US2144947A

US2144947A - Loom

Info

Publication number: US2144947A
Application number: US140841A
Authority: US
Inventors: Valentine Linden Morgan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-05-05
Filing date: 1937-05-05
Publication date: 1939-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 1956-01-24

Description

Jan. 24, 1939. 1.. M. VALENTINE 2,144,947

LOOM

Filed May 5, 1937 4 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR 2:. Megan W. Z evvtirle.

J 1939. L M. VALENTINE 2,144,947

LOOM

Filed May 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY (/Hhrw {gA;STToRNEY Jan. 24, 1939. L. M. VALENTINE LOOM Filed May 5, 193 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENTOR V5123): Tine.

Jan. 24, 1939.

L. M. VALENTINE 2,144,947

LOOM

Filed May 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR L.MOT QZTL Vile-urine Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 25Claims.

This invention relates to the art of textile manufacture and more particularly to loom con struction and shuttle manipulation.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved loom wherein a multiple transition of shuttles may be simultaneously in operation; to positively feed the shuttles across the loom all at the same speed at the same time; to provide for progressive shedding of the warp threads in synchronism with the advancement of the shuttle; to provide for successiveand opposite sheds for successive shuttles traveling across the loom at one time; to avoid any passage of the weft threads between the shuttle and the shuttle-engaging portions of the shuttle actuating means; to provide a structure which will both permit laying of a plurality of weft threads at one time and will permit the several shuttles to be moved with greater rapidity than heretofore possible; to thus 29 obtain a double speeding up of production; to

provide for an intermittent introduction of shuttles at the side of the loom synchronized with the shuttle advancing means and the progressive shedding means; to enable a sturdy, effective 25 and readily accessible assembly of parts to be employed for actuating the shuttle and for actuating the heddles; to provide a structure which is adaptable to various loom andmill requirements, such as straight weaving, circular weaving, reduction of floor space and so forth; to enable looms to be used in banks or series; to pass shuttles from loom to loom when desired for continuously progressive operation; to secure simplicity of operation and construction; and to brought out in the following description.

to orient the present invention with respect to the prior art, it may be stated that heretofore the general practice in the textile art has been to create a shed of the warp threads for the entire width of the loom at one time, and then project the shuttle through theshed from one side oi the loom to the other. Thereafter the threads comprising the warp are reversed in position to create a shed for the same or another shuttle to pass through. The speed of weaving is therefore limited by such a construction by the time of passage of the shuttle entirely across the loom.v This has required that all the threads have been held in the one shed position until the shuttle has passed entirely through the shed, after which the reeds have come into action to beat the weft thread left by the shuttle into its flnal position in the fell to form the fabric, after obtain other advantages and results as may bewhich the shed is reversed ready for the next passage of the shuttle and deposit of the weft thread. Thus, considerable time is lost by waiting for the completion of the several operations before the succeeding operation can be commenced. Furthermore, in the popular type of loom, the shuttle is substantially free, that is to say, it is impelled from a position of rest at one side of the loom and caught in a box at the other side of the loom, and consequently its speed, is limited by the force imparted at the impelling side of the machine, by the shock absorbir'ig characteristics of the receiving boxes, by the character of the shuttle, by the strength and character of the thread, and by other conditions known in the art. It therefore becomes impossible to speed up such type of loom, and the output is accordingly limited. The fact that the warp threads have to be continuously see-sawed in a scissor-like action with respect to each other for forming the successive reversal of the sheds, and in view of the fact that it is impossible to obtain either speed or regularity of product where there is any possible pinching action of the warp threads between a driving means and the shuttle, the problem of positive drive is one presenting severe difllculties. Efforts have been made to have a positive drive entering at the end of the shed, but this requires the driving means to retract from the shed before the shed can be reversed for the next weft thread. Other eflorts have been made to advance the'shuttle by means which moves along the shuttle outside of the shed and transmits motion to the shuttle through a connection which straddles the weft threads successively in the nature of a gear wheel, but here again speed is limited and the threads pinched, both of which are detrimental. These several drawbacks have been overcome in the present invention as outlined by the foregoing objects and which will be more apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the several accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure l is an elevation of a loom embodying my invention, looking at the same from the side, which for convenience will be termed the front of the loom;

Figure 2 is a sectional view as upon line 2-2 of Figure 1; I

Fi ure 3 is a detail elevation of a reed in its beating position and showing the associated shuttle actuating means in its position assumed during the beating of the weft thread home;

Figure 41s a horizontal sectional plan immediately above the level of the shuttles;

'Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the forward movement of the shuttles and the corresponding relationship of the several reeds and shuttle and actuating members across the loom, the figure showing four successive arbitrarily chosen stages I. II, III and IV.

Figure 6 is a view in general outline of a loom assembly according to the present invention enabling the shuttles to function in laying a weft thread during both the forward and return actuation of the shuttles.

In the said drawings the loom is shown as having a suitable framework Ill for support of the various parts, the framework being illustrated as a parallel pair of separated leg members ll each having a goose-neck bracket l2 projecting upwardly therefrom at what will for convenience be termed the back of loom. Any suitable cross-connections both for bracing the legs and goose-necks and for supporting various elements of the loom may be provided. Operating mechanisms, in their broadest aspect, comprise a plurality of horizontally positioned chain-like cam elements l3, l4 substantially complementary to each other and l5, l6 substantially complementary to each other but adverse to the first pair. The pairs of substantially complementary cam-like members operate in horizontal planes separated from and parallel to each other. Beater reeds I'I stand in a general vertical or upright position, each reed preferably having associated therewith a generally upright reed, conveniently called supplemental reeds i8, arranged with each beater reed and a supplemental reed comprising a pair in a common plane normal to the planes of thecam elements. Each beater reed l'l projects above the level of the shuttle l9 and well through the shed formed by the warp threads at all times, whereas the supplemental reed I8 is in front of the main reed and only long enough to project into the shed without passing through it and may be swung toward the front of the loom on an arc which retracts the end of said member to a position below the shed and fell of the cloth, as shown in Figure 3. Warp threads 20 are actuated by heddles 2| here shown as connected in pairs at their lower ends by leather, spring or other belts 22 passing downwardly under pulleys 23 for that purpose. Upper ends of the heddles are operated by vertically disposed cam members 24 which are complementary one to the other so that while one heddle of the pair is elevated, the other one of the pair is depressed, or otherwise manipulated to give the desired weave. v

The actuation of the shuttles I9 is efiected by a squeezing action thereupon of the reeds l1 and I8 at the rear sloping side edge of the shuttle. The said supplemental reeds 18 have a holding relationship to the shuttle so as to guide it forwardly, for the greater part of the length of the shuttle, preventing it from twisting or jumping up, and the supplemental reed is swung inwardly toward the shuttle at the tail end of the engagement between said supplemental reed and shuttle by horizontal cam member l5. This squeezing action introduces a moment of force in a direction longitudinal of the shuttle and thus actuates the shuttle toward the discharge side of the loom. The supplemental reeds I! are arranged side by side with only such necessary space therebetween as is required for horizontally disposed guides or bars forming part of a grill 33, to resist the deforming moment of force upon said reeds: As a result, there are several of the reeds always in engagement with the tail end of the shuttle, and all of these reeds will therefore impart the actuating moment of force upon the shuttle and the several moments of force together will give the necessary actuation to the shuttle. By virtue of this construction as generally described, it will be observed that I am enabled to have a plurality of shuttles crossing the loom at one time and am thus enabled to lay a plurality of weft threads in close succession one behind the other into the fell of the cloth.

Between the laying of one weft thread and the next, it is necessary to beat the first thread into the fell to its ,final position in the fabric. This function is performed by the several beaters or reeds I I acting progressively from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 3 and as very clearly shown in the sectional plan view of Figure 4. It will be observed that the shuttle passes between the supplemental reeds I8 and .the beater reeds i1 and that the supplemental reeds squeeze toward the beater reeds and that the beater reeds squeeze toward the supplemental reeds at the tail end of the shuttle, with the reeds of each pair finally going into engagement with each other when the shuttle is squeezed from between them. Thereafter the beater reed swings forwardly, carrying the supplemental reed ll idly in front of it. The beater reed and supplemental reed are pivoted, as at 2|, 26, a considerable, distance from the shuttle so that the arc of the swinging upper end of the beater reed will retire the supplemental reed to a position below the shed and below the fell of the cloth, (see Figure 3) thereby enabling the beater reed to go to afinal advanced position to carry the weft thread home to the fell in its proper place in the fabric. The several reeds thus define a sloping line of advancement, as at 21 in Figure 5, where the weft thread is being carried from the shuttle to its final position in the fabric and then the said reeds define a retracting slope or line 28 as they are returned to shuttle engaging position for the next shuttle.

The several movements of the reeds are governed by the several cam members I3, l4, l5, and it above mentioned, (see Figures 2 and 4 especially). These cam members lie in horizontal planes, and, as well as cams 24, are constructed each in the nature of a sprocket chain with the sprocket elements 30 projecting various distances laterally so as to form a'continuous outer cam edge 3| from one sprocket 32 to the opposed sprocket 32, said edge having the proper configuration for effecting the positioning of the reeds as'guides for the shuttles, for effecting the swinging motion of the reds in both directions as above described at the proper times, and for operating the heddles in synchronism therewith. The sprocket elements 30 are preferably interlocked at their side edges so as to present a unified structure through the straight-away portion of the sprocket orbit, but may release, so as to permit spreading as they pass around the sprockets, as clearly evidenced in Figure 4. As a result, a very solid and continuous cam edge is provided entirely across the loom for engagement with the several members and reeds in the series thereof across the loom. The sprocket elements are furthermore guided or restricted against buckling for such part of the orbit as found necessary or desirable, both at the straight-away part of the orbit and while passing around the sprocket wheels. Such a construction is indicated in Figure 2 especially wherein I have illustrated guiding tracks 34 at both sidesof each series of sprocket elements, next the inner ends thereof, and from between which tracks the outer ends of the elements project to collectively provide the afore-mentioned cam-like edge 3|.

It is to be observed that there are as many supplemental reeds II as there are beater reeds l1, and that each reed is provided with suitable antiiriction means, such as rollers 33 for engagement with the cam edge 3|. The cam members l3 and I4 on their supporting sprockets 3 2 are preferably in a common horizontal plane at the lower ends of the reeds and said reeds are pivoted a short distance above the said plane, thus giving a short lever arm; the other set of cam members I! and iii are in a horizontal plane approximately midway of the length of the reeds thus acting upon a long lever arm; and the shuttle I3 is supported upon grill 33 next the upper ends of the supplemental reeds l8. Grill 33 provides guides or bars between each beater reed l1, and a supplemental reed It works in the same slot between a pair of said guides or bars as the beater reeds. By the arrangement shown, lower cam member l3 functions to retire the actuating member ill from engagement with the shuttle l3 and to a position lowering the upper end of the supplemental reed I8 below the shed and fell of. the cloth;- lower cam member H functions to return the beater reed I! to its upright position after having swung to beat the last laid weft thread into the fell; upper cam member l5 functions to return the supplemental reed i3 toward the shuttle l9, to hold it against the shuttle and to cause it to squeeze the shuttle forwardly; and the other upper cam member l6 functions to press the beater reed ll toward the shuttle, to assist in squeezing the shuttle forwardly and thereafter to swing the reed I1 to beat the weft thread into place. Both of the upper cams i5 and I6 also function to hold the reeds l3 and II respectively toward the shuttle [9 to engage the sides of the shuttle and guide it forwardly in a straight line without twisting, at which period of engagement the supplemental reeds I! hook over a ledge 43, hereinafter described, on the shuttle to keep the shuttle from jumping up, holding it down upon the grill 33. It is to be understood that the several reeds of a series work successively as the shuttle advances and as the cams likewise advance. The several cams move at the same rate, and the speed of the shuttle is as fast or as -slow as the cams move across the loom. The

heddle operating cams 23, likewise held from buckling by guide tracks 34, and by interlocking at their side edges, move across the loom at the same rate of speed as the horizontal cams, and accordingly produce the shed for each shuttle at the same speed as the shuttle moves forwardly.

The arrangement is such that, for the simple and beat each weft thread as laid, in accordance with the above description.

It is deemed within the scope of the invention to employ any suitable machine design for supporting and driving the various elements herein described. For purpose of identification, it may be said that the front. pairs 'of horizontal sprockets 32 'are carried upon upright shafts I and the rear pairs of horizontal sprockets 32 may be carried upon upright shafts 31 which are shown extending upwardly further than the front pair 36 for purposes of driving the heddle or vertical sprockets 32 carried upon forwardly directed horizontal shafts 39 in turn driven by bevel gears I meshing with bevel gears 4| on the upper ends of said upwardly extending shafts 31.

Shafts

33 and 31 are driven one from the other, as by a connecting train of gearing 42, actuating power being applied to either shaft or elsewhere that may be found desirable. As the horizontal cams move forwardly, it will be observed that the same are maintained in synchronism and that the cam surfaces are approximately complementary except as to the thickness of the shuttle and the convergence for squeezing the reeds together. I

Any suitable and desirable intermittent means may be employed to inject the shuttles into the first shed. As here shown, there is provided a plunger 43 which can be reciprocated toward the first shed from the side thereof, aligned with the path of movement of the shuttle. The shuttles are applied crosswise upon a continuous belt 44 arranged to provide upper and lower reaches extending in a forwardly-rearwardly direction. The said belt may for convenience have its lower reach moved from front to rear of the machine and is preferably loaded with shuttles applied on the upper side of the lower reach after that part of the reach has moved rearwardly from supporting sprocket 41. The level of the lower reach is substantially that of grill 33, and as each shuttle on the belt is carried by the belt to a position directly aligned with the path of movement of the shuttles across the loom, the belt 44 hesitates and plunger 43 proceeds to inject the shuttle into the shed upon grill 33. The plunger then retracts and the lower reach of belt 44 moves forward another step ready for injecting the next shuttle. I have here shown the plunger operated by a lever 45 in turn operated by a cam 46. The belt is carried by suitable sprockets 41 upon an intermittently driven shaft 48 synchronized to the heddle and reed operation.

It is not the purpose of the present invention to make any radical changes in the construction of the shuttle from the generally used shuttle now upon the market. It is, however, preferable to provide a ledge 49 along the longitudinal side thereof which in use is next to the supplemental reed. This ledge will enable the hooked ends of the supplemental reeds to engage over the same and yet not require the supplemental reeds toproject above the grill more than about half the height of the shuttle. The thread 50 ordinarily leaves the shuttle at a forward upper part thereof, and consequently will be above the upper end of the supplemental reeds. As above explained, the supplemental reeds, in retracting from the shuttle swing downwardly and thus pass under the thread and fell of the cloth. The upper .corners of the supplemental reeds away from the shuttle are rounded so as not to catch have no part that will catch any of thethreads or the cloth when said supplemental reeds again approach an upright position and the next shuttle. 4

It is furthermore to be understood that after the shuttles reach the discharge side of the machine, they are returned in due order to the entry side of the machine and inserted in order on the intermittent conveyor belt Automatic means may be provided for returning the shuttles, and to save lost motion, the shuttles may be used for weavingpurposes on their return passage. Any convenient set up of machines may be provided for this purpose-and the shuttles passed from one machine to the next in continuous circuit. As illustrative of such arrangement, I have indicated in Figure 6 a pair of parallel grills 33, 33' through which reeds will operate as above described, the machine utilizing an extra set of cams i3, i5 cooperating with cams II, It and other duplicates of parts at the front of the loom as already described. Thus the shuttle will travel across grill 33 toward the left, will be received upon intermittently driven carrier belt 44' and carried forwardly to grill 33- where the intermittently operating plunger 43' injects the shuttle upon grill 83' across which it is fed by reeds as heretofore described and elected upon the carrier belt 44 by which it is conveyed back to grill 33 and ejected thereon by intermittent plunger 43 as heretofore described. By employing a shuttle which is constructed the same on both sides and ends, the simple arrangement above described will answer the purpose.

Noattempt has been made to illustrate or describe loom parts well known in the trade, such as the details of the shuttle and bobbin, the thread pick up and holding means, and the like, as to do so merely adds to the complexity of the drawings without presentation of constructions novel to the inventive concept, the latter being more specifically designated by the following claims which are to be construed in the light of the prior art.

I claim: v

1. A loom having means for establishing a series of sheds of warp threads to the fell 01' the fabric formed, a shuttle for each of the sheds of the series, means for advancing the sheds transverse to the threads, and a shuttle advancing means at the side of the shuttle next the fell of the fabric projectable between warp threads for imparting impetus to a passing shuttle and re- 55 ,tractable from between said threads to a position underlying the same.

2. A loom having means for establishing a series of sheds of warp threads to the fell of the fabric formed, a shuttle for each of the sheds of the series, means for advancing the sheds transverse to the threads, and a plurality of shuttle advancing members at the side of the shuttle next the fell of the fabric projectable between warp threads into said sheds and retractable successively from between said threads as the sheds advance and reverse.

3. A loom having means for establishing a series of sheds of warp threads to the fell of the fabric formed, a shuttle for each of the sheds oi the series, means for advancing the sheds transverse to the threads, and a plurality of shuttle advancing members at the side of the shuttle next the fell of the fabric projectable between warp threads into said sheds and retractable successively from between said threads as the sheds adthe shed thereat.

4. A loom comprising with a shuttle, a support for said shuttle in transition, a positive advancing means having reeds successively engaging the shuttle at one side thereof and imparting impetus to the shuttle, and cooperating reds.successively engaging the other side of the shuttle and thereafter setting each weft thread to the fell of the cloth with an even pressure successively applied across the loom at the same rate as and subsequent to the transition of the shuttle. I

- 5. A loom comprising a shuttle supporting means, a pair of reeds pivoted to swing in a common plane through said shuttle supporting means and transverse to the line of transition of the shuttle, and pairs of cams engaging said reeds above and below the pivoted supports thereof for holding and swinging said reeds at predetermined intervals and in predetermined relationship to the shuttle and shuttle supporting means,

6. A loom comprising a shuttle supporting means, a pair of reeds pivoted to swing in a common plane through said shuttle supporting means and transverse to the line of transition of the shuttle, and pairs of cams engaging said reeds above and below the pivoted supports thereof for holding and swinging said reeds at predetermined intervals and in predetermined relation to the shuttle and shuttle supporting means, a pair of 0. ms engaging each reed being substantially complementary and synchronized in movement for obtaining a rigid retention of the reeds in all positions in which the reed is held and swung.

7. A loom comprising in combination, means for supporting a shuttle in transition across the loom, movable heddles for warp threads, vertically disposed and forwardly moving cams for progressively shifting successive groups of heddles for progressively advancing the sheds of the warp threads, 8. pair of reeds pivoted to swing in a common plane through said shuttle supporting means and transverse to the line of transition of the shuttle, and pairs of cams engaging said reeds above and below the pivoted supports thereof for holding and swinging said reeds at predetermined intervals and in predetermined relationship to the shuttle and shuttle supporting means, and in synchronism with the advancement of the shuttle operating cams.

8. In a loom, a pair of shed creating cams having cam edges for producing sheds at predetermined intervals as the cams traverse the loom, shuttle advancing cams having straight portions terminating in angular portions sloping toward each other and traversing the loom at the same rate as the shed creating cams and in the same direction and with the straight portions of the shuttle advancing cams having the same distance of advancement at all times as the shed producing portions of the first mentioned cams,

' means for squeezing said shuttle forwardly and guiding the shuttle at opposite sides of itself, said squeezing means being under actuation of said sloping and straight portions of the said advancing cams, and means for preventing said shuttle from lifting as it is squeezed forwardly.

. 9. In a loom, a pair of shed creating cams having-cam edges for producing sheds at predetermined intervals as the cams traverse the loom, shuttle advancing cams having straight portions terminating in angular portions sloping toward each other and traversing the loom at the same rate as the shuttle operating cams and in the same direction and with the straight portions of the shuttle actuating cams having the same distance of advancement at all times as the shed producing portions of the first mentioned cams, a plurality of reeds operated by said shuttle advancing cams which said cams retain the reeds separated where the reeds engage the straight away portions thereof, said reeds being swung together where the cams converge, and said shuttle advancing cams having complementary slopes from the one converging-portion to the next straightaway portion for swinging the reeds away from the path of the shuttle for utilizing the reeds for beating the weft thread into the fell of the cloth in synchronism with the shifting of the heddle operating cam from one shed producing position to the next.

10. In a loom having heddles for shedding warp threads and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed, a grill for supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction of transition of the shuttle, and reeds in said slots, said reeds being positioned with a pair of the same in each of said slots with the reeds of each pair upon opposite sides of the shuttle as the shuttle passes therebetween across the grill.

11. In a loom having heddles for shedding warp threads and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed, a grill for supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction of transition of the shuttle, and reeds in said slots, said reeds being positioned in pairs in said slots with the reeds of each pair upon opposite sides of the shuttle as the shuttle passes therebetween across the grill, one of said reeds being shorter than the other and terminating at a level below.

the weft thread emanating from the shuttle.

12. In a loom having heddles for shedding warp threads and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed, a grill for supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction of transition of the shuttle, and reeds in said slots, said reeds being positioned in pairs in said slots with the reeds of each pair upon opposite sides of the shuttle as the shuttle passes therebetween across the grill, onerof said reeds projecting above the uppermost threads of the shed and the other reed projecting above the lower threads of the shed and terminating below the upper threads of the shed.

13. In aloom having heddles for shedding warp threads and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed to pass the same to the fell of the fabric, a grill for supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction of transition of the shuttle, and reeds in said slots, said reeds being positioned in pairs in said slots with the reeds of each pair upon opposite sides of the shuttle as the shuttle passes therebetween across the grill, one of said reeds having a length enabling the weft threads and fell of the fabric adjacent thereto as the reed moves-in its slot to be above the said end of said reed.

14. In a loom having heddles for shedding warp threads and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed, a grill for supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction threads, and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed, a grill for supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction of transition of the shuttle, and reeds in said slots, said reeds being positioned in pairs in said slots with the reeds of each pair upon opposite sides of the shuttle as the shuttle passes therebetween across the grill, and means ror moving towards each other reeds of a pair centrally behind the shuttle between which the shuttle is passing to close the reeds together behind the shuttle for advancing the shuttle in a straight line.

16. In a loom having heddles for shedding warp threads and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed, a. grill for supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction of transition of the shuttle, and reeds in said slots, said reeds being positioned in pairs in said slots with the reeds of each pair upon opposite sides of the shuttle as the shuttle passes therebetween across the grill, and means for moving towards each other reeds of a pair between which the shuttle is passing to close the reeds together behind the shuttle for advancing the shuttle in a straight line, said means advancing both reeds of the pair toward the fell of the fabric after-said reeds have come together behind the shuttle.

17. In a loom having heddles for shedding warp threads and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed, a grillfor supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction of transition of the shuttle, and reeds in said slots, said reeds being positioned in pairs in said slots with the reeds of each pair upon opposite sides of the shuttle as the shuttle passes therebetween across the grill, and means for moving towards each other reeds of a pair centrally behind the shuttle between which the shuttle is passing to close the reeds together behind the shuttle for advancing the shuttle in a straight line, said means advancing both reeds of the pair toward the fell of thefabric after said reeds have come together behind the shuttle.

18. In a loom having heddles for shedding warp threads and having a shuttle for laying a weft thread within the shed, a grill for supporting the shuttle in its transition through the shed, said grill having slots transverse to the direction of transition of the shuttle, and reeds in said slots, said reeds being positioned in pairs in said slots with the reeds of each pair upon opposite sides of the shuttle as the shuttle passes therebetween across the grill, and means for moving towards each other reeds of a pair between which the shuttle is passing to close the reeds together behind the shuttle for advancing the shuttle in a straight line, said means advancing both reeds of the pair toward the fell of the fabric after said reeds have come together behind the shuttle, the reed advancing nearest the fell of the fabric being shorter than the other reed and passing under the fell of the fabric as the second reed the fell.

19. A loom comprising in combination with a plurality of successive members to be moved successively, a cam for moving said members, said cam comprising a plurality .of sprocket elements projecting various distances longitudinally of each sprocket -element moved. along a straight path and thereafter around an arcua e P th. said sprocket elements having edges interlocking each with the edge of the next adjacent sprocket element while travelling the said straight path, said edges disengaging from each other while passing around the arcuate path whereby the ends of the said sprocket elements provide a continuous cam edge while traversing the straight path and whereby the sprocket elements may have varying lengths and be adapted nevertheless to pass around the arcuate path.

20. A loom comprising in combination with a plurality of successive members to be moved successively, a cam for moving said members, said cam comprising a plurality of sprocket elementsmovable in a common plane projecting various distances longitudinally of each sprocket element moved along a straight path in said plane and thereafter around an arcuate path, said sprocket elements having edges interlocking each with the edge of the next adjacent sprocket element while travelling the said straight path, said edges disengaging from each other'while passing around the arcuate path whereby the ends of the said sprocket elements provide a continuous cam edge while traversing the straight path and whereby the sprocket elements may have varying lengths and be adapted nevertheless to pass around the arcuate path, and means to prevent said sprocket elements from buckling out of the said plane while traversing the straight-away.

path.

21. A loom comprising with a shuttle for laying a weft thread, a fixed support for said shuttle in transition, and a positive advancing means having series of members at opposite sides of the shuttle with members of both series successively imparting impetus to the shuttle for making said means effective during the entire shuttle transition, the members of one series being progressively retractable from the path of lateral beating of the weft thread as the shuttle passes.

22. A loom comprising with a shuttle for laying a weft thread, a support for said shuttle in transition, a positive advancing means having members at the side of the shuttle between the same and the fell of the fabric successively imparting impetus to the shuttle, and a second correspondingly successive means acting initially to cooperate in advancing the shuttle and subsequently for beating the weft thread from the shuttle to the fell of the fabric, said second means being a separate element from the first said advancing means and in its beating operation acting subsequently to its action as a shuttle advancing means.

28. A loom comprising a grill for supporting a shuttle in transition, a shuttle slidable upon the grill and means comprising a series of members projecting through said grill for engaging and advancing the shuttle, and other means comprising another series of members also projecting through the grill for beating the weft threads to the fell of the fabric.

24. A loom comprisingin combination with a sprocket chain and sprocket wheels wherein the chain is continuous and passes around the sprocket wheels and wherein said chain has straight-away portions between-the wheels, of a cam comprising a plurality of members carried side by side by the sprocket chain and interlocking one with the other on the straight-away portion of the chain and spreading one from the other where the chain passes around the sprocket each said member having a guide portion next its base toward the chain and at one side of the chain, and a guiding track at the sideof the chain having the guiding portion, said track extending substantially the length of the straightaway portion of the chain, whereby the cam members are guided and prevented from deviating from straight line motion in passing from one sprocket to the other along the said straight-.- away of the travel of the chain,

25. A loom comprising in combination with a sprocket chain and sprocket wheels wherein the chain is continuous passing around the sprocket wheel and wherein said chain has straight-away portions between the wheels, of a cam compris-' several guide portions on the cam members situated along the straight-away, whereby the cam members are guided and prevented from'deviating in any lateral direction from'straight line motion in passing from one sprocket to the other along the said straight-away of the travel of the chain, said track counteracting the entire thrust directed longitudinally of the cam members against the outer ends thereof.

LINDEN MORGAN VALENTINE.