Experimental validation of input torque balancing applied to weaving machinery

This paper considers a class of high-speed airjet weaving machines that is characterized by excessive harness frame vibration, resulting in premature failure. This problem is tackled through addition of an auxiliary, input torque balancing mechanism: A centrifugal pendulum, of which the pendulum motion is imposed by an internal cam. While earlier work by the same authors focused on the design, optimization, and robustness analysis of this mechanism, the current paper presents experimental results. The considered setup is an industrial weaving machine à blanc equipped with a centrifugal pendulum prototype. Below a critical speed, the prototype functions as predicted and significantly improves the machine dynamics: The drive speed fluctuation is reduced by a factor of 2.5 and the vibration level of the harness frames is halved. Above the critical speed, however, torsional resonance dominates the machine dynamics. This phenomenon is verified on simulation by extending the rigid-body setup model, on which the centrifugal pendulum design is based, with a torsional degree of freedom.