US1362113A - Fred lacey - Google Patents

Description

F. LACEY.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.'19, 191 s.

1,362,1 13, Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

* m mm Int L nger.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FRED LACEY, on LOWELL,MASSACHUSETTS, Assrenon. TO DRAPER' CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pa-tgnted De 14 1920 Application filed August 19, 1919. Serial No. 318,471.

in the county of Middlesex and State of I Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanism for Looms, of

which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to filling replenish ing looms, and is more particularly directed to improvements in feeler mechanisms employed in such looms for effecting replenishment of filling when that in the active shuttle I becomes substantially exhausted.

Feeler mechanisms of the side swipe type are mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, and by such side swipe or lateral movement, a train of mechanism is set in operation for effecting replenishment of filling. The present invention relates generally to this type of feeler mecha nisin, and its object is to improve such mechanism and render it more simple, effective and reliable in action.

In the type offeeler mechanisms referred to, the side swipe or lateral movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, is effected insome cases by a spring or other actuating means, and another spring or actuating means is employed for maintaining the feeler in its rearward or feeling position. The association of duplicate means in the feeler mechanism leads to complication in the mechanism itself, and reduces the sensitiveness of the feeler action.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in providing a unitary feeler moving member whichacts (1) to move the feeler to and hold it in its rearward feeling position, and (2) effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

Other features and novel combination of parts will hereinafter be described in addition to the above, and then the novel features will be definitely set forth in the claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the detecting side of a loom embodying the present invention, some of the parts being omitted for the purpose of ,clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view showing the action of the feeler mechanism when the fill- 111 18 substantially exhausted; and

1g. 3 is a detail view partly in section showing one good form of means for effecting operative relation between the actuato and its operating member.

The loom frame 1 may be of anyusual or desired construction, and has secured thereto the bearing brackets 2, one at each side of the loom frame, in which is supported the transverse or rock shaft 3, normally under the influence of a spring (not shown tending'to turn the shaft contra-clockwise viewing Fig. 1. Secured to and'rising from the shaft 3 is the arm 4 to which is pivotally connected at 5 the actuator 6 which at times is adapted to be moved frontwardly under the command of an operating member 7. The operating member 7may be of any desired type, and is preferably associated with the weft hammer or cam follower. In the present instance of theinventiomthe operating member 7, has pivotally connected thereto at 8 a thrustmember 9 which normally operates in the socketed end portion 10 of the actuator 6, as the operating member? moves in its actuating path. Extending,

actuator, andpresent an abutment to the member 9, which thereupon moves the actuator frontwardly and causes replenishment of filling.

The lay 14 may be of usual construction and provided with a shuttle box 15, the

front wall 16 of which is provided with an opening or slot 17 which registers with a similar slot or opening 18 in the side wall of the shuttle 19 carrying the filling 20, the construction being such that the feeler may enter the shuttle and feel for the filling on each detecting beat. y

Mounted upon the loom frame. and in the present instance attached to the shipper handle bracket 21 is a feeler carrier or support 22 to which. is, pivotally connected at 23 a feeler carrier 24 which, in the present instance, is formed as a sleeve or tube in which is telescopically mounted the feeler 25, the construction being such that the feeler may, under conditions to be hereinafter more fully described, be reciprocated in the sleeve or tube 24. The rear end of the feeler 25 is provided with the toothed end 26 which engages the filling.

The slot or tube 24 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 27 through which projects the laterally extending pin 28 connected to the feeler member 25. Rearwardly of the pin or arm 28 is a stop for limiting the rearward movement of the feeler. In the present instance, the stop comprises the two pins 29 against which the pin or arm 28 rests when the feeler is in its rearward feeling position.

The present invention contemplates a unitary feeler moving member for imparting not only the rearward movement to the feeler after each detecting beat, but also, when the filling has become substantially exhausted, to impart to the feeler its movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. To this end the feeler movin member comprises a slide 30 having a head portion 31 frontwardly of the pin or arm 28 and adapted to bear against said arm. The slide 30 is guided in its frontward and rearward reciprocating movement by suitable guides, which in the present instance of the invention, comprise the slotted lug 32 through which the fiat portion of the slide extends, and 'a lug 33 through which projects the pin 34 which is secured to or formed as part of the slide 30. In the pres ent instance, the pin 34 is formed separately from the slide, and is secured thereto or integrated with it by means of a lug 35 formed on the slide frontwardly of the bearing lug 32, and between the part 35 and the rear face of the lug or front hearing 33 is interposed a spring 36 which normally acts upon the slide or feeler moving member to'yieldingly retain it in its rearward position, yet with permissive movement frontwardly under the. frontward impulse of the feeler member on a detecting beat.

From the construction described it will be apparent that the spring 36 normally acts to impart to the feeler moving member a yielding impulse rearwardly against the front portion of the pin or arm 28 extending laterally from the feeler. Thus, the feeler moving member maintains the feeler in its rearward or feeling position, and returns it to such position after a, detecting beat.

When a working supply of filling is presentin the shuttle on a detecting beat,

the toothed. .end portion 26. of the. feeler engages the filling mass and sinks into it,

the effect being that as the feeler is moved frontwardly against the yielding action of the spring 36, the feeler 25 will be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the filling mass. Should, however, the filling be substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and no longer suflicient to hold the feeler 25 from its movement longitudinally of the shuttle, the feeler will, under the action of the spring 36 exerting its yielding force upon the laterally extending pin or arm 28, cause the feeler to be moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle substantially as indicated in Fig. 2, on the detecting beat with filling substantially exhausted.

This movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle is utilized to effect movement of the actuator and its operating member relativelyinto operative relation. In the present instance, the link or arm 13 which, as previously described, is connected to the slide 12 at one end, has its other end jointed at 37 to the feeler carrier or sleeve 2a, the construction being such that when the single or unitary feeler moving member 30 exerts its rearward pressure against the laterally extending arm 28 as the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat, the feeler moving member will itself be moved frontwardly by the frontwardly moving feeler, and will exert a rear ward tendency or influence upon the feeler to turn it or move it'in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, and effect such movement when the filling is substantially exhausted.

The stop pins 29 are spaced apart and the feeler moving member acts upon the arm or pin 28 at a point intermediate the stop pins, the construction being such that after an indication of substantial exhaus tion of filling and consequent movement of the feeler to the right, Fig. l, the moving member acting upon the arm or pin 28 causes the feeler to be swung laterally into feeling position to the left as it reaches rearward position.

What is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler stand, a sleeve pivotally mounted on the stand for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the sleeve is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, a feeler telescopically mounted in said sleeve and provided with a pin extending laterally therefrom, a unitary spring impelled feeler moving member for moving the feeler (1) into its rearward feeling position and (2) in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, thesaid feeler moving memberbeing mounted to act upon the pin extending laterallyfrom the feeler to effect the described movements of the feeler.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of afeeler stand, a sleeve pivotally mounted on the stand for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the sleeve is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, a feeler telescopically mounted in said sleeve and provided with a pin extending laterally therefrom, a unitary spring impelled feeler moving member for moving the feeler (1) into its rearward feeling position and (2) in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, the said feeler moving member comprising a slide movable by the feeler as the latter is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat and acting upon said pin to effect the described movements of the feeler.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler member mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and constructed to be held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, a pin extending laterally from the feeler, a stop forengagement by the pin when the feeler is in its rearward feeling position, a feeler moving member,

positioned to act upon the pin, and a spring for impelling the feeler moving member against the pin to move the feeler to feeling position and acting against the pin to also move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement on a detecting beat by the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, a pin extending laterally from the feeler, a stop for engagement by the pin when the feeler is in its rearward feeling position, a single feeler moving member for moving the feeler (1) into its rearward feeling position with the pin bearing against the stop and (2) in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhaust-ed on a detecting beat.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle, a pivotally mounted sleeve in which said feeler is mounted, means connected with the sleeve for causing replenishment of filling when the sleeve is rocked upon its pivotal mounting, a pin. extending from the feeler to one side thereof, and a spring impelled moving member bearmg combination of a feeler to feel for the filling r in the shuttle, a pivotally mounted sleeve in 'which said feeler is mounted, means conn ectedwith the sleeve for causing replenishment of filling when the sleeve is rocked upon its'pivotal mounting, a pin extending from the feelerv to one side thereof, a stop adapted to be engaged by the pin when the feeler member is in its rearward position and a spring-impelled feeler-moving mem her for moving the feeler to its rearward feeling position and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when thefilling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

7 In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from the latter movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a projection extending from the feeler, a unitary spring impelled feeler moving member acting upon the projection at one side of the longitudinal center of the feeler for moving the feeler (1) to its rearward feeling position and (2) in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on the stand for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and that is held from the latter movement by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, a pin extending laterally from the feeler, a slide mounted adjacent the feeler, a spring constantly acting upon the slide to impel it against the laterally extending pin to effect (1) a movement of the feeler to its rearward feeling position and (2) a movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for move ment longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, an arm or pin extending laterally from the feeler, a stop against which the arm bears when the feeler is in rearward position, and a unitary spring impelled feeler moving member adapted to bear upon the arm at a point between the ends of the stop when the feeler is in rearward position, and acting to (1) move the feeler rearwardly, (2) move it laterally or longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, and in conjunction with the stop, move it laterally or longitudinally of the shuttle in the opposite direction as the feeler returns to feeling position.

10. In a .feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and toward and from the front of the loom, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, a pin extending laterally from the feeler, a stop for engagement by the pin when the feeler is in its rearward position, and a spring impelled movingmember bearing upon the pin to hold the feeler in its rearward. feeling position and tending to move the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and toward and from the front of the 100m, said feeler constructed to engage the filling upon a detecting beat and to be held by the filling against movement longitudinally of the shuttle until substantial exhaustion of the filling occurs, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally ofthe shuttle, a pin extending laterally from the feele'r, a stop for engagement by the pin when the feeler is in its rearward position, yielding means acting upon said pin to move the feeler toward its rearward position and longitudinally of the shuttle in one direction, said stop constructed and arranged to move the feeler in an opposite direction loi'igitudinally of the shuttle as the pin is moved into engagement therewith.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from the latter movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a feeler moving slide mounted for sliding movement toward and from the frontof the loom, a spring normally acting to move the feeler moving slide rearwardly but with permissive movement frontwardly on a detecting beat, and a projection extending between the feeler and slide which acts to move the slide frontwardly by frontward movement of the feeler and exerts a lateral pressure upon the feeler to move it longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED LACEY.

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