US3746052A

US3746052A - Method and apparatus for feeding terry warps in looms

Info

Publication number: US3746052A
Application number: US00163393A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Burgess; G Williams
Original assignee: Cannon Mills Co
Current assignee: Fieldcrest Cannon Inc
Priority date: 1971-07-16
Filing date: 1971-07-16
Publication date: 1973-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-17

Abstract

A method and apparatus for positively feeding terry warps during both terry-weaving and non-terry intervals of operation of a terry loom so as to prevent undue stress on the terry warps throughout operation of the loom.

Description

United States Patent Burgess et a1.

1 1 July 17, 1973 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TERRY WARPS IN LOOMS Inventors: Douglas P. Burgess, Woodleaf,

Gilmer A. Williams, Kannapolis,

both of N.C.

[73] Assignee: Cannon Mills Company, Kannapo- 1is,N.C.

[22] Filed: July 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 163,393

[52] US. Cl. 139/25, 139/102 [51] Int. Cl. D03d 39/22, D03d 49/06 [58] Field of Search 439 2547, 102

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,741,270 4/1956 Mills 139/25 1,322,671 11/1919 Davis 139/25 785,595 3/1905 Crowley... 1.39/25 1,901,769 3/1933 Parker 1.39/25 1,949,579 3/1934 Parker [39/25 3,302,665 2/1967 McHargue.. 139/25 3,425,457 2/1969 Bergstrom... 139/25 1,993,373 3/1935 -Kaufman..... 139/102 1,739,192 10/1929 Wakefield 139/27 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Attorney-Warley L. Parrott et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for positively feeding terry warps during both terry-weaving and non-terry intervals of operation of a terry 100m so as to prevent undue stress on the terry warps throughout operation of the loom.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATTERN M E-ANS Q Eb TERRY DRWE' CAM MEAN: \o

Patented July 17, 1973 v 3,746,052

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 17, 1973 v 3,746,052

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TERRY WARPS IN LOOMS It is well known that terry cloth is woven on terry looms by weaving a base fabric of ground warps and wefts while directing terry warps to the reed, and at certain times, the relative positions of the beat-up point of the reed and the fell of the cloth are such that the fell is spaced about three-sixteenths to one-half inch forwardly of the reed at beat-up to form two or more loose picks of weft. Thereupon, the relative positions of the beat-up point of the reed and the fell are changed so that a fast pick is produced by the reed beating up the corresponding weft, along with the loose picks, against the fell to effect a terry cycle of the loom. Usually, three or four picks of the loom occur during each terry cycle. To complete each terry cycle, the terry warps are relatively taut during the loose picks, but a substantial slack length of the terry warps is available to the reed during the fast pick of each terry cycle to form the desired length of terry loops.

In some looms, the reed is shifted rearwardly to occupy a partial beat-up position relative to the lay and/or the swords during the loose picks of the loom so as to beat up short of the fell, and the reed is shifted forwardly to full beat-up position during each fast pick of the loom so as to beat up against the fell. In such looms, the slack length of terry warps is produced during each terry cycle by letting off or overfeedingthe terry warps from the terry warp beam concurrently with each fastpick stroke of the reed to full beat-up position.

In other terry looms, the cloth is moved forwardly during the first loose pick of each terry cycle so as to position the fell forwardly of the beat-up point of the reed, thus pulling the desired length of terry warps forwardly. During the succeeding fast pick, the ground warps and cloth are shifted rearwardly to position the fell at the reed beat-up point, but the terry warps are not pulled rearwardly, thus providing the desired amount of slack therein to form the terry loops.

Preferably, and as is common practice, terry looms are equipped with a positive let-off or feeding means for feeding the desired length of the terry warps from a terry warp beam or other source to the reed during each terry cycle, thereby providing a precise control of the height of the terry loops being formed. To our knowledge however, during non-terry intervals of loom operation, such as during the formation of nonwoven or sparsely woven fringe areas or during the weaving of borders or headers between adjacent terry areas of the cloth, it has been necessary heretofore for the terry warps to overcome the inertia of the positive feeding means or to stretch the terry warps in order that the terry warps could advance with the ground warps and be pulled forwardly with the normal take-up of the cloth. Consequently, the terry warps would be placed under excessively high tension unintentionally during non-terry intervals of loom operation and thereby adversely affect such operation.

Among the more critical problems encountered by placing the terry warps under such excessively high tension is the fact that the terry warps frequently will lift some of the usual stop-motion drop wires to such extent that they will tilt and engage the associated electrode bars, thereby causing false stoppages of the loom. Another problem is that the excessive tension in the terry warps may oppose the motion of the harnesses or heddles to such extent as to undesirably reduce the size of the open warp shed and thereby interfere with the movement of the weft-inserting means therethrough. Also, some of the terry warps would break due to the excessive tension therein or some of the previously formed terry loops might be partially pulled out of the base fabric and thus undesirably shortened at the juncture of a terry area and a non-terry area of the cloth.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for feeding terry warps to the weaving instrumentalities of a terry loom so as to avoid the foregoing and other problems attendant heretofore to excessive tensioning of terry warps during non-terry intervals of operation of the loom.

A more specific object is to provide a method of and apparatus for feeding terry warps wherein the terry warps are fed positively to the weaving instrumentalities in first increments of predetermined length during the terry-cycle intervals of operation of the loom, and the terry warps also are fed positively to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of length substantially less than that of the first increments during non-terry intervals of operation of the loom, thereby substantially avoiding placing of the terry warps under undesirably excessive tension throughout operation of the loom.

In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises feed rolls between which the terry warps pass in their course from a terry warp beam or other source to the loom reed. First and second ratchet wheels are drivingly connected to the feed rolls and are normally engaged by respective first and second pawls. The first pawl is mounted for reciprocation in concert with rocker means to which the loom imparts one reciprocation during each of certain picks of the loom; e.g., one reciprocation every third or fourth pick, so that the first pawl imparts a relatively large increment of movement to the feed rolls during each reciprocation of the rocker means occurring during terry-cycle intervals of loom operation. Lost motion means interconnects the second pawl and the rocker means so that, in effect, the first pawl overrides the second pawl during terry weaving. During non-terry intervals of loom operation, the first pawl is maintained out of engagement with the first ratchet wheel, and a limiting means limits the lost motion between the rocker means and the second pawl so that the second pawl transmits a fractional part of a stroke from the rocker means to the second ratchet wheel during each reciprocation of the rocker means occurring during non-terry intervals of loom operation. Thus, a relatively short increment of movement is imparted to the feed rolls during each of certain picks of the loom occurring during the non-terry intervals of loom operation. Y

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention I having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, partially exploded, perspective view of a terry loom equipped with a preferred embodiment of improved terry warp feeding means for carrying out the method of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the terry warp feeding means;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the terry warp feeding means looking at the lefthand side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the terry warp feeding means; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 55 in FIG. 4 particularly illustrating the ratchet pawl which imparts relatively short increments of rotation to the terry warp feed rolls.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the improved terry warp feeding apparatus is shown, by way of example, in association with a terry loom of a general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,235, issued to Douglas P. Burgess on Mar. 15, I966, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The loom includes the usual weaving instrumentalities comprising a beating means or oscillatable reed l0, shedding means or heddles 11, and weft inserting means, not shown. Ground and

terry warps

13, 14 are taken from respective sources embodied in a ground warp beam 134 and a terry warp beam 14a. From beams 13a, 140 the

warps

13, 14 pass upwardly and downwardly, respectively, then partially around respective guide bars or rolls l5, l6 and then forwardly through conventional stop-motion drop wires 20, heddles 11 and reed to the fell of the cloth 17 being woven. I

Guide roll 15 usually serves as a whip roll capable of sensing the tension in the ground warps and controlling the speed of the ground warp beam 13a through a ground warp let-off mechanism, not shown, but which may be of a type such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,786,471, issued to John 0. Hunt on Mar. 26, 1957,

for example. Guide roll 16 serves as, and may be or otherwise stop the loom, as is well known. Accordingly, a further more detailed illustration and description of the conventional structure of the loom is deemed unnecessary.

The cam 31 also may be operatively connected to reed 10 to shift the same between partial and full beatup positions by conventional or other means generally of the terry warps varies relative to the rate of take-up of cloth 17. In other words, vibrator roll 16 applies a compensating force to the terry warps 14 at an area between the weaving instrumentalities at the point at which positive feeding of the terry warps is being effected, by means to be later described, for preventing occurrence of excessive slack in the terry warps. Therefore, reduced opposite ends of vibrator roll 16 are mounted in diagonal or angularly disposed slots 22a in bracket 22 carried by opposite side portions of a loom frame 23. Only one of the brackets 22 is shown in FIG. 2, but a similar bracket is mounted on the opposite side of the loom. V

The'cloth 17 may be taken up by a take-up roll 25 and then passes downwardly to a cloth wind-up roll 26. Take-up roll 25 takes up the cloth 17 a predetermined amount, the equivalent of one pick of weft, during each pick or beat of the loom; i. e., during each beat-up of reed l0. Take-up roll 25 may be driven continuously or in a stepwise manner by a conventional take-up mechanism 27 operatively connected to the main drive means 30 of the loom as shown schematically in FIG. 1. Conventionally, main drive means 30 drives the ground warp let-off mechanism for beam 13a, operates heddles l1 and the weft-inserting means, oscillates the swords 10a which support reed 10, and drives the usual terry cam 31 through connections therewith well known in the art and such as are disclosed, for example, in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,235. Also, drop wires 20 normally rest upon the ground and terry warps 13, 14 and will drop into engagement with electrode bars or stop motion bars 200 (FIG. 2) upon parting of, or occurrence of undue slack in, any of the respective strands in the

warps

13, 14 to interrupt operation of drive means 30 designated at 32 in FIG. 1 and such as is disclosed, for example, in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,235. In weaving a three pick terry cloth, for example, reed 10 is shifted rearwardly to occupy a partial beat-up position relative to the lay and/or swords 10a during the beat-up of two loose picks of the loom so as to beat-up short of the fell of the cloth 17. During the third pick of each terry cycle, reed 10 is shifted forwardly to its normal, full beatup position to form a fast pick as it beats up against the fell of the cloth 17 while the three picks of weft grip and push a slackened length of the terry warps forwardly relative to the ground warps and the fell of the. cloth 17 so as to form a weftwise row of terry loops projecting upwardly and/0r downwardly from the base of the cloth.

In order to provide for precise control of the length of terry loops being formed, and as is desirable, most terry looms now in the textile industry are equipped with conventional intermittently operable feeding means, including feed rolls for overfeeding the terry warps relative to the ground warps in an increment of length in the range of about three-sixteenths to one-half inch during one pick of each terry cycle, and brake means are provided to prevent overrunning of the terry warp feed rolls at the end of eachsuch incremental rotational movement thereof. In the type of terry loom heretofore described, the overfeeding of the terry warps 14 is effected concurrently with each fast pick incident to each terry cycle of the loom; i.e., concurrently with forward movement of reed 10 to the full beat-up position following two or more picks of the loom in which the reed l0 occupied partial beat-up position in the forming of loose picks incident to the corresponding terry cycle of the loom.

In another type of terry loom wherein the position of reed 10 remains constant relative to swords 10, but wherein the cloth l7 and the ground warps 13 are shifted forwardly during the first loose pick and shifted back to normal position during each fast pick of each terry cycle, the overfeeding of terry warps 14 is effected during the first pick of each terry cycle of the loom. Such other type of terry loom may be of the type disclosed in our U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,096, dated Nov. 7, 1967, for example, the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

The intermittent positive feeding of the terry warps during terry-loop-forming or terry-cycle intervals of loom operation provides very satisfactory control of the length of the terry loops formed on both types of looms mentioned above. It is known to stop a terry loom, release the brake means associated with the terry warp feed rolls, then advance the cloth and warps to form a nonwoven fringe following the formation of a terry area in the cloth being woven, and then to restart the operation of the loom. However, to our knowledge, terry looms have not been equipped heretofore with any means, operable during continuous operation of the loom, for automatically relieving the restraint being applied to the terry warps by the feed rolls during nonterry intervals of operation of the loom. More importantly, no means have been provided heretofore for positively feeding the terry warps forwardly during non-terry intervals of loom operation in the forming of nonwoven or sparsely woven fringe areas or during the weaving of borders, headers and the like between adjacent terry areas of the cloth. Consequently, as indicated earlier herein, the terry warps would become excessively tensioned during non-terry intervals of loom operation to such extent as to partially pull out previously formed terry loops, interfere with the full shed- -ding of the heddles 11, break at least some of the terry warps, and/or raise some of the drop wires to such extent that they would tilt into engagement with the usual electrode or stop motion bars and cause false stoppages of the loom.

To substantially reduce or eliminate the foregoing and other problems, the present invention is embodied in a novel compound terry warp let-off mechanism or positive feeding means for positively feeding the terry warps 14 to the weaving instrumentalities in first increments of relatively long length during the terry-cycle intervals of loom operation and for positively feeding the terry warps to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of substantially less length than the first increments during non-terry intervals of loom operation. The compound terry warp let-ofi' mechanism comprises a pair of terry warp feed rolls 35, a interposed between terry warp beam 14a and vibrator roll 16. The terry warp feed rolls 35, 350 are conventional per se, and reduced opposite ends thereof are journalled in brackets 36 suitably secured to opposite sides of loom frame 23, only one of the brackets 36 being shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Terry warps 14 pass downwardly. from beam 14a, beneath the rear feed roll 35, then upwardly between and through the nip of feed rolls 35, 35a, over front feed roll 35a and then downwardly and partially around vibrator roll 16 in succession. Corresponding ends of feed rolls 35, 35a have intermeshing gears 37 fixed thereon and a positive drive means 40 is mounted on the reduced end portion of one of the feed rolls 35, 35a. In this instance, one reduced end or shaft 41 of rear feed roll 35 has the drive means 40 mounted thereon as well as an adjustable brake means broadly designated at 42. Brake means 42 may take the form of a friction brake including a drum 43 fixed on shaft 41 and an adjustable brake band 44 attached to the adjacent bracket 36. Since such adjustable friction brakes are well known, a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The terry warp feed roll positive drive means 40 comprises first and second

coaxial ratchet wheels

46, 47 both of which may be of about the same diameter with an intervening shield disc or plate 50 of greater diameter therebetween. To secure

ratchet wheels

46, 47 and disc 50 together, screws 51 (FIGS. 3 and 4) may loosely penetrate second ratchet wheel 47 and disc 50, and are threaded into first ratchet wheel 46. One or the other, or both, ratchet

wheels

46, 47 may be keyed or otherwise suitably secured on shaft 41 of feed roll 35.

ltis preferred that the teeth of ratchet wheel 46 are substantially larger than the teeth of ratchet wheel 47, since there is a substantial difference between the effective strokes of first and second ratchet pawls 46a, 47a which normally engage the

respective ratchet wheels

46, 47 for driving feed rolls 35, 35a in a manner to be later described. By way of example in actual practice, the feed rolls 35, 35a were about 4 inches in diameter, ratchet

wheels

46, 47 were 5 inches in diameter, the first or primary ratchet wheel 46 had 35 teeth about its periphery and the second or auxiliary ratchet wheel 47 had teeth about its periphery.

Rocker means, in the form of a bell crank 53, is pivotally mounted on shaft 41 adjacent first ratchet wheel 46. One arm of bell crank 53 extends forwardly from shaft 41 and has the upper end of a connecting rod or link 54 pivotally and adjustably connected thereto, as at 55. The other arm of bell crank 53 has a pivot shaft 56 secured thereto and extending substantially parallel with shaft 41 in spaced relation from

ratchet wheels

46, 47. First ratchet pawl 46a is pivotally mounted on pivot shaft 56 and is normally urged into engagement with first ratchet wheel 46 by means of a compression spring 57 (FIG. 2) positioned between and in engagement with wing portions'60, 61 projecting outwardly from and integral with first ratchet pawl 46a and bell crank 53, respectively.

Link 54 is operatively connected to and vertically reciprocated by terry cam 31 which, as disclosed in said Pat. No. 3,240,235, imparts an active upward and then an inactive downward stroke to link 54 during one pick of the loom incident to each terry cycle thereof. Thus, in weaving a three-pick terry cloth, terry cam 31 imparts an active and then an inactive stroke to bell crank 53, through the intervening link 54, during one of every three picks of the loom; i.e., during each fast pick in terry weaving on the type of loom first described and during the first loose pick of each terry cycle in weaving on the other type of loom in which the cloth and ground warps are shifted relative to the reed.

Each active stroke of link 54 and bell crank 53 is such that, if first ratchet pawl 46a is in engagement with ratchet wheel 46, it will impart a relatively large increment in rotational or angular movement to feed

rolls

35, 35a and, consequently, will positively feed terry warps 14 to the weaving instrumentalities a first increment of relatively long length. In order to control the terry warp feed roll drive means 40 so that such long increments of the terry warps are not let off relative to the ground warps 13 during non-terry intervals of loom operation, any suitable pattern controlled mechanism may be employed for withdrawing first ratchet pawl 46a out of engagement with first ratchet wheel 46.

By way of example, a link or cord 64, preferably having a tension spring 65 interposed therein (FIG. 1), extends upwardly from pawl 46a and is connected to the plunger of an electromagnetic device or solenoid 66 whose coil is attached to a fixed part of frame 23. The coil of solenoid 66 is electrically connected to a suitable pattern means 67 which will complete an electrical circuit to the coil of solenoid 66 to lift pawl 46a out of engagement with ratchet wheel 46, in opposition to compression spring 57 (FIG. 2) in the transition from the weaving of terry cloth to the fonning of non-terry portions such as fringes, borders or headers in the cloth 17.

Thus, although an active and an inactive stroke also are imparted to bell crank 53 during every third pick, for example, occurring during non-terry portions such as fringes, borders or headers in the cloth 17.

Thus, although an active and an inactive stroke also are imparted to bell crank 53 during every third pick, for example, occuring during non-terry loom operation, ratchet pawl 46a will be out of engagement with and will not impart rotation to ratchet wheel 46. However, the second ratchet pawl 47a is then operable to impart second, relatively short, increments of rotation or angular movement to ratchet

wheels

46, 47 and feed rolls 35, 350 so as to positively feed the terry warps 14 to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of substantially less length than the first increments during non-terry intervals of loom operation.

To this end, second ratchet pawl 47a is secured on the free end of a rod or shaft 70 by means of a pair of lock nuts 71 threaded onto rod 70. Pawl 470 may be secured directly to or formed integral with rod 70, if desired. However, by mounting pawl 47a between lock nuts 71, pawl 47a may be removed from rod 70 or turned on rod 70 so as to present a different edge thereof to ratchet wheel 47 in the event of the edge pre viously engaging ratchet wheel 47 becoming worn excessively. Rod 70 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in a pawl carrier block 73 pivotally mounted on pivot shaft 56.

Rod 70 is of substantially greater length than block 73 and has an abutment thereon in the form of a pair of lock nuts 74 threaded on the outer or front end thereof. Lock nuts 74 are normally urged into engagement with the corresponding end of block 73 by a tension spring 75. Tension spring 75 thus serves to normally maintain pawl 47a and its lock nuts 71 in substantial spaced relation from the rear or leading end of block 73. One end of spring 75 is connected to a spring anchor 76 secured to a medial portion of rod 70 and extending upwardly through a suitable slot 77 provided in the upper portion of block 73. The other end of spring 75 is connected to a second spring anchor 80 secured to and projecting upwardly from the rear portion of block 73. To maintain and normally urge pawl 47a into engagement .with the teeth of second ratchet wheel 47, a torsion spring 82 surrounds the'outer portion of picot shaft 56 and has one end thereof connected to block 73. The other end of torsion spring 82 is connected to a collar 83 adjustably secured on pivot shaft 56.

It is thus seen that, during each active stroke of bell crank 53 occurring during non-terry intervals of loom operation, although second ratchet pawl 47a remains in engagement with ratchet wheel 47, block 73 will be moved a substantial distance with bell crank 53 and pivot shaft 56 before the then leading end of block 73 engages the adjacent nut 71 and imparts an active movement to pawl 47a as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. Thus, second pawl 47a transmits only a fractional part of an active stroke from hell crank 53 to second ratchet wheel 47 during each upward movement of link 54 occurring whenever first pawl 46a is being held out of engagement with first ratchet wheel 46. It is apparent that lock nuts 74 are adjusted on rod 70 so that, when they engage the trailing end of block 73, pawl 47a will be disposed a predetermined distance from the leading or adjacent end of block 73, which determines the distance that pawl carrier block 73 must move during an active stroke thereof before it will impart movement to ratchet pawl 47a.

It can be appreciated, therefore, that the connection between rod 70 and block 73 is such as to serve as lost motion means interconnecting second pawl 47a and bell crank 53, and that lock nuts 74, as well as the righthand lock nut 71 in FIG. 5, serve as means limiting the extent of lost motion between second pawl 47a and bell crank 53 to transmit a predetermined fractional part of an active stroke from hell crank 53 to second ratchet wheel 47 and thereby to effect each second, relatively short increment of feed of the terry warps 14 during non-terry intervals of loom operation. Since the frequency of the active strokes of bell crank 53 is the same during both terry-cycle intervals and non-terry intervals of loom operation, and such active strokes can be tolerated during only one pick out of at least three picks of the loom during terry-cycle intervals, it follows that, when pawl 46a is raised out of engagement with first ratchet wheel 46, second pawl 47a must then impart an increment of feed to .the terry warps 14 about equivalent to the amount of cloth which is taken up during the corresponding picks of the loom occurring between successive active strokes of bell crank 53. In other words, pawl 470 will impart about three-or more picks of movement to terry warps 14 during each active stroke thereof effected during non-terry intervals of loom operation, and pawl 46a will impart about threesixteenths sixteenths to one-half inch of movement to terry warps 14 during each active stroke thereof occurring during terry-cycle intervals of loom operation. Although the amount of terry warps let off during nonterry intervals of loom operation upon each active stroke of pawl 47a is equal to the length of cloth 17 that will be taken up during a plurality of picks of the loom; e.g., three picks, vibrator roll 16 provides means for maintaining a relatively light tension in the terry warps during the interval between successive active strokes of pawl 47a, which tension is considerably less than the tension which would otherwise be present in the terry warps in the event that the feed rolls 35, 35a were not positively driven during the non-terry intervals of loom operation.

The relative positions of the first and second pawls 46a, 47a is such with respect to the teeth of

ratchet wheels

46, 47 and pawl carrier block 73 that, during terry-cycle intervals of loom operation, the first pawl 46a will impart movement to first ratchet wheel 46 substantially throughout the entire stroke of pawl 460. Second pawl 470 may impart three picks or more in rotation to ratchet wheel 47 substantially concurrently with pawl 46a at the end of an active stroke thereof, but on each return or inactive stroke of pawls 46a, 47a, the first pawl 46a drops back of the next tooth on the first ratchet wheel 46 a short distance spaced rearwardly thereof. This compensates for the extra picks in motion that the second or auxiliary pawl 47a previously transmitted to the

ratchet wheels

46, 47. Thus, the second or auxiliary pawl 47a has no effect in the feeding of the terry warps as long as the first or main pawl 46a is in engagement with ratchet wheel 46.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation.

We claim:

l. A method of feeding terry warps to weaving instrumentalities of a terry loom capable of performing terrycycle intervals of operation in alternation with performance of non-terry intervals of operation to form respective terry and non-terry areas in cloth being woven thereon; the improvement comprising positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumen talities in first increments during the terry-cycle intervals of operation of the loom, and positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of substantially less length than said first increments during non-terry intervals of operation of the loom.

2. The method of claim I, wherein the loom takes up the cloth a given amount during each pick of the loom during non-terry intervals of operation thereof, and wherein the step of positively feeding the terry warps in said second increments comprises positively feeding the terry warps during only a single pick of every given series of picks of the loom an amount about equal to that of the cloth taken up during said given series of picks.

3, The method of claim 2, which includes applying a compensating force to the terry warps at an area between the weaving instrumentalities and the point at which the positive feeding of the terry warps is being effected for preventing the occurrence of slack therein during all of the picks of the loom in said series.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the loom takes up the cloth a given amount during each of at least those picks of the loom occurring during non-terry intervals of operation thereof; wherein the positive feeding of the terry warps said first and second increments occurs in each instance during only a single pick of every given series of picks incident to the respective terry-cycle and non-terry intervals of operation of the loom, and wherein each second increment is about equal to the amount of cloth taken up during the corresponding given series of picks, and the method further comprising applying a compensating force to the terry warps at an area between the weaving instrumentalities and the point at which the positive feeding of the terry warps is being effected for preventing the occurrence of excessive slack therein during all of the picks of the loom in each given series.

5. A method of feeding terry warps to weaving instrumentalities of a terry loom capable of performing terrycycle intervals of operation in alternation with performance of non-terry intervals of operation to form respective terry and non-terry areas in cloth being woven thereon, and wherein the terry warps are positively fed forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in first increments of predetermined length during the terry-cycle intervals of operation of the loom; the improvement comprising positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of substantially less length than said first increments during non-terry intervals of operation of the loom so as to prevent undue stress on the terry warps throughout operation of the loom.

6. A method of feeding terry warps to a beating means of a terry loom capable of performing terryloop-forming intervals of operation in alternation with performance of non-terry intervals of operation to form respective terry and non-terry areas in cloth being woven thereon and wherein the loom is provided with means effective during only the terry-loop-forming intervals for varying the displacement between the beatup point of the heating means and the fell of the cloth being formed so as to effect terry cycles in which fast and loose picks are produced in alternation; said method comprising positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the beating means in first predetermined increments during only one pick of each terry cycle incident to the terry-loop-forming intervals of operation of the loom, and positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the beating means in second increments of substantially less length than said first increments during each of certain spaced picks of the loom during the non-terry intervals of operation of the loom, and wherein said certain spaced picks occur at a frequency corresponding substantially to that of said terry cycles.

7. ln a terry loom having weaving instrumentalities for weaving cloth from ground warps and terry warps, and control means selectively causing the weaving instrumentalities to perform terry-loop-forming intervals of operation in alternation with performance of nonterry intervals of operation to form respective terry and non-terry areas in the cloth being woven; the improvement comprising means operatively connected to said control means for positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in first increments during said terry-loop-forming intervals of operation of the weaving instrumentalities and for positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of substantially less length than said first increments during said non-terry intervals of operation of the weaving instrumentalities.

8. A structure according to claim 7, wherein said weaving instrumentalities include a reed, and means responsive to said'control means for relatively varying the displacement between the beat-up point of the reed and the fell of the cloth such that at beat-up the reed and cloth occupy relative fast-pick and loose-pick positions in alternation during said terry-loop-forming intervals, and. said means operatively connected to said control means being operable throughout operation of the loom to feed the terry warps during only each of certain spaced picks of the loom with the frequency of said spaced picks corresponding to the frequency of those fast-pick beat-up positions of the reed and the fell occurring during the terry-loop-forming intervals.

9. A structure according to claim 8, wherein said loom includes means for taking up the cloth one pick during each pick of the loom at least during non-terry intervals thereof whereby the cloth is taken up an amount greater than one pick between immediately successive feeds of the terry warps occurring during non-terry intervals, and said means operatively connected'to said control means further including means for feeding the terry warps in each said second increment an amount about equal to the amount that the cloth is taken up between the corresponding immediately successive feeds of the terry warps.

10. A structure according to claim 7, wherein said means for positively feeding the terry warps comprises at last one terry warp feed roll engaging said terry warps, first and second ratchet wheels drivingly connected to said feed roll, rocker means adjacent said ratchet wheels, means for imparting a reciprocatory motion to said rocker means during each of certain spaced picks of the loom, first and second pawls normally engaging the respective first and second ratchet wheels, means mounting said first pawl for reciprocation substantially in concert with said rocker means, means effective during only non-terry intervals of loom operation for holding said first pawl out of engagement with said first ratchet wheel, lost motion means interconnecting said second pawl and said rocker means, and means limiting the lost motion between said second pawl and said rocker means whereby said first pawl imparts a full stroke to said first ratchet wheel to effect each of said first increments of feed during said terryloop-forming intervals, and whereby said second pawl transmits only a fractional part of a stroke from said rocker means to said second ratchet wheel to effect each of said second increments of feed during said nonterry intervals.

Patent No. 3, 746,052 Dated July 17, 1973 lnventofls) Douglas P. Burgess and Gilrner A. Williams It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

column 6, delete linesBO-63, "Thus, although an borders or headers in the cloth17."

Column 7, line 37, "picotl' should be -pivot- Column 8, line 20, delete "sixteenths" second occurrence;

Colurnn 10, line Lw, "last" should be -least-.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of Jan'uaryl97Ll.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'LETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTl JEYER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A method of feeding terry warps to weaving instrumentalities of a terry loom capable of performing terry-cycle intervals of operation in alternation with performance of non-terry intervals of operation to form respective terry and non-terry areas in cloth being woven thereon; the improvement comprising positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in first increments during the terry-cycle intervals of operation of the loom, and positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of substantially less length than said first increments during non-terry intervals of operation of the loom.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the loom takes up the cloth a given amount during each pick of the loom during non-terry intervals of operation thereof, and wherein the step of positively feeding the terry warps in said second increments comprises positively feeding the terry warps during only a single pick of every given series of picks of the loom an amount about equal to that of the cloth taken up during said given series of picks. 3, The method of claim 2, which includes applying a compensating force to the terry warps at an area between the weaving instrumentalities and the point at which the positive feeding of the terry warps is being effected for preventing the occurrence of slack therein during all of the picks of the loom in said series.

5. A method of feeding terry warps to weaving instrumentalities of a terry loom capable of performing terry-cycle intervals of operation in alternation with performance of non-terry intervals of operation to form respective terry and non-terry areas in cloth being woven thereon, and wherein the terry warps are positively fed forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in first increments of predetermined length during the terry-cycle intervals of operation of the loom; the improvement comprising positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of substantially less length than said first increments during non-terry intervals of operation of the loom so as to prevent undue stress on the terry warps throughout operation of the loom.

6. A method of feeding terry warps to a beating means of a terry loom capable of performing terry-loop-forming intervals of operation in alternation with performance of non-terry intervals of operation to form respective terry and non-terry areas in cloth being woven thereon and wherein the loom is provided with means effective during only the terry-loop-forming intervals for varying the displacement between the beat-up point of the beating means and the fell of the cloth being formed so as to effect terry cycles in which fast and loose picks are produced in alternation; said method comprising positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the beating means in first predetermined increments during only one pick of each terry cycle incident to the terry-loop-forming intervals of operation of the loom, and positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the beating means in second increments of substantially less length than said first increments during each of certain spaced picks of the loom during the non-terry intervals of operation of the loom, and wherein said certain spaced picks occur at a frequency corresponding substantially to that of said terry cycles.

7. In a terry loom having weaving instrumentalities for weaving cloth from ground warps and terry warps, and control means selectively causing the weaving instrumentalities to perform terry-loop-forming intervals of operation in alternation with performance of non-terry intervals of operation to form respective terry and non-terry areas in the cloth being woven; the improvement comprising means operatively connected to said control means for positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in first increments during said terry-loop-forming intervals of operation of the weaving instrumentalities and for positively feeding the terry warps forwardly to the weaving instrumentalities in second increments of substantially less length than said first increments during said non-terry intervals of operation of the weaving instrumentalities.

8. A structure according to claim 7, wherein said weaving instrumentalities include a reed, and means responsive to said control means for relatively varying the displacement between the beat-up point of the reed and the fell of the cloth such that at beat-up the reed and cloth occupy relative fast-pick and loose-pick positions in alternation during said terry-loop-forming intervals, and said means operatively connected to said control means being operable throughout operation of the loom to feed the terry warps during only each of certain spaced picks of the loom with the frequency of said spaced picks corresponding to the frequency of those fast-pick beat-up positions of the reed and the fell occurring during the terry-loop-forming intervals.

9. A structure according to claim 8, wherein said loom includes means for taking up the cloth one pick during each pick of the loom at least during non-terry intervals thereof whereby the cloth is taken up an amount greater than one pick between immediately successive feeds of the terry warps occurring during non-terry intervals, and said means operatively connected to said control means further including means for feeding the terry warps in each said second increment an amount about equal to the amount that the cloth is taken up between the corresponding immediately successive feeds of the terry warps.

10. A structure according to claim 7, wherein said means for positively feeding the terry warps comprises at last one terry warp feed roll engaging said terry warps, first and second ratchet wheels drivingly connected to said feed roll, rocker means adjacent said ratchet wheels, means for imparting a reciprocatory motion to said rocker means during each of certain spaced picks of the loom, first and second pawls normally engaging the respective first and second ratchet wheels, means mounting said first pawl for reciprocation substantially in concErt with said rocker means, means effective during only non-terry intervals of loom operation for holding said first pawl out of engagement with said first ratchet wheel, lost motion means interconnecting said second pawl and said rocker means, and means limiting the lost motion between said second pawl and said rocker means whereby said first pawl imparts a full stroke to said first ratchet wheel to effect each of said first increments of feed during said terry-loop-forming intervals, and whereby said second pawl transmits only a fractional part of a stroke from said rocker means to said second ratchet wheel to effect each of said second increments of feed during said non-terry intervals.