GB2045817A

GB2045817A - Reed

Info

Publication number: GB2045817A
Application number: GB7912985A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WALKER CHARLES CONS Ltd
Current assignee: WALKER CHARLES CONS Ltd
Priority date: 1979-04-12
Filing date: 1979-04-12
Publication date: 1980-11-05

Abstract

A reed has metal dents (16) secured in baulks (12) by adhesive, the baulks having longitudinal beads (24) of an elastomeric material to act as a buffer making the reed more resilient and less prone to dent breakage. The dents (16) are separated by a winding 20 of synthetic material and are secured in place by adhesive. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Reed This invention relates to reeds for use in weaving looms.

Reeds are employed in looms for any or all ofthe following purposes: To beat-up the weft yarn against the fabric already woven before the next weaving operation; separating the warp threads; determining the spacing of the warp threads; and guiding the shuttle. A conventional reed consists of vertical wires called dents held in a frame comprising horizontal baulks and usually a pair of reed-ends.

Originally many reeds were of the pitch bonded variety, i.e. the dents were separated by a winding of pitch impregnated string. The baulks comprised wooden side pieces held together by metal end caps. A later form of reed was the all metal variety in which the dents were separated by a spring and metal baulks were soldered in place. The early pitch-bonded reeds have been largely superceded by newer forms since the use of pitch coated string is inconvenient. All-metal reeds are strong and accurately constructed but are expensive and difficult to repair should a dent become broken. Because of the all-metal construction there is less resilience in all metal reeds than in the old pitch bonded reeds and consequently in certain circumstances they are more vulnerable to dent breakage.

It is an object of the invention to produce a reed having the desirable resilience ofthe pitch bonded reed but which can be produced by modern techniques and yet is less costly than the current all metal varieties.

According to the present invention there is provided a reed having dents secured in durable baulks, and at least one elastomeric bead extending longitudinally of each baulk.

The elastomeric bead serves as a buffer for the baulk and ensures that baulks of durable materials such as metals are resilient in use.

The elastomeric material may be any suitable natural or synthetic elastomer, e.g. natural rubber, or synthetic rubbers such as thiol, silicone or polyurethane rubbers, especially the latter. The bead may be extruded or otherwise produced in the desired shape, and subsequently fitted to the baulks; or it may be moulded in situ.

The bead may be of any cross-sectional shape but simple shapes, e.g. square or round, are preferred for reasons for ease of manufacture. Similarly there may be more than one bead on each side of each baulk, but again for ease and economy of manufacture one only is preferred on each face which will contact the loom in use.

The baulk should be made of a durable material, and it is preferred to employ metal baulks, e.g.

aluminium.

Preferably the dents are separated by a winding of synthetic textile material string, e.g. nylon string, since this enhances the resilience of the reed, and gives very even dent spacing although other dent separating means may be used, e.g. springs or cotton cord. The dents are conveniently secured with adhesive.

The adhesive used may be any strong, hardsetting adhesive suitable for wood and metal, but epoxy adhesives are preferred, for example that commercially available under the trademark 'Araldite' (Ciba-Geigy).

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the sole figure of the accompanying drawings which illustrates diagrammatically in a partiaily cut away isometric view a reed constructed according to the invention.

A reed generally designated 10 comprises a pair of shaped aluminium baulks 12 having a preformed longitudinal stepped channel 14 and part circular longitudinal recesses 15formedtherein. Dents 16 are supported top and bottom in the channel 14 between two pairs of horizontal supporting strips 18 and are both spaced and temporariiy secured to the latter by helical windings of nylon cord 20. Metal reed ends 22 are positioned at each end and the shaped baulks 12 are fixed in place with epoxy adhesive. Polyurethane rubber beads 24 are located in the recesses 15.

The reeds so-made are cheaper than conventional soldered metal varities, are strong, and are resilient in use and so less susceptible to dent fracture through shock, as well as producing less noise in operation.

1. A reed having dents secured in durable baulks and at least one elastomeric bead extending longitudinally of each baulk.

2. A reed as claimed in claim 1 having one bead on each side of each baulk.

3. A reed as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 in which the bead is a natural or synthetic rubber.

4. A reed as claimed in claim 3 in which the bead is of a polyurethane rubber,.

5. A reed as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the bead is generally circular in cross-section.

6. A reed as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which the baulks are made of metal.

7. A reed as claimed in claim 6 in which the baulks are made of aluminium.

8. A reed as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 in which the dents are separated by a winding of synthetic textile material string.

9. A reed as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in which the dents are secured in the baulks with adhesive.

10. A reed as claimed in claim 9 in which the adhesive is an epoxy adhesive.

11. A reed substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Reed This invention relates to reeds for use in weaving looms. Reeds are employed in looms for any or all ofthe following purposes: To beat-up the weft yarn against the fabric already woven before the next weaving operation; separating the warp threads; determining the spacing of the warp threads; and guiding the shuttle. A conventional reed consists of vertical wires called dents held in a frame comprising horizontal baulks and usually a pair of reed-ends. Originally many reeds were of the pitch bonded variety, i.e. the dents were separated by a winding of pitch impregnated string. The baulks comprised wooden side pieces held together by metal end caps. A later form of reed was the all metal variety in which the dents were separated by a spring and metal baulks were soldered in place. The early pitch-bonded reeds have been largely superceded by newer forms since the use of pitch coated string is inconvenient. All-metal reeds are strong and accurately constructed but are expensive and difficult to repair should a dent become broken. Because of the all-metal construction there is less resilience in all metal reeds than in the old pitch bonded reeds and consequently in certain circumstances they are more vulnerable to dent breakage. It is an object of the invention to produce a reed having the desirable resilience ofthe pitch bonded reed but which can be produced by modern techniques and yet is less costly than the current all metal varieties. According to the present invention there is provided a reed having dents secured in durable baulks, and at least one elastomeric bead extending longitudinally of each baulk. The elastomeric bead serves as a buffer for the baulk and ensures that baulks of durable materials such as metals are resilient in use. The elastomeric material may be any suitable natural or synthetic elastomer, e.g. natural rubber, or synthetic rubbers such as thiol, silicone or polyurethane rubbers, especially the latter. The bead may be extruded or otherwise produced in the desired shape, and subsequently fitted to the baulks; or it may be moulded in situ. The bead may be of any cross-sectional shape but simple shapes, e.g. square or round, are preferred for reasons for ease of manufacture. Similarly there may be more than one bead on each side of each baulk, but again for ease and economy of manufacture one only is preferred on each face which will contact the loom in use. The baulk should be made of a durable material, and it is preferred to employ metal baulks, e.g. aluminium. Preferably the dents are separated by a winding of synthetic textile material string, e.g. nylon string, since this enhances the resilience of the reed, and gives very even dent spacing although other dent separating means may be used, e.g. springs or cotton cord. The dents are conveniently secured with adhesive. The adhesive used may be any strong, hardsetting adhesive suitable for wood and metal, but epoxy adhesives are preferred, for example that commercially available under the trademark 'Araldite' (Ciba-Geigy). The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the sole figure of the accompanying drawings which illustrates diagrammatically in a partiaily cut away isometric view a reed constructed according to the invention. A reed generally designated 10 comprises a pair of shaped aluminium baulks 12 having a preformed longitudinal stepped channel 14 and part circular longitudinal recesses 15formedtherein. Dents 16 are supported top and bottom in the channel 14 between two pairs of horizontal supporting strips 18 and are both spaced and temporariiy secured to the latter by helical windings of nylon cord 20. Metal reed ends 22 are positioned at each end and the shaped baulks 12 are fixed in place with epoxy adhesive. Polyurethane rubber beads 24 are located in the recesses 15. The reeds so-made are cheaper than conventional soldered metal varities, are strong, and are resilient in use and so less susceptible to dent fracture through shock, as well as producing less noise in operation. CLAIMS

2. A reed as claimed in claim 1 having one bead on each side of each baulk.

4. A reed as claimed in claim 3 in which the bead is of a polyurethane rubber,.

7. A reed as claimed in claim 6 in which the baulks are made of aluminium.

10. A reed as claimed in claim 9 in which the adhesive is an epoxy adhesive.