Warp beam replacement and threading apparatus

Abstract

After a warp beam on a loom is used up, its old warp threads are separated from a material being woven on the loom. The used-up beam, together with its residual old warp threads, is then mounted on a transport device and moved away from the loom. A winding element rotatably mounted on a maintenance device is positioned adjacent the transport device. Leading ends of the old threads are affixed to the winding element and separated from the used-up beam, whereafter the used-up beam is replaced by a new beam. Leading ends of new threads on the new beam are attached to trailing ends of respective ones of the old threads, whereafter the winding element is rotated to wind-up the old threads and parts of the new threads, while pulling the new threads through a loom device (such as a warp stop motion device, and/or a shedding device, and/or a weaving reed) carried on the transport device. Then, the winding element is rolled along a guide surface to a removal device. A bonding mechanism carried by the removal device bonds a plastic foil to the new threads, whereafter the new threads are separated from the winding element, and the removal device is removed, along with the winding device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.