Actuation time for different numbers of wefts.

Rapier weaving machines are widely used in the weaving industry; however, the design of the current weft selectors limits their capability to produce fabrics incorporating a large variety of weft yarns. Nevertheless, increasing the number of wefts with the existing selectors can impose challenges for the rapier in the efficient gripping of the weft. This study presents the design and development of a novel mechatronic weft selection system aimed at significantly enhancing the patterning capabilities of rapier looms. The proposed system features a circular arrangement of up to 20 weft yarn feeders and a single programmable selector module capable of handling the weft yarns. The selector integrates stepper motors, servo motors, solenoid valves, and an Arduino Mega-based control unit to execute user-defined weft patterns with high precision. The device was successfully operated at 9 picks per minute (PPM) across various yarn types, including polyester, viscose, and elastomeric yarns. A total of 11 different yarns were tested, each subjected to 5 trials using 20 feeders, resulting in the insertion of 1100 wefts. The system achieved a 100% selection and insertion success rate after the trials. The system also maintains a constant yarn-to-rapier angle, mitigating pick errors. The developed system offers a solution for expanding weft selection in rapier looms, enabling more intricate fabric designs and increased product versatility. To the best of our knowledge, this type of design has not been tried before in weft selection.剑杆织机在织造行业中应用广泛，但当前选纬器的设计限制了其生产搭载多种纬纱织物的能力。然而，依托现有选纬器增加纬纱数量，会对剑杆高效抓取纬纱造成挑战。本研究设计并开发了一种新型机电一体化选纬系统，旨在大幅提升剑杆织机的织物纹样设计能力。该系统采用最多可搭载20台纬纱喂纱器的环形排布结构，搭配一台可处理纬纱的可编程选纬模块。该选纬器集成了步进电机、伺服电机、电磁阀以及基于Arduino Mega的控制单元，可高精度执行用户自定义的纬纱织造纹样。该装置可在多种纱线类型（包括涤纶、粘胶纤维与弹性纱线）下以每分钟9引纬（PPM）的速度稳定运行。本次测试共使用20台喂纱器，对11种不同的纱线各进行5次试验，总计完成1100次纬纱引纬操作。试验结束后，该系统的选纬与引纬成功率达到100%。该系统还可保持纱线与剑杆的夹角恒定，降低引纬失误率。本次开发的系统为剑杆织机拓展选纬能力提供了解决方案，可实现更精细的织物纹样设计，并提升产品的多功能性。据我们所知，此类选纬设计此前尚未在选纬领域得到应用。