US1970264A

US1970264A - Warp-stop mechanism for textile apparatus and machinery

Info

Publication number: US1970264A
Application number: US646246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Welch Sidney Arthur; Guyler Albert Fairholme; Boaler William Henry
Original assignee: Celanese Corp
Current assignee: Celanese Corp
Priority date: 1931-12-22
Filing date: 1932-12-08
Publication date: 1934-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1951-08-14

Description

Aug- 14, 1934- s. A. WELCH Er AL 1,970,264

WARP STOP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE APPARATUS AND MACHINERY Filed Dec. 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 14, 1934. s. A. WELCH ETAL 1,970,264

WARP STOP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE APPARATUS AND MACHINERY Filed Deo. 8, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 AHorxess Patented ug. 14, 1934l UNITED STATES WABP-STOP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE AP- PARATUS AND MACHINERY Sidney Arthur Welch, Albert Fairholme Guyler,

and. William Henry Boaler, Spondon, near Derby, England, assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application December 8, 1932, Serial No. 646,246

In Great Britain 7 Claims.

This invention relates to Warp-stop mechanisms which, in connection with machines in which a sheet of Warp threads is used, are designed to stop the machine on breakage or slackening of any one of the warp threads. The invention is applicable generally to any machine in which a sheet of warps is employed, but is especially advantageous in connection with warp knitting machines.

According to the invention, a warp stop mechanism comprises reciprocating n'ieans extending and reciprocating across and beneath the warp threads and adapted to be engaged by a broken warp thread falling across it, and to move such thread laterally, and one or more upstanding contact members e. g. springmounted or pivoted lingers, adapted to be deflected under the action of a broken thread falling across said means and by such deection to stop the machine through any suitable medium. Conveniently the stopping of the machine is effected by means of an electrical stop motion circuit of the usual type,

one or more contact pins being provided with which the upstanding member or members contact upon being deected, and so complete a circuit to stop the machine. 0n breakage or undue slackening of any one of the warp threads, the broken or slack thread falls down and lies across the reciprocating means and is brought thereby into engagement with an upstanding member, in such a manner as to deect it into contact with the stop motion circuit contact pin. The reciprocating member may conveniently comprise a bar extending across the warps, and having notches or serrations, or upstanding portions on the upper edge in or between which the broken threads lodge, and are moved laterally with the bar. II the thread does not immediately fall into a notch or serration in the ban-it will be brushed in by one of the. upstanding members which, on the continued motion of the bar, will be deected. If the thread is brushed in towards the end of a reciprocation of the bar so that the motion of the bar is not continued, deflection will occur during the reverse motion of the bar.

It is generally convenient to use a plurality of upstanding members in order to reduce the amount of motion of the bar, and to make the device respond more quickly on breakage of a thread..V Thus, while one upstanding member will serve for a narrow warp, the provision oi two such members reduces the distance through which the reciprocating member must move to cover the whole width of warps, and enables the frequency of reciprocation to be increased. Sim- December 22, 1931 ilarly with broader warps, a proportionate number of members may be used.

In order to increase the certainty of operation of the device, particularly to ensure a good contact when an electric stop motion is used, a plurality of parallel bars e. g. four, may be employed, alternating with one or more sets of contact springs e. g. three, and having notches or serrations at the same points along their length. This' arrangement. enables the thread when brought into contact with the upstanding member to be supported on both sides of that member,

and renders the operation of the device morepositive and reliable.

By the provision of the warp stop mechanism according to the invention, it will be seen that no threading up of the Warp threads is necessitated, the threads operating the stop motion merely upon dropping across the serrated bar. This renders the textile operations in which the warps are concerned very much simpler, and greatly reduces the cost of the operations owing to the elimination of the expensive and troublesome threading up operation. In addition, until breakage or slackening of one of the warp threads occurs, there are no parts with which the threads are in; contact and upon which they may be rubbed or worn. Even upon breakage, the broken thread is not submitted to any undue strain, while at the same time positive electrical contact is made, to stop the machine.

In order to stop the machine on'contact, any desired electrically operated stop mechanism may be used and may be operated by a solenoid member in circuit with the stop motion circuit, the contact bar and the upstanding member.

The invention will now be described in greater detaill with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that this description is given by way of example only and is in no respect limitative.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of the thread-operated contact mechanisms;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically the application of the stop-motion mechanism to a two-bar warpknitting machine;

.\ Fig. 4 is an alternative detail of Fig. l; and

\\Figs. 5 and 6 show diagrammatically alternative forms of electric indicators whichv may be employed with the stopmechanism according to the invention. e

As shown in Fig. 1, a series of thin parallel bars 12, (four shown), having dove-tail notches 13 at intervals along their upper edges are spaced apart and secured at their extremity by a common shackle 15 in such a manner that a notch in any bar is in alignment with the corresponding notches in the other bars.

A connecting-rod 16, pinned to a rear lug 17 of the shackle 15, transmits longitudinal reciprocating motion to .the bars 12 from a suitable cam or crank, (not shown), the bars 12 being supported on freely rotatable rollers 18. Situated at a suitable distance beneath, and in alignment with the bars 12 is a stationary bar 19 bearing sets of upstanding iiexible pins 20, so arranged with respect to the bars 12 as to penetrate the spaces between the bars and toprotrude a suitable distance above the upper edges of the bars. A further stationary bar 21 is situated alongside the bars 12 and carries pairs of stiff pins 22 which protrude sideways from the bar and extend beneath the bars 12 at a .short distance from their lower edges.

The bar 21 carries as many pairs of stil pins 22 as there are sets of flexible pins 20 on the bar 19, ,the pins 22 being arranged so as to lie closely one on each side of the exible pins 20. Wires 24 and 23 forming part of an electric stop-motion circuit (to be described later), are connected to the

bars

19 and 21 respectively, the circuit remaining open while the pins are in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The mounting and operation of the stop-motion can be clearly followed by reference to Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 3, warp-beams 30 of a Warp-knitting machine are rotated through gearing of any suitable type from an electric motor 31. Warpthreads 32 proceed in sheet form from the warp beams 30 over tension bars 33 and through guides 34 to the needles 35 of the machine.

Situated at a short distance beneath the warp sheets 32 and extending laterally across the full width of the sheets are the reciprocating bars 12. Upon breakage or undue slackening of any warp thread, the thread falls from the sheet and lies across the top of the notched bars 12, which by reason of their reciprocation engage the thread in the nearest approaching set of notches. The dove-tail shape of the notches, combined with the motion of the bars 12, lock the thread as shown at 36 in Fig. 3 and draw it taut within the notches, across the width of the bars.

The extent of the traverse of the bars 12 is greater than the distance between any two sets of pins 20 so that the trapped thread 36 is carried laterally against the nearest set of exible pins 20 which are deflected from the vertical and caused to contact with the corresponding sti pin 22, as shown on the right-hand side of Fig. 2. The previously mentioned wires 23 and 24 are connected from the

bars

19 and 21 to a solenoid acting as a relay in conjunction with a trip-switch, the whole unit being enclosed within a switch-box 38 mounted upon the driving-motor 31.

Upon contact being made between the liexible pins 20 and the stii -pins 22, the circuit is closed and the trip-switch caused to operate to stop the motor 31. Contact between the exible pins 20 and the stili' pins 22 serving to operate the stop motion, it is necessary that the bar 21 is insulated from any part of the machine in contact with the bar 19 and the exible pins 20.

The alternative form of contact device shown in Fig. 4 may replace a set of exible pin 2(l and comprises a pendulum-like member 37, pivoted at 39 and having a bob 40. The upper part of the member 37 penetrates the space between the bars 12, and is engaged by thread caught in the notches 13 of the bars 12, in asimilar manner to the operation of the pins 20. Upon being forced from the vertical, the lower end of the member contacts with either of the two stiff pins 22 depending on the direction of reciprocation of the bars 12,y and closes the stop-motion circuit, thus bringing the machine to rest.

In order that the slack or broken thread may be located quickly on stoppage of the machine, electrically operated indicating means, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. 5 and 6, may be incorporated inthe machine.

In Fig. 5 the contact pins 22 (six pairs shown), are numbered from 1 to 6 according to the section of warp threads served by each. Each pair of pins 22 is connected through a lead common to both (indicated severally at 45), to one of a series of electric lamps mounted on an indicator board 46, and bearing the corresponding section numbers on their surfaces. 'I'he flexible pins 20 are connected by a common lead 47.to the solenoid member within the switch-box 38. A battery 48 is connected to the solenoid and to the indicator lamps respectively and supplies the necessary current to the circuit, which normally is maintained open. On contact being made between any one, or set, of flexible pins 20 and the corresponding contact 22 the circuit is completed, and the current besides energizing the solenoid member to operate the trip-switch, illuminates the lamp corresponding in number to the contact member in operation, which lamp remains illuminated so long as the broken or loose thread is held in contact with the flexible pins 20. The number on the lamp indicates the warpsection from which the broken thread has dropped, thus shortening the time which normally would be taken in locating lthe thread. On removal of the thread from the notches 13 of the bars 12, thus releasing the deected flexible pins 20, the circuit is opened and the indicator-lamp ceases to glow. 115

Though the contact pins 22 are supported from a common bar, i. e.' the bar 21, it will be understood that the pins are insulated from each other in any suitable manner, inf'order to keep the lamp circuits independent.

'I'he indicating system shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6 is adapted to sound a warning bell on breakage or` undue slackening of a warp thread. The contact pins 22 suitably insulated from each other are numbered from 1 to 6 accord- 125 ing to the section of warp threads served by each. Each pair of pins is connected through a lead common to both (indicated severally at 50) to one terminal of a single electric bell 51. The flexible pins 20 are connected by a common lead 52 to 130 the solenoid member within the switch-box 38.

A battery 53 is connected to the solenoid, and to the free terminal of the bell 51, respectively, and supplies current to the circuit, which, as explained with reference to Fig. 5, isnormally main- 135 tained open.

On contact being made between one, or a. set of ilexible pins 20 and the corresponding contact 22 the circuit is completed and the solenoid energized to operate the trip-switch. As the electric 140 bell is included in the circuit the current serves also to ring the bell, which continues to ring after the machine has been brought to rest. A series of switches 54 mounted one on each of the several leads from the contact pins to the 145 bell, and numbered according to the number of the contact pins served by the particular lead upon which the switch is mounted, are then withdrawn in turn until the circuit is broken, and the bell stops ringing. The number on the switch 15o breaking the circuit indicates the warp-section from which the broken thread has dropped, thus saving time in searching for the thread. On removal of the thread from the notches of the bars 12, the deected pin or pins can again assume a vertical position away from the contact pins 22. On repairing the thread the switches 54 are again connected and the machine again started.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. Warp-stop mechanism for a textile machine, said mechanism comprising a bar adapted to be reciproeated, notches on said bar adapted to engage and retain a slack or broken thread, an electrical contact member, movable means forming a second contact member disposed in close relation to said bar and adapted to be deflected by thread caught in and moved laterally by said bar so as to engage and complete through said contact member an electric circuit adapted to operate means for'stopping said machine.

2. Warp-stop mechanism for a textile machine, said mechanism comprising a bar adapted to be reciproeated, notches on said bar adapted to engage and retain a slack or broken thread, an electrical contact member, a ilexible member forming a second contact member disposed in close relation to said bar and adapted to be deected by thread caught in and moved laterally by said bar, so as to engage and complete through said contact member an electric circuit adapted to operate means for stopping said machine.

3. Warp-stop mechanism for a textile machine, said mechanism comprising a bar adapted to `be reciproeated, notches on said bar adapted to engage and retain a slack or broken thread, an elctrical contact member, a pivoted member forming a second contact member disposed in close relation to said bar and adapted to be deected by thread caught in and moved laterally by said bar, so as to engage and complete through said contact member an electric circuit adapted to operate means for stopping said machine.

4. Warp-stop mechanism for a textile machine, said mechanism comprising a plurality of bars disposed in closely-spaced parallel relation as aV unit and adapted to be reciproeated, dove-tail notches in like positions along the upper edges of said bars adapted to engage and retain a slack or broken thread and to move said thread laterally, movable pins forming electrical contact members adapted to extend through the spaces between said bars and to protrude beyond the thread-engaging level of said bars, an electrical contact member arranged on each side of the said movable pins, the lateral movement of the thread being adapted to deect said movable pins so that the said pins contact with one of the said electrical contact members and thereupon complete the electrical circuit adapted to operate means for stopping said machine.

5. Warp-stop mechanism for a textile machine,

said mechanism comprising abar adapted to be reciproeated, notches on said bar adapted to engage and retain a slack or broken thread, a plurality of electrical contact members, electricallyf operated indicating means in series lwith said contact members, movable means forming electrical contact members disposed in close relation to said bar and adapted to be deflected by thread caught in and moved laterally by said bar, so as to engage and complete through a contact member the electric circuit adapted to operate means for stopping said machine and simultaneously to actuaw the indicating means.

6. Warp-stop mechanism for a textile machine,

said mechanism comprising a bar adapted to be,v reciproeated, notches on said bar adapted to gage and retain a slack or broken thread, a plu-r rality of electrical contact members, electricallyoperated indicating means respectively in seriesA with said contact members, movable means forming electrical contact members disposed in close relation to said bar and adapted to be deected by thread caught in and moved laterally by said bar, so as to engage and complete through a contact member the electric circuit adapted to operate means for stopping said machine and simultaneously to actuate the respective indicating means.

7. Warp-stop mechanism for a textile machine, said mechanism comprising a bar adapted to be reciproeated, notches on said bar adapted to engage and retain a slack or broken thread, a plurality of electrical contact members, electricallyoperated indicating means in series with pairs of said contact members, movable means forming electrical contact members disposed in close relation to said bar 'adapted to be deilected by thread caught in and moved laterally by said bar, so as to complete through a contact member an electric circuit adaptei to operate means for stopping the machine, and simultaneously to actuate the indicating means and means in the electric circuit between each contact member and the indicating means to enable the circuits to be broken