US3444900A - Arrangement on a loom for selecting and drawing off weft yarn to a predetermined length - Google Patents

Description

y 1969 H. SCHAFFER 3,444,900

ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING AND DRAWING OFF WEFT YARN TO A PREDETEJRMINED LENGTH Filed June 12, 1967 Sheet of 5 GTH May 20, 1969 H. SCHAFFER ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING A YARN TO A PREDETERMINED Sheet Filed June 12, 1967 H. SCHAFFER May 20, 1969 ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING AND DRAWING OFF WEFT YARN TO A PREDETERMINED LENGTH Filed June 12, 1967 Sheet y 0, 1969 H. SCHAFFER 3,444,900

ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING AND DRAWING OFF WEFT YARN TO A PREDETEFMINED LENGTH Filed June 12, 1967 Sheet 4 of 5 H. SCHAFFER ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING AND DRAWING OFF WEFT I Filed June 12, 1967 YARN TO A PREDETERMINED LENGTH Sheet United States Patent C) US. Cl. 139122 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arrangement on a loom for selecting and drawing off weft yarns to a predetermined length suitable for picking into a shed comprising an extractor member for drawing out yarns, which is moveable along a path with the yarns extending from a yarn supply via a yarn feeding means to a selvedge of a fabric being formed and adapted to be separately displaced by the yarn feeding means into the path of the extractor member and yarn withdrawing means operating to draw a portion of the yarn offered by the yarn feeding means in a direction opposite to that of the extractor member. The yarn feeding means comprises a plurality of separate yarn feeders which are selectively moved towards positions located approximately on a path extending between the extractor member and the yarn withdrawing means in their outermost extraction positions.

This invention relates to an arrangement on a weaving loom for supplying yarn or thread pieces of pre-determined length to be individually picked into a weaving shed, and more particularly to such an arrangement provided with an extractor means for drawing-out yarns which travel from a yarn supply over a yarn feeding means and which are adapted to be displaced by the feeding means into the path of the extractor means.

In weaving processes, wherein the weft yarn to be picked into the shed is taken directly from a yarn supply arranged externally of the loom, it is known to determine the length of the weft yarn before it is introduced into the shed. For example, in the case of a known arrangement, the yarn as it is drawn oif from a yarn supply is drawn out by an extractor device perpendicular to the sley race and the free end of the yarn is retained by a yarn clamping means. For picking the yarn which is still connected with the yarn supply into the shed, the clamping means is then released and the point on the yarn defining the measuredoff length of the yarn is retained by a second clamping means. The weft yarn is then, after travelling round the reversing point on the shuttle, picked into the shed.

If various sorts of yarns, for example, yarns of various colors, are to be woven as weft material, then before every pick of weft, the corresponding yarn must be measured to the correct lengths. It is necessary to provide yarn feeding members which present the desired yarn to the extractor member on every occasion.

Advantageously, this invention provides an arrangement whereby the pre-measun'ng of the yarn always produces the same yarn length, immaterial of what sort of yarn is used. If the pre-deterrnined lengths of thread or yarn were to vary, depending on the sort of thread or yarn this would, for example, have a disadvantage of producing an undesirable yarn wastage.

This invention is characterized in that a yarn with drawing means is provided for the drawing-out of the 3,444,900 Patented May 20, 1969 "ice yarns or threads offered by the yarn feeding means in a direction opposite to that of the traction or drawing movement of an extractor member, and in that the yarn feeding means comprises a plurality of separate yarn feeders which, for the purpose of offering a yarn to the extractor member, are adapted to be selectively displaced towards positions located approximately on the path extending between the extractor member andthe yarn withdrawing means when the extractor member and the yarn with drawing means are in the outermost extraction position.

Due to the provision of the yarn withdrawing means, a further advantage is achieved that, with appropriate control or regulation thereof, in combination with a yarn clamping means, a neat yarn cutting action and feeding of the cut end of the yarn to the picking member becomes possible with the aid of simple transfer means. Due to this simple form of feeding, there is furthermore achieved the advantage that, by varying the amount of drawing-out effected by the yarn withdrawing means on a given loom, an extremely simple adjustment to various fabric widths becomes possible. By movements of varying magnitudes towards the exterior of the cut yarn end, it is possible to displace the yarn end to the rest position of thepicking member (which position never changes) on the given machine.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to one exemplary embodiment and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective and diagrammatic view of the arrangement according to the invention for determining or supplying yarn pieces of pre-determined length and for transferring the lengths to a picking member; and

FIGURES 2 through 5 show successive working phases of the arrangement of the invention shown in FIGURE 1.

In all the drawings, like reference numerals designate like elements. For the sake of greater clarity in the drawings, the majority of conventional parts of a weaving loom have been omitted. The relative positioning of the yarn supplying and transferring arrangement of the invention on the weaving loom will, however, be quite readily understood by location of the fabric 70 and the shed 71, 72. The arrangement, with regard to the sley (not shown) along which the picking member (in the form of a shuttle 32) travels, will be best seen in FIGURE 4. In this figure, the shuttle 32 is shown in its inoperative or at rest position. In each figure of the drawings the arrange-ment of the invention is viewed relative to the loom in a direction from the rear forwardly.

As illustrated in the drawings, a profile rail or bar 41 extends parallel to the sley (not shown) of the loom. On the profile rail 41 an extractor or drawing-out member is displaced. The extractor member travels along an extractive path for the purpose of drawing-out the weft threads. This drawing-out action or movement provides yarn pieces of a pre-determined length. As shown in the drawings, the extractor member comprises two hooks 43, 44 which are reciprocally driven by a driving member (not shown) via a belt 45 that moves back and forth along the sley.

In the present example, there are three different sorts of weft yarns or threads 23, 24 and 25. These are of a different nature, for example, the three yarns may be of different colors. The weft yarns 23, 24 and 25 travel from supply bobbins (not shown) from the left-hand side of the apparatus. The yarns travel from the bobbins over a braking arrangement (not shown), over the guide rods 73, 74 and through the apertures in the riders 15, 16 and 17, through additional apertures 26, 27 and 28, and from the latter through eyelets in the yarn feeders 46, 47 and 48, to the fabric 70. Each of the riders 15, 16 and 17 is lifted during the drawing-out of its associated yarn 23, 24

or 25 by the extractor member 43, 44 or, during this procedure, it is carried by the yarn. As soon as the traction force produced by the drawing-out ceases, the associated rider again drops downwardly, until it impinges on a stop 14. The height of each rider 15, 16 or 17 bearing on the stop 14 can be adjusted by the appropriate sleeve 75, 76 or 77. A programme-controlled control device (not shown) actuates the yarn feeders 46, 47 and 48. Actuation of, for example, the yarn feeder 46 displaces it in the downward direction as shown in FIGURE 2. In this actuated position, the weft yarn 25 offered by the yarn feeder 46 is engaged by the drawing-out member 43, 44. The yarn feeders 46, 47, 48 may be actuated by associated electro-magnets (not shown) being drawn downwardly against the tension of springs 78, 79, 80.

Furthermore, an elongated plate 19 also extends in the center of and along the profile rail 41. The elongated plate 19 is adapted to be reciprocated upwardly and downwardly, parallel to itself, by lever arrangements attached at both its ends. In the drawings, only the lever arrangement 20, provided on the right-hand side of the loom, i.e. on the left-hand side in the drawings, is shown. Bristles, fur, plush or the like fibrous material 18 are provided over the elongated plate 19 and are supported on a carrier 29 secured to the frame of the loom. The elongated, displaceable plate 19 bears or comes into contact with the bristles 18 when in its raised position.

As shown in the drawing the temple 50 is fast with the loom frame and serves to stretch the fabric 70 widthwise. The shed formed by the warp yarn is designated by reference numerals 71, 72. Also fast with the loom frame is a pivotal arm 21 that like other elements of the arrangement is actuated by the loom drive, which carries a scissors member 22, serving as a cutting device, and a yarn separating device 51. In the cutting of one of the weft yarns 23, 24 or 25, the arm 21 is pivoted, so that the scissors member 22 is, as shown in FIGURE 3, positioned directly at the selvedge. In this case, the yarn separating means 51 ensures that the yarn 25 to be severed is clearly separated from the other yarns 23 and 24 which are not to be cut.

A yarn clamping means 12 is mounted fast on the profile rail 41. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, relative to the yarn 25, the rail serves to retain the yarn which has been engaged for the purpose of measuring-oh to the desired lengths. The control of this clamping means is effected via the rod 52. When the rod is moved upwardly, the lever 82, which is pivotal about the pivot 81, is pivoted clockwise against the pull of a spring 56.

Furthermore, there is an arrangement or means for transferring the weft yarn to the picking member or shuttle 32 (FIGURE 4). This arrangement or means comprises the transfer member formed with the slot 54, an air feed duct 30, by which air is blown out of the nozzle 53, whereby the end 83 (shown in broken lines in FIGURE 4) of the weft thread 25 to be picked is blown through a transfer point or aperture 33 in the shuttle 32.

In order to be entirely certain that the blown yarn end 83 passes through the aperture 33, a suction device 36 may also be provided. For the introduction of the end 83 of the yarn 25 into the slot 54, the insertion member 55 is provided. This latter member is designed as a rocking lever having a hook at its free end. The spring 57 retained on the member 10 tends to rotate the pivot or shaft 58 in a direction such that the hook of the inserting member 55 moves clockwise and downwardly, so that a yarn engaged by the hook is guided into the slot 54. The pivot 58 can be pivoted by means of the linkage 60, 61 and 62. The rocking lever 55 is so positioned that it engages each of the yarns offered by one of the three yarn feeders or feeding devices 46, 47 and 48. It moves in a vertical plane which extends perpendicular to the track (formed by elements 19 and 41) of the drawing- out member 43, 44. The drive of the linkage 60, 61 and 62 can be effected for example in such man- 4 ner that the rod 60 is moved upwardly and downwardly by a cam disc.

A yarn withdrawing means is provided by a rocking lever 11 mounted for pivoting about the pivot 84 and which is actuated by the upward and downward movement of the rod 59. The yarn withdrawing means draws out the yarns 23, 24, 25, when the yarns are offered from one of the feeders 46, 47 or 48, in the direction opposite to the drawing-out direction of the drawing- out member 43, 44. The rocking lever 11 is positioned in such a manner, that it engages with its hook each of the yarns offered by one of the three yarn feeders, and in particular after such yarn is already moved by the inserting member 55 toward the slot 54. The rocking lever 11 is pivotal in a vertical plane extending parallel to the track 19, 41 of the drawing- out member 43, 44. The control means for the rocking lever 11 includes rod 59 as shown in the drawings. The control means is such that the rocking lever 11 carries out a first partial movement in the anti-clockwise direction, i.e. during its first partial movement, the hook thereof moves, in the drawing, to the left (see FIGURE 2). In a second partial movement the hook again moves somewhat towards the right (see FIG- URE 3). It then pivots, as shown in FIGURE 4, during a third partial movement, vigorously towards the left, that is in an anticlockwise direction in the drawing, whereupon (see FIGURE 5) it pivots back during a fourth partial movement, by the amount of a portion of the third movement. During its fifth partial movement, the hook again returns into its starting position. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, a movement of this kind can be produced for example by controlling the rod 59 with the aid of an appropriate cam disc.

Furthermore, in addition to the profile rail 41, and on the forward side of the rail 41 relative to the loom, there is also a yarn monitoring device 13. This device is so arranged that the drawn-out yarn, for example the yarn 25, takes up a position over the monitoring device 13, as in the working phase illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. The monitoring device 13 is so designed that on the one hand it produces a shut-down signal when no yarn is available over it (in the working phase illustrated in FIGURE 4), and, on the other hand, it produces a shutdown signal if, after the yarn pick has been completed, (i.e. after the working phase according to FIGURE 5), yarn is present over it.

The mode of operation of the yarn monitoring device 13 is such that, due to action of the cam 85 on the member 86, the small plates 35 are periodically lowered between the small plates 31. In this way, the presence and absence of a yarn is indicated, via the device 13, and in this manner the desired shutdown signals can be produced.

For controlling the lever 82 of the clamping means 12 and the inserting member 55, there is provided the pivot 61 which is adapted to be pivoted in the cadence of the loom operation. The pivot 61 carries out a complete operational pivoting movement for every pick of a weft yarn from the left to the right in the drawings, i.e. from the right to the left on the loom. At the commencement of an operational pivoting movement of this kind and in order to produce the same, the driving rod 60 is displaced upwardly. Consequently, the rods 52 and 62 move downwardly, thus producing a pivoting movement of the book as the inserting member 55 towards the slot 54 and movement of the lever 82 of the clamping means 12 in the downward direction. During the further upward movement of the driving rod 60, and while the inserting member 55 is retained by a stop in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the clamping means 12 is pressed into its closed position, as shown in FIGURE 3. With this pivoting movement of the pivot 61, there is also obtained a pivoting movement of the presser 63. As can be seen from FIGURE 3, the presser is utilised for actuating the scissors member 22 when the member is pivoted into its working position adjacent the selvedge of the fabric 70. Due to the pivoting of the upper portion of the presser 63, the lever 64 is pivoted against the tension of a compression spring about the pivot 66, so that the scissors member 22 is actuated.

The shuttle 32 serving as a picking member is shown only in FIGURE 4. The position in which the shuttle 32 is shown is an end or inoperative position. The shuttle 32 is formed with two apertures 33 and 34. These apertures serve as transfer points for the transfer of the yarn to the shuttle 32. When the shuttle is at the side of the loom shown in FIGURE 4, the yarn end 83 is blown through the aperture 33. When the shuttle is picked, the yarn end 83 is retained by the yarn clamping means 37 arranged in the aperture 33. This clamping means consists, in the present embodiment of the shuttle, of two small plates which are pressed against each other. For picking from the other side of the loom, the yarn clamping means 38 is provided in the aperture 34.

The drawing- out member 43, 44 is secured to the driving belt 45. Due to the driving of the belt, the drawing- out member 43, 44 is displaced along the profile rail 41. On the side of the loom which is not shown, there is a second drawing-out member for determining the lengths of the weft threads to be picked from the other side. It is advisable to drive both drawing-out members by means of the same belt 45. In this way, the advantage is obtained that, for the drawing-out step, practically a complete working period of the loom is available.

Disposed between the nozzle 53 or the member and the fabric 70, there is also a yarn brake 40 In operating the arrangement of the invention, one of three three yarn feeders 46, 47 or 48 is first actuated by a programme-control arrangement. As can be seen from FIGURE 2, the yarn feeder 46 is moved downwardly in the example illustrated. As this takes place, the yarn 25 (guided through the aperture 28 and the eyelet of the yarn feeder 46) travels downwardly. Due to the upward movement of the rod 60 which now commences, the pivot 61 is correspondingly rotated. Consequently, the rods 52 and 62 move downwardly. The pivot 58 is rotated by the movement of the rod 62, so that the inserting member 55 engages the weft yarn 25, guides the yarn to the slot 54, and inserts the yarn therein. Simultaneously the drawingout step for the weft yarn 25 commences. This is effected by the drawing- out member 43, 44. During this step, the yarn required is drawn off from a supply bobbin which is not shown. The yarn 25 is also engaged by the hook of the rocking lever 11. The control of the lever 11, as a first partial movement, produces the pivoting thereof in the counter-clockwise direction. This working phase is not shown in FIGURE 2. Meanwhile, due to the downward movement of the rod 52, the lever 82 of the yarn clamping means 12 has also partially descended. The weft yarn monitoring device 13 has opened, i.e. the small plates 35 are in the lifted position.

In the working phase shown in FIGURE 3, the yarn 25 has already been drawn out to a considerable extent. Meanwhile, the yarn clamping means 12 has completely closed. The rocking lever 55- remains in abutment against a stop in its lower position. The rocking lever 11 of the yarn withdrawing means is, on the other hand, so controlled that, as a second partial movement, it carries out a small rearward pivoting movement, i.e. clockwise in the drawing. Since the yarn 25 is now held fast by the clamping means 12, its section between the clamping means 12 and the fabric 70 becomes somewhat loose. Meanwhile, the lever 21, with the cutting device 22 and the yarn separator 51, has been pivoted in the forward direction as shown in the drawing. The additional upward movement of the rod 60 results in a pivoting movement of the plate 63 such that (in the pivoting position shown in FIGURE 3 in respect to the lever 21) due to pressure on the lever 64, the scissors member 22 now cuts the yarn 25 near to the selvedge. The yarn at this instant is somewhat loose between the clamping means 12 and the fabric 70.

During the additional drawing-out step effected by the drawing- out member 43, 44, the rocking lever 11 is, with the clamping means 12 still closed, once again in the course of a third partial movement, vigorously pivoted back in the counter clockwise direction (as shown in FIGURE 4), so that the severed end 83 of the yarn 25 is drawn towards the left, sliding in the yarn brake 40. Also as shown in FIGURE 4 yarn feeder 46 is positioned approximately on a path extending between the extractor member 43 and the hook portion of lever 11 in their outermost extraction positions.

As soon as the end 83 emerges out of the brake 40, it is blown by the air flowing out of the nozzle 53 against the transfer aperture 33 in the shuttle 32. The yarn brake 40 exerts a relatively weak braking effect on the threads drawn through it. The purpose of the brake is to avoid twisting or curling of the yarn during the withdrawal of the yarn end immediately after cutting by the scissors member 22. The position of the yarn 25 corresponding to this working phase is shown in full lines in FIGURE 4.

Subsequently, the rocking lever 11 moves, in a fourth partial movement, into the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 4, wherein also the yarn 25 extends as shown in broken lines. It can be seen that, during the return movement or fourth partial movement of the rocking lever 11, the yarn end 83 has been blown through the transfer aperture 33 in the shuttle 32. This step is further assisted by the suction device 36 into which, as shown in FIGURE 4, the yarn end 83 is sucked. The pivoting of the fourth partial movement is smaller in quantity than the pivoting of the third partial movement.

During picking of the shuttle 32, which follows, the yarn end 83 is retained by the clamping means 37. At the same time, the driving rod 60 again travels downwardly and the shaft 61 begins to pivot in the opposite direction of rotation. Consequently, the clamping means 12 opens simultaneously with the propulsion of the shuttle 32 and picking commences.

Also at the same time, the elongated plate 19 is raised by the lever arrangement 20 and the corresponding arrangement on the other loom side. Since, at this instant, the drawing- out member 43, 44 has already moved somewhat towards the left hand side, (as viewed in the drawing), clue to the lifting of the plate 19, the drawn-out yarn is released by the drawing- out member 43, 44. The picking of the weft yarn 25 into the shed 71, 72 then commences.

The shuttle 32, which is now again travelling through the shed and in which the yarn 25 is clamped by the clamping means 37, draws the yarn 25 into the shed 71, 72; the hairpin-shaped portion of yarn 25 which has been measured-off lengthwise being drawn after the shuttle. This procedure is shown in FIGURE 5. During this picking procedure, the rocking lever 11 is, in the course of a fifth partial movement, pivoted back once more into its starting position.

Due to the raising of the elongated plate 19, the plate contacts the bristles 18 which are arranged above it and secured to the carrier 29. The bristles 18 ensure that, during the picking of the weft yarn 25 into the shed, the hairpin-shaped portion of the yarn which has been supplied at the pre-determined length does not twist or form loops.

With regard to the mode of operation of the yarn monitoring means 13, it has already been stated that this means is in its open position in the working phase shown in FIG- URE 2. During the drawing-out of the weft yarn 25 by the drawing- out member 43, 44, the yarn 25 takes up a position over the small plates 31. During the subsequent lowering of the small plates 35, the weft yarn 25 prevents plates 35 from being able to descend completely between the small plate 31. The mode of operation of the yarn monitoring means 13 is such that under these conditions no stop signal is produced. Then, as the weft yarn 25 is introduced into the shed during the picking up step shown in FIGURE 5, the small plates 35 are again lifted. After the re-descent of the plates 35, following this lifting movement,

the plates 35 descend completely between the fixed small plate 31, provided that the weft yarn 25 is drawn 01f away from the yarn monitoring means 13. The mode of operation of the monitoring means is such that the complete descent of the small plates 35 in this working phase does not produce a stop signal, but that a signal of this kind is produced if the small plates 35 do not descend.

When picking weft yarn material of a different sort, for example, having a different degree of elasticity, it is possible that the pre-determination of the length by the drawing- out member 43, 44 might, in accordance with the dilferent characteristics of the weft yarns, produce diiferent lengths. In order to be able to compensate for these different lengths, the riders 15, 16 and 17 are provided. Each of the various weft yarns 23, 24 or 25 travels through one of the eyelets of the riders 15, 16 and 17.

As already mentioned, an arrangement (not shown) which brakes the yarns, is disposed between the riders 15, 16 and 1.7 and the yarn supply bobbins, also not shown. During the drawing-out of the yarn by the drawing- out member 43, 44, the rider of the yarn acted upon by the drawing-out member is then lifted. As shown in FIGURE 3 in respect to the yarn 25 the rider 17 is lifted. After the drawing-out step has been completed, the rider again descends, until it again bears on the stop 14. Due to this descent of the rider, the drawn-out yarn is again shortened by the amount resulting from the lowering of the rider. The heights of the riders 15, 16 and 17 or of the eyelets thereof may be adjusted as desired by the displaceable sleeve 75, 76 and 77. Thus, the amount by which the given yarn is again withdrawn may be adjusted when desired and also be adapted to the character of the yarn.

Referring to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the predetermination or measuring-off of the length of the picked weft yarn 25 is effected above all by the drawing- out member 43, 44 which draws out the yarn 25 towards the right in the drawings. On the other hand, the pre-determination of the length is also determined by the drawingout movement of the rocking lever 11 of the yarn withdrawal means (and of the inserting member 55), which is directed towards the left in the drawings. These movements for the pre-determination of the weft yarn length, which are carried out in opposite directions have the further advantage that the lengths are always practically uniform, independently of which of the yarn feeders 46, 47 or 48 is actuated. This is due to the fact that the eyelets of the yarn feeders 46, 47 or 48 are disposed at least approximately on a path extending between the drawing- out member 43, 44 and the hook of the lever 11 of the yarn withdrawing means when these elements are in the outermost drawing-out position of the arrangement. It is clear that if the yarns corresponding to the yarn feeders 46, 47 and 48 would remain extending straight from the feeders 46 to 48 to the fabric 70 during the measuring-off of the yarn to length, then the length of the yarn 25 actuated by the yarn feeder 46 would be greater than the length of the yarn 23 actuated by the yarn feeder 48.

A further advantage of the arrangement of the invention is also to be seen in the fact that the weft yarn to be picked has only a single deflecting point. This deflecting point is the hook on the lever 11 of the yarn withdrawing means which, furthermore, moves back into its starting position in the course of its fifth partial movement which takes place during the picking of the Weft into the shed. In order to make conditions as advantageous as possible, it is furthermore recommended to impart to the apertures or eyelets in the yarn feeders 46, 47 and 48 a direction such that they extend as far as possible parallel to the track of the drawing- out member 43, 44 or to the profile rail 41. In other words, these apertures are advantageously given a direction which is substantially parallel to the general direction of the yarn 25 located on the forward side of the arrangement (as shown in the drawings) relatively to the profile rail 41 between the drawing-out member 8 and the hook of the withdrawing means. Naturally, instead of this arrangement, these apertures can simply be made as large as possible.

If it is not desirable to provide a carrier 29 for the bristles 18, the adhesion of or the holding effect on the yarn 25 can be achieved by an arrangement in which the yarn is held by a suctional elfect against the upper face of the profile rail 41. In such an embodiment, apertures as shown in FIGURE 4 may be connected with a suction device may be arranged on the profile rail 41. Such apertures may be arranged along the entire length of the loop in the yarn 25 formed by the drawing- out member 43, 44. Advantageously, however, such suction apertures are provided only at the locality of that half of the drawn-out loop which extends between the hook 43 and the eyelet 28, i.e. only at the place of that half of the loop which is positioned forwardly relatively to the loom. The suctional effect at the apertures may be kept weak for the above-described purpose of achieving the desired adhesion.

What is claimed in:

1. An arrangement on a loom for selecting and drawing oif weft yarns to a predetermined length to be picked individually by a picking member into a weaving shed, said arrangement comprising an extractor member for drawing out yarn, said extractor member being moveable along a path and said yarns extending from a yarn supply via a yarn feeding means to a selvedge of a fabric being formed and being adapted to be separately displaced by said yarn feeding means into the path of the extractor member, and a yarn withdrawing means operating to draw a portion of the yarn offered by said yarn feeding means in a direction opposite to that of the extractor member; the yarn feeding means comprising a plurality of separate yarn feeders, which when oflFering a yarn to said yarn withdrawing means are adapted to be selectively moved towards positions located at least approximately on a path extending between the extractor member and the yarn withdrawing means in their respective outermost extraction positions.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 in which a yarn clamping means is provided for clamping the yarn offered by the yarn feeding means located approximately on a path between the extractor member and the yarn withdrawing means in their outermost positions.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 further comprises a cutting device for cutting said portion of the yarn at the selvedge and control means for controlling movement of the yarn withdrawing means, the movement of said yarn withdrawing means comprising as its first partial movement, a drawing-out movement when the yarn clamping means is opened, and when the yarn clamping means is closed and before cutting of the yarn a second partial movement which is smaller than and which takes place in a direction opposite to the first partial movement as its third partial movement a further drawing-out movement which, after cutting of the yarn and after closing of the yarn clamping means, is such that the severed yarn end is moved away from the selvedge by a predetermined amount, and a fourth partial movement which is smaller than and which takes place in a direction opposite to that of the third partial movement.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 in which said control means also causes said yarn withdrawing means to have a fifth partial movement which when the yarn clamping means is opened and after commencement of the yarn picking movement by the picking member, moves said withdrawing means back to its starting position adjacent to said yarn feeding means.

5. The arrangement of claim 3 further comprising an inserting member located between the selvedge and the yarn withdrawing means for engaging the severed yarn end and for feeding said yarn end to a transferring means which in turn transfers the yarn end to the picking member.

6. The arrangement of claim in which said transferring means includes a blowing nozzle with a blowing action directed towards a transfer aperture in the picking member disposed in its rest position.

7. The arrangement of claim 3 further comprises a yarn separating means operably associated with said cutting device for guiding the yarn being picked to the cutting device.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 in which the yarn feeders each of which conveys a different yarn are arranged in a row extending parallel and adjacent to the path of the extractor member and are Vertically adjustable relative to said path.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 in which the yarns are guided through eyelets provided on the yarn feeders, said eyelets being formed by apertures, the longitudinal axis of which extends substantially parallel to the path of the yarn extending between the yarn withdrawing means and extractor member in their outermost positions.

10. The arrangement of claim 1 in which the yarn withdrawing means comprises a rocking lever provided at its free end with a hook and pivotable in a vertical plane that extends parallel to the path of the extractor member, said rocking lever being arranged relative to the yarn feeding means so that upon movement of said lever in a counterclockwise direction said hook will engage each of the yarns displaced successively by the yarn feeders into the path of the extractor member.

11. The arrangement of claim 1 in which the path of the extractor member extends parallel to the sley of the loom and said extractor member draws out the yarn from the exterior toward the center of the loom, said arrangement further including means for releasing the drawnout yarn from the extractor member after the drawing-out movement of the extractor member has been completed.

12. The arrangement of claim 11 in which the extractor member comprises two books and said means for releas ing the drawn-out yarn from said extractor member comprises an elongated plate which extends between the hooks and which is adapted to be reciprocated upwardly and downwardly and a controlled lever mechanism for displacing the plate above the height of the hooks after drawing out of the yarn and for displacing the plate below the height of the books after picking of said yarn by the picking member.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 further comprising fibrous material arranged above the elongated plate so that the plate contacts said fibrous material when the plate is displaced upwardly by said lever mechanism.

14. The arrangement of claim 12 in which the extractor member draws out the yarn offered by said yarn feeding means to form a hairpin-like loop, said arrangement further comprising suction apertures located beside said elongated plate at the place at which the front portion of the drawn-out loop is located relative to the loom.

15. The arrangement of claim 1 in which an extractor member is provided on each side of the loom and the two extractor members are driven by the same drive means so that drawing-out of the yarns to be picked in one direction takes place during the picking of the yarns in the other direction, each of said drawing-out operations thereby extending substantially throughout a complete working cycle of the loom.

16. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a second yarn withdrawing means for each of the yarns fed via said separate yarn feeders, for withdrawing an adjustable quantity of the yarn offered after being drawn out by said extractor member.

17. The arrangement of claim 16 further comprising a yarn braking means over which each of the yarns is guided from said yarn supply positioned before said second withdrawing means, said second withdrawing means comprising a rider disposed on each of the yarns, the weight of the rider being such that after drawing-out of a yarn is completed by the extractor member, the associated rider will descend to bear on an adjustable stop disposed below it.

18. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising weft yarn monitoring means positioned to the side of the path of the extractor member over which the drawn-out yarn is positioned in the first working phase of said arrangement and from which the yarn is drawn away in a second working phase during picking of the yarn by said picking member, said monitoring means producing a stop signal when no yarn is positioned above it in the first working phase and when yarn is positioned above it in the second working phase.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1936 Pool l39126 9/1959 Walton 139l26 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/ 1966 Great Britain.

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