STORAGE DEVICE

WITH AN ASSOCIATED YARN-TENSIONING DEVICE The present invention relates to an arrangement of a weaving machine and a yarn storage device with an associated yam-tensioning device, wherein the yam storage device comprises at least one yarn storage unit with a front side facing the weaving machine and at least one flank which is configured to hold several yam stores which are situated in juxtaposed positions along the plane of the flank.

A known arrangement comprises a bobbin creel in which a large amount of different bobbins are placed. A supply of yam is wound onto each bobbin and a warp thread is passed from every bobbin to a weaving machine via a number of guiding eyelets and grids. The warp threads are incorporated in a fabric in a weaving process on the weaving machine, while the required amounts of the various warp threads are meanwhile being supplied by the respective different bobbins. The bobbin creel is composed of a number of support structures (also referred to as doors) which are arranged next to each other at intermediate distances apart. Every support structure has a front side with a relatively limited width which faces the weaving machine and two flanks which extend from the front side in a direction moving away from the weaving machine. The bobbin holders are placed in such a way that the bobbins of every flank are situated next to each other along the upright face of the flank, or in other words viewed in a direction perpendicular to the face of the flank. Such a bobbin creel is also combined with means to keep the tension in the warp yams under control. In a commonly used yam-tensioning device, a small weight is placed on every warp thread in the bobbin creel. As a result thereof, a constant force is exerted on every warp thread in order to keep the warp thread under tension. Placing these small weights is time-consuming and, in addition, this does not make it possible to adjust the yam tension quickly to changing circumstances during the weaving process. As a result thereof, the yam tension for certain warp threads is much higher, at least during some parts of the weaving process, than is necessary to ensure a smooth progress of the weaving process. There are yarn-tensioning elements by means of which the tension in the warp threads can be kept under control for each warp thread or for each group of warp threads. These comprise a roller which is driven by a motor and is configured to rotate, in contact with at least one warp thread, in the one or the other direction of rotation in order to move said warp thread in a direction counter to the supply direction of the warp threads, respectively to move the warp thread in a direction which is identical to the supply direction of the warp threads, in order to increase or decrease, respectively, the yarn tension in said warp thread. Such a yam-tensioning element is described in the international patent application WO 2017/077454 Al . There will not be sufficient available space in a bobbin creel with very large numbers of bobbins to provide such a yarn-tensioning element for every warp thread in a bobbin creel. The bobbin creel will then have to be made larger.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks and to provide an arrangement of a yarn storage device and an associated yarn tensioning device which allow flexible adjustment of the yam tension, while also being compact.

This object is achieved by providing an arrangement of a weaving machine and a yarn storage device with an associated yam-tensioning device, wherein the yam storage device comprises at least one yarn storage unit with a front side facing the weaving machine and at least one upright flank which is configured to hold several yarn stores in juxtaposed positions, wherein, according to the present invention, the yarn tensioning device comprises at least one yam-tensioning module with at least one carrier which carries at least one row of juxtaposed yam-tensioning elements, wherein every yarn-tensioning module is arranged in the space between the yarn storage device and the weaving machine, and wherein each carrier is arranged such that the direction of said row of yarn-tensioning elements has an angle of inclination and/or forms an acute angle with a vertical plane which runs parallel or coincides with the plane in which said upright flank is situated.

Numerous warp threads are supplied to the yam-tensioning elements from the yam storage device at small intermediate distances and these warp threads are conveyed to the weaving machine from the yam-tensioning elements, likewise at small intermediate distances apart. As a result of the inclined arrangement of the row of yarn tensioning elements, the successive yam-tensioning elements of a row are brought to a different height. In this case, the difference in the vertical position between the successive yarn-tensioning elements may be very small. As a result thereof, every yarn-tensioning element is readily accessible and can be reached by a respective supplied warp thread via a minimal number of bends and every conveyed warp thread can also be conveyed to the weaving machine via a minimal number of bends.

The arrangement which forms an acute angle with a vertical plane which runs parallel or coincides with the plane in which said upright flank is situated produces a similarly advantageous effect. Due to the oblique arrangement of the row of yarn-tensioning elements with respect to the flank, the successive yam-tensioning elements of a row are brought into positions which are horizontally offset with respect to each other and with respect to the vertical plane in which the flank is situated. This difference in horizontal position between the successive yam-tensioning elements may be very small. As a result thereof, every yam-tensioning element is readily accessible and can be reached by a respective supplied warp thread via a minimal number of bends and every conveyed warp thread can also be conveyed to the weaving machine via a minimal number of bends.

As a result thereof, the warp threads can be passed from the yarn storage device to the weaving machine close together, while ensuring that the positional difference is sufficient to prevent the warp threads from inhibiting each other.

Every yarn-tensioning element has an inlet via which a supplied warp thread is introduced in cooperation with the yam-tensioning element and an outlet via which this warp thread can leave the yam-tensioning element to move along to the weaving machine. By arranging every row of yam-tensioning elements in an inclined manner or obliquely with respect to the vertical plane of the flank, a vertical positional difference or a horizontal positional difference, respectively, can be created between successive yarn-tensioning elements which is just sufficient to make the inlet and/or the outlet of every yarn-tensioning element accessible in a straight horizontal line to the supplied or conveyed warp threads which ran close to each other. Due to the fact that every row of yam-tensioning elements is arranged in an inclined manner or obliquely with respect to a vertical plane which runs along the flank direction, large numbers of yam-tensioning elements only take up a limited width or height. The addition of yarn-tensioning elements therefore only has a small effect on the height or the width of the yam-tensioning device.

In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, each carrier comprises a substantially flat surface which forms an outer side of the yam-tensioning module, the yarn-tensioning elements on said outer side are accessible for supplying and/or conveying respective warp threads, each carrier is arranged in a position in which said surface, viewed in a vertical cross section of the yarn-tensioning module, has an angle of inclination, and/or, viewed in a horizontal cross section of the yarn tensioning module, forms an acute angle with a vertical plane which runs parallel or coincides with the plane in which said upright flank is situated.

As a result thereof, the yarn-tensioning elements may be placed in rows having the abovementioned directions, due to the fact that the carrier is arranged at an angle or obliquely with respect to the vertical plane of the flank, while these yarn-tensioning elements are in addition readily accessible on an outer side of the yarn-tensioning module.

In a first particular embodiment, the yam-tensioning module comprises two carriers with a substantially flat surface which forms a respective outer side of the yarn tensioning module, said carriers are arranged in a position in which their respective surfaces, viewed in a vertical cross section of the yam-tensioning module, have an angle of inclination and taper towards each other in the direction of the weaving machine.

In a second particular embodiment, the yam-tensioning module comprises two carriers with a substantially flat surface which forms a respective outer side of the yarn tensioning module, and said carriers are arranged in a position in which their respective surfaces, viewed in a horizontal cross section of the yam-tensioning module, form an acute angle with a vertical plane which runs parallel or coincides with the plane in which said upright flank is situated, and taper towards each other in the direction of the weaving machine.

The two carriers together preferably have a width which is not greater than the width of a yarn storage unit.

In their most preferred embodiment, the first and the second particular embodiments are designed such that the two carriers with mutually tapering surfaces virtually adjoin each other, so that the yarn-tensioning module, viewed in a cross section, has a substantially V-shaped profile.

In a greatly preferred embodiment, each warp thread is guided from a yarn store to a yarn-tensioning element in non-tensioned state.

The yarn stores are distributed over the relatively high volume of a yam storage device. If several yarn storage units are situated next to each other, this volume is moreover also relatively wide. With the known prior-art arrangements, the warp threads ran from the top and from the bottom yarn stores in a straight line and under tension at relatively large angles with respect to a horizontal line to the first guiding grid at the weaving machine. By guiding the warp threads in tensionless state from their respective yarn store to a yarn-tensioning element which is arranged in the space between the yarn storage device and the weaving machine, the warp threads in this space can first be brought together in the much more limited volume of the yam-tensioning device in order to ran then from this limited volume to the weaving machine under tension. As a result thereof, the yarn storage device can be placed closer to the weaving machine without this causing any detrimental effect. Due to the fact that the parts of warp threads which have been put under tension also occupy less space, space is freed up around these warp threads, as a result of which other components, such as a beam stand, become more easily accessible if they are arranged in the space between the yarn-tensioning device and the weaving machine.

The yarn storage device may for example comprise at least two spaced-apart juxtaposed yarn storage units. Furthermore, it is also possible to design the yam-tensioning device in such a way that it has at least two yarn-tensioning modules which are spaced-apart next to each other or one above the other. Thus, the large number of yam-tensioning elements are distributed over several modules as a result of which they are more readily accessible for maintenance and repairs.

In a specific embodiment, each yam-tensioning element comprises an inlet and an outlet for a warp thread, and, for every yam-tensioning element, a warp thread supplied from a yarn store is guided to the inlet on the side of the carrier where the outlet is situated. This may be useful if one of the sides of the carrier is not accessible for supplying or conveying warp threads, or only with difficulty. This also ensures that the tension in the warp thread only increases very slightly.

In another embodiment, the supplied warp thread is guided through the carrier to the inlet from the side of the carrier which is situated opposite the side where the outlet is situated.

In this case, the yarn-tensioning element may be designed and integrated in the carrier in such a way that the warp thread crosses the carrier in a direction which is virtually perpendicular to the carrier surface, as a result of which the warp thread is bent at the inlet and at the outlet over a relatively large angle. These bends produce significant friction and thus add considerable additional tension. This may be ideal for arrangements which require a relatively high yarn tension. In this way, the yarn tensioning elements do not have to provide all of the yam tension.

In a preferred embodiment, a yam-guiding means is provided between at least every yarn store and a yarn-tensioning element and is configured to guide and protect a warp thread along virtually the entire path from the yam store to the yarn-tensioning element. The main function of the guide element is to guide a tension-free warp thread while avoiding the risk of it coming into contact with other warp threads. The guide element may have an open or a closed structure.

The yarn-guiding means is, for example, tubular. Preferably, it is a flexible element. In a particularly preferred embodiment, each yam-tensioning element comprises a roller which is driven by a motor and is configured to rotate, in contact with at least one warp thread, in the one or the other direction of rotation in order to move said warp thread in a direction counter to the supply direction of the warp threads, respectively to move the warp thread or to move it concomitantly with the movement or in order to facilitate the movement, in a direction which is identical to the supply direction of the warp threads, in order to increase or decrease, respectively, the yam tension in said warp thread.

The motor-driven roller is also referred to as the brake roller.

In an advantageous embodiment, a yam-tensioning module is arranged in the space between the yarn storage device and the weaving machine, which is laterally delimited by the parallel vertical surfaces which touch the flanks of the yam storage device which are furthest apart.

The yam storage device may, inter alia, be a bobbin creel. In that case, the yarn stores are bobbins on which respective stores of yam are wound.

Preferably, the yarn on these bobbins is unwound by pulling it over the head of the bobbin in the direction of the axis of the bobbin, when the bobbin is not rotating (in “defile”). Preferably, the guiding means are placed in line with the axis of the bobbin. This usually ensures a more stable and a lower yarn tension than radial unwinding (“deroule”), during which the bobbin does rotate. The reason for this is that the latter requires a greater force. The angle at which the yam enters the guiding means also differs, depending on the location from where the yam is taken from the bobbin. Since this location varies periodically, a sinusoidal variation in tension results.

The motor which drives the brake roller in order to keep the yarn under tension is preferably actuable in generator operation in order to keep the yarn under tension. By using a motor which provides an adjustable torque to the brake roller, it is easier to respond to deviating and/or changing properties of yams and/or a change in path of the yarn and/or changes in the behaviour of the weaving machine. The torque of the motor may, for example, be much lower when the machine is stationary (just enough to keep the yarn tensioned) than when the machine is in operation.

In order to recuperate yarn from the weaving machine, which is necessary, for example, due to shed-formation, the motor is also actuable in motor operation in order to move the yarn in a direction which is opposite to the supply direction of the yarn. In addition, it may also be useful to make the motor actuable in motor operation in order to move the yarn in the supply direction so as to take additional yarn from the yam storage system. Preferably, a central control unit is also provided, preferably also including means for making the energy generated during the generator operation of the motor immediately available to the control unit of the yam-tensioning system.

Preferably, measuring means for determining the length of the yam which is taken off by the weaving machine are also provided. For each brake roller, it is possible to calculate the length of the yams held under tension by this brake roller from the number of revolutions of the brake roller or the angular rotation of the motor and the diameter of the brake roller without additional length-measuring sensors being required. To this end, the measuring means comprise the calculating means required for this purpose, for example.

Preferably, communication means are also provided for receiving signals from the weaving machine with regard to the operation and/or the position of the machine and measuring means for measuring parameters relating to the operation of the yarn tensioning device and tension-monitoring means for monitoring the parameters for the operation of the yarn-tensioning device relative to the signals received from the weaving machine. The signals relating to the operation of the weaving machine represent the current state of the weaving machine and may relate to the machine being at a standstill, the machine being in operation, the speed of the machine, the position of the main axis of the weaving machine, the stage of the weaving process, etc.

The tension-monitoring means are preferably also configured to predict the expected operation of the yarn-tensioning device based on the current state reported by the weaving machine. Most preferably, the yam-tensioning device is provided with a tension measuring device for measuring the yarn tension. By measuring the yarn tension, it is also possible to provide different additional detection systems. Thus, it is for example possible not only to detect yam rupture and/or overtensioning of the yarn by means of the measured yarn tension, but also irregularities or knots in the yarn. It is for example also possible to keep several yams having identical yarn characteristics and following the same path under tension using the same brake roller.

The motor of a yarn-tensioning system according to the present invention is preferably a DC motor or a brushless AC motor. More preferably, this motor is a brushless DC motor, still more preferably a brushless DC motor having an external rotor (a type of motor in which the stator is stationary and the rotor rotates) provided with HALL sensors, preferably designed as a pancake motor, due to the compactness of such a type of motor, the economic feasibility and because little energy is released or little energy is required in the present application.

By minimizing the slip of the yarn on the brake roller, the tension of the yam can be held constant, irrespective of the thread characteristics, and the accuracy of any measurements can be increased. There are various ways of reducing slip of the yarn on the brake roller. Alternatively or additionally, the brake roller may be designed for winding the yam several times around here. Furthermore alternatively or additionally, the brake roller may comprise a running surface which is provided with an anti-slip layer and/or configured with a profiling

The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following more detailed description of a possible embodiment of an arrangement of a weaving machine and a yarn storage device with an associated yam-tensioning device according to the present invention.

In this detailed description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawings, in which: Figs. 1 to 3 show different views of a yam-tensioning element in which the inlet and the outlet of the warp thread are situated on the same side of the yarn tensioning element and in which the warp thread is passed to the inlet via the same side; Fig. 4 shows a top view of a yam-tensioning element according to Figs. 1-3 which is integrated in a carrier of a yam-tensioning device; Figs. 5 to 7 show different views of a yam-tensioning element, in which the inlet and the outlet of the warp thread are situated on the same side of the yarn tensioning element and in which the warp thread is passed to the inlet of the yarn tensioning element from the opposite side; Fig. 8 shows a diagrammatic side view of an arrangement of a weaving machine and a bobbin creel with an associated yam-tensioning device, with a vertical construction of a yarn-tensioning device having a V-shaped profile; Fig. 9a shows a diagrammatic top view of the arrangement represented in Fig. 8; Fig. 9b shows an enlarged representation of a top view of one of the groups of yarn-tensioning modules from Fig. 9a; Fig. 10a shows a diagrammatic side view of an arrangement of a weaving machine and a bobbin creel with an associated yam-tensioning device, with a horizontal construction of a yarn-tensioning device having a V-shaped profile; and Fig. 10b shows an enlarged representation of a side view of the yarn-tensioning module from Fig. 10a; and Fig. 11 shows a diagrammatic top view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 10a.

Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate an embodiment of a yam-tensioning element (8) together with a portion of a guide tube (10) and a portion of a warp thread (11) in cooperation with the yarn-tensioning element (8). Fig. 1 shows a side view, Fig. 2 shows a top view and Fig. 3 shows a representation in perspective.

The yarn-tensioning element (8) contains an electric motor (80) which is designed to drive a brake roller (81) to rotate and a non-driven rotatable clamping roller (82) which is situated next to the brake roller (81). The warp thread (11) is passed from a yam store (not shown in Figs. 1-3) through the guide tube (10) in the supply direction (F) as far as the vicinity of the yam-tensioning element (8). After leaving the guide tube

(10), the warp thread (11) first runs across the surface of the clamping roller (82), subsequently between the clamping roller (82) and the brake roller (81) and finally across the surface of the brake roller (81) in order to leave the latter after approximately half a revolution and to continue to ran towards the weaving machine (1) in a direction which differs little from the supply direction (F) via a guiding eyelet (83). During its passage between the clamping roller (82) and the brake roller (81), the warp thread

(11) is clamped between both rollers (81), (82), so that the warp thread (11) moves concomitantly with the brake roller (81) without slip. In addition, there is also a holder (84) provided with two guide walls (84a), (84b) which extend on a respective side of the clamping roller (82). These are necessary in order to make the recuperation of warp yarns possible.

If the brake roller (81) is driven by the motor (80) to rotate clockwise, it will pull back the warp thread (11) in the direction counter to the supply direction (F) and as a result thereof recuperate yarn. If the weaving machine (1) pulls the warp thread (11) forward in the supply direction (F), the brake roller (81) will rotate concomitantly counterclockwise, with the motor being in generator operation. By actuating the motor (80) in cooperation with a control unit, the yarn tension of every warp thread (11) can be controlled or regulated separately as a function of one or several yam tension- influencing circumstances or factors, such as inter alia the weave status of the respective warp thread, the location of the warp thread on the weaving machine, the resistance which the warp thread encounters during its move in the supply direction, etc.

The direction in which the warp thread (11) turns when it leaves the guide tube (10) at the inlet (85) of the yarn-tensioning element is approximately identical to the direction in which the warp thread (11) runs when it leaves the yam-tensioning element (8) at the outlet (86) via the guiding eyelet (83). In addition, the inlet (85) and the outlet (86) are placed in such a manner that the warp thread (5) is situated on the same side of the yarn-tensioning element (1) on the inlet (85) and on the outlet (86). As a result thereof, such a yarn-tensioning element (1) can easily be integrated in a carrier (71), (72) in such a manner that a warp thread which is supplied from a yam store on the side of the carrier where the outlet is situated is passed to the inlet (see Fig. 4).

In Figs. 5 to 7, another yarn-tensioning element (9) is presented, together with a portion of a guide tube (10) and a portion of a warp thread (11), in cooperation with the yam tensioning element (9). Fig. 5 shows a front view, Fig. 6 shows a representation in perspective and Fig. 7 shows a top view.

The yarn-tensioning element (9) also contains an electric motor (90) which is designed to drive a brake roller (91) and a non-driven rotatable clamping roller (92) which is situated next to the brake roller (91). The warp thread (11) is passed from a yarn store (not shown) through the guide tube (10) as far as the vicinity of the yarn-tensioning element (9). The guide tube (10) first runs in the supply direction (F) and makes a turn of nearly 90° near the end. After leaving the guide tube (10), the warp thread (11) is first bent so as to be brought between the clamping roller (92) and the brake roller (91) in a direction which is virtually counter to the supply direction (F) and to be clamped between these rollers (91), (92), and to subsequently ran across the running surface of the brake roller (91) and to leave the latter after more than half a revolution and to continue to ran in the supply direction (F) via a guiding eyelet (93).

The direction in which the warp thread (11) runs when it leaves the guide tube (10) at the inlet (94) is approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the warp thread (11) runs when it leaves the yam-tensioning element (9) at the outlet (95) via the guiding eyelet (93). As a result thereof, such a yam-tensioning element (9) can easily be integrated in a carrier (71), (72) in such a manner that the outlet (95) is situated on one side of the carrier and the warp thread from the opposite side of the carrier is passed to the inlet (94) through the carrier (71), (72).

In a first arrangement according to the present invention (see Figs. 8, 9a and 9b), a weaving machine (1) is arranged next to a bobbin creel (3) in cooperation with a jacquard device (2). In the intermediate space between the weaving machine (1) and the bobbin creel (3), a beam stand (4) is arranged comprising yarn stores provided on four different rollers (40)-(43) for the warp threads which are used evenly and regularly on the weaving machine (1) during the weaving process. The bobbin creel (3) contains a large number of bobbins (5) containing yarn stores for the warp threads wound thereon which are used unevenly and irregularly during the weaving process. The bobbin creel (3) contains eight creel units (30)-(37), also referred to as doors, which are positioned next to one another at a mutual intermediate distance apart (see Fig. 9a). Each creel unit (30)-(37) has a front side (30a) facing the weaving machine (1) and two vertical flanks (30b), (30c) which run perpendicular to the front side (30a). Each flank (30b), (30c) contains the holders required to be able to arrange a large number of bobbins (5) next to each other in horizontal rows situated one above the other in a fixed position in which they are rotatable.

The reference numerals (30a), (30b) and (30c) are only shown with one creel unit (30) in Fig. 9a. The other creel units (31)-(37) are identical and their front sides and flanks are denoted below by reference numeral (30a) and reference numerals (30b) and (30c), respectively.

In the space between the bobbin creel (3) and the weaving machine, a yarn tensioning device (6) is arranged, consisting of eight groups (60)-(67) of 16 yarn tensioning modules, with each group (60)-(67) consisting of two series (I), (II), arranged vertically above one another, of eight yam-tensioning modules (7), arranged vertically above one another, a top series (I) of eight modules (7) and a bottom series (II) of eight modules (7). There is a vertical intermediate distance (d) between both series (I), (II). Fig. 8 shows the group (60) of 16 modules (7) which is located at the top in Fig. 9a.

In Fig. 9a, the yarn-tensioning elements (9) are only shown in the group (60) illustrated at the top. They are also provided on the other groups (61)-(67) in a similar manner, but these are not shown in the figures.

Fig. 9b shows a top view of this group (60) of 16 yam-tensioning modules (7) separately and enlarged. Each group (60)-(67) of yarn-tensioning modules is placed against the front side (30a) of a respective creel unit (30)-(37). Each group (60)-(67) thus has an associated creel unit (30)-(37).

Each yarn-tensioning module (7) consists of two panel-shaped carriers (71), (72) with a flat outer surface. Each carrier (71), (72) contains the yam-tensioning elements (9) for the warp threads which are supplied from the bobbins (5) of the flank (30b), (30c) which is located on the same side. In Fig. 9a, the top carrier (71) thus has associated flank (30b) and the bottom carrier (72) has associated flank (30c).

Both carriers (71), (72) are arranged vertically and at an acute angle (b) with respect to the vertical plane (VI), (V2) in which the associated flank (30b), (30c) is situated and in this case taper towards each other in the direction of the weaving machine (1), coming together while forming an angle and adjoining each other. The yarn-tensioning modules (7) thus have a V-shaped profile, viewed in a horizontal cross section, as can clearly be seen in Figs. 9a and 9b.

Each carrier (71), (72) has a large number of rows of closely juxtaposed yarn tensioning elements (9). For the sake of clarity, only three yam-tensioning elements (9) are represented per carrier (71), (72).

The yarn-tensioning elements (9) are of the type which is integrated in the carriers (71), (72) in such a way that the outlet (96) is situated on one side of the carrier (71), (72) and the warp thread from the opposite side of the carrier is passed through the carrier (71), (72) to the inlet (95) of the yam-tensioning element.

Due to the oblique arrangement of the carriers (71), (72), the direction (Rl), (R2) of each row of yarn-tensioning elements (9) also forms an acute angle (b) with respect to the vertical plane (VI), (V2) in which the associated flank (30b), (30c) is situated.

In every creel unit (30)-(37), yams from a large number of bobbins (5) are passed to the weaving machine (1) to be worked into a fabric as warp threads. A respective guide tube (10) is provided (not shown in Figs. 8 and 9) for every warp thread in order to guide the warp thread tension-free to a yam-tensioning element (9). In this way, the warp threads cannot come into contact with each other and not inhibit each other.

Due to the oblique arrangement of the row of yam-tensioning elements with respect to the associated flank (30b), (30c), the successive yarn-tensioning elements (9) of a row are brought into positions which are horizontally offset with respect to each other and with respect to the vertical plane (VI, V2) in which the associated flank (30b), (30c) is situated. As a result thereof, every yam-tensioning element (9) is readily accessible by a respective warp thread supplied from this flank (30b), (30c) and each conveyed warp thread can also be conveyed to the weaving machine via a minimal number of bends. As a result thereof, the warp threads can be passed from the yam storage device to the weaving machine without inhibiting each other and while being arranged close together.

From the yarn-tensioning elements (9), the warp threads are moved along to a first grid (13) with a width and a height (see Figs. 8 and 9a) which are smaller than the width and the height of the bobbin creel (3). In Fig. 8, a top (11) and a bottom warp thread (12) are shown which run to the grid (13) from the top yam-tensioning module (7) and from the bottom yarn-tensioning module (7), respectively. Fig. 9a diagrammatically shows the zones (14) in which the warp threads are moved from their path from the different groups (60)-(67) of yam-tensioning modules (9) to the first grid (13).

From the first grid (13), the warp threads (11), (12) run to a second grid (15) having the same width as the first grid (13), but a smaller height. From the second grid (15), the warp threads (11), (12) run to the weaving machine (1), where they are drawn through the heddle eyelet of a respective heddle (16),(17) - represented symbolically by a vertical line with a circular widening which represents the heddle eyelet. A respective return spring (18), (19) exerts a downward force on every heddle (16), (17).

Alternatively, the yarn-tensioning device (6) may also be situated in the space between the bobbin creel (3) and the beam stand (4), at some distance from the bobbin creel (3). Preferably, the groups of yam-tensioning modules (60)-(67) are then situated within the space which, in the prior art, is occupied by the warp threads on their path from the bobbin creel to the weaving machine. Still more preferably, the yam- tensioning modules take up less space than the warp threads on their path from the bobbin creel to the weaving machine in the prior art at a similar distance from the weaving machine. The number of groups of yam-tensioning modules or the number of yarn-tensioning modules per group of yam-tensioning modules is determined based on the application.

In a second arrangement according to the present invention (see Figs. 10a, 10b and 11), a weaving machine (1) cooperating with a jacquard device (2) is also arranged next to a bobbin creel (3), and a beam stand (4) which is identical to that which is arranged in the first arrangement (Figs. 8 and 9) is arranged in the intermediate space between the weaving machine (1) and the bobbin creel (3). The bobbin creel (3) also has the same layout as in the first arrangement which was described above with reference to Figs. 8 and 9.

In the space between the bobbin creel (3) and the weaving machine (1), a yarn tensioning device (6) is arranged which consists of one yam-tensioning module which extends in a horizontal direction which is virtually parallel to the vertical plane in which the front sides (30a) of the eight creel units (30)-(37) are situated.

This yarn-tensioning module (20) consists of two panel-shaped carriers (21), (22) with a flat outer surface. The two carriers (21), (22) are arranged at an opposite angle of inclination (a) with respect to each other, so that they taper towards each other in the direction of the weaving machine (1) symmetrically with respect to a horizontal plane, coming together while forming an angle and adjoining each other. The yarn-tensioning module (20) thus has a V-shaped profile, viewed in a vertical cross section, as can clearly be seen in Figs. 10a and 10b.

Alternatively, the yarn-tensioning device (6) could consist of several yarn-tensioning modules (20), distributed across the width of the weaving machine. Each carrier (21), (22) has a large number of rows of closely juxtaposed yam-tensioning elements (8). For the sake of clarity, only three yam-tensioning elements (8) are represented per carrier (21), (22). The yarn-tensioning elements (8) are of the type which is integrated in the carriers (21), (22) in such a way that the outlet (86) is situated on one side of the carrier (21), (22) and the warp thread on the same side of the carrier is passed to the inlet (85) of the yarn-tensioning element.

Due to the oblique arrangement of the carriers (21), (22), the direction (Rl), (R2) of each row of yarn-tensioning elements (8) also forms an angle of inclination (a) or in other words an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

With this arrangement as well, a respective guide tube (10) (not shown in Figs. 10 and 11) is provided for each warp thread in order to guide the warp thread tension-free to a yarn-tensioning element (8). In this way, the warp threads cannot come into contact with each other and inhibit each other.

Due to the inclined arrangement of the row of yam-tensioning elements, the successive yarn-tensioning elements (8) of a row are brought into positions which are offset with respect to each other in a vertical direction. As a result thereof, each yarn-tensioning element (8) is readily accessible by a respective warp thread supplied from a yam store, and each conveyed warp thread can also be conveyed via a minimum number of bends to the weaving machine. As a result thereof, the warp threads can be passed from the yarn storage device to the weaving machine without inhibiting each other and while being arranged close together.

From the yarn-tensioning elements (8), the warp threads are moved along to a grid (100) having the same width as the yam-tensioning module, but a smaller height. From that grid (100), the warp threads (11), (12) run to the weaving machine (1), where they are drawn through the heddle eyelet of a respective heddle (16), (17) - represented symbolically by a vertical line with a circular widening which represents the heddle eyelet. A respective return spring (18), (19) exerts a downward force on every heddle (16), (17).

According to the prior art, the warp threads are supplied to the first grid in a stretched state from the bobbin creel (3). Fig. 10a shows this situation from the prior art by means of the straight line (SI) which first runs from the top row bobbins in the bobbin creel (3) through the grid (X) of an existing arrangement and then onwards to the grid (100), and the straight line (S2) which runs from the bottom row bobbins in the bobbin creel (3) via the grid (X) of an existing arrangement and then onwards to the grid (100). To be clear, the grid (X) does not form part of the arrangement according to the present invention and has only been added to be able to show an effect of the invention compared to the prior art.

The lines (S1),(S2) show the large angles (with respect to a horizontal plane) at which the warp yams are taken to the grid (X) and subsequently to the grid (100) according to the prior art, and consequently the large height which the supplied warp threads then take up.

Fig. 11 shows the prior-art situation by means of the straight line (Tl) which runs from a bobbin in the creel unit (30) shown at the top to the grid (X) according to the prior art, and the straight line (T2) which runs from a bobbin in the creel unit (37) shown at the bottom to the grid (X) according to the prior art. These lines (T1),(T2) show the large angles (with respect to a vertical plane) at which the warp yarns are taken to the grid (X) according to the prior art, and consequently the large width which the supplied warp threads then take up.

Due to the fact that the warp threads according to the present invention are taken from the bobbin creel (3) to the much more compact volume of the yam-tensioning device (6) in the intermediate space between the bobbin creel (3) and the weaving machine (1) in a tension-free state, in which the warp threads obviously should not be stretched, the warp threads can be supplied within a much more compact volume and this both with regard to height as the width. Here, moving the warp threads in a tension-free state takes place in guide tubes (10) which are represented symbolically by curved lines in Figs. 10 and 1 1. As a result thereof, space is freed up, for example, for access to the beam stand (4). In addition, this makes it possible to place the bobbin creel (3) closer to the weaving machine.