Functional Description of Rapier Weaving Machine

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 Machine Drive
• Main motor( 1) drives disc flywheel (3) via V
belts (2) .
• The electromagnetic clutch transmits the
motion to the driving gear wheel and the
main shaft.
• The shedding mechanism is slowly turned
forward and backward by creep speed
motor(4).
• A separate fan (5) is fitted to generate the
required vacuum for cleaning the TO.
• The disc flywheel increases the moving mass
and contributes to the smooth running of the
weaving machine.
 Warp Let-Off
✓ The configuration of warp let-off gear (3)
depends on
1. Required number of picks per cm
2. Warp beam flange diameter
3. Weaving machine speed.
• The warp let off gear is controlled via a
sensor which continuously monitors the
position of the warp tensioner.
• The link with the warp let-off gear is
disconnected by releasing clamping bar (2)
on the warp beam adapter.
• For higher weft density the warp let-off slows
down in synchronism with the cloth take-up.
 Warp Stop Motion
✓ The configuration of the warp stop motion
depends on
1. Warp density
2. Warp yarn count
3. Type of yarn
• The weight of drop wires depends on yarn
type and yarn count.
• Up to 8 drop wire rails can be fitted
• Open or closed drop wires can be used,
depending on
• Whether they are pinned on the weaving
machine/hand or
• Drawn in on the drawing-in machine
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 Shedding Mechanisms
✓ The common shedding systems used for rapier
machines are
1. Positive cam/tappet
2. Electronically controlled positive dobby
3. Jacquard systems.
✓ In rotary dobby mechanism
• Dobby permits weaving with up to 24
harnesses with a speed of 630 rpm.
• It is controlled by entering the fabric and
machine specific parameters at the terminal.
• The shed operating angle is modified between
19–28° with special gauges.
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 Sley Motion
• The sley motion is controlled by
1. Sley shaft (1)
2. The clamped reed (2)
3. Supporting teeth (3).
• The supporting teeth pass through
the lower warp ends when the shed
is almost open.
• The motion is transmitted by
complementary cams(5) on the left
and right to roller levers(4)

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 Weft Insertion
• Weft feeder (2) draws the weft yarn off cross
wound package (1) and coils it on to
accumulator drum (3) at a preset speed.
• As soon as a sufficiently large weft yarn
supply has been wound on,
• Weft reserve monitor (4) interrupts the
coiling process until this weft yarn has been
inserted
• Brake ring (5) prevents ballooning during
drawing-off.
• The weft yarn is tensioned by weft brake (6)
depending on the weft insertion conditions
• ..\3. rapier\video\weft insert.mp4
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 Pick Finding Device

• The moving weft yarn is monitored by

weft stop motion (weft monitor )(2)
throughout the weft insertion process.
• If no pick is present, the machine is
stopped and then turned to the pick finding
position.
• When the pick finding position is
reached,
• The rapiers are outside the cloth
• The actual pick finding process
can be initiated automatically,
reversing by one pick.
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✓ During this process
• The main shaft is disengaged from the rear shaft via electromagnetic
clutch (3).
• Electric motor (4) drives the rear shaft.
• The shedding mechanism and the full cross leno device are thus
reversed by one pick.
• A sensor monitors the correct engagement of the clutch

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 Selvages
• Selvages on rapier machines can be
formed by the tuck-in motion, leno or
sealing unit.
• The auxiliary selvage shafts and the leno
needles are controlled by cams (1) with
two different functions:
1. The full cross leno section (2) is used
for forming the fabric selvages
2. Selvage motion (3) controls auxiliary
selvages (4).
• The right-hand auxiliary selvage prevents
the weft yarn released by the gripper from
spring back into the shed
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 Temples
• Temples (1) keep the fabric (3) at the same
width as when it is drawn into the reed.
• This reduces or even prevents friction
between the warp ends and the reed.
• The temples can be equipped with a variable
number of rings (2),
• Which can have long or short needles,
pointed or rounded ends and various
numbers of needle rows.
• Selvage cutter (5) is driven by an electric
motor and cuts the weft yarns.
• Auxiliary selvage (4) is drawn off separately.
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• For synthetic polymer yarns
• A selvage cutting and sealing device can be fitted to fuse the weft ends.
• The selvage waste of rapier weaving machines can be 7 to 14 cm.

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 Mechanism of Fabric Take-up
• Fabric take-up is electronically
controlled with a highly dynamic
servomotor (5).
• The cloth is led over spreading roller
(1) to take-up roller (2).
• Press roller (3) prevents the cloth
from slipping.
• Spreading roller (4), which is located
immediately before the cloth wind-
up, prevents creasing.
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