Method for manufacturing a crossbeam for a heddle frame of a loom and crossbeam obtained by said method

1. A method for manufacturing a crossbeam for a heddle frame of a loom, wherein the crossbeam comprises at least one support section and at least one heddle-support member affixed to the at least one support section along a junction zone, the method comprising:

arranging the at least one heddle-support member within at least one groove of a rigid template, wherein the at least one groove has a width which is substantially equal to that of the at least one heddle-support member;

applying a glue to a surface of the junction zone;

positioning, in a predetermined manner, the at least one support section onto the rigid template and onto the at least one heddle-support member such that the glue is flattened; and

ensuring that the at least one support section and the at least one heddle-support member are arranged on the rigid template at least while the glue is setting.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glue comprises a line of glue.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heddle-support member comprises at least one heddle-support rod.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glue is flattened in the junction zone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the junction zone comprises a surface of the at least one heddle-support member.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rigid template and the at least one support section comprise complementary nesting shapes, whereby the at least one support section is accurately positioned on the rigid template with respect to the at least one heddle-support member.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rigid template comprises another groove, wherein the other groove is structured and arranged to receive therein the at least one support section, whereby the at least one support section is accurately positioned on the rigid template with respect to the at least one heddle-support member.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one support section has at least a substantially rectangular cross-section.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one groove comprises at least one rectilinear groove.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one groove comprises a first rectilinear groove and a second rectilinear groove, wherein, prior to the applying, the at least one heddle-support member is arranged within the first rectilinear groove and, after the applying, the at least one support section is arranged within the second rectilinear groove.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second rectilinear grooves are arranged parallel to one another.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one support section has at least a substantially rectangular cross-section which is received within the second rectilinear groove during the positioning.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one support section is non-rectilinear, and wherein the rigid template comprises another groove having a width which is greater than a total width of a substantially rectangular cross-section of the at least one support section.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising mounting positioning members to ends of the at least one support section, wherein the positioning members have a width which is substantially equal to ends of the other groove.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising superimposing at least one other rigid template on the rigid template, whereby a number of crossbeams are manufactured.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

arranging at least one other heddle-support member within at least one groove of another rigid template, wherein the at least one groove has a width which is substantially equal to that of the at least one other heddle-support member;

applying a glue to a surface of the junction zone;

positioning, in a predetermined manner, the at least one other support section onto the other rigid template and onto the at least one other heddle-support member such that the glue is flattened; and

ensuring that the at least one other support section and the at least one other heddle-support member are arranged on the other rigid template at least while the glue is setting,

wherein the other rigid template is superimposed on the rigid template so that a number of crossbeams are manufactured.

17. A crossbeam for a heddle frame of a loom, the crossbeam comprising:

at least one rigid support section;

at least one non-rigid heddle-support member affixed to the at least one rigid support section along a junction zone; and

a flattened glue line arranged within the junction zone;

wherein the flattened glue line affixes the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member to the at least one rigid support section; and

wherein the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member and the at least one rigid support section are affixed to each other via the flattened glue line while each of the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member and the at least one rigid support section are arranged on a rigid template having at least one groove whose width which is substantially equal to that of the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member.

18. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein at least one rigid support section comprises at least one fiber composite rigid support section.

19. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein the at least one rigid support section is a non-rectilinear section.

20. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein the at least one rigid support section is made of composite materials.

21. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein the at least one support section is made by extrusion.

22. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein the at least one support section is made by pultrusion.

23. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein the at least one rigid support section has a substantially rectangular cross-section portion and a substantially straight section which extends from the substantially rectangular cross-section portion, wherein the substantially straight section is affixed to the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member.

24. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein the at least one rigid support section has a substantially rectangular cross-section portion which comprises a longitudinal groove which receives therein the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member.

25. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member is metallic.

26. The crossbeam of claim 17 , wherein the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member has at least one of a T-shaped cross-section and a J-shaped cross-section.

27. A crossbeam for a heddle frame of a loom, the crossbeam comprising:

at least one rigid fiber composite support section;

at least one non-rigid heddle-support member affixed to the at least one rigid support section along a junction zone; and

a flattened glue line arranged within the junction zone;

wherein the flattened glue line affixes the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member to the at least one rigid fiber composite support section; and

wherein the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member and the at least one rigid support section are affixed to each other via the flattened glue line while each of the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member and the at least one rigid fiber composite support section are arranged on a rigid template having a first and second parallel grooves, wherein the first groove received therein the at least one non-rigid heddle-support member and the second groove receives therein the at least one rigid fiber composite support section.