Component for a shed-forming apparatus and weaving machine

A shed forming apparatus for a weaving machine having a weaving machine controller, comprising a structural component that constitutes a heald frame or a motion transmitting part driving the heald frame of the shed forming apparatus;

• at least a first and a second data signal provider attached to and movable with the component, the first signal provider being arranged to provide electrical signals representative of stored data about the specification of said component including physical properties and/or date of manufacture of the component, the second signal provider being arranged to provide electrical signals representative of measured data about operating parameters including loading, motion, acceleration, position of the component;
• a signal processing and communication arrangement arranged to receive and process the signals of the first and/or the second signal provider and to transmit the processed signals to the weaving machine controller;
• said controller arranged to receive and relate the signals to predetermined desired operating parameters or specifications of the component and to provide a control signal usable at least by the controller to control operation of the weaving machine in a manner such that the loading and/or vibration of the component does not exceed a predetermined desired limit during weaving.