CPC D03D 25/005 (2013.01) [D03C 13/02 (2013.01); D03D 3/08 (2013.01); D03D 41/004 (2013.01); D03D 49/12 (2013.01); D03D 51/02 (2013.01); D03C 3/205 (2013.01)] | 22 Claims |
1. An actuator system configured to be used in combination with a loom, comprising:
a. a plurality of motors;
b. a plurality of heddles forming a heddle plane;
c. at least one electronic controller for controlling motion of the plurality of motors to individually effect changes in position of the one or more of the heddles, the at least one electronic controller being configured to output an electrical signal to one motor of the plurality of motors; and
d. a plurality of couplings coupled to the plurality of motors, wherein the plurality of couplings are arranged in a configuration that allows the at least one electronic controller to be configured to individually control one or more of the plurality of heddles of the loom continuously between a plurality of positions located along a longitudinal axis in the heddle plane of the loom to individually raise and lower a warp string, the plurality of positions of successive heddles of the plurality of heddles collectively defining a curved, curvilinear, or non-linear profile of warp strings along the heddle plane, wherein a curvature defined by the curved, curvilinear, or non-linear profile of warp strings is imparted into a final woven product profile when a weft string is passed between the warp strings, each of the one or more heddles being configured to engage at least one of the warp strings.
|