US2103836A - Warp slackener for looms - Google Patents

Description

Dec; 28, 1937. H WAKEHELD 2,103,836

WARP SLACKENER FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l E151 j F E EL h w 1-- In to Wane? n \x lsfiem Filed Dec. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I t 37 Waher YfikYeJd Attorne Dec. 28, 1937. w; H. WAKEFIELD WARP SLACKENER FOR LOOMS Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED smrss PATENT OFFICE 2,103,836 I WARP SLACKENER FOR LOOMS Walter H. Wakefield, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 14, 1936, Serial No. 115,713

10'Claims. (o1. 139-.20)

' of the slats and having extended between them 10,

, crossing webs will ordinarily bear a relation to supporting webs for the slats. The space between the Width of the slats and occur at regular intervals throughout the length of the double pick. Between cross webs the crossing warps are woven into the tapes and at such times are left off from their separate warp beams at a rate substantially equal to the letting off of the main warps. When the warps are to be crossed, however, there is a momentary extra feed to supply the length to extend from one Web to the other.

The mechanisms heretofore proposed for the feeding of the crossing warps have either been abrupt in their action in relieving the tension on the crossing warps too quickly, or they have employed a multiplicity of parts rendering their manufacture expensive and entailing considerable attention for their maintenance. It is an important object of my present invention to provide simple means for slackening these warps at a rate proportional to the advance of the lay by a simple mechanism which is thereafter effective to move the crossing Warp control or slackener bar back to its normal rearward position.

It is a further object of my present invention to employ a single actuator coupled with control mechanism therefor which will permit a quick warp slackening or advance feed on the slackener bar followed by a slow warp tightening return motion, both motions of the slackener bar being accomplished by the single actuator.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a control for the actuator which in addition to permitting the foregoing feed and return strokes of the slackener bar is also effective topermit a succession of idle strokes of the actuator to occur between successive crossings of the crossing warp.

It is a more particular object of my present invention to provide a cam moving ratchet actuated by a single pawl which in turn is controlled by a shield having three positions the first of which is neutral to permit the pawl tohave idle motions with respect to the ratchet, the second ofwhich permits the pawl to give a relatively large feeding motion to the ratchet to effect forward motion of the slackener bar, and the third position of which permits the gradual return of the slackener bar by allowing a small part only of the stroke of the pawl to operate the ratchet.

Another objectof my invention relates to control means for the shield to be exercised by a counter mechanism and operative when an'indication is given by said mechanism to move the shield from the. first to the second of the positions above described, thereby causing forward feed of the warp through a shield controlled by the counter mechanism. The counter thereafter permits the shield to move toward neutral position, this motion, however, not being complete due to a control exercised. by the slackener bar and effective to permit the gradual return motion of itself by giving the shield the third of the previously described positions. The slackener bar acts as it approaches its rearmost or normal position to permit the shield to return to neutral position.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein-a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a loom having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of one form of counter mechanism for positioning the controller for the actuator, Y

Fig. 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the mechanism for actuatingthe cam which controls the slackener bar,

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections on lines 4-4 and 5,5, respectively of Fig. 3, and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing the successive position of the shield with V respect to the stroke of the actuator pawl and corresponding to neutral, forward feed for the slackener bar, and gradual return of the slackener bar to rear position.

Referring to Fig. l, I have shown a loom frame I0 having a breast beam II and a lay l2 moved back and forth by a connector I-3 driven by a top shaft M. The lay has mounted thereon upper and lower decks of positively'moved shuttles l5 and I6, respectively, which by connections not shown but well understood are driven through upper and lower sheds and I8, respectively, defined by the tape. forming warps Wand W, re-

spectively, which may be drawn in any approved manner from warp beams not shown and correspond to top and bottom tapes T and T, respectively.

The crossing warp C passes under and extends forwardly from a movable slackener bar is hung on arms 20 depending from and secured to a small cross shaft 2! suitably mounted on the rear 'part of the loom frame it). The crossing warp extends forwardly in two sheets C and C for the top and bottom sheds, respectively.

Mounted on the breast beam is a structure designated generally at A having a crossing warp advancer 22 which at the proper time is inserted between the top and bottom sheds and behind the crossings of the sheets C and 0 after which said advancer is moved forwardly so that the point of crossing between the sheets of crossing warps may be somewhat in advance of the fells of the top and bottom webs. The structure A of itself forms no part of my present invention and may if desired be substantially the same as that shown in prior Patent No. 2,025,866. As shown in that patent the advancer has a forward motion derived from the lay and moves forwardly there fore by a motion which is substantially the same as or at least proportional to the advance motion of the lay. During the forward motion of the advancer it is desirable to slacken the warp C to relieve the same of undue strains and provide the necessary length required for the crossing web.

The matter thus far described may be similar to structure set forth in the aforesaid patent and operates substantially as described therein and as briefly set forth hereinbefore.

In order to effect the necessary forward feeding of the crossing warps provision is made for advancing the slackener bar l9 and to accomplish this result the shaft 2! has secured thereto an arm 25 from which depends a rod 26 attached to a chain 2'3 extending around sheaves 28 and extending down to another rod 29 the lower end'of which is attached to a control lever 38 pivoted as at 3! to a cross girt 32 of the loom.

A roll 35 on the lever 30 is positioned for engagement with a controlling cam 36 secured to a stub shaft 37 turning in bearing 38 as shown in Fig. 3 and normally at rest. The cam is adapted for rotation in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 and has a high dwell area 45) normally in engagement with the roll 35 and from which extends an incline 4i terminating in a low dwell 52 which is approximately 90 from the high dwell M). The cam has another high dwell 43 connected to the low dwell 42 by means of a second incline 44 similar to but the reverse of incline 4!. The right side of the cam is similar to the left hand side just described and it is to be understood that a half rotation of cam 36 corresponds to a complete cycle for the slackener bar.

When the parts are in the full line position shown in Fig. l the high dwell 40 operates to hold the slackener bar 49 in its rearmost position, but at the time of a crossing of warps c, the cam is given a one-quarter turn during which the roll 35 moves upwardly along the surface or incline 4| until it reaches the low dwell 42. This motion occurs while the lay is moving forwardly and is accomplished by a single motion of the control mechanism for the cam to be described hereinafter. Thereafter the cam is given step by step motions to depress the roll 35 gradually until said roll is in contact with the other high dwell 43, at which time the cycle will be complete.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide a three-position shield which is under two separate controls the first of which is exercised by the pattern mechanism and the second of which is derived from the slackener bar. The shield is of greater length than the stroke of the pawl which it controls and is movable to two different feeding positions.

In carrying my invention more particularly into effect I provide a rod 50 pivoted as at 5| to the lay which rocks around its axis 52. A pawl arm 53 is mounted loosely on shaft 3'! and has a slot 48 in which is located a stud 49 at adjusted distance from shaft 37. The arm 53 is provided with a feed pawl 54 which is urged toward the shaft 31 by a light spring 41. As the lay moves back and forth the pawl 54 will move around the shaft 3?, being in r'earmost position when the lay is on back center and moving forwardly with the lay as the latter advances. While I have shown this particular means for actuating the pawl yet I do not wish to be limited thereto and it is to be understood that the proportions of the connections which drive the pawl'are such that the latter is given approximately a 90 motion around the shaft 31.

The actuator pawl 54 is controlled by a shield 69, also pivoted loosely on shaft 3?. This shield is longer than the stroke of the pawl 54 and is normally held in the neutral position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 by means of a light spring 65 connected to the shield at one end and attached to fixed structure at the other end thereof. The spring tends normally to hold the shield to the left or in the position of Fig. 4 against a fixed but adjustable stop 66. When the shield is in normal position the pawl 54 is movable from position a, to position b, Fig. 6, remaining in contact with the shield throughout its stroke.

Secured to the shaft 3'! is a ratchet wheel 10 adapted for engagement with the pawl 54, and when turned causing motion of the previously described cam 35. The shield lies over the upper part of the ratchet wheel and ordinarily prevents actuation thereof by the pawl.

In order that the shield may be moved from its neutral position I provide a connection from the counting mechanism shown in Fig. 2. This mechanism includes a counter chain H having a single counter ball 12 movable under a vibrator lever 13. The latter carries a vibrator gear 14 attached to a connector 55 which in turn rocks a lever 76 pivoted at Tl. A flexible connection 18 is attached to the lever '16 and is conveniently trained around sheaves E9 to be connected to an arm $3 of the shield. The leverage is such that a rocking of lever 16 from one extreme position to the other will move the shield through approximately 90.

In order that the shield may have a feeding position I provide a control therefor to be operated by the slackener bar. Accordingly, I pivot a lever at 8B and use a spring 8] to turn the lever in a left hand direction as viewed in Fig. 1. An arm 88 bears against the rear of the slackener bar while a fixed stop 89 limits rocking of the lever under action of spring 81 when the bar l9 moves forwardly, or to the left in Fig. 1. A rod 90 attached to the lever 85 extends down through a bearing 9| and normally lies above a stop moving with the shield.

In operation, when the roll 12 arrives under vibrator '13 there follows a rocking of lever Hi to the dotted line position with resultant movement of the shield from the position of Fig. 6

to that of Fig. '7'.- This occurs just before the "lay reaches back center position. The pawl, therefore, drops to engage the ratchet and on the following forward beatof the lay the ratchet and cam are turnedthrough about 90, permitting the slackener bar to move forwardly with a slackening stroke under the pressure of warp c. The latter, therefore, feeds the required amount to permit the crossing of warps,

During the first part of themotion of bar I9 the lever rocks to depress rod 9!] into the path of stop 95. This does not interfere with the pawl movement. In this interval the vibrator is still raised, hence the shield is held back in the position of Fig. 8.

On the following back stroke of the lay and be fore the latter reaches rear position, counter roll 72 will allow lever '13 to fall and lever it will be returned to normal full line position of Fig. 2. This action releases the shield and spring 65 turns it toward neutral position, but rod 96, being a small part of the stroke of the pawl is effective to turn the ratchet.

The slackener bar remains forward and the rod depressed for several beats of the loom, during which the pawl effects a step-by-step turning of the cam to cause incline M to depress lever 30. The slackener bar [9 is, therefore, given a slow gradual return or warp tightening motion to normal rear position.

As the bar approaches its rear position it will engage'arm 88 of lever 85 to lift rod 98 away from the stop 95, at which time the spring E5 will act to complete the motion of the shield to the left,

the stop 66 acting to arrest the shield in its neutral position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

permits the shield to move under and lift the pawl before the latter starts the forward stroke immediately following the advance movement of the slackener bar. A repeated large feed of ratchet H3 at this time is therefore prevented, and there is no interference with the gradual return of the bar ES.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means whereby a single actuator in the form of a pawl is rendered effective first to give the ratchet wheel a relatively large slackening stroke to advance the slackener bar, after which the same pawl effects a plurality of smaller step by step warp tightening movements of the ratchet to return the slackener bar to its normal rear position. This control is exercised through a shield which is normally in position toprevent engagement of the pawl with the ratchet, but movable under influence of a counter surface to a position which will permit the greater part of the stroke of the pawl to turn the ratchet. It will further be seen that on the next beat of the loom the counter mechanism releases the shield and the latter moves toward neutral position but is restrained by a stop positioned by movement of the slackener bar away from rear position. This stop holds the shield in such position as to permit the step by step feeding of the ratchet until the bar approaches its rearmost position, at which time lever 85 is rocked to remove the stop from the path of the shield and the latter returns to normal neutral position to hold. the pawl idle with respect to the ratchet until another feeding movement of the slackener bar is indicated by the counter mechanism.

Having thus described my invention it will be "seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention andI do not wish to be limited to the.

details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a loom having'a warp to be slackened, a

slackener having warp slackening and return actuator means to render the latter effective to give the regulator a relatively quick large motion when the slackener is to have a slackening movement andveffective' to give the regulator a gradual slower movement when the slackener is to have a return movement.

'2. In a loom having a warp to be slackened, a slackener for the warp having slackening and return strokes, a regulator for the slackener to have one movement when the slackener is to have a slackening stroke and another movement when the slackener is to have a return stroke, a

single actuator for the regulator, and a controller for the actuator having two positions in one of which said controller renders the actuator operative to give the regulator a relatively quick large movement when the slackener is to have a slackening stroke and the other position of the controller effective to cause the actuator to give the regulator a relatively slow movement when the slackener is to have a return stroke.

3. In a loom having a warp to be slackened, a slackener for the warp having'warp slackening and return strokes, a regulator connected to and determining the motion of the slackener and having two different movements one of which occurs when the slackener is to have a slackening stroke and the other of which occurs when the slackener is to have a return stroke, an actuator to move the regulator, and a controller interposed between the actuator and the regulator and capable of assuming two positions in one of which said controller renders the actuator effective to give the regulator a relatively quick large movement when the slackener is to have a slackening stroke and the other position of the controller effective to render the actuator operative to give the regulator a gradual movement when the slackener is to have a return stroke.

4. In a loom having a warp to be slackened, a slackener for the warp having slackening and tightening strokes, a regulator connected to the slackener and determining the motion thereof, a ratchet moving with the regulator, a regularly moving pawl for the ratchet, and means to cause the pawl to give the ratchet and regulator a relatively large quick motion when the slackener is to have a slackening stroke and said means effective thereafter to cause the pawl to give a series of relatively short turning impulses to the ratchet and regulator when the slackener is to have a tightening stroke.

5. In a loom having a warp to be slackened, a slackener for the warp having slackening and tightening strokes, a regulator connected to and determining the motion of the slackener and having slackening and tightening movements corresponding to the slackening and tightening strokes of the slackener, a ratchet moving with theregulator, a pawl to move the ratchet and having a regular reciprocating motion, and a shield for the pawl to regulate engagement of the pawl with the ratchet, the shield when in one position rendering the pawl effective throughout the major part of its slackening stroke to actuate the regulator when the latter is to have a slackening stroke and said shield to have another position to render the pawl operative to give the ratchet and regulator a series of movements each occurring during a relatively small portion only of the slackening stroke of the pawl when a regulator and slackener are to have tightening strokes.

6. In a loom having a warp to be slackened, a lay, a-slackener for the warp having slackening and tightening strokes, a regulator for the slackener, an actuator for the regulator operated by the lay and having a feeding stroke when the lay moves forwardly and a movable controller for the actuator and efiective when in one position to render the actuator effective during a single forward motion of the lay to give the regulator a relatively large motion to give the slackener a slackening stroke and said controller when remaining in another position to thereafter render the actuator effective during each of a series of successive forward beats of the lay to give the regulator a gradual motion and give the slackener a gradual tightening stroke.

'7. In a loom having a warp to be slackened, a lay, a slackener for the warp to have slackening and tightening strokes, a regulator connected to the slackener and determining the strokes thereof, a ratchet connected to the regulator, a pawl for the ratchet operated by the lay and having a slackening stroke when the lay moves forwardly, and a shield for the pawl, the shield in one position to render the pawl effective to give the regulator and slackener a relatively large motion during a single forward motion of the lay, and said shield when remaining in another position to render the pawl effective during but a small portion of each of a plurality of forward motions of the lay to actuate the regulator and cause the slackener to have a tightening stroke.

8. In a loom having a warp to be slackened,

a slackener to have slackening, tightening and idle periods, a single actuator to move the slackener during the slackening and tightening periods, counting mechanism, a controller for the actuator normally positioned to render the latter inoperative with respect to the slackener during the idle period of said slackener, connections from the counting mechanism to move the controller from normal position and render the actuator effective to give the slackener a relatively large slackening stroke, and means brought into action by the slackener to position the controller so as to render the actuator eifective to give said slackener a series of relatively small strokes during the tightening period of said slackener.

9. In a loom having a warp to be slackened, a slackener having slackening, tightening and idle periods, an actuator for the slackener normally ineffective to move the latter during the idle periods thereof, counting mechanism, a controller for the actuator connected to and movable by the counting mechanism to render the actuator effective to give the slackener a relatively large motion during slackening periods thereof, and means moved by the slackener to determine the position of the controller and hold the latter in position to render the actuator effective during the tightening period to give the slackener a series of short successive strokes.

10. In a loom having warp to be slackened,

a slackener for the warp having slackening and tightening strokes, counting mechanism, a pawl having regular movements, control means for the slackener to be actuated by the pawl, a shield for the pawl normally positioned to render the I

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