The invention relates to a shed-forming module for the selective movement of shed- forming elements using lifting elements, comprising at least two sets of lifting elements movable up and down in antiphase and a drive system provided with a first and second drive means which are movable in oscillation for driving the lifting elements.

The invention furthermore relates to a jacquard machine provided with such a shed- forming module, a weaving machine provided with such a shed-forming module, and in particular a weaving machine provided with such a jacquard machine.

When weaving a fabric on a weaving machine, the warp threads are positioned during the successive weaving cycles with respect to the level at which a weft thread is introduced in each cycle. The positions of the warp threads in the successive weaving cycles are in this case determined in such a manner that the weaving process results in a fabric with a predetermined weaving pattern. This positioning of the warp threads with respect to the weft insertion level on a weaving machine, known as shed forming, is performed automatically by means of a shed-forming device or shed-forming module.

The known shed-forming device comprises one or more selection systems which are provided to select or not select one or more hooks. A hook is selectively carried or not carried by a lifting element which is movable in the vertical direction and forms part of a set of lifting elements consisting of at least two lifting elements which move up and down in pairs in antiphase. These lifting elements (knives) are driven in an up and down movement in antiphase with respect to each other, according to an adjustable amplitude, via lifting means such as for example knife grids. A shed-forming device comprises at least two sets of knife grids moving up and down, for example on two opposite sides of the shed-forming device.

A shed-forming device is normally driven via the main motor of the weaving machine via a cardan shaft or drive. The controlling motion is a continuous rotating motion. To move the lifting elements up and down, a drive system is required that comprises conversion means to convert this rotating motion into a suitable motion for moving the lifting elements correctly. The known drive systems however have the disadvantage that this conversion takes place at different locations, known as conversion points. This is not an advantageous approach when it comes to maintenance. The different conversion points may also lead to undesirable vibrations and/or premature rupture, since the wear level at the conversion points may differ.

In addition, conversion points are always located close to the movement zone, spread around this movement zone, which does not benefit the modularity or scalability of the shed-forming device. Often, the conversion points are even located above the fabric zone of the weaving machine. When these conversion points are situated in an oil bath, if an oil leak occurs, a soiled and/or damaged fabric can result.

European patent publication EP 0 297 586 thus discloses two times four conversions of a (fully) rotating motion into an angular twist, with more than two adjustment points for setting the size of the amplitude.

EP 1 705 272 has two points for converting a (fully) rotating motion into a rotating oscillating motion. Here, the amplitude is adjustable differently at the front and back, both left and right.

The invention has the object of grouping the entire drive part of the shed-forming module including all conversion points, preferably at a distance from the movement zone of the shed-forming module, so that the disadvantages of the prior art can be remedied in a simple fashion.

German patent publication DE 25 07 486 describes a shed-forming module in which the conversion points are grouped and placed at a distance from the movement zone. The lifting elements are connected to the conversion points by connecting rods which are movable up and down. At least one conversion point and one connecting rod correspond to each individual lifting element. When placing the conversion points in a closed oil bath in a housing, each connecting rod forms an upwardly and downwardly moving output shaft of the housing. A housing with one or more shafts moving up and down or to and fro is difficult to make perfectly leak-free and durably sealed. The object of the invention is achieved by providing a shed-forming module for the selective movement of shed-forming elements using non-selectively movable lifting elements, comprising at least two sets of lifting elements which are movable up and down in antiphase in a movement zone, according to an adjustable movement amplitude, and a drive system, comprising:

- transfer means for transferring the movement according to a constant transfer ratio from a first driven shaft, the axis of which extends in a first direction, to a second shaft, the axis of which extends in a second direction;

- conversion means for converting the movement of the second shaft into an oscillating movement around a third axis which extends at a distance from and in the same direction as the second direction, wherein the conversion means comprise at least the following components:

• at least one drive component attached to the second shaft;

• at least one follower component which is movable in oscillation around the third axis, and

• one or more coupling components for the connection between the drive component and the follower component;

- connecting means which create the connection between said follower component and the lifting elements in the movement zone,

wherein the conversion means are provided in a closable housing, wherein the housing comprises at least one opening which forms a passage for the connecting means, wherein said connecting means extend fluid-tightly through said opening. Preferably, said housing is provided for the storage of lubricants, such as for example lubricating oil, for said conversion means.

The expression "fluid-tight" means that no fluid which may be provided in the housing can escape from the housing via the opening when the connecting means extend through said opening.

By providing the conversion means in a closable housing, these can be lubricated together in a simple fashion in an oil bath, which benefits their service life and wear resistance with no risk of soiling or damaging the fabric. The opening(s) implemented is (are) designed such that the distance between the edge of the opening and the periphery of the connecting means can be sealed perfectly fluid-tightly. Preferably, the transfer means are also provided in a closable housing. Even more preferably, the transfer means and the conversion means are provided in the same housing. Preferably, said housing is provided for the storage of lubricants, such as for example lubricating oil, for said transfer and conversion means. In the case where the transfer and conversion means are provided in separate housings, both housings are provided for storage of lubricants, such as for example lubricating oil, for the transfer or conversion means positioned in the respective housings. Preferably, all input and output shafts of the housing execute a fully rotating movement or an oscillating rotating movement. In this way, the seal can be achieved in a more reliable fashion.

In a preferred embodiment of the shed-forming module according to the invention, the shortest distance between the conversion means and the movement zone bridged by the connecting means is greater than one-quarter of the width of the movement zone. More particularly, the shortest distance between the conversion means and the movement zone is greater than one-third, preferably half the width of the movement zone.

Within the context of this invention, the movement zone may be regarded as the (smallest possible) enveloping rectangle of the projections of the lifting elements on a horizontal plane. In a preferred embodiment of the shed-forming module according to the invention, the drive system comprises a first adjustment means and a second adjustment means for adjusting the movement amplitude of the lifting elements.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the shed-forming module according to the invention, the connecting means comprise two driveable drive rods and the follower components comprise a follower shaft extending along the third axis, wherein said follower shaft is provided for driving these drive rods. Preferably, the first adjustment means and the second adjustment means are provided respectively at the one and the other end of the follower shaft, so that the first adjustment means forms the connection between the first drive rod and the follower shaft extending along the third axis, and the second adjustment means forms the connection between the second drive rod and the follower shaft. Preferably, the shed-forming module comprises two adjustable four-bar mechanisms, and the first adjustment means and the second adjustment means form part of the respective adjustable four-bar mechanisms.

According to another particular embodiment of the shed-forming module according to the invention, the connecting means comprises two oscillatable shafts and two adjustable four-bar mechanisms, and the follower components comprise a follower shaft extending along the third axis, wherein said follower shaft is provided for driving these oscillatable shafts via the adjustable four-bar mechanisms. Preferably, the first adjustment means and the second adjustment means form part of the respective adjustable four-bar mechanisms.

Another subject of this invention relates to a jacquard machine provided with a shed- forming module according to the invention as described above. The jacquard machine is preferably an open-shed jacquard machine with two or more positions.

This invention furthermore relates to a weaving machine provided with a shed-forming module according to the invention as described above. The weaving machine preferably comprises a jacquard machine according to the invention. The invention will now be explained with reference to the detailed description which follows of a number of possible embodiments of the shed-forming module according to the invention. The aim of this description is exclusively to give a clarifying example and to indicate further advantages and features of the invention, and it may therefore not be interpreted as a restriction of the area of application of the invention or the patent rights claimed in the claims.

In this detailed description, by means of reference numerals, reference is made to the attached drawings in which: - figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a first embodiment of the shed- forming module according to this invention, although without the housing, wherein the connecting means comprise two driveable drive rods, and wherein the follower components comprise a follower shaft extending along the third axis which is provided for driving these drive rods;

- figure 2 is a top view of the shed-forming module depicted in figure 1;

- figure 3 is a representation of an alternative drive system which may be provided on a shed-forming module, wherein the connecting means comprise two driveable drive rods;

- figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a second embodiment of the shed- forming module according to this invention, although without the housing, wherein the connecting means comprise two oscillatable shafts and two adjustable four-bar mechanisms, and wherein the follower components comprise a follower shaft extending along the third axis, wherein said follower shaft is provided for driving these oscillatable shafts via the adjustable four- bar mechanisms;

- figure 5 is a top view of the shed-forming module depicted in figure 4;

- figure 6 is a representation of the module shown in figure 1 on which the housing is shown;

- figure 7 is a representation of the module shown in figure 4 on which the housing shown.

This invention relates to a shed-forming module (1) for the selective movement of shed-forming elements using non- selectively movable lifting elements, preferably in the form of knives . At least two sets of lifting elements are provided which are movable up and down in antiphase in a movement zone, according to an adjustable movement amplitude.

The movement zone (Z) is shown in figure 2 as a hatched area and may be regarded as the (smallest possible) enveloping rectangle of the projections of the lifting elements on a horizontal plane. In order to move the lifting elements up and down in antiphase, the shed-forming module (1) is provided with a drive system. The drive system is composed of the components listed below:

- transfer means for transferring movement according to a constant transfer ratio from a first driven, preferably rotating, shaft (2), the axis (A) of which extends in a first direction, to a second shaft (3), the axis (B) of which extends in a second direction;

- conversion means for converting the movement of the second shaft (3) into an oscillating movement around a third axis (C) which extends at a distance from and in the same direction as the second direction; and

- connecting means (7, 9; 8, 10) which create the connection between said follower component (4) (one of the conversion means) and the lifting elements in the movement zone (Z).

The above-mentioned conversion means comprise at least the following components:

• at least one drive component (18) attached to the second shaft (3);

• at least one follower component (4) which is movable in oscillation around the third axis (C), and

• one or more coupling components (19) for the connection between the drive component (18) and the follower component (4).

In the shed-forming module (1) according to the invention, the shortest distance (D _S hn) between the conversion means and the movement zone (Z) bridged by the connecting means is greater than one-quarter, preferably greater than one-third, more particularly greater than half the width (Dbew) of the movement zone (Z). This makes it possible to position a number of components of the drive system, namely the transfer means and the conversion means, next to each other at a certain distance from the shed-forming elements. Since the width of the movement zone in practice is between 1200 mm and 1530 mm, the conversion means lie at least 300 mm, preferably at least 400 mm, more preferably at least 580 mm from the movement zone.

Because the transfer means and the conversion means are located next to each other, they may be provided in a common closable housing (30) (as shown on figures 6 and 7) in which a lubricant, such as for example lubricating oil, is provided for lubricating said transfer and conversion means. Preferably, this closable housing is not located above the fabric zone of the weaving machine, so that such a setup offers the advantage that there is no longer any risk of the lubricant damaging or soiling the fabric. The shed-forming module (1) may be implemented in various ways, as shown in the attached figures and in the description below. In accordance with a first embodiment and as shown on figure 1 and 2, the module (1) is provided, on its two opposite sides, on the left and right viewed from the point of view of the weaver looking in the direction of the supplied warp yarn, with two lifting means (5, 6) which are movable up and down in antiphase, in the form of knife grids. In order now to be able to move the lifting elements up and down in phase and antiphase according to an adjustable movement amplitude, the module (1) comprises a number of oscillating levers (11, 12), which are connected directly or indirectly to the lifting elements via connecting rods (20) which are movable up and down in antiphase.

To drive the movement of these knife grids (5, 6) on the front and rear of the module (1) viewed from the point of view of the weaver looking in the direction of the supplied warp yarn, use is made of a driveable and adjustable four-bar mechanism. The four- bar mechanism is here formed on the front by: a first adjustment means (7), a first driveable drive rod (9) and a first oscillating lever (11) connected to this drive rod (9), while the four-bar mechanism located on the back is formed by: the second adjustment means (8), a second driveable drive rod (10) and a second oscillating lever (12) connected to this drive rod (10). Via the first (7) and second (8) adjustment means, the definitive movement of the knife grids (5, 6) can be set and transferred by the drive rods (9, 10) to the first (11) and second (12) oscillating levers which execute this definitive movement and impose it on the knife grids (5, 6). The first and second four- bar mechanisms initiate the movement; they are coupled mechanically at their one end to a main drive shaft driven by a motor, and through their other end are connected to the connecting rods which are movable up and down in antiphase.

Said two driveable drive rods (9, 10) are driven by a component of the conversion means, namely a follower component which is movable in oscillation around a third axis (C), in the form of a follower shaft (4) extending along the third axis (C). Here, the first adjustment means (7) provided at the one end of the follower shaft (4) ensures a connection to the first drive rod (9), and the second adjustment means (8) provided at the other end of the follower shaft (4) ensures the connection between the second drive rod (10) and the follower shaft (4). To be able to implement the connection, the first and second adjustment means may be provided with a slot in which the drive rod (9, 10) is fixed. In an alternative embodiment and as shown on figures 1 and 2, instead of a slot, separate coupling points (25) may be provided, to which the drive rod (9, 10) may be coupled. The amplitude of the lifting elements may be changed by moving the rotation point (bearing) located at one end of the two driveable drive rods (9, 10). This may be done by changing the position of the drive rod (9, 10) in the slot, wherein the rotation points (bearings) of the respective drive rod (9, 10) in the slot may be clamped at the desired position, or by fixing the drive rod (9, 10) at another coupling point (25) on the adjustment means (7, 8) concerned.

The follower shaft (4) is movable in oscillation around the third axis (C) because the follower shaft (4) is connected via a coupling component (19) to a drive component

(18) which is fixed to the rotatable second shaft (3). In the shed-forming module (1) depicted in figures 1 and 2, the drive component (18) consists of a disc (eccentric) with an eccentrically drilled hole, through which the second (rotatable) shaft (3) passes, the axis (B) of which extends in the second direction. With such a setup, the second shaft (3) is regarded as an eccentric shaft. The coupling component is formed by a drive rod

(19) . This drive rod (19) is connected to the disc (18) such that by the rotational movement of the second shaft, the drive rod (19) executes an oscillating movement, and this oscillating movement is then imposed on the follower shaft (4), whereby this also executes an oscillating movement. In an alternative embodiment, the eccentric (18) and the eccentric shaft (3) may be replaced by a system with a crank and crankshaft.

In the embodiment shown, the follower shaft (4) consists of two parts (4a and 4b), wherein the parts (4a; 4b) are each connected at one end to an adjustment means (7, 8) and at the other end are connected to a common follower lever (21), which could also be regarded as a follower component, which is provided to form the connection with the coupling component (19). Due to the rotation of the first shaft (2), the second shaft (3) rotates around the second axis (B). The first shaft (2) is driven by a motor. To transfer the movement according to a constant transfer ratio from the first driven shaft (2) to the second shaft (3), transfer means are provided, preferably a bevel gear. The movement is transferred according to a constant transfer ratio.

Figure 6 shows the module depicted on figure 1 and 2 with the housing. The housing has one input shaft, the rotating shaft (2), and two output shafts, the two ends (4a) and 4b) of the oscillating follower shaft (4). The adjustment means (7) and (8) are not located in the housing. The transfer means and the conversion means (4), (18), (19), (21) are in the same housing.

Figure 3 shows an alternative drive system which may be provided on the shed- forming module (1) described above. The difference with the drive system described above in figures 1 and 2 is the use of cams (23) and rollers (24) as a coupling component for the connection between the drive component and the follower component. As a consequence thereof, no use is made of the follower shaft and follower levers, but instead of a cam follower shaft and cam follower lever (22). The drive component is the second rotatable shaft (3) which is driven by the first driven shaft (2).

In accordance with the second embodiment shown on figures 4 and 5, the module (1), on two opposing sides, left and right viewed from the point of view of the weaver looking in the direction of the supplied warp yarn, is provided with two lifting means (5', 6') which are movable up and down in antiphase, in the form of knife grids. To drive the movement of these knife grids (5', 6') on the front and back of the module (1), viewed from the point of view of the weaver looking in the direction of the supplied warp yarn, oscillatable shafts (13, 14) are used which are connected to the ends of the knife grids (5', 6') via an oscillating element (15, 16) and connecting rods (17).

In this embodiment, said oscillatable shafts (13, 14) form part of the connecting means. The connecting means furthermore comprises two adjustable four-bar mechanisms which, as in the first embodiment, are able to set the definitive movement of the knife grids (5', 6') by means of a first (7) and a second (8) adjustment means. These two four-bar mechanisms are located in the zone between the two shafts (13, 14) and may be placed in a housing together with the transfer means and the conversion means. The two four-bar mechanisms and hence also the oscillatable shafts (13, 14) are driven by a follower component, a follower shaft (4) extending along the third axis (C). This follower shaft (4) is manufactured as one piece. Because the follower shaft (4) is connected via a coupling component (19) to a drive component (18) which is fixed to the rotatable second shaft (3), this follower shaft (4) is movable in oscillation around the third axis (C). In the embodiment shown in figure 4, the drive component (18) is formed by a disc (eccentric) with an eccentrically drilled hole, through which passes the second (rotatable) shaft (3), the axis (B) of which extends in a second direction. This second shaft (3) is regarded as an eccentric shaft. The coupling component (19) is formed by a drive rod (19). This drive rod (19) is connected to the disc such that the drive rod (19) executes an oscillating movement, and consequently imposes this on the follower shaft (4), whereby this also executes an oscillating movement. In an alternative embodiment, the eccentric (18) and the eccentric shaft (3) may be replaced by a system with crank and crankshaft. The oscillating follower shaft (4) is connected to a so-called follower lever (21*) which also executes an oscillating movement. The follower lever (21*) is implemented as a flat bar. The connecting point of the follower lever (21*) to the follower shaft (4) (the rotation point) is approximately in the centre of the follower lever (21*) situated. The one end of the follower lever (21*) is connected pivotably to the first oscillatable shaft (13) via a first bar (26), while the second end of the follower lever (21*) is connected pivotably to the second oscillatable shaft (14) via a second bar (27). In this embodiment, the follower lever (21*) is formed by the first (7) and the second (8) adjustment means which adjoin each other at said connecting point. In particular, the first adjustment means (7) is formed by the part of the follower lever, which is indicated by the reference numeral (21*), that extends below the rotation point with the follower shaft (4) in the direction of the first bar (26), and the second adjustment means (8) is formed by the part of the follower lever (21*) that extends above the rotation point with the follower shaft (4) in the direction of the second bar (27). The follower lever indicated with reference numeral (21*) is a connecting component. The one adjustable four-bar mechanism is thus formed by the first adjustment means

(7) , the first bar (26) and the first connecting element (28) between the first bar (26) and the oscillatable shaft (13). The second adjustable four-bar mechanism consists of the second adjustment means (8), the second bar (27) and the connecting element (29) between the second bar (27) and the oscillatable shaft (14).

Just as in the first embodiment, the amplitude is adjusted by means of the first (7) and second (8) adjustment means. Via the first (7) and the second (8) adjustment means, the definite movement of the knife grids (5', 6') can be set and transferred via the bars (26 and 27) to the first (28) and the second (29) connecting elements, which execute this definitive movement and impose it on the knife grids (5', 6') via the oscillatable shafts (13, 14).

Just as in the first embodiment, the first (7) and the second (8) adjustment means comprise separate coupling points (not shown on figure 4) provided on the follower lever (21*). At these coupling points, the first (26) and the second (27) bars are coupled to the follower lever (21*). In an alternative embodiment, the first (7) and the second

(8) adjustment means may, instead of coupling points, comprise a slot in which the rotating points (bearings) of the first (26) or second (27) bar are fixed.

The amplitude of the lifting elements may be adjusted by moving the rotation point (bearing) which is located at one end of the first and second bars (26 and 27). This may be achieved by changing the position of the respective bar (26, 27) in the slot, wherein the rotation points (bearings) of the respective bars (26, 27) in the slot are clamped at the desired position, or by fixing the bars (26, 27) against another fixing point.

The rotation of the second shaft (3) around a second axis (B) will be done by rotation of the first shaft (2). The first shaft (2) is driven by a motor. To transfer the movement according to a constant transfer ratio, from the first driven shaft (2) to the second shaft (3), transfer means are provided, preferably a bevel gear. The movement is thus transferred according to a constant transfer ratio.

Figure 7 shows the module depicted in figure 4 with the housing. The housing has one input shaft, the rotating shaft (2), and two output shafts, the two oscillating shafts (13) and (14). As well as the transfer means and the conversion means (4), (18), (19), part of the connecting means, namely the connecting means (21*), (26), (27), (28), (29) and part of the oscillatable shafts (13) and (14), are situated in the same housing in this embodiment, whereby also the adjustment means (7), (8) or (28), (29) are situated in the housing.