GB1575992A - Means for convertin a shuttle loom to a flexible tape loom - Google Patents

Description

(54) MEANS FOR CONVERTING A SHUTTLE LOOM TO A FLEXIBLE TAPE LOOM (71) We, THE SHENKAR COLLEGE OF FASHION AND TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY, an Israeli Corporation, of 24 Anna Frank Street, Ramat-Gan, Israel, do hereby dew clare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention concerns means for converting a conventional shuttle loom to a flexible tape loom.

Up to a short while ago, shuttle looms have been the most popular looms used in the weaving industry. However, shuttleless looms have been introduced and are generally accepted now as one of the standard machines.

Among the different known methods of weft insertion in shuttleless looms, the flexible tape method is probably the most popular one.

However, the industry has made great capital investments in shuttle looms. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means for converting such existing shuttle looms to flexible tape looms.

The invention utilises the fact, that the warp mechanism, reeds, main shaft and auxiliary mechanisms of the flexible tape looms are the same as those of the shuttle loom. The only difference is that instead of a shuttle moving from one side of the loom in the shed to the other, flexible tapes are provided on both sides of the shed in substantially semi-circular guide tracks, each tape moving to substantially the centre of the loom and passing the weft from one to the other. The movement of the tapes is effected by any known means, e.g. gear or roller.

According to this invention, there is provided means for converting a shuttle loom to a loom having flexible tapes comprising a first link connected at one end to the main or auxiliary shaft of the loom eccentrically in relation to that shaft and at its the loom, a second link pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the lever link and at its other end to one end of a third link, the other end of the third link being coupled to a worm gear in mesh with a worm forming part of tape moving means, the converting means serving to transform the rotary movement of the main or auxiliary shaft into a reciprocating movement of said tape moving means.

The tape moving means may be constituted by friction rollers or gears mounted on a shaft, the linkage transferring the rotational movement by means of a reduction box or worm gear.

The linkage may be mounted below the main or auxiliary shaft or above the main or auxiliary shaft at both sides of the loom.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the means according to the invention for converting the shuttle loom to a rapier loom; Fig. 2 is a partial front view on a smaller scale of the flexible tape moving mechanism of Fig. 1 seen in the direction; of arrow A; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a second converting means according to the invention in a schematic side view, seen from the side of the loom opposite to that of Fig. 1.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a guide track 1 is provided on the sley for the flexible tape 2 which has cut-outs and is moved by means of a gear 3, all as known per se.

Iii order to convert the rotating movement of the main shaft 4 of the existing shuttle loom to a reciprocating movement of gear 3, a disc 5 is keyed to shaft 4 at the side of the loom. One bar 6 of a linkage is eccentrically and pivotally mounted at 7 to disc 5, the other end of bar 6 being pivotally attached at 8 to a lever link 9 which is rotatable around pivot 10 fixed to other end pivotally to one end of a lever link pivotally coupled to a fixed part of a fixed part of the loom framework (not shown). The other end of lever link 9 is pivotally attached at 11 to a link 12 to whose other end a link 13 is pivotally attached at 14. The other end of link 13 is keyed onto a shaft 15, a worm gear 16 being likewise keyed thereto. Worm gear 16 is in mesh with a worm 17 provided at the end of shaft 18 on which gear 3 is keyed.

Thus it can be seen that a rotary movement' of main shaft 4 causes an up and down movement of lever link 9, links 12 and 13, and a reciprocating rotating movement of shaft 15, whereby worm gear 16 and shaft 17 are likewise reciprocatingly rotated, In the embodiment of Fig. 3 parts which are the same as those in Figs. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Herein the converting means is mounted above the main shaft 4 and its rotation is transmitted by means of a disc 5 to a link 6' eccentrically attached thereto. Link 6' is pivotally connected at 8' tQ a link 19.

Link 19 is rigidly connected to a link 20, the point of connection 21 being pivotally mounted to a fixed part of the loom frame (not shown). The other end of link 20 is pivotally attached at 22 to a link 23, whose other end is pivotally attached at 24 to one end of link 25. Link 25 is keyed to shaft 15 which thus rotates reciprocatingly and moves gear 3 in the same manner by way of worm gear 16, worm 17, shaft 18 as that described in Figs. 1 and 2.

The invention is not limited to the particular linkages shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and other combinations of links which convert the rotating movement of the main shaft of a shuttle loom to a reciprocating movement of the gear 3 which moves the flexible tapes may be used.

While the above description relates to the type of tapes having cut-outs and which are moved by a gear, the invention is also applicable to looms having flexible tapes being moved by friction rollers or any other tape moving means. Furthermore, the power take-off from the main or auxiliary shaft need not be at the side of the loom as has been described above, but may be provided at any convenient location thereon.

It must be understood that the reciprocating movement of link 12 may be transferred to the gear 3 or to any of the known tape moving means by known mechanisms other than those described above, e.g. a reduction box or the like.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Means for converting a shuttle loom to a loom having flexible tapes comprising a first link connected at one end to the main or auxiliary shaft of the loom eccentrically in relation to that shaft and at its other end pivotally to one end of a lever link pivotally coupled to a fixed part of the loom, a second link pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the lever link and at its other end to one end of a third link, the other end of the third link being coupled to a worm gear in mesh with a worm forming part of tape moving means, the converting means serving to transform the rotary movement of the main or auxiliary shaft into a reciprocating movement of said tape moving means.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other end of the third link is pivotally. connected to a fourth link which carries the worm gear.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said worm gear is keyed to a first shaft and the worm is at the end of a second shaft.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tape moving means comprises a gear mounted on the second shaft.

5. Means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the end of the second shaft is cut to form said worm.

6. Means for converting a shuttle loom to a loom having flexible tapes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. other end pivotally to one end of a lever link pivotally coupled to a fixed part of a fixed part of the loom framework (not shown). The other end of lever link 9 is pivotally attached at 11 to a link 12 to whose other end a link 13 is pivotally attached at 14. The other end of link 13 is keyed onto a shaft 15, a worm gear 16 being likewise keyed thereto. Worm gear 16 is in mesh with a worm 17 provided at the end of shaft 18 on which gear 3 is keyed. Thus it can be seen that a rotary movement' of main shaft 4 causes an up and down movement of lever link 9, links 12 and 13, and a reciprocating rotating movement of shaft 15, whereby worm gear 16 and shaft 17 are likewise reciprocatingly rotated, In the embodiment of Fig. 3 parts which are the same as those in Figs. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. Herein the converting means is mounted above the main shaft 4 and its rotation is transmitted by means of a disc 5 to a link 6' eccentrically attached thereto. Link 6' is pivotally connected at 8' tQ a link 19. Link 19 is rigidly connected to a link 20, the point of connection 21 being pivotally mounted to a fixed part of the loom frame (not shown). The other end of link 20 is pivotally attached at 22 to a link 23, whose other end is pivotally attached at 24 to one end of link 25. Link 25 is keyed to shaft 15 which thus rotates reciprocatingly and moves gear 3 in the same manner by way of worm gear 16, worm 17, shaft 18 as that described in Figs. 1 and 2. The invention is not limited to the particular linkages shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and other combinations of links which convert the rotating movement of the main shaft of a shuttle loom to a reciprocating movement of the gear 3 which moves the flexible tapes may be used. While the above description relates to the type of tapes having cut-outs and which are moved by a gear, the invention is also applicable to looms having flexible tapes being moved by friction rollers or any other tape moving means. Furthermore, the power take-off from the main or auxiliary shaft need not be at the side of the loom as has been described above, but may be provided at any convenient location thereon. It must be understood that the reciprocating movement of link 12 may be transferred to the gear 3 or to any of the known tape moving means by known mechanisms other than those described above, e.g. a reduction box or the like. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Means for converting a shuttle loom to a loom having flexible tapes comprising a first link connected at one end to the main or auxiliary shaft of the loom eccentrically in relation to that shaft and at its other end pivotally to one end of a lever link pivotally coupled to a fixed part of the loom, a second link pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the lever link and at its other end to one end of a third link, the other end of the third link being coupled to a worm gear in mesh with a worm forming part of tape moving means, the converting means serving to transform the rotary movement of the main or auxiliary shaft into a reciprocating movement of said tape moving means.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other end of the third link is pivotally. connected to a fourth link which carries the worm gear.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said worm gear is keyed to a first shaft and the worm is at the end of a second shaft.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tape moving means comprises a gear mounted on the second shaft.

5. Means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the end of the second shaft is cut to form said worm.

6. Means for converting a shuttle loom to a loom having flexible tapes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.