US3363654A - Weft feed mechanism - Google Patents
Weft feed mechanism Download PDFInfo
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- US3363654A US3363654A US502004A US50200465A US3363654A US 3363654 A US3363654 A US 3363654A US 502004 A US502004 A US 502004A US 50200465 A US50200465 A US 50200465A US 3363654 A US3363654 A US 3363654A
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- shuttle
- shed
- loom
- reel
- arm
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D03—WEAVING
- D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
- D03D47/00—Looms in which bulk supply of weft does not pass through shed, e.g. shuttleless looms, gripper shuttle looms, dummy shuttle looms
Definitions
- PETERS P. JOZUS PETERS P. JOZUS
- a second drum is mounted parallel to each supporting drum for winding and unwinding a retaining band in overlapping relationship with the flexible band, and these cooperating drums are driven together by a lever connected to an endless driving link and a lever operating cam such that the shuttle is transferred within the shed from one of the flexible band connectors to the other connector smoothly and at substantially a constant velocity during the transfer interval.
- the present invention relates to the feeding of weft threads through the shed of a loom and more particularly to an improved weft feed mechanism having notable utility in looms of the type employing shuttles for feeding the weft through the shed.
- FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing one side of a loom incorporating an embodiment of a weft feed mechanism of the present invention which employs a shuttle for feeding the weft through the shed of the loom;
- FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view, partly broken away, showing the other side of the loom of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the loom
- FIG. 4 is a top plan view, pantly broken away, of the loom
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation view, partly broken away, showing a shuttle operating mechanism of the loom
- FIG. 6 is a section view, partly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
- FIG. 7 is a section view, partly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 5;
- FIG. 8 is a section view, pantly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 7;
- FIG. 9 is a view partly broken away showing a partial enlargement of the view of FIG. 8 and additionally showing a transverse section view of a transfer band employed in the shuttle operating mechanism;
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing a shuttle transfer arm of the shuttle operating mechanism in driving connection with the loom shuttle;
- FIG. 11 is an elevation section view, partly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially along line 1111 of FIG. 10;
- FIG. 12 is a chart showing theshuttle motion during f a complete operating cycle of the loom.
- a loom incorporating a shuttle operating mechanism employing the present invention comprising a drive motor 10, a transversely extending crankshaft 12 driven by the drive motor through suitable reduction gearing including the gears 14, 16 (FIG. 4) and a bottom shaft 20 which is driven by the crankshaft through the reduction gearing 22, 24 to provide a 2:1 speed reduction so that the crankshaft rotates two revolutions for each revolution of the bottom shaft 20.
- a lay is pivotally mounted on the loom frame on a transversely extending rocker shaft 41 by a pair of elongated layswords 42, and the crankshaft 12. is connected to the lay 40 by a crank connecting arm 44 for pivotal operation of the lay in the well-known manner.
- the shed 50 of the loom is shown formed in the conventional way by a harness 52.
- the harness 52 is connected to the treadles 58, and the treadles 58 are pivotally operated by a pair of cams 59 mounted on the bottom shaft 20 so that the warp threads are alternately raised and lowered by the harness to form the shed in timed relationship with the pivotal operation of the lay.
- the warp threads are fed from a warp beam 60 over the whip roll 62 to the harness 52, and the woven fabric is fed over the breast beam 64, partially around a takeup drum 66 and by a takeup mechanism 74 onto cloth roll 72.
- the lay 40 comprises a shuttle race plate 80 for assisting in supporting the shuttle 82 as it is driven through the shed between the shuttle boxes 84, 86 at the transverse ends of the lay.
- the shuttle 82 is shown provided in a conventional manner with a central cavity for supporting a bobbin 88 which carries the weft threads and which in the known manner pays out the weft thread as the shuttle is advanced through the shed.
- a shuttle operating mechanism for advancing the shuttle positively and accurately through the shed in timed relationship with the cyclical operation of the harness 52 and the lay 40.
- This operating mechanism comprises a pair of shuttle transfer mechanisms, generally denoted by the numeral 100, which are mounted for pivotal movement with the lay and in line with the shuttle race plate outwardly of the shuttle boxes 84, 86.
- the shuttle transfer mechanisms 100 are of like construction and cornprise a boxlike frame 102 and a pair of spaced parallel reels or drums 104, 106 of preferably equal diameter and whose axes are preferably generally parallel to but inclined slightly forwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the loom, as seen in FIG. 4.
- the reels 104, 106 are suitably keyed to their parallel supporting shafts 108, 110 and the shafts are connected by suitable gears 112, 114, respectively, to provide equal and opposite rotation of the reels 104, 106.
- a pair of externally threaded sleeves 116, 118 secured on shafts 108, 110, respectively, are mounted for threaded engagement with fixed internally threaded sleeves 224 so that reels 104, 106 are axially shafted back and forth within the frame 102 as they are rotated in opposite angular directions.
- the reels 104, 106 are provided with peripheral helical flanges 110, 120 and metal bands 122, 124 having their inner ends secured to the reels by pins 126-, 127 mounted within peripheral recesses in the drums as shown in FIG. 9 are wound hedically about the drums within the helical slots formed by the flanges 119, 120.
- the pposite end of the band 122 is secured to the pin 127 of the lower reel and is also wound upon the reel 106 in overlying relationship with the band 124.
- the lower band 124 is adapted to be paid out from the reel 106 as the reel is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9. Also, as seen in FIG.
- the helical slots formed by the flanges 119, 120 are of opposite hand and the bands 122, 124 are wound upon the reels so that as the reels are rotated in opposite angular directions the bands are unwound and wound onto the reel 106 in overlying relationship.
- the band 122 therefore acts as a retainer for the band 124 to keep the band 124 taut on the reel 106 as it is payed out tangentially from the reel and subsequently rewound upon the reel when it is rotated in the opposite direction.
- Two pairs of horizontally and vertically extending rollers 132, 134 are provided for guiding the band 124 outwardly in line with the path of travel of the shuttle, and it is for this reason that the axes of the drums are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the loom and the drums are axially shifted so that the band 124 is payed out from the drum and rewound on the drum while it remains in line with the path of travel of the shuttle.
- the band 124 is preformed to assume an arcuate shape as shown in FIG. 9. When, however, the band 124 is rewound upon the reel 106, it is flattened against the cylindrical surface of the reel 106 by the overlying band 122.
- a shuttle connector 136 is mounted on the outer end of the metal band 124 for transferring the shuttle along the lay race plate and through the shed.
- the connector 136 is shown having an inwardly tapered opening 138 which provides a socket of a suitable dimension for receiving the longitudinal end of the shuttle 82, shown pointed in the known manner for facilitating the passage of the shuttle through the shed.
- the shuttle end is preferably provided with a through opening 140 and the connector 136 is provided with a pivotal latch pawl 142 having an arm 144 receivable in the opening 140 for securely retaining the shuttle in the socket 138 and for maintaining the shuttle in longitudinal alignment with the metal band 124.
- the latch arm 144 has a concave inner face 146 and the opening 140 is provided with a conforming convex face 148.
- the latch pawl 142 is in part retained in its locking position, shown in full lines in FIG. 10, by a leaf spring 150 which engages a flat edge 152 of the pawl. Also, the pivotal latch pawl 142 is retained in its release position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 10, by the engagement of the leaf spring 150 with a flat edge 154 of the pawl.
- the connector 136 is provided with an electromagnet 156 and the pivotal pawl 142 is provided with a second arm 158 which functions as an armature for the electromagnet.
- the electromagnet provides for urging the latch pawl 142 from its release position to its locking position; however, it is preferred that the spring bias is sufficient to retain the latch pawl in its release position until the end of the shuttle strikes the arm 158, as seen in broken lines in FIG. 10, to pivot the latch pawl into contact with the electromagnet.
- the electromagnet is energized, the latch pawl will remain in its release position until the shuttle is inserted within the opening 138.
- the shuttle transfer mechanisms 100 thus provide a pair of reciprocable transfer arms comprising the metal bands 124 and the shuttle connectors 136 for transferring the shuttle back and forth through the shed. Also, by properly energizing and tie-energizing the electromagnets 156 of the connectors 136, for example with a rotary switch plate 160 (FIG. 2) mounted on the bottom shaft 20, the electromagnets 156 can be timely energized and de-energized with the reciprocable movement of the shuttle and in accordance with the timely transfer of the shuttle from one transfer arm to the other. In this regard, it is preferred that the electromagnet 156 of the receiving arm be energized and the electromagnet of the transferring arm be tie-energized prior to the actual transfer so that the trans-fer is timely and effective.
- the leads 161, 162 to the electromagnet are shown mounted on the underside of the band 124 and therefore within the concavity of the portion of the band paid out from the reel.
- the reel 106 is preferably provided with a helical slot 163 for receiving the leads when the band 124 is wound upon the reel.
- the reel 106 is also shown provided with a radial opening 165 and the shaft 110 is provided with an axial opening 164 for connecting the leads to the circuitry including the rotary switch plate 160.
- the reels 106 are driven with an endless link 170 having a chain portion 172 mounted on a sprocket 174 fixed to the shaft 110 and a cable or cord portion 176 mounted on a pulley 180 and two pairs of intermediate guide pulleys 182, 184, respectively.
- the pulley 180 is mounted on the loom frame
- the pulleys 182 are mounted on the rocker shaft 41
- the pair of pulleys 184 are mounted on suitable arms 185 fixed for pivotal operation with the rocker shaft 41.
- the lay 40 and therefore the sprocket 174 can be oscillated without unduly affecting the tension in the endless drive link 170.
- a drive arm 190 is employed for driving the endless link 170.
- One end of the drive arm 190 is pivotally connected to the cable 176 with a suitable connector 192 and the other end is pivotally connected to the frame with a suitable connector 194.
- a control cam 198 is mounted on the bottom shaft 20 for pivotal operation of the drive arm 190 and is provided with a cam slot or groove 200 which receives a follower 202 mounted on the drive arm 190.
- cam slot 200 is specifically designed to provide cooperative reciprocating movement of the transfer arms as hereinafter described, minor adjustments can be made by adjustment of the effective length of the drive arm 190 and the intermediate position of the follower 202, for which purpose the drive arm 190 is provided with slots 204, 205, 206 for longitudinal adjustment of the connectors 192, 194 and the follower 202.
- FIG. 12 a diagram is shown having a pair of lines 222, 225 which represent the movement of the transfer arms during a complete 360 cycle of the loom (or one complete rotation of the bottom shaft 20) during which the shuttle 82, shown in broken lines in FIG. 12, is transported from one of the shuttle boxes to the other shuttle box, and returned to the first shuttle box by the transfer arms.
- the transfer arms are reciprocated in out-of-phase relationship with each other so that the receiving arm reaches the apex 210 of its outward movement before the transferring arm reaches its apex 212 and the receiving arm is in its retracting phase when it receives the shuttle.
- the shuttle 82 can be transferred without decreasing its speed of travel through the shed.
- the shuttle is accelerated at an optimum rate from the shuttle box at the beginning of the shuttle transfer and decelerated at an optimum rate at the end of the shuttle transfer.
- the inactive transfer arm may be withdrawn, as shown in FIG. 12, just enough to clear the shed and with the arm positioned in the shuttle box as seen at 214 in FIG. 12.
- control cams are rotated together by the bot tom shaft 20 and are angularly related on the shaft 20 so that the cam portion 215 of one cam is active while the cam portion 216 of the other cam is active. Andlikewise, the cam portion 218 of one cam is active while the cam portion 220 of the other cam is active.
- control cams can be readily replaced in order to vary the acceleration and deceleration and the maximum speed of the shuttle in accordance with the weft thread used and the type of weave desired.
- control cams providing optimum shuttle movement can be readily installed.
- the weft feed mechanism of the present invention the weft thread may be reliably and effectively fed through the shed in timed relationship with the formation of the shed.
- the weft feed mechanism of the present invention may be readily installed in con ventional looms with minimum reconstruction and expense and without substantially increasing the over-all width of the loom.
- the shuttle transfer mechanism of the present invention and the novel latching device employed therein the shuttle may be quickly and reliably transferred from one of the transfer arms to the other without requiring accurate energization and deenergization of the associated electromagnet.
- the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable reel, a flexible band forming the drive arm helically wound onto the reel and adapted to be extended into the shed by rotation of the reel in one angular direction and to be Withdrawn from the shed by rotation of the reel in the opposite angular direction, and wherein the drive means provides for rotating the reels in synchronism for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed of the loom and for axially reciprocating the reels in synchronism with the rotation thereof for helically wind
- the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable reel, a flexible band forming the drive arm wound onto the reel and adapted to be extended into the shed by rotation of the reel in one angular direction and to be withdrawn from the shed by rotation of the reel in the opposite angular direction, and wherein the drive means provides for rotating the reels in synchronism for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed of the loom; wherein the loom has a frame, a lay pivotally mounted on the frame about an axis extending transverse
- the cam means comprises a replaceable cam having different cam portions for extending and withdrawing the drive arm when the drive arm functions as a transferring arm and as a receiving arm respectively.
- the shuttle connector comprises an end pocket for receiving the end of the shuttle, a pivotal latch pawl having a first latching arm for latching the shuttle within the pocket and a second actuator arm, said latch pawl having an extended position for receiving the end of the shuttle as it is received within the connector pocket and a withdrawn position for holding the shuttle within the pocket, spring means for retaining the latch pawl in its extended position, electromagnet means for holding the latch pawl in its withdrawn position, and switching means for timely de-energizing and energizing the electromagnet means of the transferring and receiving arms to provide
- the switching means provides for de-energizing and energizing the electromagnet means of the transferring and receiving arms respectively prior to the time of the transfer of the shuttle between the arms, wherein the pivotal latch pawl is retained in its extended position by the spring means even though the electromagnet means of the connector is energized, and wherein the shuttle engages the latching arm of the latch pawl as the shuttle enters the connector pocket to pivot the latch pawl from its extended position to its withdrawn position.
- a loom having a pair of transversely spaced shuttle drive mechanisms with transversely extending drive arms adapted for being reciprocated for extension into and withdrawal from the shed of the loom to drive a shuttle back and forth through the shed, the arms functioning alternately as shuttle transferring and shuttle receiving arms for transferring the shuttle back and forth therebetween as they are reciprocated, and drive means for reciprocating the arms in timely relationship for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed and for timely transferring the shuttle from the transferring arm to the receiving arm, the improvement wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable reel, a flexible band forming the drive arm wound onto the reel and adapted to be extended into the shed by rotation of the reel in one.
- the drive means provides for rotating the reels in synchronism for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed of the loom;
- the shuttle drive mechanism comprises a second reel mounted in contiguous parallel association with the first mentioned reel and connected for rotation therewith, a retainer band connected to the first and second reels and mounted in overlapping association with the flexible band for assisting in extending the flexible band into the shed and for winding the flexible band tightly onto the first reel, the second reel being adapted to helically wind the retainer band thereon and being connected to axially reciprocate in synchronism with the first reel.
- a loom having a frame, a lay pivotally mounted on the frame about a transversely extending axis, a pair of transversely spaced weft feed mechanisms with transversely extending arms adapted for being reciprocated for extension into and withdrawal from the shed of the loom for transferring weft thread therebetween, and drive means for reciprocating the arms in timely relationship for feeding the weft thread through the shed and for timely transferring the weft thread from the transferring arm to the receiving arm, the improvement wherein the drive means provides for reciprocating the arms so that the receiving arm has previously reached its fully extended position and is being withdrawn and the transferring arm is still being extended as the weft thread is transferred therebetween; wherein the weft feed mechanisms are mounted on the lay for pivotal movement therewith, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a rotatable reel, a flexible band forming the transversely extending arm wound onto the reel and adapted to be extended into the shed by rotation of the reel in one angular direction and to be withdrawn from the shed by rotation of the feed
- the cam means comprises a cam having different cam portions for extending and withdrawing the arms in accordance with their functions as transferring and receiving arms.
- transversely extending arms function alternately as weft transferring and receiving arms respectively for transferring the weft thread back and forth therebetween as the arms are reciprocated
- the drive means comprises rotary cam means connected to be rotated one revolution for References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Eisenhart 139-141 Rurnsey 139-141 Day et a1.
- 139-441 10 Kintzing 139-141 10 4/1924 Lambert et a1.
- 2 139-441 4/1927 Lucas 139141 6/1932 Dickie et a1.
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Description
Jan. 16, 1968 P. P. Jozus WEFT FEED MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR. PETERS P. JOZUS ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1968 P. P. JOZUS WEFT FEED MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR. PETERS P. JOZUS ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1968 P. P. JOZUS 3,363,654
WEFT FEED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22, 1965 T 7 Sheets-Sheet :5
& INVENTOR. g B PETERS R JOZUS ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1968 P. P. Jozus 3,363,654
WEFT FEED MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 22, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR- PETERS P. JOZUS ATTORNEYS h wwmdww Jan. 16, 1968 P. P. Jo zus 3,363,654
WEFT FEED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 at Q INVENTO PETERS P. JO
ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1968 P. P JO ZUS WEFT FEED MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR. PETERS P. JOZUS ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1968 P. P. JOZUS 3,36
I WEFT FEED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Sheets-Sheet 7 F l6. l2
FZSI A rwsw- INVENTOR.
PETERS P. JOZUS;
ATTOR NEYS United States Patent 3,363,654 WEFT FEED MECHANISM Peters P. Jozus, 397 Prospect Ave., West Hartford, Conn. 06105 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 502,004 12 Claims. (Cl. 139-141) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A loom having a shuttle operating mechanism which comprises a pair of oppositely extending flexible bands helically wound upon supporting drums which are timely driven to transfer the shuttle back and forth through the shed of the loom. Shuttle connectors mounted at the outer ends of the flexible bands for receiving the shuttle have electromagnetically controlled latches for retaining the shuttle. A second drum is mounted parallel to each supporting drum for winding and unwinding a retaining band in overlapping relationship with the flexible band, and these cooperating drums are driven together by a lever connected to an endless driving link and a lever operating cam such that the shuttle is transferred within the shed from one of the flexible band connectors to the other connector smoothly and at substantially a constant velocity during the transfer interval.
The present invention relates to the feeding of weft threads through the shed of a loom and more particularly to an improved weft feed mechanism having notable utility in looms of the type employing shuttles for feeding the weft through the shed.
It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved mechanism for transferring a shuttle through the shed which provides for rapid and smooth shuttle movement and which is adapted to transfer the shuttle through the shed without excessive acceleration or deceleration of the shuttle.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved shuttle operating mechanism which is adapted to provide for optimum acceleration of the shuttle at the beginning of its path of travel, for optimum shuttle velocity through the shed and for optimum deceleration of the shuttle at the end of its path of travel.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a weft feed mechanism which provides for increasing the loom weaving speed by increasing the speed and reliability of the weft feed.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a shuttle operating mechanism which can be installed on conventional looms without expensive modification of the looms and which at the same time provides for operating the loom with greater reliability and without the noise accompanying the usual picker stick drive mechanisms.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved weft feed mechanism of the type adapted for transferring the weft thread through the shed with a pair of arms reciprocable inwardly from opposite ends of the shed to meet at substantially the center of the shed where the weft thread is transferred from one of the arms to the other and whereupon the arms are retracted to complete the weft feed cycle before the warp threads of the shed are reversed to reform the shed for the following weft feed stroke.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an improved shuttle operating mechanism which provides for positively driving the shuttle through the shed with an acceleration, deceleration and maximum speed that is efiectively controlled within the operational limits of the loom and the practical limitations placed upon the operation of the loom by the material which is being woven.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved shuttle operating mechanism for a loom which enables the loom to be started at any point in the shuttle operating cycle and to be operated at diiferent speeds without adjustment or alteration of the shuttle operating mechanism.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide an improved shuttle operating mechanism of the type employing reciprocable arms for transferring the shuttle through the shed which is useful with conventional looms without substantially increasing the transverse dimension of the loom.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a weft feed mechanism which provides for feeding the weft through the shed in accordance with the weft thread employed and the material to be woven.
Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.
The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.
In the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing one side of a loom incorporating an embodiment of a weft feed mechanism of the present invention which employs a shuttle for feeding the weft through the shed of the loom;
FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view, partly broken away, showing the other side of the loom of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the loom;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view, pantly broken away, of the loom;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation view, partly broken away, showing a shuttle operating mechanism of the loom;
FIG. 6 is a section view, partly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a section view, partly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a section view, pantly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a view partly broken away showing a partial enlargement of the view of FIG. 8 and additionally showing a transverse section view of a transfer band employed in the shuttle operating mechanism;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing a shuttle transfer arm of the shuttle operating mechanism in driving connection with the loom shuttle;
FIG. 11 is an elevation section view, partly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially along line 1111 of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 is a chart showing theshuttle motion during f a complete operating cycle of the loom.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, a loom incorporating a shuttle operating mechanism employing the present invention is shown comprising a drive motor 10, a transversely extending crankshaft 12 driven by the drive motor through suitable reduction gearing including the gears 14, 16 (FIG. 4) and a bottom shaft 20 which is driven by the crankshaft through the reduction gearing 22, 24 to provide a 2:1 speed reduction so that the crankshaft rotates two revolutions for each revolution of the bottom shaft 20.
A lay, generally denoted by the numeral 40, is pivotally mounted on the loom frame on a transversely extending rocker shaft 41 by a pair of elongated layswords 42, and the crankshaft 12. is connected to the lay 40 by a crank connecting arm 44 for pivotal operation of the lay in the well-known manner. The shed 50 of the loom is shown formed in the conventional way by a harness 52. The harness 52 is connected to the treadles 58, and the treadles 58 are pivotally operated by a pair of cams 59 mounted on the bottom shaft 20 so that the warp threads are alternately raised and lowered by the harness to form the shed in timed relationship with the pivotal operation of the lay. The warp threads are fed from a warp beam 60 over the whip roll 62 to the harness 52, and the woven fabric is fed over the breast beam 64, partially around a takeup drum 66 and by a takeup mechanism 74 onto cloth roll 72.
The lay 40 comprises a shuttle race plate 80 for assisting in supporting the shuttle 82 as it is driven through the shed between the shuttle boxes 84, 86 at the transverse ends of the lay. The shuttle 82 is shown provided in a conventional manner with a central cavity for supporting a bobbin 88 which carries the weft threads and which in the known manner pays out the weft thread as the shuttle is advanced through the shed.
In accordance with the present invention, a shuttle operating mechanism is provided for advancing the shuttle positively and accurately through the shed in timed relationship with the cyclical operation of the harness 52 and the lay 40. This operating mechanism comprises a pair of shuttle transfer mechanisms, generally denoted by the numeral 100, which are mounted for pivotal movement with the lay and in line with the shuttle race plate outwardly of the shuttle boxes 84, 86. The shuttle transfer mechanisms 100 are of like construction and cornprise a boxlike frame 102 and a pair of spaced parallel reels or drums 104, 106 of preferably equal diameter and whose axes are preferably generally parallel to but inclined slightly forwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the loom, as seen in FIG. 4. The reels 104, 106 are suitably keyed to their parallel supporting shafts 108, 110 and the shafts are connected by suitable gears 112, 114, respectively, to provide equal and opposite rotation of the reels 104, 106. A pair of externally threaded sleeves 116, 118 secured on shafts 108, 110, respectively, are mounted for threaded engagement with fixed internally threaded sleeves 224 so that reels 104, 106 are axially shafted back and forth within the frame 102 as they are rotated in opposite angular directions.
The reels 104, 106 are provided with peripheral helical flanges 110, 120 and metal bands 122, 124 having their inner ends secured to the reels by pins 126-, 127 mounted within peripheral recesses in the drums as shown in FIG. 9 are wound hedically about the drums within the helical slots formed by the flanges 119, 120. The pposite end of the band 122 is secured to the pin 127 of the lower reel and is also wound upon the reel 106 in overlying relationship with the band 124. The lower band 124 is adapted to be paid out from the reel 106 as the reel is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9. Also, as seen in FIG. 7, the helical slots formed by the flanges 119, 120 are of opposite hand and the bands 122, 124 are wound upon the reels so that as the reels are rotated in opposite angular directions the bands are unwound and wound onto the reel 106 in overlying relationship. The band 122 therefore acts as a retainer for the band 124 to keep the band 124 taut on the reel 106 as it is payed out tangentially from the reel and subsequently rewound upon the reel when it is rotated in the opposite direction. Two pairs of horizontally and vertically extending rollers 132, 134 are provided for guiding the band 124 outwardly in line with the path of travel of the shuttle, and it is for this reason that the axes of the drums are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the loom and the drums are axially shifted so that the band 124 is payed out from the drum and rewound on the drum while it remains in line with the path of travel of the shuttle. Also, for maintaining the rigidity of the outer end of the band 124 as it is payed out from the reel 106, the band 124 is preformed to assume an arcuate shape as shown in FIG. 9. When, however, the band 124 is rewound upon the reel 106, it is flattened against the cylindrical surface of the reel 106 by the overlying band 122.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a shuttle connector 136 is mounted on the outer end of the metal band 124 for transferring the shuttle along the lay race plate and through the shed. The connector 136 is shown having an inwardly tapered opening 138 which provides a socket of a suitable dimension for receiving the longitudinal end of the shuttle 82, shown pointed in the known manner for facilitating the passage of the shuttle through the shed. The shuttle end is preferably provided with a through opening 140 and the connector 136 is provided with a pivotal latch pawl 142 having an arm 144 receivable in the opening 140 for securely retaining the shuttle in the socket 138 and for maintaining the shuttle in longitudinal alignment with the metal band 124. For this reason the latch arm 144 has a concave inner face 146 and the opening 140 is provided with a conforming convex face 148.
The latch pawl 142 is in part retained in its locking position, shown in full lines in FIG. 10, by a leaf spring 150 which engages a flat edge 152 of the pawl. Also, the pivotal latch pawl 142 is retained in its release position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 10, by the engagement of the leaf spring 150 with a flat edge 154 of the pawl. For assisting in retaining the pawl 142 in its locking position and accordingly for retaining the shuttle 32 within the socket 138 when the band 124 and connector 136 are functioning to withdraw the shuttle from the shed, the connector 136 is provided with an electromagnet 156 and the pivotal pawl 142 is provided with a second arm 158 which functions as an armature for the electromagnet. Also, of course, the electromagnet provides for urging the latch pawl 142 from its release position to its locking position; however, it is preferred that the spring bias is sufficient to retain the latch pawl in its release position until the end of the shuttle strikes the arm 158, as seen in broken lines in FIG. 10, to pivot the latch pawl into contact with the electromagnet. Thus, even though the electromagnet is energized, the latch pawl will remain in its release position until the shuttle is inserted within the opening 138.
The shuttle transfer mechanisms 100 thus provide a pair of reciprocable transfer arms comprising the metal bands 124 and the shuttle connectors 136 for transferring the shuttle back and forth through the shed. Also, by properly energizing and tie-energizing the electromagnets 156 of the connectors 136, for example with a rotary switch plate 160 (FIG. 2) mounted on the bottom shaft 20, the electromagnets 156 can be timely energized and de-energized with the reciprocable movement of the shuttle and in accordance with the timely transfer of the shuttle from one transfer arm to the other. In this regard, it is preferred that the electromagnet 156 of the receiving arm be energized and the electromagnet of the transferring arm be tie-energized prior to the actual transfer so that the trans-fer is timely and effective.
Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the leads 161, 162 to the electromagnet are shown mounted on the underside of the band 124 and therefore within the concavity of the portion of the band paid out from the reel. Also, the reel 106 is preferably provided with a helical slot 163 for receiving the leads when the band 124 is wound upon the reel. The reel 106 is also shown provided with a radial opening 165 and the shaft 110 is provided with an axial opening 164 for connecting the leads to the circuitry including the rotary switch plate 160.
For simultaneously oscillating the reels 106 in timely sequence with the formation of the shed and with the pivotal movement of the lay, the reels 106 are driven with an endless link 170 having a chain portion 172 mounted on a sprocket 174 fixed to the shaft 110 and a cable or cord portion 176 mounted on a pulley 180 and two pairs of intermediate guide pulleys 182, 184, respectively. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the pulley 180 is mounted on the loom frame, the pulleys 182 are mounted on the rocker shaft 41 and the pair of pulleys 184 are mounted on suitable arms 185 fixed for pivotal operation with the rocker shaft 41. As a result, the lay 40 and therefore the sprocket 174 can be oscillated without unduly affecting the tension in the endless drive link 170.
A drive arm 190 is employed for driving the endless link 170. One end of the drive arm 190 is pivotally connected to the cable 176 with a suitable connector 192 and the other end is pivotally connected to the frame with a suitable connector 194. A control cam 198 is mounted on the bottom shaft 20 for pivotal operation of the drive arm 190 and is provided with a cam slot or groove 200 which receives a follower 202 mounted on the drive arm 190. Although the cam slot 200 is specifically designed to provide cooperative reciprocating movement of the transfer arms as hereinafter described, minor adjustments can be made by adjustment of the effective length of the drive arm 190 and the intermediate position of the follower 202, for which purpose the drive arm 190 is provided with slots 204, 205, 206 for longitudinal adjustment of the connectors 192, 194 and the follower 202.
Referring now to FIG, 12, a diagram is shown having a pair of lines 222, 225 which represent the movement of the transfer arms during a complete 360 cycle of the loom (or one complete rotation of the bottom shaft 20) during which the shuttle 82, shown in broken lines in FIG. 12, is transported from one of the shuttle boxes to the other shuttle box, and returned to the first shuttle box by the transfer arms.
Also, it can be seen by this diagram that the transfer arms are reciprocated in out-of-phase relationship with each other so that the receiving arm reaches the apex 210 of its outward movement before the transferring arm reaches its apex 212 and the receiving arm is in its retracting phase when it receives the shuttle. Thus, as seen in FIG. 12, the shuttle 82 can be transferred without decreasing its speed of travel through the shed. Also, by controlled operation of the transfer arms, the shuttle is accelerated at an optimum rate from the shuttle box at the beginning of the shuttle transfer and decelerated at an optimum rate at the end of the shuttle transfer. Further, the inactive transfer arm may be withdrawn, as shown in FIG. 12, just enough to clear the shed and with the arm positioned in the shuttle box as seen at 214 in FIG. 12.
It can be seen that during each revolution of the shuttle course, the control cams are rotated together by the bot tom shaft 20 and are angularly related on the shaft 20 so that the cam portion 215 of one cam is active while the cam portion 216 of the other cam is active. Andlikewise, the cam portion 218 of one cam is active while the cam portion 220 of the other cam is active.
The control cams can be readily replaced in order to vary the acceleration and deceleration and the maximum speed of the shuttle in accordance with the weft thread used and the type of weave desired. Thus for any given weave, material, and loom operating speed, control cams providing optimum shuttle movement can be readily installed. Also, with the weft feed mechanism of the present invention, the weft thread may be reliably and effectively fed through the shed in timed relationship with the formation of the shed. Moreover, the weft feed mechanism of the present invention may be readily installed in con ventional looms with minimum reconstruction and expense and without substantially increasing the over-all width of the loom. Further, with the shuttle transfer mechanism of the present invention and the novel latching device employed therein, the shuttle may be quickly and reliably transferred from one of the transfer arms to the other without requiring accurate energization and deenergization of the associated electromagnet.
As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described Will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.
I claim:
1. In a loom having a pair of transversely spaced shuttle drive mechanisms with transversely extending drive arms adapted for being reciprocated for extension into and withdrawal from the shed of the loom to drive a shuttle back and forth through the shed, the arms functioning alternately as shuttle transferring and shuttle receiving arms for transferring the shuttle back and forth therebetween as they are reciprocated, and drive means for reciprocating the arms in timely relationship for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed and for timely transferring the shuttle from the transferring arm to the receiving arm, the improvement wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable reel, a flexible band forming the drive arm helically wound onto the reel and adapted to be extended into the shed by rotation of the reel in one angular direction and to be Withdrawn from the shed by rotation of the reel in the opposite angular direction, and wherein the drive means provides for rotating the reels in synchronism for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed of the loom and for axially reciprocating the reels in synchronism with the rotation thereof for helically winding the flexible bands onto and unwinding the bands from the reels.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the flexible band assumes an arcuate transverse shape when unwound from the reel to provide sufiicient rigidity for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed of the loom.
3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the drive means provides for rotating the reels so that the receiving arm has reached its fully extended position and is being withdrawn from the shed and the transferring arm is still being extended as the shuttle is transferred between the arms.
4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the drive means provides for rotating the reels so that the shuttle is transferred from the transferring arm to the receiving arm at a substantially constant velocity.
5. In a loom having a pair of transversely spaced shuttle drive mechanisms with transversely extending drive arms adapted for bein reciprocated for extension into and withdrawal from the shed of the loom to drive a shuttle back and forth through the shed, the arms functioning alternately as shuttle transferring and shuttle receiving arms for transferring the shuttle back and forth therebetween as they are reciprocated, and drive means for reciprocating the arms in timely relationship for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed and for timely transferring the shuttle from the transferring arm to the receiving arm, the improvement wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable reel, a flexible band forming the drive arm wound onto the reel and adapted to be extended into the shed by rotation of the reel in one angular direction and to be withdrawn from the shed by rotation of the reel in the opposite angular direction, and wherein the drive means provides for rotating the reels in synchronism for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed of the loom; wherein the loom has a frame, a lay pivotally mounted on the frame about an axis extending transversely of the shed of the loom, a first transversely extending shaft mounted on the frame and connected for oscillating the lay back and forth for each revolution of the first shaft, and a second transversely extending shaft mounted on the frame and connected to be driven at one-half the rotary speed of the first shaft; wherein the shuttle drive mechanisms are mounted on the lay for pivotal movement therewith; and wherein the drive means for rotating the reel comprises first rotary means connected for rotating and reciprocating the reel, second rotary means mounted on the frame, third rotary means mounted at the pivotal axis of the lay, a drive element connecting the first and second rotary means and extending about the third rotary means, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and connected to the drive element between said second and third rotary means, cam means on said second shaft and a cam follower mounted on the lever for operative engagement with the cam means for reciprocating the drive element and thereby rotate and reciprocate the reel in timely relationship with the pivotal movement of the lay.
6. In the loom of claim wherein the cam means comprises a replaceable cam having different cam portions for extending and withdrawing the drive arm when the drive arm functions as a transferring arm and as a receiving arm respectively.
7. In a loom having a pair of transversely spaced shuttle drive mechanisms with transversely extending drive arms adapted for being reciprocated for extension into and for withdrawal from the shed of the loom to drive a shuttle back and forth through the shed, the arms functioning alternately as shuttle transferring and shuttle receiving arms for transferring the shuttle back and forth therebetween as they are reciprocated, the arms having shuttle connectors on the ends thereof for driving the shuttle through the shed, the improvement wherein the shuttle connector comprises an end pocket for receiving the end of the shuttle, a pivotal latch pawl having a first latching arm for latching the shuttle within the pocket and a second actuator arm, said latch pawl having an extended position for receiving the end of the shuttle as it is received within the connector pocket and a withdrawn position for holding the shuttle within the pocket, spring means for retaining the latch pawl in its extended position, electromagnet means for holding the latch pawl in its withdrawn position, and switching means for timely de-energizing and energizing the electromagnet means of the transferring and receiving arms to provide for transferring the shuttle therebetween.
8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the switching means provides for de-energizing and energizing the electromagnet means of the transferring and receiving arms respectively prior to the time of the transfer of the shuttle between the arms, wherein the pivotal latch pawl is retained in its extended position by the spring means even though the electromagnet means of the connector is energized, and wherein the shuttle engages the latching arm of the latch pawl as the shuttle enters the connector pocket to pivot the latch pawl from its extended position to its withdrawn position.
9. In a loom having a pair of transversely spaced shuttle drive mechanisms with transversely extending drive arms adapted for being reciprocated for extension into and withdrawal from the shed of the loom to drive a shuttle back and forth through the shed, the arms functioning alternately as shuttle transferring and shuttle receiving arms for transferring the shuttle back and forth therebetween as they are reciprocated, and drive means for reciprocating the arms in timely relationship for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed and for timely transferring the shuttle from the transferring arm to the receiving arm, the improvement wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rotatable reel, a flexible band forming the drive arm wound onto the reel and adapted to be extended into the shed by rotation of the reel in one. angular direction and to be withdrawn from the shed by rotation of the reel in the opposite angular direction, and wherein the drive means provides for rotating the reels in synchronism for driving the shuttle back and forth through the shed of the loom; wherein the shuttle drive mechanism comprises a second reel mounted in contiguous parallel association with the first mentioned reel and connected for rotation therewith, a retainer band connected to the first and second reels and mounted in overlapping association with the flexible band for assisting in extending the flexible band into the shed and for winding the flexible band tightly onto the first reel, the second reel being adapted to helically wind the retainer band thereon and being connected to axially reciprocate in synchronism with the first reel.
10. In a loom having a frame, a lay pivotally mounted on the frame about a transversely extending axis, a pair of transversely spaced weft feed mechanisms with transversely extending arms adapted for being reciprocated for extension into and withdrawal from the shed of the loom for transferring weft thread therebetween, and drive means for reciprocating the arms in timely relationship for feeding the weft thread through the shed and for timely transferring the weft thread from the transferring arm to the receiving arm, the improvement wherein the drive means provides for reciprocating the arms so that the receiving arm has previously reached its fully extended position and is being withdrawn and the transferring arm is still being extended as the weft thread is transferred therebetween; wherein the weft feed mechanisms are mounted on the lay for pivotal movement therewith, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a rotatable reel, a flexible band forming the transversely extending arm wound onto the reel and adapted to be extended into the shed by rotation of the reel in one angular direction and to be withdrawn from the shed by rotation of the reel in the opposite angular direction; and wherein the drive means comprises first rotary means connected for rotating the reel, second rotary means mounted on the frame, third rotary means mounted at the pivotal axis of the lay, a drive element connecting the first and second rotary means and extending about the third rotary means, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and connected to the drive element between said second and third rotary means, rotary cam means mounted on the frame connected to be driven in timely relationship with the pivotal movement of the lay, and a cam follower mounted on the lever for operative engagement with the cam means for reciprocating the endless drive element and thereby rotate the reel in timely relationship with the pivotal movement of the lay.
11. In the loom of claim 10 wherein the cam means comprises a cam having different cam portions for extending and withdrawing the arms in accordance with their functions as transferring and receiving arms.
12. In the loom of claim 10 wherein the transversely extending arms function alternately as weft transferring and receiving arms respectively for transferring the weft thread back and forth therebetween as the arms are reciprocated, and wherein the drive means comprises rotary cam means connected to be rotated one revolution for References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Eisenhart 139-141 Rurnsey 139-141 Day et a1. 139-441 10 Kintzing 139-141 10 4/1924 Lambert et a1. 2 139-441 4/1927 Lucas 139141 6/1932 Dickie et a1. 139141 X 12/1954 Berk owitz 139141 X FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1945 Switzerland. 2/1929 Great Britain.
MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.
J. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US502004A US3363654A (en) | 1965-10-22 | 1965-10-22 | Weft feed mechanism |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US502004A US3363654A (en) | 1965-10-22 | 1965-10-22 | Weft feed mechanism |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US3363654A true US3363654A (en) | 1968-01-16 |
Family
ID=23995920
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US502004A Expired - Lifetime US3363654A (en) | 1965-10-22 | 1965-10-22 | Weft feed mechanism |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US3363654A (en) |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US280960A (en) * | 1883-07-10 | chaeles b | ||
US309207A (en) * | 1884-12-16 | Henby m | ||
US399138A (en) * | 1889-03-05 | John w | ||
US673839A (en) * | 1900-04-09 | 1901-05-07 | Arthur S Norrish | Shuttle-motion for looms. |
US1490749A (en) * | 1922-04-11 | 1924-04-15 | Lambert Edouard | Weaving loom |
US1623258A (en) * | 1927-04-05 | Loobe | ||
GB306634A (en) * | 1927-12-06 | 1929-02-28 | Gerald Tomkinson | Improvements in or relating to the weft needles or carriers of shuttless looms |
US1862178A (en) * | 1928-12-04 | 1932-06-07 | Celanese Corp | Loom having stationary weft supplies |
CH235026A (en) * | 1942-10-23 | 1944-11-15 | Martorell Felix | Device for controlling a loom shuttle. |
US2696840A (en) * | 1953-06-30 | 1954-12-14 | Berkowitz Jaime | Shuttle and shuttle-operating mechanism for looms |
-
1965
- 1965-10-22 US US502004A patent/US3363654A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US280960A (en) * | 1883-07-10 | chaeles b | ||
US309207A (en) * | 1884-12-16 | Henby m | ||
US399138A (en) * | 1889-03-05 | John w | ||
US1623258A (en) * | 1927-04-05 | Loobe | ||
US673839A (en) * | 1900-04-09 | 1901-05-07 | Arthur S Norrish | Shuttle-motion for looms. |
US1490749A (en) * | 1922-04-11 | 1924-04-15 | Lambert Edouard | Weaving loom |
GB306634A (en) * | 1927-12-06 | 1929-02-28 | Gerald Tomkinson | Improvements in or relating to the weft needles or carriers of shuttless looms |
US1862178A (en) * | 1928-12-04 | 1932-06-07 | Celanese Corp | Loom having stationary weft supplies |
CH235026A (en) * | 1942-10-23 | 1944-11-15 | Martorell Felix | Device for controlling a loom shuttle. |
US2696840A (en) * | 1953-06-30 | 1954-12-14 | Berkowitz Jaime | Shuttle and shuttle-operating mechanism for looms |
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