The German patent application DE 3336202 describes a method and a device for connecting threadlike materials, where treads originating from one bobbin may be changed by threads originating from an other bobbin, without the progress of the thread being interrupted. The programme-controlled device comprises a connecting device, a cutting device and a device guiding the threads. The method for changing the threads comprises the connection of a first resting thread with a second running thread, the first thread immediately picking up the speed of the second running wire, and the cutting off of the second wire so that now only the first wire is running and the change of the two wires is completed.

The disadvantage of this device is that a wire may be changed only once, because the second wire after having been cut, cannot be selected again for a second change of thread.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a device to automatically change threadlike materials in a thread processing machine, remedying the disadvantage mentioned above.

This purpose is achieved by a device to change the threadlike materials in a thread processing machine automatically, but where the device is provided for keeping the first thread originating from the supply within reach of the connecting means after cutting it, in order to keep the thread mentioned first ready to be selected for a next change of thread.

In a preferred embodiment the device comprises clamping and cutting means, which are placed alongside the machine with respect to the connecting means, and which may be moved to and fro in the direction of the threads, in order to cut off the thread mentioned first between the supply and the connecting point.

In a more specific preferred embodiment the said first and second threads are situated one above the other.

This has the advantage that room is saved broadways across the direction of movement of the threads, so that much more threads may be changed at the same time.

A preferred embodiment of the device comprises at least two connecting means in order to be able to carry out more changes of thread at the same time.

This has the advantage that a large number of threads may be changed with a limited stop of the machine (a few minutes instead of a few hours). This means that man-hours may be saved in performing the changes of threads, but likewise the productivity of the machine is less affected thus enabling an expensive investment like a weaving machine, for example, to stay in production.

Preferably the device comprises guiding means for the threads and a fixed push body, so that the threads may be pushed against the push body and the clamping means and/or cutting means by moving the guiding means.

This presents the advantage that one driving mechanism less is needed which has to carry the threads within reach of the cutting mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the device comprises upper and lower guiding means for at least one thread, so that the push body may be situated between the threads running one above the other and so that, by moving the upper guiding means, each

upper thread may be pushed against the upper push side and each lower thread may be pushed against the lower push side by moving the lower pushing means, in order to push said threads into upper and lower clamping and cutting means respectively.

Preferably the device is provided first to clamp a thread to be cut in said clamping means and to cut it subsequently with said cutting means.

By using such a system, clamping and cutting of threads occur in a far more efficient manner and in this way, after cutting them through, the threads are already clamped.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device, the device comprises one groove per thread in which this thread extends towards a first sliding element with openings for clamping the thread and towards a second sliding element with knife-like teeth for cutting through the thread.

According to a preferred embodiment the device comprises one drive for the connecting means of several devices situated one beside the other and/or one drive for carrying out the cutting and clamping movements of the upper cutting and clamping means and one drive for carrying out the cutting and clamping movements of the lower cutting and clamping means and/or one drive for moving to and fro the clamping and cutting means.

In a very advantageous embodiment of the invention at least two devices are placed one above the other.

Preferably, said threadlike materials are textile threads or metal wires.

In a very advantageous embodiment of the device the device comprises a thread holding system provided for clamping a first series of threads, a thread guiding system provided for guiding a second series of threads towards a machine, where the thread holding system and the thread guiding system

-are facing each other in a hinged manner and comprise co-operating parts of connecting means, so that in moving towards each other the thread holding system and the thread guiding system small connecting chambers are formed; -each comprising clamping and cutting means; -are mounted on a base, slidable with respect to the push body, so that the thread guiding system and the thread holding system may be moved towards each other when these systems are situated between the supply and the push body and so that, when these systems are situated between the thread connecting means and the push body, the systems may be moved towards each other, so that the threads may be pushed against the upper and lower pushing side of the push body and into the upper and lower clamping and cutting means and may be clamped or may be clamped and cut through.

By a similar construction of the device, the movements may pass off in the direction of the threads, and therefore not perpendicular to the direction of the thread as is the case in the German patent application DE 3336202, as a result of which not more than the width between two threads situated parallel to each other is needed to carry out the change.

If the device is applied to weaving machines for changing threads from a bobbin rack, than the supplementary advantage of the invention compared to the conventional way of carrying out changes of the threads is, that less pile warp threads have to be woven in than colours needed in the pile for a same fabric with a different pattern, so that the fabric can be made lighter and cheaper, because a smaller amount of expensive pile warp threads is used.

Furthermore, the device may be used for putting up new beams for a loom, where the interruption time of the loom may be reduced from 6 hours to only a few minutes, or when needed for changing the weft threads, the device being placed after the pre-take- off bobbin.

The device in itself is very compact, the production costs are therefore very low.

Hereafter, the characteristics and particulars of the invention will be explained by means of an example of een embodiment, referring to the drawings enclosed. It should be noted that the specific aspects of this example are described only as a preferred example of what is meant within the scope of the above-mentioned general description of the invention and in no way may be interpreted as a limitation of the scope of the invention as such and as it is expressed in the conclusions following hereafter.

In the enclosed drawings: -figure 1 is a front view of the device according to the invention; -figure 2 is a cross-section of a splicer; -figure 3 up to and including figure 11 represent a schematic representation of the different stages carried out by the device in order to complete a change of thread; -figure 12 is a detailed view from above of a clamping and cutting unit, as represented in figure 1; -figure 13 up to and including 15 is a schematic representation of the different stages for clamping and cutting off threads; -figure 16 is a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The device (1) according to the invention comprises, as represented in figure 1, two thread holding and/or thread guiding systems (2,3) hingeable with respect to each other, which either guide or clamp at least one thread originating from a supply (not represented in the figure) to a thread processing machine (not represented in the figure).

The thread holding and/or thread guiding system (2,3) are mounted on a base (5) movable to and fro in the direction of the threads with respect to a fixed push body (4).

The fixed push body (4) comprises an upper push side (4a) and a lower push side (4b).

Each one of these thread holding and/or thread guiding systems (2,3) comprises guiding means (6,7), parts of connecting means (8,9) co-operating with each other and a clamping and cutting unit (10,11).

When both thread holding and/or thread guiding systems (2,3) are moved towards each other, a splicer (20) is formed, as shown in figure 2, in which a first thread, originating from the supply may be connected to a second thread originating from the supply. The parts of the connection means (8, 9), co-operating with each other, form small connecting chambers (23) through which a turbulent air stream is sent in order to entangle the extremities of the threads and so to form a solid connection between both threads. The splicers (20) are provided with springs (24) in order to make it possible for the two parts of the chamber (21,22) to fit well together.

The method for automatically changing the threads in a thread processing machine, as represented in the figures 3 up to and including 11 passes off as follows: -the original thread holding (3a) and thread guiding system (2a) are in rest and the first thread (100) is selected (see figure 3); -the original thread holding (3 a) and thread guiding system (2a) are brought towards each other, the threads are spliced together between the connecting means (8,9) and the second thread (200) is released (see figure 4); -the original thread holding (3a) and thread guiding system (2a) are opened (see figure 5); -the original thread holding (3a) and guiding system (2a) mounted on the base (5) and movable to and fro in the direction of the threads are slid against the direction of movement of the threads (see figure 6); -the original thread holding (3a) and guiding system (2a) are closed as a result of which the first thread (100) is pushed against the lower push side (4a) of the push body (4), as a result of which the first thread (100) is clamped in the lower clamping and cutting unit (11) (see figure 7) and cut off (see figure 8) ; the original thread guiding system (3a) now becomes the new thread holding system (3b) and

the original thread holding system (2a) now becomes the new thread guiding system (2b); -the new thread holding (3b) and thread guiding system (2b) are opened, the first thread (100) is now clamped and cut off (see figure 9); -the new thread holding (3b) and thread guiding system (2b) mounted on the base (5), movable to and fro in the direction of the threads, are brought back into the resting position in the direction of the movement of the threads (see figure 10); -the new tread holding (3b) and thread guiding system (2b) are now in rest and the second thread (200) is selected (see figure 11).

The lower and the upper clamping and cutting unit (10,11), as represented are further detailed in figure 12. Each clamping and cutting unit (120) comprises a first element (121) with grooves (122) in which the threads extend towards the clamping means (123) and the cutting means (124). The clamping means (123) are composed of a first sliding element (125) in which openings (126) have been provided for clamping the thread; the cutting means (124) are composed of a second sliding element (127) with grooves (128) and knife-like teeth (129) for cutting through the threads.

The method for clamping and cutting off the threads occurs as follows, as represented in figure 13 up to and including figure 15; -the threads (130) move through the first unit (121) grooves (122) in which the threads extend, the grooves (126) of the first sliding element (125) and the grooves (129) of the second sliding element (127) (see figure 13); -the threads (130) are clamped by sliding the first (125) and the second sliding element (127) to face the first element (121) (see figure 14); -subsequently the threads (130) are cut off by sliding the second sliding element (127) to face the first sliding element (125); the threads (130) have now been cut off and clamped (see figure 15).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention two devices (la, lb) are placed above each other mirrorwise, as represented in figure 16. As a standard, 50 incoming threads may

be changed per device. The dimensions of two devices one above the other amount to 216 mm in height and to 510 mm in width. So with that 100 incoming threads may be changed. Consequently, 1000 threads may be changed in a surface of one square meter. Dependent on the application, the device may change more or less threads at the same time.

When the clamping and cutting means are adapted, for instance by providing separate little knives, which each may be driven separately, where the splicers are then disconnected for threads which have not been changed, also one thread or a group of threads may be cut through. This may have its application to tune the device according to the invention to the weaving pattern to be formed.

The device is mainly applied to change pile warp threads originating from a bobbin rack. By the presence of the clamps (having a weight of 200 g) on the bobbins, there is a sufficient buffer of thread, so that the device is not forced to pull at the heavy bobbins.