Geometric Constraints Due to Filling Insertion Element Guides Inside the Front Shed

Abstract

Loom operation is constrained by the need to align the front shed boundary, filling insertion element trajectory, and any insertion element guides within the working width. The analysis of these constraints is extended to cover guides inside the front shed. Additional constraints are imposed by the need to fully utilize reed height and, usually, to avoid guide penetration of the top warp sheet. The relation between shed accessibility to guides and reed orientation for the given shape of a shed of maximum extent is examined over the range of a shed accessibility parameter, thus covering both gripper projectile and rapier loom values. The parameter is sensitive to reed orientation: the quarter of its range in which the parameter lies can determine orientation to within a few degrees.