely attached by means of adhesive
which is introduced into the recess. According to other embodiments, the
adhesive is added in chambers provided in the side walls of the gripper
band and/or in the side walls of the wear-resistant element, in such a man¬
ner that the play between the gripper band and the wear-resistant element
is not increased when space is provided for the adhesive.
[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, a tolerance between the
tongue and the recess is chosen so that a clamping connection is formed
between the wear-resistant element and the gripper band, so that fixing
elements such as screws, or the use of adhesive are superfluous. In this
case, the tolerance is chosen so that a clamping connection of a certain
clamping force is achieved. If the tongue and the recess do not have
smooth side walls, a clamping connection can already be achieved with a
minimal positive play. However, it is also possible to choose a negative
play to achieve a desired clamping stress. In this case, the negative play
can be, for example, between 0.01 and 0.1 mm, for example approximately
0.05 mm. By means of such a clamping connection, the tongue is clamped
in the recess, so that the tongue is also held in the recess in a form-fitted
manner. This also has the advantage that a stiff connection between the
gripper band and the wear-resistant element is achieved.
[0026] According to preferred embodiments, at least the wear-resistant ele¬
ment is provided with guide elements, in particular with a guide groove
and/or a guiding surface for guiding the gripper during the movement
through the shed, in particular through the warp threads and/or the guide
hooks. Preferably, near the guide elements of the rapier, fastening elements
and/or fixing elements are avoided since in particular screws can
cause excessive wear to guide hooks or can damage warp threads. When
guide hooks are used, it is therefore preferred to use only screws when
fixing the connection between the wear-resistant element and the gripper
band and/or when attaching the gripper in a zone which is not used to
guide the gripper band and/or the wear-resistant element. A connection
according to the invention allows to fasten the wear-resistant element easily
to the gripper band at the location of the guide elements without using
screws, without any possible incorrect alignment and without a loss of stiff¬
ness at the location of the connecting parts of the gripper band and the
wear-resistant element.
[0027] According to one embodiment, the recess of the wear-resistant element
is provided with a continuous surrounding peripheral wall which de¬
fines an internal space in the wear-resistant element. The recess is pro¬
vided with a , for example, rectangular cross section comprising four side
walls which make contact with the side walls of the tongue in order to form
a form-fitted connection. In order to form a clamping connection, these side
walls may be designed in such a manner that they are, for example, en¬
tirely or partly parallel to the introduction direction and have a small play or
tolerance between the tongue and the recess. In this case, at the location
of the side walls of the tongue, the tongue is substantially surrounded by
the side walls of the internal space in the wear-resistant element. A rectangular
cross section also has the advantage that it not only makes an accu¬
rate alignment in the longitudinal direction of the rapier possible, but also
makes an accurate radial alignment with respect to the longitudinal direc¬
tion of the gripper band possible. The abovementioned cross section may
also be shaped differently, for example be a square cross section, a triangular
cross section, a polygonal cross section or any other cross section
which allows a form-fitted connection.
[0028] According to another embodiment, the wear-resistant element com
prises a recess and a slot in the introduction direction which allow for a
tongue with a T-shaped cross section to be introduced into the recess and
to be held in the recess in a form-fitted manner in the directions other than
the introduction direction. In this case, the wear-resistant element is pro¬
vided with a slot at the peripheral wall of the recess which extends in the
introduction direction from the recess and which allows to connect the
wear-resistant element to a stiff top which is provided with a T-shaped
tongue. In the context of the invention, a tongue having a T-shaped cross
section with a base bar and a transverse bar is referred to as a T-shaped
tongue. When connecting the stiff top to the T-shaped tongue and the
wear-resistant element, the transverse bar extends through the slot, while
the base bar is held in the recess in a form-fitted manner. The stiffness of a
stiff top which comprises a T-shaped tongue is increased by the additional
material which is added compared to a tongue which has a rectangular
cross section. The slot preferably extends from the peripheral wall of the
recess up to a side wall of the wear-resistant element which allows an a c
curate manufacture of the wear-resistant element, in particular when the
wear-resistant element is produced by means of injection-molding. In this
case, a core in the mold, which is required to shape the recess in the wearresistant
element, can be supported during injection-molding.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the wear-resistant element is
not only held in all directions other than the introduction direction by the
tongue which is held in the recess in a form-fitted manner, but is also held
so that the wear-resistant element is prevented from turning with respect to
the gripper band, more particularly is prevented from rotating about an axis
parallel to the introduction direction. As a result thereof, the wear-resistant
element is positioned in a well-defined radial angular position with respect
to an axis in the introduction direction and a rotation about this axis is pre¬
vented.
[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the tongue is provided on the
gripper band and the recess is provided in the wear-resistant element. This
allows to manufacture the gripper band together with the tongue from fiberreinforced
material, wherein the fibers extend in the longitudinal direction of
the gripper band. This allows to produce a stiff tongue having a small cross
section. In this case, the recess of the wear-resistant element has a larger
cross section than the tongue, which allows to use a wear-resistant element
made of a material which is less stiff, as the larger cross section en
sures a stiff wear-resistant element.
[0031] Below, embodiments of the invention are described in more detail
with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings, in which identical or
similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals:
Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a stiff top of a
gripper band and of a wear-resistant element before being
connected;
Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of a stiff top and a
wear-resistant element from Figure 1 after being connected;
Figure 3 schematically shows a perspective view of a stiff top and of a
wear-resistant element from Figure 2 to which a gripper is at¬
tached;
Figure 4 schematically shows a cross section along the transverse
plane IV from Figure 3 together with a guide hook shown
schematically;
Figure 5 schematically shows a cross section along the longitudinal
plane V from Figure 2 of the stiff top and of the wear-resistant
element from Figure 2;
Figure 6 schematically shows a cross section along the transverse
plane IV from Figure 3 of the wear-resistant element;
Figure 7 schematically shows a perspective view of a second em
bodiment of a stiff top and of a wear-resistant element before
being connected;
Figure 8 schematically shows a perspective view of the stiff top and of
the wear-resistant element from Figure 7 after being con¬
nected;
Figure 9 schematically shows a cross section along the transverse
plane IX from Figure 8;
Figure 10 schematically shows a cross section similar to the cross sec
tion from Figure 5 of a stiff top and of a wear-resistant ele¬
ment according to a third embodiment;
Figure 11 shows a top view of a rapier according to a fourth embodi
ment.
[0032] Figures 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a rapier 1 comprising a
gripper band 2 provided with a stiff top 10 and with a wear-resistant ele¬
ment 20 which can be connected removably to the stiff top 10. Figure 1
shows a view of the stiff top 10 and of the wear-resistant element 20 before
these are connected . The stiff top 10 comprises an elongate tongue
which extends beyond the stiff top 10, while the wear-resistant element 20
comprises a recess 21 which can cooperate with the tongue 11. Figure 2
shows a view wherein the stiff top 10 and the wear-resistant element 20 are
connected . Figure 3 shows a view of a rapier 1, wherein on the stiff top 10
and on the wear-resistant element 20 a gripper 3 is connected to the rapier
1. In this case, the gripper 3 is attached near the front end 4 of the rapier 1,
where the wear-resistant element 20 is also fitted. Figure 4 shows a cross
section at the tongue 11 and the recess 21 of the stiff top 10 and shows
how the wear-resistant element 20 is guided by a guide hook 5. Such a
guide hook 5 is described in more detail in WO 2006/03761 9. Figure 5
shows a longitudinal section of the tongue 11 of the stiff top 10 and of the
recess 21 of the wear-resistant element 20 while they are mutually con¬
nected .
[0033] The stiff top 10 is integrally formed with a gripper band 2. In the
illustrated embodiment, the introduction direction I coincides with the longi¬
tudinal direction L of the gripper band 2, in other words the introduction direction
I runs parallel to the longitudinal direction L. In order to connect the
wear-resistant element 20 to the stiff top 10 , the tongue 1 is introduced
into the recess 21 of the wear-resistant element 2. When the tongue 11 has
been introduced, the wear-resistant element 20 and the stiff top 10 are
aligned perfectly with respect to one another.
[0034] The stiff top 0 and the wear-resistant element 20 have complemen
tary connecting parts 6 and 7, respectively, more particularly the tongue 1
and the recess 21. The connecting part 6 comprises a tongue 1 which
protrudes from the stiff top 0, while the connecting part 7 comprises a re¬
cess 2 1 provided in the wear-resistant element 20. The tongue 1 and the
recess 21 can be mutually connected , more particularly can be connected
removably to one another. To this end , the tongue 11 can be introduced
into the recess 21 by sliding it in an introduction direction . When intro¬
duced into the recess 21, the tongue 11 is held in the recess 21 in a formfitted
manner in the directions other than the introduction direction I and so
that a turning with respect to the gripper band is prevented , more particu
larly, that a rotation about an axis 37 parallel to the introduction direction I
is prevented.
[0035] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, contact surfaces 30 are formed by
means of the connecting parts 6 and 7 , which allow the tongue 1 to be
held in the recess 21 in a form-fitted manner. In this case, the play between
the tongue 11 and the recess 21 is minimized , for example a play in the
order of magnitude of 0.05 mm between the contact surfaces 30. The con¬
tact surfaces 30 are formed by the side walls 16 of the tongue 11 of the
connecting part 6 and the peripheral wall 27 of the recess 21 of the con¬
necting part 7. In this embodiment, at the stiff top 10 the connecting part 6
comprises aside from the tongue 1 also a profiling 12 and, at the wearresistant
element 20 the connecting part 7 comprises aside from the recess
21 also a profiling 22, which is adapted to the profiling 12, as is indicated in
Figure 1. The profilings 2 and 22 are formed so as to be complementary
and are advantageous in order to improve a connection between the grip
per band 2 and the wear-resistant element 20, in particular in order to
counteract a bending moment A or B, as indicated in Figure 1, which may
be exerted on the tongue 1.
[0036] After the introduction, a gripper 3 can be attached to the stiff top 10
and to the wear-resistant element 20, as is illustrated in Figure 3. To this
end , both the stiff top 0 and the wear-resistant element 20 are provided
with openings 13, 23. The gripper 3 can be attached by using fastening
elements 14, 24 which are introduced through the openings 13, 23. The
attachment of the gripper 3 to the gripper band 2 also fixes the connection
between the stiff top 10 and the wear-resistant element 20. This also pre¬
vents that the wear-resistant element 20 of the stiff top 10 can slide with
respect to the gripper band 2 in the introduction direction I during use, more
particularly during weaving.
[0037] The location of the openings 13, 23 is chosen in such a manner as
to ensure that the fastening elements 14 or 24, which are formed, for ex
ample, by screws, are positioned in zones 5 and 25, which are indicated
by dashed lines in Figure 2, which zones 15, 25 do not coincide with the
connecting parts 6 and 7 , more particularly do not penetrate into the connecting
zone of the recess 2 1 of the wear-resistant element 20 or do not
extend at the tongue 11 of the stiff top 10. This can be seen in the section
shown in Figure 4.
[0038] As can best be seen in Figure 4, the wear-resistant element 20 is
provided with a guide groove 26 which cooperates with a guide element 8
which is provided on a guide hook 5 of a weaving machine. The location of
the openings 13, 23 is also chosen to ensure that the fastening elements
14, 24 do not interfere with a guide hook 5.
[0039] As can best be seen in Figure 6, the recess 2 1 of the wear-resistant
element 20 comprises a continuous surrounding peripheral wall 27 which
determines an internal space 28 in the wear-resistant element 20 which
forms the recess 2 1. The peripheral wall 27 also determines the contact
surfaces 30, as indicated in Figure 4, in which there is contact with the side
walls 16 of the tongue 11 as is indicated in Figure 1.
[0040] Figures 7 and 9 show a second embodiment of a stiff top 0 and of
a wear-resistant element 20 which can be connected removably to the stiff
top 10. Figure 7 shows a view of the stiff top 10 and of the wear-resistant
element 20 before the two are connected. Figure 8 shows the stiff top 10
and the wear-resistant element 20 when they are connected. Figure 9
shows a cross section of the stiff top 0 and of the wear-resistant element
20 according to this second embodiment at the tongue 11 and the recess
21, more particularly along the plane IX from Figure 8.
[0041 ] The stiff top 10 and the wear-resistant element 20 according to the
second embodiment differ from those of the first embodiment with regard to
their shape. According to the second embodiment, a tongue 11 with a Tshaped
cross section comprising a base bar 17 and a transverse bar 18 is
arranged to the stiff top 10. The recess 21 has a slot 29 in the peripheral
wall 27 which can cooperate with the transverse bar 18 of the stiff top 10
when connecting the stiff top 0 and the wear-resistant element 20. The Tshaped
tongue 11 is introduced into the recess 21 in the introduction direc¬
tion I, wherein the transverse bar 18 of the tongue 11 extends through the
slot 29, while the base bar 17 is held substantially in a form-fitted manner in
the recess 21. The transverse bar 18 is advantageous with regard to the
stiffness of the T-shaped tongue 11. In this embodiment, contact surfaces
33 are formed by the side walls 31 of the base bar 17 of the connecting
part 6 and the peripheral wall 27 of the recess 2 1 of the connecting part 7
which is complementary thereto and by the side walls 32 of the transverse
bar 18 of the connecting part 6 and the side walls 34 of the slot 29 of the
connecting part 7 which are complementary thereto. In this case, the slot
29 extends both in the introduction direction I and transverse to the intro¬
duction direction I from the peripheral wall 27 of the recess 21 and up to a
side wall of the wear-resistant element 20, more particularly both in the
longitudinal direction L and transverse to the longitudinal direction L of the
rapier 1 and as illustrated in Figure 8, up to the top side wall 35 of the wearresistant
element 20.
[0042] Figure 10 shows a third embodiment of a stiff top 10 with a tongue
11 and a wear-resistant element 20 which can be connected removably
thereto. In this case, a further variant of a tongue 11 and a recess 21 is
shown, wherein the tongue 11 has two successive parts 19 and 36 with
mutually different cross sections and wherein the recess 21 is designed in
a corresponding manner in order to form a form-fitted connection , more
particularly, a form-fitted con nection with complementary connecting parts
6 and 7. In this embodiment, chambers 9 are formed between the wearresistant
element 20 and the tongue 1 , into which adhesive can be
pushed which is used to fix the connection between the wear-resistant
element 20 and the stiff top 10. According to a variant (not shown), these
chambers 9 may comprise openings which are open onto the surroundings
in order to allow that an excess of adhesive flows off and is be removed
during an assembly.
[0043] Figure 1 shows another embodiment, wherein the tongue 11 com
prises anchoring elements 38 which can cooperate with anchoring elements
40 of the recess 21. During an introduction into the recess 21, the
anchoring elements 38 can resiliency move towards one another until they
can cooperate with anchoring elements 40. This allows to anchor the formfitted
connection which is formed between the tongue 11 and the recess
21. In order to allow that the wear-resistant element 20 is removed from the
gripper band 2 again , openings 39 may be provided in the wear-resistant
element 21 in order to remove the anchoring elements 38 of the tongue 11
from the anchoring elements 40 of the recess 2 1, more particularly to push
them towards one another in such a manner that the tongue 11 can be re
moved from the recess 21 again .
[0044] According to a variant (not shown), the wear-resistant element 20
may comprise a tongue which can cooperate with a recess provided at the
location of the stiff top 10 of the gripper band 2. In this case, the tongue
and the recess can cooperate with one another in a similar manner to that
described above in order to form a form-fitted connection in the directions
other than the introduction direction I between the gri pper band 2 and the
wear-resistant element 20.
[0045] According to a variant (not shown), in add ition to the tongue 11 and
the recess 21 cooperating therewith , a second or subsequent tongue may
also be provided which is arranged parallel to the tongue 11 and which can
cooperate with a second or subsequent recess which is also arranged par
allel to the recess 2 1. In this manner, it is possible to achieve a good
alignment by means of different relatively small tongues, for example by
placing these a distance apart from each other in the longitudinal direction
of the rapier.
[0046] According to another variant (not shown), both the stiff top 10 and
the wear-resistant element 20 may each be provided with a tongue and a
recess, wherein the tongue of the stiff top 10 cooperates with the recess of
the wear-resistant element 20 and the tongue of the wear-resistant element
20 cooperates with the recess of the stiff top 10.
[0047] The rapier 1, the wear-resistant element 20 and the gripper weaving
machine according to the invention defined in the claims are not limited to
the exemplary embodiments represented and described by way of exam¬
ple, but may also comprise variants and combinations thereof which fall
within the claims.
A rapier for a gripper weaving machine which comprises a gripper
band (2) and a wear-resistant element (20) which is added to the
gripper band (2), wherein the gripper band (2) comprises a stiff top
(10) to which the wear-resistant element (20) can be connected,
wherein the stiff top (10) and the wear-resistant element (20) com¬
prise complementary connecting parts (6, 7) which comprise a
tongue ( 1 1) and a recess (21 ) , wherein the tongue ( 1 1) can be intro¬
duced into the recess (21 ) by sliding it in an introduction direction (I)
and wherein the tongue ( 1 1) is held in the recess (21) in a form-fitted
manner in the directions other than the introduction direction (I),
characterized in that a gripper (3) can be attached to the stiff top
(10) and to the wear-resistant element (20) by fastening elements
(14, 24) which are positioned in zones (15, 16) which do not coincide
with a connecting part (6) of the wear-resistant element (20) or with
a connecting part (7) of the stiff top (10).
The rapier as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wearresistant
element (20) comprises a recess (21 ) into which an elon
gate tongue ( 1) , which protrudes from the stiff top ( 0), can be in
troduced in the introduction direction (I).
The rapier as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stiff
top (10) is integrally formed with the gripper band (2).
The rapier as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
the introduction direction (I) coincides with the longitudinal direction
(L) of the rapier ( 1 ) .
5. The rapier as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a
tolerance and/or play between the tongue ( 1 1) and the recess (21 ) is
minimized.
6 . The rapier as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that
the tongue ( 1 1) is held in the recess (21 ) in a form-fitted manner by
a clamping connection.
The rapier as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that
the recess (21 ) of the wear-resistant element (20) comprises a con
tinuous surrounding peripheral wall (27) which determines an inter¬
nal space (28) in the wear-resistant element (20).
The rapier as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that
the wear-resistant element (20) comprises a recess (21) and a slot
(29) in the introduction direction (I) which allows for a tongue ( 1)
with a T-shaped cross section to be introduced into the recess (21 )
and to be held in the recess (21 ) in a form-fitted manner in the direc¬
tions other than the introduction direction (I).
9. The rapier as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8 , characterized in that
the tongue ( 1 ) is held in the recess (21 ) in a form-fitted manner in
such a manner that turning with respect to the gripper band (2) is
prevented, more particularly that a rotation about an axis (37) paral¬
lel to the introduction direction (I) is prevented.
10.A gripper weaving machine, characterized in that the gripper weav¬
ing machine comprises a rapier ( 1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to
9.
11.A wear-resistant element for a rapier as claimed in one of claims 1 to
9, wherein the wear-resistant element (20) can be connected to a
stiff top ( 10) of a gripper band (2) of a rapier ( 1) , wherein the stiff top
( 10) and the wear-resistant element (20) comprise complementary
connecting parts (6, 7) which comprise a tongue ( 1) and a recess
(21 ) , wherein the tongue ( 1 1) can be introduced into the recess (21 )
by sliding it in an introduction direction (I) and wherein the tongue
( 1 1) is held in the recess (21 ) in a form-fitted manner in the directions
other than the introduction direction (I), characterized in that a
gripper (3) can be attached to the wear-resistant element (20) by
fastening elements (14, 24) which are positioned in zones (15, 16)
which do not coincide with a connecting part (6) of the wear-resistant
element (20).
12.The wear-resistant element as claimed in claim 11, characterized in
that the recess (21 ) of the wear-resistant element (20) comprises a
continuous surrounding peripheral wall (27) which determines an in¬
ternal space (28) in the wear-resistant element (20).
13.The wear-resistant element as claimed in claim 11 or 12, character
ized in that the wear-resistant element (20) comprises a recess (21 )
and a slot (29) in the introduction direction (I) which allows for a
tongue ( 1 1) with a T-shaped cross section to be introduced into the
recess (21) and to be held in the recess (21 ) in a form-fitted manner
in the directions other than the introduction direction (I).
14.The wear-resistant element as claimed in one of claims 11 to 13 ,
characterized in that the tongue ( 1 1) is held in the recess (21 ) in a
form-fitted manner in such a manner that turning with respect to the
gripper band (2) is prevented, more particularly that a rotation about
an axis (37) parallel to the introduction direction (I) is prevented.