TECHNICAL FIELD AND PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a device for setting a position of a stationary guide for guiding a rapier on a weaving machine. The invention further relates to a weaving machine comprising such a device and to a method for setting a position of a stationary guide for guiding a rapier on a weaving machine using such a device.

US5413151 shows a rapier weaving machine comprising two stationary guides having guide surfaces for guiding a rapier carrying a gripper, wherein one stationary guide is arranged at the insertion side and another stationary guide is arranged at the side opposite to the insertion side. The stationary guides are aligned with guide hooks for the rapier that are mounted on a profile of the sley of the weaving machine, which guide hooks are moveable with the sley.

EP1586683 shows a rapier weaving machine comprising two stationary guides having guide surfaces for guiding a rapier carrying a gripper, which stationary guides are positioned so that both grippers mounted on an associated rapier meet one another at the middle of the shed of the weaving machine.

BE1001345 shows a stationary guide for guiding a rapier, which is mounted via supports to a frame of a weaving machine. The stationary guide is mounted rotatable about a pivot point that is arranged near the shed on a frame of a weaving machine for adjusting an orientation of the stationary guide in a plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a device for setting a position of a stationary guide in a simple and reliable manner. Further objects of the invention are to provide a weaving machine with such a device and a method for setting a position of a stationary guide using such a device.

According to a first aspect, a device for setting a position of a stationary guide for guiding a rapier on a weaving machine is provided, which device comprises a first support part and a second support part, wherein for setting an orientation of the first support part with respect to the second support part, the first support part is mounted to the second support part swivelably about a virtual axis, which virtual axis lies outside the first support part.

In the context of the application, a position of an element in a three-dimensional space is defined by six degrees of freedom, wherein the position of the element can be set by one, some or all of a translation along three perpendicular axes and/or a change in orientation through rotation about one, some or all of three perpendicular axes.

In the context of the application, the expressions “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth” are not to be interpreted as defining a serial or numerical limitation but instead are only used to distinguish or identify various members of a group. Further, the expression “first”, “second”, “third” does not mandate a following element. “A” and “an” are used as indefinite articles and not to be interpreted as “exactly one”.

The virtual axis is transverse to a first plane. In the context of the application, the expression "transverse” is used to describe a position or direction that is at an angle of approximately 90° to something else.

In an embodiment, the first support part is formed integrally with the stationary guide. In other embodiments, the stationary guide is mountable fixed in position to the first support part.

By providing a device having a first support part and a second support part and using a virtual axis that lies outside the first support part for setting an angular position or orientation of the first support part with respect to the second support part, a precise alignment of the stationary guide with a reference element is possible, which reference element is located at a position not accessible for a mounting structure of the stationary guide.

In case a stationary guide is to be aligned with a reference element, for example a calibration guide element, in particular a guide hook arranged on a sley of the weaving machine, the virtual axis can be chosen at or close to a location of the guide hook, which location is not accessible for a mounting structure of the stationary guide.

Further, in a first plane transverse to the virtual axis a translational position of the stationary guide with respect to the reference element can be set before setting the orientation of the stationary guide about the virtual axis and setting the orientation of the stationary guide in the first plane does not influence the alignment of the stationary guide at the virtual axis. The first plane is in particular a two-dimensional cartesian plane, wherein the stationary guide is moveable in one or both of the two dimensions for setting the translational position in the first plane.

According to one embodiment, the device further comprises a first rod and a second rod, wherein a first end of the first rod and a first end of the second rod are swivelably mounted to the first support part, and a second end of the first rod and a second end of the second rod are swivelably mounted to the second support part, wherein in a home configuration, the first rod and the second rod are arranged such that virtual lines extending the first rod and the second rod intersect at the virtual axis. Preferably, the second ends are closer to the virtual axis than the first ends.

At the first end and the second end, the rods are each swivelably mounted about axes parallel to the virtual axis to the first support part and the second support part, respectively. The first rod and the second rod are for example rigid rods, wherein in an embodiment, the first ends of the rods are mounted without play in the first support part and the second ends of the rods are mounted without play in the second support part, so that an accurate adjustment of the orientation is possible.

The first support part, the second support part, and the two rods together form a four joint linkage mechanism allowing for a constraint movement of the first support part with respect to the second support part.

The invention uses the findings of the inventor, that when setting an orientation of the stationary guide, only small angular adjustments of less than +/- 5°, in particular less than +/- 2°, are necessary. Hence, a small movement of the first support part with respect to the second support part causes a rotation of the first support part with respect to the second support part about a substantially constant virtual axis.

In an embodiment, the first rod and the second rod have a same length and in the home configuration the first rod and the second rod are arranged symmetrically with respect to a virtual middle line crossing the virtual axis. This allows for a simple design.

In an embodiment, the first support part is moved by an operator by manually applying a force to the first support part, either by manually pushing the first support part or by using a tool.

In another embodiment, a first adjusting element is arranged between the first support part and the second support part, wherein by operating the first adjusting element, the first support part is swivelable with respect to the second support part about the virtual axis towards or away from the home configuration.

The first adjusting element allows for a precise movement of the first support part with respect to the second support part. In an embodiment, the first adjusting element is a screw, wherein by turning the screw the first support part and the second support part are forced to swivel relative to one another.

In another embodiment, the first adjusting element is an eccentric axle, wherein by turning the eccentric axle the first support part is swivelable with respect to the second support part about the virtual axis towards or away from the home configuration.

In an embodiment, the first support part can be fixed in position with respect to the second support part using fixation bolts, which are loosened prior to adjusting or setting an orientation of the first support part with respect to the second support part and are tightened after the adjusting or setting is completed.

In an embodiment, the virtual axis is transverse to a horizontal movement plane of the rapier, wherein the first support part is arranged above the second support part. In the context of the application, the horizontal movement plane of the rapier is defined as a substantially horizontal plane along which a rapier is moved into and out of a shed. In an embodiment, the horizontal movement plane is a horizontal plane. When the horizontal movement plane is a horizontal plane, the rods can each be mounted rotatable about two vertical rotation axes and the device allows setting an orientation of a stationary guide in a horizontal plane about a vertical virtual axis. In other embodiments, the horizontal movement plane is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane by several degrees, in particular by up to 10 degrees.

In other words, the device allows setting an orientation of the stationary guide in the first plane about the virtual axis, which virtual axis is a vertical axis or a substantially vertical axis that is located inside a shed at a position not accessible for a mounting structure of the stationary guide, in particular a position outside the first support part.

In an embodiment, the device further comprises a third support part, wherein the second support part is mounted to the third support part, so that in the first plane transverse to the virtual axis a translational position of the second support part with respect to the third support part is settable. For setting the translational position, the first support part is linearly moveable with respect to the third support part in one or both directions of a two-dimensional cartesian plane. In an embodiment, only a position of the stationary guide is settable in a direction transverse to a movement direction of the rapier, i.e., transverse to the insertion direction, using the device. In one embodiment a position of the stationary guide in the insertion direction is fixed, for example using an end stop. In other embodiments, a position of the stationary guide in the insertion direction is settable for allowing an adjustment to a width of a fabric.

In an embodiment, the second support part is mounted to the third support part using guide elements. In an embodiment, fixation elements, for example fixation bolts are provided for fixing the second support part in a selected position to the third support part.

In an embodiment, a second adjusting element is arranged between the second support part and the third support part, wherein by operating the second adjusting element, the first support part together with the second support part is linearly moveable with respect to the third support part in order to set a translational position of the second support part in the first plane, i.e. to move the first support part together with the second support part in the first plane in the direction transverse to the movement direction of the rapier. The second adjusting element in embodiments is a screw or an eccentric axle.

In an embodiment, the device further comprises a fourth support part, wherein the third support part is mounted to the fourth support part, so that a translational position of the third support part together with the fourth support part is settable in a direction transverse to the first plane and/or an orientation of the third support part with respect to the fourth support part is settable about a pivot axis transverse to the virtual axis, in particular a pivot axis transverse to the movement direction of the rapier, thus the insertion direction. Preferably, the pivot axis crosses the virtual axis.

In an embodiment, the fourth support part is mounted fixed in position or stationary to a frame of the weaving machine. In an embodiment, a third adjusting element is arranged between the third support part and the fourth support part, which is operable to swivel the third support part with respect to the fourth support part about the pivot axis, and/or a fourth adjusting element is arranged between the fourth support part and the frame of the weaving machine, which is operable to linearly move the third support part together with respect to the fourth support part in the direction transverse to the first plane.

According to a second aspect, a weaving machine with a stationary guide for guiding a rapier and with a device for setting a position of the stationary guide on the weaving machine is provided. In an embodiment of the weaving machine, the device is configured and arranged such that the virtual axis is located inside a shed, in particular at or close to a location for a first guide hook mounted on a sley. This allows for a precise alignment of the stationary guide with respect to the first guide hook and other guide hooks.

According to a third aspect, a method for setting a position of a stationary guide for guiding a rapier on a weaving machine using a device with a first support part and a second support part, wherein the first support part is mounted to the second support part swivelably about a virtual axis, which virtual axis lies outside the first support part, is provided, wherein the method comprises swivelling the first support part with respect to the second support part about the virtual axis for setting an orientation of the first support part with respect to the second support part.

In an embodiment, a first adjusting element arranged between the first support part and the second support part is operated to swivel the first support part with respect to the second support part about the virtual axis.

In an embodiment, the first support part is swivelled with respect to the second support part about the virtual axis, which virtual axis is located inside a shed, in particular at or close to a location for a first guide hook.

In an embodiment of the method, before swivelling the first support part with respect to the second support part about the virtual axis, a first translational position of the first support part together with the second support part in a first plane transverse to the virtual axis is set with respect to a third support part. In one embodiment, the translational position is set both in a movement direction of the rapier, i.e. an insertion direction, and transverse to the movement direction of the rapier, i.e. transverse to the insertion direction. In other embodiments, the translational position in the insertion direction is fixed and only the first translational position in a direction transverse to the movement direction of the rapier is set.

In an embodiment, the device is arranged and configured so that the virtual axis is at or close to a location for a guide element, with which the stationary guide is to be aligned. Adjusting an orientation of the first support part in the first plane does not or only marginally influence the translational position of the stationary guide at the virtual axis. Hence, after setting the orientation of the first support part, it is not necessary to repeat a setting of the translational position of the first support part together with the second support part in the first plane. For setting the translational position, in an embodiment the first support part together with the second support part is linearly moved with respect to the third support part by operating a second adjusting element arranged between the second support part and the third support part.

In an embodiment, before or after setting the first translational position of the first support part in the first plane, a second translational position of the third support part with respect the frame of the weaving machine is set in a direction transverse to the first plane. In embodiments, the first plane is parallel to the horizontal movement plane of the rapier, which is an at least substantially horizontal plane. Hence, the direction transverse to the first plane is an at least substantially vertical direction.

In an embodiment, after setting the second translational position of the third support part in the direction transverse to the first plane and before or after setting the first translational position of the first support part together with the second support part with respect to the third support part in the first plane, a second orientation of the third support part with respect the fourth support part is set about a pivot axis transverse to the virtual axis, in particular a pivot axis transverse to the movement direction of the rapier and crossing the virtual axis.

In an embodiment, a calibration element, such as a calibration guide hook is mounted to a sley of the weaving machine at a position offset from the stationary guide towards a centre of the sley, preferably at the virtual axis, and a calibration rapier is guided through the stationary guide towards the calibration guide hook and through the calibration guide hook before swivelling the first support part with respect to the second support part about the virtual axis.

In an embodiment, a guide hook as used in normal operation is used as the calibration guide hook and/or a rapier as used in normal operation is used as the calibration rapier. In other embodiments, a more precise guide hook is used, and a more rigid calibration rapier is used to this end, so that this calibration rapier does not bend during calibrating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Fig. 1 shows in a perspective view a system comprising a stationary guide for guiding a rapier on a weaving machine together with a device for setting a position of the stationary guide;

Fig. 2 shows the system of Fig. 1 with a part of a frame of the weaving machine in an exploded view;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of Fig. 2 in enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 shows the system of Fig. 1 in a top view;

Fig. 5 shows the system of Fig. 1 in a front view;

Fig. 6 shows the system of Fig. 1 looking from a side in a movement direction of a rapier in a view from the shed;

Fig. 7 shows the system of Fig. 4 in a top view in two different orientations of a first support part with respect to a second support part, wherein for illustration a first rod and a second rod are visualized on a top surface;

Fig. 8 shows the system of Fig. 4 in a sectional view along a plane VII-VI I in Fig. 5 in two different configurations of the first support part with respect to the second support part;

Fig. 9 shows the system of Fig. 4 in a sectional view along a plane VII-VI I in Fig. 5 in a home configuration of the first support part with respect to the second support part;

Fig. 10 shows the system of Fig. 4 in a sectional view along a plane VII-VI I in Fig. 5 in a configuration of the first support part with respect to the second support part different from the home configuration;

Fig. 11 shows a step of setting a translational position of a stationary guide in a second plane transverse to a horizontal movement plane of a rapier using a device similar to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 12 shows a step of setting a translational position of the stationary guide in a first plane parallel to the horizontal movement plane of the rapier using the device of Fig. 11 ; Fig. 13 shows a step of setting an orientation of the stationary guide about a pivot axis transverse to the second plane using the device of Fig. 11 ;

Fig. 14 shows a step of setting an orientation of the stationary guide about a virtual axis transverse to the first plane using the device of Fig. 11 ; and

Fig. 15 shows an alternative embodiment of Fig. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figs. 1 to 10 show a system comprising a stationary guide 1 for guiding a rapier (not shown) on a weaving machine (not shown) and a device 2 for setting a position of the stationary guide 1. As shown in Fig. 6, the stationary guide 1 is provided with guide elements 39 for guiding a rapier (not shown).

As best seen in the exploded view of Fig. 2, the device 2 comprises a first support part 3, a second support part 4, a third support part 5, and a fourth support part 6.

In the embodiment shown, the first support part 3 is arranged above the second support part 4 and the stationary guide 1 is mounted to the first support part 3. In the embodiment shown, the stationary guide 1 is fixedly attached to the first support part 3 using clamps 7 and bolts 10.

A rapier (not shown) is moved in a movement direction 19 along a longitudinal direction of the stationary guide 1 (indicated in Fig. 1). An at least substantially horizontal plane along which the rapier is moved into and out of a shed is referred to as horizontal movement plane 9 of the rapier (indicated in Fig. 1 and 6).

For positioning the stationary guide 1 using the device 2, in the embodiment shown, two angular positions or orientations and two translational positions are settable. In particular, a first orientation of the first support part 3 with respect to the second support part 4 about a virtual axis 8 (see Fig. 1) transverse to the horizontal movement plane 9 of the rapier, a first translational position of the first support part 3 (together with the second support part 4) with respect to the third support part 5 in a first plane parallel to the horizontal movement plane 9 of the rapier and transverse to the movement direction 19 of the rapier, a second orientation of the third support part 5 (together with the first support part 3 and the second support part 4) with respect to the fourth support part 6 about a pivot axis 20, which pivot axis 20 is transverse to the virtual axis 8 and is crossing or intersecting the virtual axis 8, and a second translational position of the fourth support part 6 (together with the first support part 3, the second support part 4, and the third support part 5) with respect to the frame 31 of the weaving machine along the virtual axis 8, are settable.

For setting the first orientation or angular position of the first support part 3, and thus the stationary guide 1 mounted thereto, with respect to the second support part 4, the first support part 3 is mounted to the second support part 4 swivelably about the virtual axis 8. In the embodiment shown, the virtual axis 8 is transverse to the horizontal movement plane 9 of the rapier.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the virtual axis 8 lies outside the first support part 3. This allows a precise alignment of the stationary guide 1 with a reference element, which reference element is located at a position not accessible for a mounting structure of the stationary guide 1 , in particular which reference element is located outside the first support part 3. Preferably, the reference element is located at the virtual axis 8.

In the embodiment shown, as best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 7 to 10, for realizing the virtual axis 8 outside the first support part 3, the device 2 comprises a first rod 11 and a second rod 12. The first rod 11 and the second rod 12 are rigid rods. A first end 111 of the first rod 11 and a first end 121 of the second rod 12 are swivelably mounted to the first support part 3 using respectively axle stubs 13 and 14, and a second end 112 of the first rod 11 and a second end 122 of the second rod 12 are swivelably mounted to the second support part 4 using respectively axle stubs 15 and 16. The axle stubs 13, 14, 15, 16 extend in parallel to the virtual axis 8. The arrangement will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figs. 7 to 10. The axle stubs 13, 14 are mounted rotatable and precisely in an associated bore hole 40, 41 of the first support part 3, while the axle stubs 15, 16 are mounted rotatable and precisely in an associated bore hole 42, 43 of the second support part 4.

The first support part 3 can be fixedly attached to the second support part 4 in a selected orientation using fixation bolts 17.

In the embodiment shown, a first adjusting element 18 in the form of an eccentric axle is arranged between the first support part 3 and the second support part 4, wherein by turning the eccentric axle with respect to the second support part 4 in relation to a slot shaped opening 33 (Fig. 4) in the first support part 3, the first support part 3 is swivelable with respect to the second support part 4 about the virtual axis 8. For setting the first translational position of the stationary guide 1 in the first plane transverse to the virtual axis 8 and in a direction transverse to the movement direction 19 of the rapier, the first support part 3 and the second support part 4 are mounted to the third support part 5, so that in the first plane the first translational position of the first support part 3 with respect to the third support part 5 is settable in a direction transverse to the movement direction 19 of the rapier.

In the embodiment shown, a second adjusting element 21 , which is also in the form of an eccentric axle, is arranged between the second support part 4 and the third support part 5, wherein by turning the eccentric axle with respect to the third support part 5 in relation to a slot shaped opening 34 (Fig. 4) in the second support part 4, the first support part 3 together with the second support part 4 is linearly moveable with respect to the third support part 5 to move the first support part 3 and the second support part 4, and thus the stationary guide 1 mounted thereto, in the first plane in the direction transverse to the movement direction 19 of the rapier. The translational movement is limited by fixation bolts 22, which fixation bolts 22 pass through openings in the second support part 4. One of the fixation bolts 22 is accessible via an opening 28 in the first support part 3 (see Fig. 12).

The second support part 4 can be fixedly attached to the third support part 5 in a selected first translational position using fixation bolts 22.

For setting the second orientation of the third support part 5 (together with the first support part 3 and the second support part 4) with respect to the fourth support part 6 about the pivot axis 20, which pivot axis 20 is transverse to the virtual axis 8 and crossing the virtual axis 8, in the embodiment shown, a third adjusting element 23 is arranged between the third support part 5 and the fourth support part 6, which in the embodiment shown is also in the form of an eccentric axle, and which is operable to swivel the third support part 5 with respect to the fourth support part 6 about the pivot axis 20 by turning the eccentric axle with respect to the fourth support part 6 in relation to a slot shaped opening 35 (Fig. 5 and 13) in the third support part 5.

The third support part 5 can be fixedly attached to the fourth support part 6 in a selected second orientation using fixation bolts 24.

For setting the second translational position of the stationary guide 1 , the second translational position of the fourth support part 6 (together with the first support part 3, the second support part 4 and the third support part 5) is settable in a direction transverse to the first plane with respect to the frame 31 of the weaving machine. In the embodiment shown, a fourth adjusting element 25 is arranged between the fourth support part 6 and the frame 31 of the weaving machine, which in the embodiment shown is also in the form of an eccentric axle, and which is operable to linearly move the fourth support part 6 with the first support part 3, the second support part 4 and the third support part 5 in the direction transverse to the first plane, i.e. along the virtual axis 8, by turning the eccentric axle with respect to the frame 31 of the weaving machine in relation to an opening 36 (Fig. 2) in the fourth support part 6. The translational movement is limited by fixation bolts 27, which fixation bolts 27 pass through openings in the fourth support part 6.

The fourth support part 6 can be fixedly attached to the frame 31 of the weaving machine in a selected second translational position using fixation bolts 27, in particular to supports 50 and 51 that are fixed to the frame 31.

Fig. 7 shows the stationary guide 1 and the device 2 in a top view in two different first orientations of the first support part 3 (and thus the stationary guide 1 ) with respect to the second support part 4, wherein for illustration purposes the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 are visualized on a top surface of the stationary guide 1. Figs. 8 to 10 show sectional views of the device 2 along a plane VII-VII in Fig. 5, in which the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 are shown in their real position.

As indicated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, in a home configuration, the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 are arranged such that virtual lines 113, 123 extending the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 intersect at the virtual axis 8, wherein the second ends 112, 122 are closer to the virtual axis 8 than the first ends 111 , 121 .

As also shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, in the embodiment shown, the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 have the same length and in a home configuration are arranged symmetrically with respect to a virtual middle line 30 crossing the virtual axis 8.

In Fig. 7 and 8, the home configuration is shown in solid lines and another configuration associated with another orientation of the first support part 3 and the stationary guide 1 with respect to the second support part 4 about the virtual axis 8, wherein the first support part 3 is swiveled about the virtual axis 8 with respect to the second support part 4 as indicated by an arrow, is shown in dotted lines.

As shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the first support part 3, the second support part 4, the first rod 11 , and the second rod 12 together form a four joint linkage mechanism allowing for a small, constraint movement of the first support part 3 with respect to the second support part 4, wherein the first support part 3 is swiveled with respect to the second support part 4 about the virtual axis 8, which is substantially constant in position for setting the first orientation of the stationary guide 1.

A method for setting a position of the stationary guide 1 using a device 2 according to the application is explained in the following with reference to Figs. 11 to 14. The device 2 shown in Figs. 11 to 14 corresponds in design to the device 2 shown in Figs. 1 to 10. The same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and for a detailed explanation, reference is made to the description above.

For setting a position, in an embodiment a first calibration guide hook 32 (shown schematically in Fig. 11) is mounted as a reference element in a location of the virtual axis 8. Preferably this location for the calibration guide hook 32 is chosen as the location of a first guide hook (not shown) used for guiding a rapier in a weaving machine when weaving at maximum weaving width. The calibration guide hook 32 is mounted on a profile 49 of a sley (not shown) of the weaving machine. A sley with such a profile is for example known from US5413151.

As shown in Fig. 11 , in a first step, the second translational position, which in the embodiment shown is an at least essentially vertical position, is set. For this purpose, the fixation bolts 27 (Fig. 2) are loosened, but remain fastened without force, so that there is no play but also no tensioning force.

Next, the fourth adjusting element 25 is operated to shift the fourth support part 6 (together with the first support part 3, the second support part 4, the third support part 5 and the stationary guide 1) as indicated by arrows in Fig. 11 , wherein the device 2 is moved in a direction along the virtual axis 8. The fourth adjusting element 25 is mounted to a support 50 fixed to the frame 31 (see Fig. 2). In the embodiment shown, the fourth adjusting element 25 is an eccentric axle, which is turned using for example a hex wrench 44. The fourth adjusting element 25 acts on the opening 36 (Fig. 2) in the fourth support part 6 to move the fourth support part 6 as indicated by arrows A. In the embodiment shown, three further bolts 29 are provided of which two bolts 29 are passing with play through openings 37 in the third support part 5, allowing an easy mounting of the third support part 5 to the fourth support part 6, and for visualizing the setting and limiting a movement. The fourth adjusting element 25 also passes with play through an opening 38 in the third support part 5.

As shown in Fig. 12, in a second step, the first translational position in the first plane, which in the embodiment shown is the horizontal movement plane of the stationary guide 1 , is set. For this purpose, the fixation bolts 17 are loosened, but remain fastened without force, so that there is no play but also no tensioning force.

Next, the second adjusting element 21 is operated to shift the second support part 4 (together with the first support part 3 and the stationary guide 1) as indicated by arrows B in Fig. 12 transverse to the movement direction 19 of the rapier. In the embodiment shown, the second adjusting element 21 is an eccentric axle, which is turned using for example a hex wrench 45.

The adjustments according to Figs. 11 and 12 are carried out, so that a normal rapier or a calibration rapier (not shown) can pass through the first calibration guide hook 32 arranged at the location of the virtual axis 8 on the profile 49 of the sley of the weaving machine, for example at the location of the first guide hook in use.

It will be understood by the person skilled in the art, that in an alternative embodiment, the second translational position as shown in Fig. 11 is set after setting the first translational position in the first plane as shown in Fig. 12.

For setting the orientation about the virtual axis 8 and/or about the pivot axis 20, in one embodiment, the second calibration guide hook 48 (shown schematically in Fig. 13) is mounted as reference element in a position farther away from the first support part 3 towards an inside of the shed on the profile 49 of the sley. As can be seen in Fig. 13, the stationary guide 1 is moved to the right compared to Fig. 11 , so that the stationary guide 1 ends near the second calibration hook 48 mounted farther away from the first support part 3. Then the calibration rapier (not shown) is guided along the stationary guide 1 mounted to the first support part 3 towards the second calibration guide hook 48 mounted in the position farther away.

As shown in Fig. 13, the third support part 5 is swivelled about the pivot axis 20 together with the first support part 3, the second support part 4, and the stationary guide 1 until the calibration rapier is aligned in vertical direction with the second calibration guide hook 48.

For this purpose, in the embodiment shown the third adjusting element 23 is operated to swivel the third support part 5 (together with the first support part 3, the second support part 4, and the stationary guide 1) about the pivot axis 20 as indicated by arrows C in Fig. 13. In the embodiment shown, the third adjusting element 23 is an eccentric axle cooperating with the slot shaped opening 35, which is turned using for example a hex wrench 46, so that the third support part 5 can rotate about the pivot axis 20. Finally, as shown in Fig. 14, the first support part 3 together with the stationary guide 1 is swivelled with respect to the second support part 4 about the virtual axis 8 until the calibration rapier is aligned in the horizontal movement plane 9 of the rapier transverse to its movement direction 19 with the second calibration guide hook 48 and the calibration rapier can be guided through the second calibration guide hook 48.

For this purpose, in the embodiment shown the first adjusting element 18 is operated to swivel the first support part 3 (together with the stationary guide 1) about the virtual axis 8 as indicated by arrows D in Fig. 14. In the embodiment shown, the first adjusting element 18 is an eccentric axle cooperating with the slot shaped opening 33, which is turned using for example a hex wrench 47.

It will be understood by the person skilled in the art, in embodiments all hex wrenches 44, 45, 46, 47 can be chosen identical in design, wherein only one singular hex wrench is used for operating all adjusting elements. In other embodiments, the hex wrenches 44, 45, 46, 47 differ in size.

As in the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 to 14, the virtual axis 8 crosses or intersects the pivot axis 20, setting the orientation or angular position about the virtual axis 8 is independent from setting the orientation or angular position about the pivot axis 20. Hence, as will be understood by the person skilled in the art, that in an alternative embodiment, the first orientation about the virtual axis 8 as shown in Fig. 14 is set before setting the second orientation about the pivot axis 20.

In an advantageous embodiment, the virtual axis 8 is in the position of the first guide hook used for guiding a rapier in a weaving machine. Therefore, when changing the orientation of the first support part 3 about the virtual axis 8, the position of the calibration rapier guided in the stationary guide 1 at the location of the virtual axis 8 or the first guide hook remains unchanged. Hence, it is not necessary to repeat the setting of the first translational position in the first plane after setting the first orientation of the first support part 3 about the virtual axis 8. In the same way, when the pivot axis 20 is crossing or intersecting the virtual axis 8, in particular when the pivot axis 20 is arranged along the virtual axis or just under the first guide hook, it is not necessary to repeat the setting of the second translational position after setting the second orientation of the third support part 5 about the pivot axis 20.

After the setting is completed, all fixation bolts 17, 22, 24, 27 can be tightened for fixing the support parts 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the device 2 to each other and to the frame 31 of the weaving machine. At the distal end of the stationary guide 1 a bore hole 26 (Fig. 6) is provided for fixing this distal end via a support element (not shown) to the frame 31 of the weaving machine, so that this distal end will not vibrate during weaving.

As explained above, for setting the positioning of the stationary guide 1 use is made of two reference elements, such as calibration guide hooks 32, 48 that are mounted at a distance from each other on a profile 49 of the sley of a weaving machine for carrying out the method according to the invention. The first calibration guide hook 32 in the embodiment shown is located at the virtual axis 8 and the second calibration guide hook 48 is located at a distance from the first calibration guide hook further away from the stationary guide 1 . For avoiding that the rapier or calibration rapier will bend and sags near the second calibration guide hook 48, the stationary guide 1 can be shifted along the first support part 3 up to a small distance from the second calibration guide hook 48, as shown in Fig. 13. This allows to support the rapier or calibration rapier up to the second calibration guide hook 48 by the stationary guide 1 that is more resistant to bending than the rapier or calibration rapier. After this setting and before starting the weaving machine, the stationary guide 1 can be shifted to its weaving location along the first support part 3 to fit with respect to the width of the fabric to be woven. Of course, the first calibration guide hook 32 and the second calibration guide hook 48 can be one single calibration guide hook, or alternatively can be a normal guide hook of a weaving machine used for calibration purposes.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 have instead of axle subs 13 to 15 bore holes at their end, while the first support part 3 and the second support part 4 have instead of the bore holes 40 to 43 axle stubs that can cooperate with the bore holes of the first rod 11 and the second rod 12.

Fig. 15 shows an alternative embodiment, where the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 have first ends 111 , 121 that are fixed to the first support part 3 and second ends 112, 122 that are fixed to the second support part 4. The first rod 11 and the second rod 12 have bendable sections 52 allowing to deform the rods 11 , 12 while the first support part 3 is moved with respect to the second support part 4, so that the first support part 3 can swivel about a virtual axis 8 in a first plane with respect to the second support part. For small angular adjustments, the embodiment of Fig. 15 has a similar performance as the embodiment of Fig. 9, in particular the bendable sections 52 function as swivel mounts or pivots. In alternative embodiments (not shown), the first rod and the second rod can have several bendable sections or can be bendable over their whole length.

In the embodiments shown, only the stationary guide arranged at the insertion side is shown. Similarly, the invention can be used and explained for the stationary guide that is arranged at the side opposite to the insertion side, also named the opposite side. In this case the first reference element is the first reference element from the stationary guide at the opposite side, in particular is for example the last guide hook seen in the weft insertion direction. The arrangement of the second reference element is then also at a distance away from the stationary guide at the opposite side. Of course, for setting the position of the stationary guide use can also be made of a laser device such as known from BE1001345 instead of using one or more calibration guide hooks and one or more calibration rapiers as explained above.

The invention is also not limited to weaving machines where guide hooks are used for guiding a rapier inside the shed, for example as known from US5413151. The invention can also be used in weaving machines having no guide hooks, wherein the grippers also have to meet each other at the middle of the shed, as known from EP1586683. In both cases the orientation of the stationary guides can be set using the invention.