Infrared Lamp for Automatic Tube Shrinking

Brief

The heddle-to-cord joint in a weaving-machine harness is secured with heat-shrink tubing. Manual shrinking was slow and risked heat damage to surrounding material.

Solution

An infrared lamp on two-axis linear guides that the operator sets precisely into the working position. Once started it runs a series of temperature pulses, shrinks a whole row of tubes at once, and cools after moving to the rear position.

Result

• The investment paid for itself in about 2 months.
• A whole row of 36 to 42 tubes is shrunk in one cycle; the operator only moves the lamp between rows.
• Infrared heating does not affect surrounding materials; the joint is secured against loosening.