阅读说明：本技术 用于剑杆的导引装置及包括这种导引装置的剑杆织机 (Guiding device for rapier and rapier loom comprising such a guiding device ) 是由 D.弗舍尔 B.哈尔斯伯格 G.梅斯 K.布鲁诺格 于 2020-05-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种导引装置,该导引装置包括具有用于在剑杆织机中导引剑杆(3)的一个或多个导引元件(2)的导引件(1),其中该导引装置设有空气回路(5),压缩空气可流过该空气回路(5),并且该空气回路(5)设有用于通过压缩空气冷却剑杆(3)的穿孔(7),并且其中该导引装置设有冷却回路(8),冷却剂可流过该冷却回路(8),以利用冷却剂冷却剑杆(3)。此外,本发明涉及剑杆(3)、驱动装置(4)和这种导引装置的组件。此外,本发明涉及一种包括这种组件的剑杆织机。(The invention relates to a guide device comprising a guide element (1) having one or more guide elements (2) for guiding a rapier (3) in a rapier weaving machine, wherein the guide device is provided with an air circuit (5), through which air circuit (5) compressed air can flow and the air circuit (5) is provided with perforations (7) for cooling the rapier (3) by means of the compressed air, and wherein the guide device is provided with a cooling circuit (8), through which cooling circuit (8) a coolant can flow in order to cool the rapier (3) with the coolant. The invention further relates to a rapier (3), a drive device (4) and an assembly of such a guide device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a rapier weaving machine comprising such an assembly.)

1. Guiding device, comprising a guide (1) with one or more guide elements (2) for guiding a rapier (3) in a rapier weaving machine, wherein the guiding device is provided with an air circuit (5), through which air circuit (5) compressed air can flow, and the air circuit (5) is provided with perforations (7) for cooling the rapier (3) by means of compressed air, characterized in that the guiding device is provided with a cooling circuit (8), through which cooling circuit (8) a coolant can flow in order to cool the rapier (3) with the coolant.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guide (1) comprises one or more branches (8a, 8b, 8c) of the cooling circuit (8).

3. The guide device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide element (1) extends in the longitudinal direction over a certain length (L) for guiding the rapier (3) and comprises at least one air guide zone (Z) in which the perforations (7) are arranged, wherein the air guide zone (Z) is arranged in the guide element (1) and, viewed in the longitudinal direction, the length (L) of extension of the air guide zone (Z) is shorter than the length (L) of the guide element (1).

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the cooling circuit (8) extends along almost the entire length (L) of the guide (1), as can be seen in longitudinal view.

5. Guide device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide comprises a plurality of guide elements (2).

6. The guiding arrangement as claimed in claim 3 or 4 and 5, characterized in that at least one of the guiding elements (2) is configured as an air guiding element (10), in which air guiding element (10) the air guiding region (Z) is arranged.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 and 5 or 6, characterized in that each guide element (2) comprises a branch (8a, 8b, 8c) of the cooling circuit (8).

8. Guide device according to claim 7, characterized in that the branches (8a, 8b, 8c) are coupled to each other by one or more joints (11) arranged substantially outside the guide (1).

9. The guide device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the guide elements (2) are arranged at least partially one behind the other, as can be seen in longitudinal view.

10. Guide device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the guide elements (2) is arranged in the guide device so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claims 6 and 10, characterized in that the air guide element (10) is fixedly arranged in the guide arrangement.

12. Guide device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the guide (1) comprises a guide element (2) extending in the longitudinal direction over a certain length (L), wherein the length (L) of the air guiding zone (Z) is almost half the length (L) of the guide element (2).

13. Assembly of a rapier (3), a drive device (4) for driving the rapier (3) and a guide device for guiding the rapier (3), which guide device comprises a guide (1) with one or more guide elements (2), wherein the guide device is provided with an air circuit (5), through which air circuit (5) compressed air can flow, and the air circuit (5) is provided with perforations (7) for cooling the rapier (3) by means of the compressed air, characterized in that the assembly is provided with a cooling circuit (8), through which cooling circuit (8) a coolant can flow in order to cool the rapier (3) with the coolant.

14. Assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the cooling circuit (8) of the assembly forms part of the guiding device and the guiding device is a guiding device according to one of claims 1 to 12.

15. Assembly according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the guiding means are guiding means according to claim 3 and the air guiding zone (Z) extends at least at the location of the drive means (4).

16. The assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that the air guide zone (Z) extends on one side of the drive device (4) almost along the remaining length of the guide (1), as can be seen in longitudinal view.

17. Assembly according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the guide comprises a plurality of guide elements (2), at least one of which (2) is a guide element (2) provided with a partially extended cooling circuit (8) therein and arranged on the side of the rapier (3) opposite to the side of the rapier (3) on which the other guide elements (2) are arranged.

18. Rapier weaving machine for weaving a fabric, characterized in that it comprises an assembly according to one of claims 13 to 17.

19. Rapier weaving machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the guide device of the components of the rapier weaving machine is a guide device according to claim 3 and in that the air guide zone (Z) extends at least at the end (14) of the guide (1) on the side of the fabric to be woven.

20. Rapier weaving machine according to claim 19, characterized in that the assembly is according to claim 16 and in that the side of the drive device (4) is turned towards the fabric to be woven.

21. Rapier weaving machine according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the assembly is an assembly according to claim 17 and in that the at least one guide element (2) which is provided with a partially extended cooling circuit (8) therein and which is arranged on the side of the rapier (3) opposite to the side of the rapier (3) on which the other guide elements (2) are arranged is arranged near the end (14) of the guide (1) on the side of the fabric to be woven.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a guide device comprising a guide piece with one or more guide elements for guiding a rapier in a rapier weaving machine, wherein the guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier with the compressed air.

The invention further relates to a gripper, a drive device for driving the gripper and an assembly of such a guide device.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a rapier weaving machine comprising such an assembly.

Background

Rapier looms comprise one or more swords for introducing weft yarns into the shed between warp yarns to form a fabric. In this case, the sword carries the weft thread to a transfer device, which may comprise, for example, a second sword. In order to be able to receive weft thread in a reliable manner, the sword must be positioned precisely during the transfer. These are fitted to the rapier and are passed through the shed in the rapier weaving machine by means of the rapier. In this case, the movement of the rapier is guided by one or more guide elements, so that the rapier can be positioned accurately.

Such one or more guiding elements together form a guide for the rapier. Each sword in a rapier weaving machine is provided with such a guide. The guide is accommodated in a guide arrangement which also comprises a support structure for the guide. In rapier weaving machines in which a plurality of swords are introduced into the shed on the same side of the fabric, such a guide device can comprise, for each sword, such a guide with one or more guide elements, or a guide device can be provided for each sword which comprises such a guide with one or more guide elements. The one or more guide members constituting the guide member are parts of such a guide device, which are disposed adjacent to the moving locus of the rapier and can be contacted with the rapier while the rapier moves. In this case, the one or more guide elements define the motion trajectory of the rapier in one or more directions at right angles to the motion trajectory.

A variety of such guide elements are known. In the past, such guide elements have generally consisted of guide rollers.

However, when the rapier is guided, the rapier is heated by friction with the guide member. When the rapier is guided by the guide roller, it is difficult to restrict the temperature rise of the rapier. Thus, EP 0866156B 1 provides a fixedly arranged guide element which has an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for mounting and cooling the rapier with compressed air. In this case, the perforation is provided in a rapier element plane facing the rapier when guiding the rapier.

However, at higher weaving speeds, the use of compressed air for cooling the guide elements, as described in EP 0866156B 1, is not sufficient.

In order to be able to make them lighter but still strong, newer rapiers are also usually made of materials with a poorer thermal conductivity, and therefore cooling of these rapiers is more necessary.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a guide member capable of sufficiently guiding a rapier even at a high weaving speed and capable of more satisfactorily ensuring cooling of the rapier.

This object of the invention is achieved by providing a guide device comprising a guide having one or more guide elements for guiding a rapier in a rapier weaving machine, wherein the guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier with compressed air, and wherein the guide device is provided with a cooling circuit through which a coolant can flow for cooling the rapier with the coolant.

By combining compressed air cooling with coolant cooling, the frictional heating of the rapier can be sufficiently limited even at a high weaving speed. The rapier can be guided sufficiently to ensure more precise positioning of the rapier and can be cooled sufficiently to reduce heating thereof.

Perforations for passing compressed air to cool the rapier are preferably provided in the guide. Preferably, the perforations are in this case arranged on the surface facing the rapier when guiding the rapier, as is the case in the prior art.

Preferably, the guide extends in the longitudinal direction for guiding the rapier, and the guiding device comprises at least one air guiding region in which the perforations are arranged, wherein the air guiding region is provided in the guide and, viewed in the longitudinal direction, can be seen to extend along a smaller length than the guide.

By limiting air cooling to one or more discrete air guiding regions, the cost of using compressed air to cool the rapier can be reduced. However, in order to accurately position the rapier, it is necessary in such a case to guide in a larger area than the area in which the rapier is cooled using compressed air.

Preferably, the air circuit is coupled to a compressed air device of the rapier weaving machine which accommodates the guide device.

Preferably, the air circuit in the guide is limited to one guide element only, so that the number of connections to the compressed air line (from the air circuit or other parts of the compressed air device) is limited.

In one or more air guide zones and/or in the region next to these air guide zones, the compressed air cooling can be supplemented with coolant cooling if necessary.

Water or a water-based liquid is preferably selected as the coolant.

The cooling circuit preferably forms part of a water cooling circuit of the rapier weaving machine accommodating the guide device.

As can be seen when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the guide, the cooling circuit preferably extends along almost the entire length of the guide.

The cooling circuit may be arranged at least partially in the guide, but may also be arranged at least partially outside the guide in the guide device, for example in a support structure of the guide device, for example in a beam adjacent to the rapier.

The air circuit and/or the cooling circuit may be formed in the one or more guide elements in various ways. These air circuits and/or cooling circuits, which are provided here as recesses, can be provided, for example, by drilling channels in the guide elements or by 3D printing the guide elements.

The drilling greatly increases the choice of material for manufacturing the guide element.

The 3D printing enables interleaving of channels forming the air circuit with channels forming the cooling circuit, in which case the overlap area provided with compressed air cooling and coolant cooling can be used to the maximum.

Instead of forming the air circuit and/or the cooling circuit by drilling or 3D printing, the guide element of the guide device of the invention can be produced by extrusion or pultrusion or the like, in which the necessary channels are provided to form the cooling circuit and the air circuit (if desired together with other guide elements or other parts of the guide device).

There are a variety of materials suitable for forming the one or more guide elements in the manner described above. The material of the guide elements is selected such that good guidance and good cooling can be ensured on the one hand. To ensure good cooling, a good heat conducting material is preferably chosen. For this purpose, the one or more guide elements can be made of steel, aluminum, bronze, magnesium or the like, for example.

In a more specific embodiment of the inventive guide arrangement, the guide comprises only one guide element.

In this case, if the air circuit is arranged in the air guiding zone, the air guiding zone preferably extends along a length which is almost half the extension length of the guiding element. In this way a good balance can be achieved between good guidance and good cooling and limited costs of compressed air. The length is viewed in the longitudinal direction of the motion track direction of the rapier. The guide element preferably extends substantially in the longitudinal direction.

In an embodiment with only one guide element, the guide element is preferably arranged fixedly in the guide device. The fixedly arranged guide element is more easily coupled to the compressed air device.

In another more specific embodiment, the guide comprises a plurality of guide elements.

For a guide comprising a plurality of guide elements, at least one of the guide elements is preferably configured as an air guide element in which the air guide region is arranged.

By providing a plurality of guide elements and configuring at least one of them as an air guide element, it is easier to adapt such a guide to different types of rapier looms and in this case also to guide different types of rapier. According to rapier looms and/or rapier, it may be necessary to guide the motion trajectory of the rapier for a shorter or longer section in order to be able to ensure a more precise positioning of the rapier. In this case, the respective air guide element can be provided with one or more additional guide elements as a supplement, in order to jointly form the guide. The one or more additional guide elements may be produced in a cheaper manner than the air guide element. If desired, the air guide element may, for example, be made of a different material than the one or more additional guide elements.

Preferably, the guide comprises one or more branches of a cooling circuit to provide the necessary cooling at the location as close as possible to the rapier and where cooling is most needed due to friction during guidance of the rapier.

In embodiments comprising a plurality of guide elements, it is preferred that a plurality of these guide elements each comprise a branch of the cooling circuit in order to ensure the necessary cooling.

More preferably, the branches are coupled to one another here by one or more connections arranged substantially outside the guide. The use of such an external joint makes it easier to ensure the tightness of the joint. When the guide elements are directly connected to each other and in this case the branches are also directly connected to each other, it is difficult to ensure tightness.

Preferably, such an external joint, which in this case is arranged substantially outside the guide, is produced by means of a flexible line.

In one embodiment comprising a plurality of guide elements, it can be seen that the plurality of guide elements are preferably arranged at least partially one after the other, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the guide (direction of the movement path of the rapier). A plurality of guide elements may together form one continuous guide. Alternatively, one or more such guide elements may be arranged at spaced intervals.

By arranging the guide members at a certain interval in the longitudinal direction, the friction-heated area of the rapier can be restricted while still guiding the rapier along a long distance.

In a more specific embodiment, at least one of the guide elements is arranged in the guide device so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction.

By providing a displaceable guide element, the contact area between the guide and the rapier can be limited, while still guiding the rapier along as long a distance as possible.

If one of the guide elements of such an embodiment is configured as an air guide element, this air guide element is preferably arranged fixedly in the guide device.

The object of the invention is furthermore achieved by providing an assembly of a rapier, a drive device for driving the rapier and a guide device for guiding the rapier, said guide device comprising a guide member with one or more guide elements, wherein the guide device is provided with an air circuit through which compressed air can flow and which is provided with perforations for cooling the rapier by means of the compressed air, and wherein the assembly is provided with a cooling circuit through which a coolant can flow for cooling the rapier with the coolant.

In this case, the cooling circuit is preferably as close as possible to the rapier to be cooled.

The cooling circuit of such an assembly of the invention preferably forms part of the guide means.

This guide device is preferably configured as the above-described guide device of the present invention.

The drive means of the assembly of the invention can be produced in various ways. These drive means may for example comprise a gear wheel, wherein the rapier comprises a rack which meshes with the gear wheel.

Preferably, the guide of the guide device is arranged at least partially at the location of the drive device. If these drive means comprise said gear wheel, the guide is preferably arranged at the location of the gear wheel, preferably at the side of the rapier opposite to the side where the gear wheel and the rapier rack are engaged.

If the guiding means of the assembly according to the invention comprise said air guiding zone, the air guiding zone preferably extends at least at the location of the drive means.

In this case, the air guide region preferably extends along the length of the guide on one side of the drive device, as can be seen in the longitudinal direction.

In a particular embodiment of the assembly of the invention, the guide comprises a plurality of guide elements, at least one of which is a guide element in which the cooling circuit extends partially and which is arranged on the side of the rapier opposite to the side on which the other guide elements are arranged.

The object of the present invention is also achieved by providing a rapier loom for weaving a fabric comprising the above-mentioned assembly of the present invention.

In this case, the rapier weaving machine preferably comprises a central compressed air device, by means of which the air circuits of the components are coupled.

Furthermore, the rapier weaving machine preferably comprises a central cooling circuit, the cooling circuit of the assembly constituting a part of the central cooling circuit.

If the assembly of the rapier weaving machine according to the invention comprises a guide device with the above-described air guide zone, the air guide zone extends on one side of the fabric to be woven, preferably at least at the end of the guide piece.

At the position where the rapier leaves the guide member, the rapier is generally subjected to a large friction. By extending the air guiding zone to this position, the friction can be limited.

If, as mentioned above, the air guiding zone extends along the remaining length of the guide on one side of the drive, this side is preferably turned towards the fabric to be woven.

In order to further limit the temperature rise at the position where the rapier leaves the guide, the assembly of the rapier weaving machine of the present invention is preferably the above-described assembly having the cooling circuit partially extended in the middle thereof and at least one guide member provided on the side of the rapier opposite to the side of the rapier provided with the other guide members is provided near the end of the guide member on the side of the fabric to be woven.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail by the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment of the rapier guide device of the present invention. These descriptions are intended only to provide some illustrative examples and to demonstrate further advantages and features of the invention, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention or the patent rights defined in the claims.

Drawings

In this detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings using reference numerals, wherein:

fig. 1 shows in a side view a first guide part of the guide device of the invention, and the rapier guided thereby and the toothed drive wheel for driving the rapier;

fig. 2 shows, in a bottom view and in a partial longitudinal section taken along the air circuit position along the line BB in fig. 4, respectively, the portion of the guide in fig. 1 arranged on the side of the rapier opposite to the side on which the toothed driving wheel is engaged;

fig. 3 shows the portion of fig. 2 of the guide of fig. 1 alone in a longitudinal section taken along line AA in fig. 4 of the cooling circuit;

fig. 4 shows the portion of fig. 2 of the guide of fig. 1 in a side view, with a cooling circuit and an air circuit shown in dashed lines;

fig. 5 shows the portion of fig. 2 of the guide of fig. 1 in a top view, with a cooling circuit and an air circuit shown in dashed lines;

fig. 6 shows the first guide element of the guide of fig. 1 in side view alone, with one branch shown in broken lines;

fig. 7 shows a second guide element configured as an air guide element of the guide of fig. 1 in side view alone, with one branch and the air circuit shown in broken lines;

figure 8 shows a second guide of the guide device of the invention in a longitudinal section taken along the line BB in figure 11;

fig. 9 shows the guide of fig. 8 in a longitudinal section taken along line AA in fig. 11;

fig. 10 shows the guide of fig. 8 in a bottom view, with a cooling circuit and an air circuit shown in dashed lines;

fig. 11 shows the guide of fig. 8 in a side view, with a cooling circuit and an air circuit shown in broken lines;

figure 12 shows in more detail part C of the bottom view of figure 10;

figure 13 shows in more detail part D of the bottom view of figure 10;

figure 14 shows a third guide of the guide device of the invention in a front view;

figure 15 shows the guide of figure 14 in a rear view;

fig. 16 shows the guide of fig. 14 in a top perspective view;

fig. 17 shows the guide of fig. 14 in a bottom perspective view.

Detailed Description

In the detailed description, the terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom" and "side" refer to the respective sides of the guide (1) with respect to the woven fabric extending substantially horizontally during weaving, as viewed in the rapier weaving machine. In this case, the front view is a view of the guide (1) as seen from the fabric. In other types of gripper looms, the guide (1) shown can be rotated by 90 ° or 180 ° and/or used to guide a second gripper (3) in a double-face loom.

In the figures, various embodiments of the guide (1) of the inventive guide device are shown. By means of each of these guides (1), the movement of the corresponding rapier (3) can be guided in the rapier weaving machine.

In addition to the guide (1) shown, the corresponding guide device also comprises a support structure (not shown), with which the guide (1) can be attached to the rapier weaving machine. In order to be able to attach the guides (1) to the support structure, each of these guides (1) is provided with a mounting groove (15).

Furthermore, the guiding devices can also comprise one or more additional corresponding guiding elements (1) for guiding one or more additional rapier (3).

The guide element (1) is used to guide the motion path of the rapier (3) in the rapier loom. In this case, the rapier (3) is driven by a driving device (4) in the rapier loom to introduce the rapier with the weft yarn into the shed between the warp yarns, thereby forming the fabric. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the rapier (3) is provided with a toothed rack for this purpose, and the drive device comprises a toothed wheel (4) which engages in the toothed rack. Alternatively, instead of such a rapier (3), it is also possible to provide, for example, a flexible rapier band which is bent around the gear.

In the embodiment shown, the motion path of the rapier (3) is guided on one side only by the guide (1). In this case, the side is the side opposite to the side where the gear (4) and the rapier (3) are engaged. In an alternative embodiment, the movement path of the rapier (3) can also be guided on several sides.

If the rapier band is provided instead of the rapier shown, it is only necessary to provide a movement track for the part of the guide (1) shown between the gear (4) and the fabric. Additional cooling can also be provided over the entire arc of the intermeshing gear (4) and rapier band.

In a first embodiment shown in fig. 1-7, the guide (1) comprises a first guide element (2) configured as an air guide element (10) and a second guide element (2) accommodating the air guide element (10). For this purpose, the second guide element (2) is provided with a receiving cavity (20) corresponding to the air guide element (10). In the mounted position, a front portion (18) of the second guide element (2) extends in front of the air guide element (10) and a rear portion (19) of the second guide element (2) extends behind the air guide element (10).

Instead of accommodating the air guide element (10) in the cavity (20) of the second guide element (2), one or more separate guide elements (2) can also be attached in front of and/or behind the air guide element (10) to form an alternative guide (1). In this case, such a separate guide element (2) can be fitted firmly with respect to the air guide element (10) or arranged so as to be displaceable with respect to the air guide element (10). In this case, the guide elements may be arranged adjacent to the air guide element (10) or may be arranged at a distance from the air guide element (10). One or more of such individual guide elements (2) may also be configured as air guide elements (10).

In addition to the two guide elements (2) described, the guide (1) in the first embodiment also comprises a third guide element (2), which third guide element (2) is arranged, in the mounted position, on the side of the guide bar (3) opposite to the other guide elements (2) of the guide, as shown in fig. 1.

By designing the guide (1) in the form of a plurality of guide elements (2), it is possible to produce one guide element (2) (in the first embodiment shown, an air guide element) for different types of guides (1) in the same way, while it is also possible to produce different types of guides (1) by supplementing the guide element (2) with other guide elements, for example with different cooling options and/or different dimensions and/or different guide options, etc.

In the second embodiment shown in fig. 8-13, and in the third embodiment shown in fig. 14-17, the guide (1) comprises only one guide element (2). The guide element (2) serves to guide the rapier (3) in a similar manner to the guide (1) in fig. 1, without the need for an additional guide element (2) arranged on the side of the rapier (3) opposite the other guide element (2). However, in alternative embodiments, the guide element (2) may also be supplemented with such an additional guide element (2). The guide element (2) shown is configured as an air guide element (10).

In the embodiment shown, the guide (1) is arranged fixedly in the rapier weaving machine. In an alternative embodiment, one or more guide elements (2) of such a guide (1) can also be arranged so as to be displaceable in the direction of the movement path of the rapier (3), so that the movement path of the rapier (3) can be guided over a longer distance.

Each of the illustrated air guiding elements (10) is provided with an air circuit (5) which is produced in the following manner:

-drilling a main channel (21) in the longitudinal direction of the air guiding element (10) via the front side (second and third embodiments) or the rear side (first embodiment) of the respective air guiding element (10) and closing the main channel (21);

-optionally drilling side channels (22) terminating in the main channel (21) via the side walls of the air guide element (10) and closing the side channels (22) (first embodiment);

-drilling an access channel (23) terminating in a main channel (21) through the top surface of the air guide element (10); and is

-drilling a channel (7) through the bottom surface of the air guiding element (10) ending in a main channel (21) (second and third embodiments) and/or a side channel (22) (first embodiment) and forming a perforation (7) on the bottom surface of the air guiding element (10).

Alternatively and/or additionally, such channels (21, 22, 23, 7) may also be produced by 3D printing and/or by extrusion and/or pultrusion.

Instead of creating a perforation (7) when drilling a channel, one or more larger apertures may also be provided at the underside of the guide element (2) which connect to one or more compressed air channels in the guide element (2). In such an orifice, a film provided with the necessary perforations may be attached.

In the embodiment shown, a connection (12) is provided on the insertion channel (23) in order to couple the air guide element (10) to a central compressed air device of the gripper weaving machine. When compressed air is forced through the air circuit formed by the central compressed air device, the air is thereby forced through the perforations (7) in order to cool the rapier (3) with the compressed air.

The access duct (23) is preferably arranged as close as possible to the rear side of the respective guide element (10) so that the connection (12) to the central compressed air device is arranged as close as possible to the central compressed air device. In fig. 4, a fitting (12) is coupled to the compressed air line (6) to couple it to a central compressed air device.

In various embodiments, the perforations (7) are arranged in an air guiding zone (Z) having a length (L) that is shorter than the extension (L) of the guide (1).

In a first embodiment, a plurality of rows and columns of perforations (7) are arranged centrally in the air guiding zone (Z) on the bottom face of the air guiding element (10). In this embodiment, the air guiding zone (Z) is located at the position of the gear wheel (4).

In the second and third embodiments, the length (L) of the air guiding zone (Z) is almost half the length (L) of the guide. In these embodiments, the perforations are in each case more concentrated in the position of the gear wheel (4) on the one hand and the end (14) of the guide (1) on the front side on the other hand, as shown in fig. 12, 13 and 17. These positions are portions where the friction between the guide (1) and the rapier (3) is greater than that at other portions of the guide (1).

Furthermore, a plurality of water channels (17) are drilled in each of the shown guide elements (2) via the ends and side walls of the guide elements (2), and the water channels (17) are closed. Furthermore, access channels (24) to the channels (17) are drilled to jointly form a water supply circuit (8) in the guide element (2). In this case, in the first embodiment, in each case branches (8a, 8b, 8c) are formed, which can be mutually coupled to an external joint (11), as shown in fig. 4, to jointly form a water supply circuit (8) in the guide (1). In the second and third embodiments, a single water supply circuit (8) is provided.

In the embodiment shown, the water supply circuit (8) extends in each case over almost the entire length (L) of the guide (1).

Alternatively and/or additionally, the water channel (17) and the access channel (24) may also be produced by 3D printing and/or by extrusion and/or pultrusion instead of drilling the water channel (17) and the access channel (24).

Each water supply circuit (8) is provided with two connectors (13) to enable coupling of the water supply circuit (8) with the water supply line (9) (see fig. 4) in order to integrate it in the central water supply circuit of the rapier weaving machine. These connections (13) are preferably arranged as close as possible to the rear side of the guide (1) in order to connect the central water supply circuit as far as possible from the fabric to be woven. In order to reduce the risk of the fabric getting stuck on these joints (13), these joints (13) are preferably arranged in the rear side of the guide (1), as is the case with the third embodiment. The two connections (13) can be used interchangeably as an inlet or an outlet of the water supply circuit (8).

The rapier gripper (3) can be cooled with water while the water from the central water supply circuit flows through the water supply circuit (8).

The air guide element (10) of the first embodiment is further provided with cooling ribs (25) to increase the cooling surface of the air guide element (10).