US2146611A - Electric loom - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1939. J. 1.. YOUNG. JR 2,146,611

T I ELECTRIC LOOM Filed May 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill A'ITORN EY5 Feb.- 7, 1939. J. YOUNG. JR

ELECTRIC LOOM .Filed May 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR J. L.Youn ,Jr: BY 7wum4- v ATTORNEYS I%EISSES M Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric loom, and has for an object to provide a construction wherein all parts of the loom are operated electrically in proper time relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loom wherein the individual moving parts are provided with individual prime movers which actuate the various parts to cause them to function in the desired way.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved electric loom using an electric eye as part of the structure for controlling the action of the shuttle.

A further object of the invention is to produce a loom electrically operated throughout in a way whereby it will operate at a very high speed and with comparativelyhigh eiliciency.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the loom disclosing an embodiment of the invention, certain parts being eliminated in the interest of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a shuttle, part of the lay and associated parts disclosing certain features of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2 with the lay eliminated; 1i iFlg. 4 is a side view of the shuttle shown in Fig. 5 is an end view of the shuttle shown in Fi Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the circuits of the various parts at one end of the loom;

Fig. 7 is a diagram showingthe circuits of the reed beat-up mechanism and the bobbin-change motion;

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the warp stop motion and also the filling stop motion;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a harness control mechanism;

Fig. 10 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view principally in diagram showing how the structure illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 actuates the harness;

Fig. 12 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 6 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, I indicates a frame of a loom which may be of any desired kind and provided with suitable parts for supporting the various moving and stationary parts of the loom. Any desired form of warp beam 2 is provided from which the warp threads 3 and extend and which with the filling threads eventually form the woven fabric 5 which is wound on the roller 6 carried by swinging arms 1. Preferably there is an arm 1 on each side of the machine and a retractile spring 8 connected with each arm so as to urge 5 the roll of cloth 9 toward the guide or feed roller Hi. It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 7 that the 'fabric: 5 passes over the guide roller l and then over an idler and is wound on the roller 6 by the friction of the wound fabric 9 against the part of fabric 5 passing over roller l0. Roller III is provided with a gear wheel l2 which continually meshes with a pinion l3 rigidly connected with the ratchet wheel H which is carried by shaft l5. A swinging arm I6 is pivotally mounted on 15 shaft l5 and carries a pawl I! which is adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel ll for rotating the ratchet wheel. A spring 18 tends to hold the parts in the position shown in Fig. '7. However, whenever the magnet i9 is energized it will M attract the armature 20 which is part of lever l6 and swing the same downwardly sufliciently for pawl I! to rotate the ratchet wheel [4 a distance of one notch. This movement will be transmitted through the pinion l3 and gear I 2 to the roller as [0 and by friction to the roll of fabric 9. After the actuation of each pick magnet I9 is energized and then deenergized so that the fabric 5 is moved to the right as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 7 it will an be seen that the lay 2| is supported by a carriage 22 at each side of the loom frame I, and this carriage carries magnetic plungers 23 and 24 which operate in the solenoids 25 and 26. It will also be noted that the lay 2| carries the reed 21 so that after the. shuttle has placed the filling in the shed, as hereinafter fully described, the movement of the carriage 22 to the right as shown in Fig. 1 will cause the lay 2| ,to beat up the filling thread in the desired manner. Ourrent from the main supply of wires 26 and 29 is supplied to the solenoids 25 and 26 as shown in Fig. 7. When the magnet 30 is energized, as hereinafter fully described, the swinging contacts 3! and 32 will be brought into engagement with the stationary contacts 33 and 31, whereupon current will pass from wire 23 through conductor 35 to and through the switch 3|, contact 33 and wire 36 to the solenoid 25. From the solenoid 25 current will pass to the contact 31, through switch 32 and through the wire 39 back to the feed wire 23. when the magnet 36 is deprived of current the contact members or switches 3i and 32 will be relzased and will be automatically moved by the retractile spring contacted therewith so as to u engage the stationary contacts 98 and 38', whereupon current will be supplied to the solenoid 26' and the result will be that the lay 2| and assaciated parts will be moved back to the position" shown in Fig. 1. During the actuation of the machine it will be understood that these actions will take place rather rapidly. In operation it may be practical to substitute a retractile spring for solenoid 26.

The filling yarn is laid in place by electrically actuated shuttles shown particularly in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. It will be understood that on each side of the machine there is provided a stator it] and associated parts so that the description of one will apply to both. As shown in Fig. 2 the stator lil is provided with a coil 91] which has a metal casing 92 for the return of flux. This arrangement presents the solenoid through which the shuttle ts is adapted. to move. A brass or other suitable lining i l is provided in the solenoid to permit a proper smooth passage of the shuttle. As shown in Fig. 2, '55 illustrates an electric eye which may be shifted to any desired place, but is preferably arranged substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The lay 2B is secured bysuitable brackets 36 or other means to the casing 62 so as to move therewith. The housing M is also secured by screws and brackets or other means to the casing 42 so that all of these parts.

.connected by wires 59 and 6% with winding 5|.

This winding coacts with brushes 56 at the other side of the machine. It is to be understood that the winding 5|] will be energized at the same time that the winding il is energized. It will also be understood that these windings are in such directions that they will augment each other to give a quick strong pull to the shuttle until the shuttle passes in front of the electric eye 55,

whereupon the parts will be deprived of current but the shuttle will continue to move under the action of momentum until it reaches the other side and is stopped in a position similar to that shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that at each end of the shuttle there is provided a contact bar 6| which engages the respective contacts 62 and 63 for closing a circuit at this point, as hereinafter more fully described. A retarding or binding spring 64 is carried by the casing 32 and presses against the side of the shuttle to retard and stop its movement as it enters the shuttle box 41. However, the parts are so proportioned and the binder spring 64 is so adjusted that the shuttle will stop each time with contact bar '6| engaging contacts 62 and 63. It will also be understood that each time the shuttle passes the eye 45 it will shut off the action of this electric eye and thereby produce certain results, as hereinafter described. I

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, the diagram for the actuation of the shuttle 43 and the parts shown in Figs. 7, 9, 10 and 11 is disclosed. The

winding 4| of the solenoid is supplied with current through the conductors 65 and 66 which are connected through certain instruments to the power wires 28 and 29. Adjacent the coil 4| in Fig. 6 willbe seen a source of light 6-! which may be an ordinary incandescent lamp with its rays directed through a lens, and this light illuminates or shines on the photo-electric cell 68 which controls through the'tube '69 the current from the supply wires 28' and 29 whereby the sensitive relay C may be supplied or deprived of current. When the rays of light are broken and the photoelectric cell 68 is non-functioning magnet C is deprived of current and consequently the springs connected with the contacts 10 and H will cause these members to swing upwardly whereby memher it is in engagement with the stationary contact l2 and member 70 is out of engagement with contact 73. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 they are in the same relative position as shown in Fig. 6 and consequently the contacts 62 and 63 are closing the circuit of the wires i l and i5. Wire it extends downwardly and is permanently connected with. the member or swinging contact l and also is in permanent engagement with the stationary contact l6. Wire M- extends upwardly and is permanently connected with the power wire 29 and also perman'ently connected with the wire 719, which in turn is permanently secured to one end of the swinging contact Bil. Coacting with the swinging contact 89 are swinging contacts 8! and 82. All of these contacts are adapted to swing upwardly as shown in Fig. 6 under the action of suitable springs and to swing downwardly under the action of the magnet A when the same is energized. Associated with the magnet A is a magnet B I which when functioning holds the swinging contacts 33 and 9 3 against the stationary contacts 85 and 86.

In tracing the circuit for the winding of the shuttle it will be seen that current is taken ofi of power wire 28 and passes through the conductor 87, swinging contact 83, stationary contact 85, and resistor 88 which may be adjusted if desired to one of the brushes 56. From the other brush 55 current will passthrough conductor 9|, stationary contact 86, swinging contact 89, and conductor 92 back to the power wire 29. A capacitance or condenser 93 is used between one end of the resistor 88 and wire 9| so a that when the current is broken the capacitance :wire 28 to the conductor 89 which is connected through suitable swinging contacts 90 and 99' to wire 65 which is permanently connected with one end of the coil 4|. The opposite end of coil 4| is connected with conductor 66 which is permanently connected to one end of the swinging contact 8|, which contact is held against the" stationary contact 94 when magnet A is energized.

Stationary contact 94 is connected through wires 95 and 95' to the supply wire 29. When this circuit is closed the winding 4| will be energized. 3

When the shuttle is arranged as shown in Fig. 6 current will pass from the power wire 28' through conductor 96 to wire 91 and through wire 91 to magnet A. From magnet A the current will pass through wire 98 to the stationary contact 13,

through swinging contact 10, wire 99 to and through wire 15, through contact 63, bar 6|, contact 62, and wire 14 back to the supply wire 29. Current flowing .in this direction will. energize magnets A and B and consequently will swing all of the swinging contacts 80, M and 82 downwardly. This will close the circuit for the solenoid 4|. Current flowing through the magnet B will pass from wire 96 through wire 91 to the winding of magnet B, wire I to the wire 98 and downwardly as shown in Fig. 6 to the contact 13, through swinging contact I0, wire 99, stationary contact I6, swinging contact 80, and wire IIII back to the supply wire 29.

When the shuttle 43 starts to move it will break one of the circuits of magnet A by reason of the fact that bar GI has moved away from contacts 62 and 53. Almost instantly after the bar BI leaves contacts 62 and 63 the shuttle 43 will pass between light 61 and cell 69 whereby the circuit through magnet C will be opened and whereby magnet A will be deprived of current shortly after contact bar 6| starts to move. However, the magnet B will remain energized due to contact at 80 and I6 until the shuttle moves in front of the light 61, whereupon magnet C will be deenergized. This will deprive magnets A and B of current and consequently the contacts 83 and 84 will swing open. When magnet C is deenergized as just described, swinging contact II will engage stationary contact I2 and will attempt to close the circuit of magnet D. However, the circuit of magnet D is not closed at this time because of the delayed closing of contact 82 which is still held open by the slow release action of magnet A. This slow release is caused, by the opening of magnet C a short time after bar 6i leaves contacts 62 and 63. This delay is desired because it is not desired to operate the shuttle throwing mechanism on the left hand side of the loom while the shuttle is still in the shed on the way toward the left hand end. After the shuttle has reached the left hand end and is again inbound or moving to the right, then the contact at II and I2 of Fig. 6 will take place and magnet D will be energized as contact arms 80, BI and 02 of the magnet A will be in their upward position and contact will have been made at 82. When magnet D is energized it will in turn close the circuit through wires I02 and I03 by reason of the contact I04 swinging down into engagement with the stationary contact I05. The wires I02 and I03 extend to the magnet 30 as shown in Fig. 7 and will energize this magnet as well as magnet I9. As heretofore described, when magnet I9 is energized the fabric will be taken up. When the magnet 30 is energized the swinging contacts 3i and 32 will swing downwardly to the position shown in Fig. '7, whereby current will be supplied to the solenoid 25 for moving the lay forwardly on the beat-up stroke. As soon as -rnagnet 30 is deenergized the swinging contacts RI and 32 will move into engagement with contacts 38 and 39' for energizing the solenoid 28 which will move the lay back to a position as shown in Fig. i. It will be understood that the lay functions upon each pick. It will be noted that the magnet D is energized for only a very short time, namely, during the time the shuttle passes lamp 61. It will therefore be seen that the magnets I9 and 30 will quickly function and then become deenergized. In Fig. 6 the magnet B is a quick release magnet and A is a slow release magnet. If preferred, however, the swinging arm contact 82 may be afiixed to magnet B instead of magnet A, in which event B should be a slow release magnet and A should be a quick release magnet.

As the loom continues to operate the yarn in the shuttle will become exhausted and when this occurs the mechanism at the left of Fig. '7 will function to stop the loom for any desired time, usually a few seconds in order that a new bobbin may be inserted. As shown at the left in Fig. 7,

. each time the shuttle moves to the position shown in Fig. 6 the pivotally mounted notched feeler I06 will move through the slot I0I in the shuttle and strike the yarn. As long as there is sumcient yarn on the bobbin the notches on feeler I08 will revent the feeler from slipping along the bobbin and the feeler mechanism will be pushed backward compressing the spring III. When the yarn on the bobbin is almost exhausted, however, there will be no yarn to catch on the feeler and the feeler will'slip along the bobbin and will not be pushed back by the lay moving forward but will be pushed sideways through movement of the support I06 along the slide groove I06", thus causing the contacts I09 and H0 to engage. When the feeler I06 has moved along the slide until the contacts I09 and H0 have, engaged, the

magnet I will be energized by current from the supply wires 28 and 29. It will be noted that this current passes through the swinging contact II2 which is normally held against the stationary contact H3. It will remain energized after the lay has returned to the backward position (breaking contact at I09 and H0) through the contacts H4 and I95.

When the magnet- I has been energized the swinging contacts Ilfi and H5 will be swung over into engagement with the respective stationary contacts H6 and III. When this takes place current will pass through wire M8 to the magnet Y shown in Fig. 6 and back through wire H9 to the stationary contact I I1 and thence back to the supply wire 29 through the swinging contact H5. This will move the swinging contact 90' shown in Fig. 6 to open the circuit of the solenoid or coil M whereby the shuttle will not function. This circuit will remain open as long as magnet I is energized. At the sametime that the magnet Y (Fig. 6) is energized the time delay magnet J (Fig. 7) will be energized and will cause the swinging contact I to move into engagement with the stationary contact IN. This Will close the circuit for magnet K and consequently magnet K will move the swinging contact I I2 away from the stationary contact II3 after the delay necessary to operate magnet J. This will deenergize magnet I so that all the circuits will be automatically restored and the loom will start to function again.

During the time that the loom has stopped a new bobbin will have been placed in the shuttle 43. The new bobbin may be placed in the shuttle manually if desired, but as shown in Fig. 13 automatic means have been provided for securing this result. I'he wires 922 and I23 extend to the magnet M of the bobbin replacing mechanism shown in Fig. 13. It will therefore be seen that this replacing mechanism will function during the time that current is supplied to the magnet Y in Fig. 6. In Fig. 13 there is provided a drum E25 carrying a number of bobbins I26. A lever I2! is pivotally mounted at I28 and is provided at one end with an armature i29 adapted to be attracted by the magnet M. The other end of the lever is provided with an arc-shaped pusher I30 positioned to engage and push one of the bobbins E26 downwardly into the shuttle 43. As the new bobbin is forced into the shuttle 43 the old bobbin is forced downwardly and out of the shuttle. During the downward movement of the lever IZ'I the pawl I3I moves over the ratchet wheel I32 which is secured to drum I25, but when the lever is moved upwardly pawl I3I under the action of spring I33 will-move the drum I25 a distance equal to the spacing of the bobbins on the drum so that a new bobbin will be ready to be fed into the next empty shuttle. It will be understood that the shuttle is open at the top andbottom and that this part of the shuttle is old and well known and that the practice of forcing the old bobbin out by a new bobbin is old and well known.

In Fig.8 stop motion mechanism will be seen. From this figure it will be notedthat each of the warp yarns is provided with a contact member I34 which is normally supported by the warp yarn.

When any of the yarns break the contact I34 carried thereby will drop down and connect the contacts I35 and I36. This will close the circuit of wires I31 and I38 which are connected to the magnet I39 shown in Fig. 6. When the contacts I35 and I36 are connected magnet I39 will swing the contact 90 out of engagement with its stationary contact for opening the circuit of the coil M. This circuit will remain open as long as the contacts I35 and I36 are connected. In regard to a stop motion for the filling yarn, a fork I40 extension I42 will be lowered. When this occurs lay 2I will move to the left as shown in Fig. 8 and the hook I43 will engage extension I42 and move the fork I40 so that the contact I41 will engage the contact I48 and close the circuit of wires I31 and I38, whereby magnet I39 shown in Fig. 6 will be energized and the coil 4I deprived of current.

This will stop the functioning of the machine until the filling yam has been taken care of.

When themagnet D (Fig. 6) temporarily closes the circuits of wires m2 and I03, magnet G (Fig.

10) will be energized. It will be understood that wires I02 and I03 are connected with magnet G as well as the other devices heretofore described. When magnet G is energized it will attract its armature I49 and swing the arm I50 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft I5.I. Shaft II carries a drum I 52 to which is rigidly secured a,

ratchet wheel I53 coacting with pawl I54 pivotally mounted on lever I50. Whenever the lever I50 is swung downwardly as shown in Fig. 10,

ratchet wheel I53 will be moved the distance of one tooth, thus moving drum I52 one step forward. When the magnet G is deenergized spring I55 will quickly move the arm I 50 back to the upward position. Drum I52 is provided with a number of metal bars I56 (Fig. 9) grounded on shaft I5I. Bars I56 are provided with a number of apertures so as to receive the various metal pins I58. There is provided .a metal contact spring I59 foreach circumferential row of apertures and all of said springs are supported by metal bar I60 but insulated therefrom by the insulating strip I60. A'conductor I6I (Fig. 11) is connected with supply wire 28 and also with shaft I6I. A conductor I62 is connected withsupply wire 29 and with one end of the winding of solenoid I63. The other end of the winding of solenoid I63 is connected through wire I64 to ,the

spring contact I59. The solenoid I63 has a plunger I65 which is connected with the harness I winding 50.

I 66. It will be understood that there may be several frames of the harness I66 and that each frame is connected with a separate plunger I66 and with a spring or weight I61. It will therefore be seen that each contact I59 is in a separate circuit including a solenoid I63 so as to give individual control of each harness frame I 66. There may be one frame for each circumferential row of apertures in the drum I52, or if desired there may be only two frames so as to provide for the desired shed during the functioning of the machine.

It will be understood that whenever any spring I59 is engaging a pin I58 the frame I66 will be elevated and held elevated as long as the spring is in engagement with thepln. When the drum I52-is rotated for one step all of the springs will move to the next bar I56 which may have only a certain number of-pins.. For instance, if there are only two frames I66 the first row of apertures will be provided with a pin in each alternate opening and the second row will be likewise provided with a pin in each al rnate opening, but the pins in the second row will be alternated. In this way one frame I66 will be elevated and theother lowered. The pins could be arranged in other desired ways. By this arrang'ement the operation of quite a few harnesses may be provided for and also means that dobby weaves could be made at the same speed as plain weaves.

In the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 6 the movement of the shuttle 43 is caused by the attraction of the coil M in connection with the However, the parts could be arranged to cause the shuttle to be'given a push by the solenoid when the same is part of the way through. An arrangement of this kind is shown in Fig. 12 which, generally speaking, is the same as Fig.6 but with sufllcient modification to secure the results just mentioned. Referring to this figure it will be seen that a magnet E is provided for closing thev respective swinging contacts I68' and I69. Also the magnet C is provided with an additional swinging contact I10. The brushes 56 are. setsumciently close to the outside (left side) of the solenoid so that they will contact with contact'bars 51 and; 56 of the tion, which it will do as soon as the'ray of light is uninterrupted. However, inasmuch as relay E has been electrified then contact has been made at points I68 and I69 which continues to keep the circuit closed even though .the sensitive relay 0 returns to its normal position breaking contact at I and 12. when it would not be desired to operate'this mechanism, it would be operated only 'for a fraction of a second even though the brushes On the inbound trip would make contact on the inbound trip. Notwithstanding this fact, the circuit would not be completed until the ray of light was broken and to take care of this condition the length of the contact plates 51 and 58 could be adjusted so that this would only be a fraction of a second before the contact with the brushes is broken. Even if the mechanism operated for this fraction of a second it would only tend to slow down the motion of the shuttle which is more or less desirable at that point. As shown in Fig. 1 the lay is operated by means of the carriage 22 but if desired this method of actuation could be applied to the ordinary swinging type of lay operated about a pivot near the bottom of the loom Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will also be understood that some of the magnets or solenoids may require lower voltage due to the fact that they be more or less exposed and therefore all magnets may not be operated directly off the power lines 28 and 29. Timing and coordination may be controlled accurately by adjusting the speedof the tripping and releasing of the various magnets and by shifting the electric eye along the route of the' shuttle.

I claim:

1. A loom for weaving fabric including a lay provided with a reed, a shuttle, electrically actuated means for actuating said lay and reed, and means for actuating said shuttle in time with said lay and reed, said last-mentioned means including an electric eye positioned to have the rays of light broken by said shuttle as said shuttle moves from one extreme position to the other.

2. A loom for weaving fabric comprising a frame, a forwardly and rearwardly reciprocating lay, a reed secured to said lay and moved thereby, electrically actuated solenoids for actuating said lay, a shuttle, and means including an electric eye on each side of said frame for actuating said shuttle, said shuttle interrupting the light to said electric eyes adjacent each end of its travel.

3. A loom for weaving fabric formed with an independent electrically actuated prime mover for each of the moving parts of the loom and means including a photoelectric cell on each side of the loom for timing and co-ordinating said prime movers so that the various moving parts of the loom will operate in proper timed relation to each other.

4. A fabric loom for plain and dobby weaves, including a lay provided with a reed, a shuttle, electrically actuated means for actuating said lay and reed, a harness for actuating the warp yarn to form a shed, electrically actuated means for actuating said harness, electrically actuated means for actuating said shuttle, and an electric eye for timing and co-ordinating the electrically actuated means for actuating the lay and reed, the harness, and the shuttle, said electric eye being positioned to have the rays of light broken by said shuttle as the shuttle moves from one extreme position to the other.

5. In a loom, a harness, a solenoid for raising the harness at spaced intervals, a lay and reed,

a shuttle, means for actuating said lay and reed,

means for actuating said shuttle, and an electric eye on each side of the loom for timing and coordinating the action of said solenoid and the action of the means for actuating the shuttle, said electric eye being positioned to have respec- 'tively the rays of light broken by said shuttle as the shuttle moves from one extreme position to the other. JAMES LEE YOUNG, JR.

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