US2447274A - Heddle release mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 17, 1948. BA. PETERSON HEDDLE RELEASE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1945 INVENTQR v B urb A. Peterson ATI'ORN EYS Patented Aug. 17, 1948 .HEDDLE RELEASE MECHANISM.

Burt A. Peterson, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a. corporation of Illinois Application June 14, 1945, Serial No. 599,442 t (01. 28- 16) The present invention relates to mechanisms for releasing, one by one, a series of heddles from a pack,.such mechanisms being suited for use in Warp drawing machines, heddle counting machines, or any other machine where such sl cessive release .of heddles is required.

The general aim of the present invention is to afford a Middle release mechanism which does not require a special keyhole in the heddles. to accommodate them for release. On the contrary, release mechanisms-of the present invention are adapted for use with heddles having only a. simple slot or thread eye in them and no additional keyhole.

For an example of a release mechanism of the type heretofore available in theart and requiring a special release keyhol in the heddle in addition to the thread eye, see my .Patent No. 2,175,910, issuedOctober 10, 1939.

A more specific object is to provide in a heddle release mechanism having a release key operative upon the foremost heddle of a pack to hold it releasably against separation therefrom, means for relieving such heddle, of wear incident. to the movement of the release key from holding to releasing position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentas'the. following description proceeds, taken in. connection with th accompanyi-ng drawings in which:

Figure .1 is a front view of a warp drawing ma-. chine equipped with a heddle release mechaniSm embodying the present invention, the portions of the machine not directly related to the release mechanism being omitted for the sake of clarity and simplicity of illustration.

Fig. 2. is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 1 and illustrating a portion of the 22 Claims.

actuating system for the heddle release mechamsm.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3. in Fig. 2. I Fig. 4 is an enlarged front end view of the release key and cooperating detent finger included in the release mechanism, an associated heddle beingshown in broken lines.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the release mechanism shown as incorporated in the machine of Fig. 1, and illustrating its location in reference to the heddle pack upon which it operates.

6 is an enlarged fragmentar -y perspective view-showing the release key and detent finger of the release mechanism in a different position from thatwhich they occupy in Fig. 5.

While the invention "is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it; is to be understood that I do not therebyintend to limit the invention to the specific fornr disclosed, but intend to ,cover all modifications and alternative constructions fallin within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the a pended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention has been illustrated'therein as embodied in ,a heddle release mechanism, shown (Fig. i) in this instance as applied to -a-=warp drawing. machine. Such machine need not be considered in its entirety for an understanding of, the present invention and has therefore only been partially illustrated. For the present sufflCe it to note that the machine includes a base or bed 10 above which are supported a series or hedd-le frames in side-by-side relation,only one of which appears and is designated generally as II. On each of these frames is carried a group of heddles' I2. The general function of'the release mechanism is to retain the heddles I2 compacted in a pack or bunch against a backer 13 on the heddle frame, and to release the heddles one byone from the pack in accordance with the operation of a pattern control mechanism, There.- after they are picked up by some other mecha: nism, suchas a leader worm (not shown) and threads inserted through the eyes of the heddles.

The heddle frames .II are in the present instance rectangular, each comprising top and'bottom bars 14 joined by endxbars l5. The-.heddlc frames are suspended by supports ['6 from an elevatedv frame Ii -rising from the base =10. A bar engage rails 20 fixed to the heddl'e frames. 1 Ii.

The-backer I3'- maystake various forms such, for

1 example, as that illustrated in detail in my 3 justable along the rails 20 and against which the heddles are compacted in a bundle.

In each of the heddles l 2 is a thread eye IZb in the form of a longitudinally extending slot. These eyes are formed in laterally enlarged central portions of the heddles and the eyes in successive heddles overlap each other. However, the eyes in alternate heddles are offset longitudinally with respect to each other (see Fig, 6) so that the overlap or registry of the eyes in successive heddles making up the pack is only partial. This offset of the eyes in successive heddles is utilized by the release mechanism which will next be described.

The release mechanism includes, in the illusrated embodiment of the invention, a key 2! and a cooperatin detent finger 22 (Figs. 5 and 6) operation of the release mechanism, attention carried by respective shafts 23 and 24. The key shaft 23 extends through an opening in the central portion of the backer l3 and through the registering portions of the thread eyes [2b in the heddles, having a radially extending lug on its forward end which constitutes the key 2|. The detent shaft 24, on the other hand, extends alongside the heddle pack rather than through it, being in parallelism with the key shaft 23. To the forward; end of the detent shaft 24 is fixed the radially projectin detent finger 22 engageable with the front face of the pack of heddles when swung into the position of Fig. 6.

A pair of such key and detent shafts 23, 24 for each of the several heddle frames l I is carried by and projects forwardly from a car (Fig. 1) which is wheel-mounted on the machine bed In to roll toward and from the heddle frames. In the normal operation of the machine the car 25 is urged to move to the right (as viewed in Fig. 1). Accordingly, when the release keys 2| are positioned as shown in Fig. 5 they engage with the foremost ones of the heddles I2 in their respective packs, the pull exerted by the car 25 on the key shafts 23 causing the keys to compress or compact the respective bundles of heddles against their backers l3. Since thehooked ends [2a of the heddles frictionally engage the rails 20 there is a bowing of the packs toward their backers.

Having compacted and bowed the several heddle packs against the backers in the manner described above, the dent shafts 24 are turned to rock the detent fingers 22 in front of the heddle packs (see Fig. 6) to retain them in place. With the heddles thus temporarily restrained by the detent fingers, the key shafts 23 may be moved axially to free their respective keys 2| from contact with the heddles. The freed keys may then each be revolved, without frictional engagement with the foremost heddle, through a half revolution to aline the keys 2| with the thread eyes 12b in the foremost heddles. Thereafter the key shafts 23 are moved axially back toward their initial positions, the keys 2| movin through the slots in the first heddles into contact with the next heddles and bowing the same back toward the backer with a small clearance of the detent 22. With the keys thus abutted against the second heddles, rocking of the detent fingers 22 out of engagement with the forward heddles permits the latter to spring forward free of the keys. The bowing imparted to the heddles places them under tension and such tension is thus utilized in separating them from the pack. Moreover, the noses of the detent fingers 22 are relieved or cut turned into pack-engaging position they will may now be given to the disclosed arrangement for actuating the key and detent shafts 23, 24 in timed relation with each other for selectively releasing successive heddles. The drive for that purpose is derived from a cam shaft 26 (Figs. 2 and 3) journaled transversely within the car 25 and driven through bevel gears 2'! from a main drive shaft 28. a barrel cam 29 utilized in oscillating the detent shafts 24, a two-roller cylinder cam 30 utilized in oscillating the key shafts 23, and an open-faced cam 3i utilized in shifting the key shafts 23 axially.

As to the oscillator for the detent shafts 24, it will be observed upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3 (see also Fig, 5) that pinions 32 are pinned to these detent shafts, bein located Within a housing 33 atop the car 25 and in which the detent shafts are journaled. These pinions 32 mesh with a rack 34 slidable endwise within the housing 33. The rack 34 is in turn meshed with a sector 35 on the upper end of a'follower lever 36 pivoted intermediate its ends at 31 and having a cam follower roller 38 on its lower end received in the peripheral groove of the barrel cam 29. The cam shape and tooth ratios are so chosen that for each rotation of the cam shaft 26 the detent shafts 24 are oscillated or turned forward and back about their longitudinal axes through a quarter turn, thereby shifting the detent fingers 22 between the two alternate positions therefor indicated in full and broken lines in Fig. 4. V

The oscillator for the key shafts 23 may be somewhat similar to that for the detent shafts 24 described above. Thus in the present instance pinions 39 for the several key shafts are adapted to be meshed with a rack bar 40 slidable endwise within the housing 33. A pair of follower rollers 4i journaled on the outer end of this bar 40 engage the cylinder cam 30, the parts being so proportioned that the key shafts 23 are oscillated through a half revolution and back to starting position for each full revolution of the cam shaft 26, in the event that the pinions 38 are meshed with the rack bar 40. 1

Provision is made for shifting individual ones of the pinions 39 into or out of meshing engagement with the rack-40 so that by thus establishing or disestablishing the drivefrom the cam shaft 26 to selected ones of the release keys, the selection of heddles may be correspondingly controlled. To accomplish. such' selective connection of the pinions 39 to the rack 4!! the pinions are splined on the respective key shafts 23 for axial movement relative thereto. Each .pinion 39 is rigid with a spool 42 (Figs. 3 and 5) presenting an annular groove in which is received a lug 43 on the forwardend of a corresponding shifter bar 44. The shifter bars have rack teeth 45 (Fig. 5) on their outer ends meshed with idler pinions 46 and are moved endwise by a suitable pattern controlled mechanism such, for example, as that disclosed in Russell P. Drake application Serial No. 533,160, filed April 28, 1944, now Patent Rigid with the cam shaft 26 are Present invention. For the: present,1suffice itto ay that-when the pattern calls for release of a.

heddle l2 from a particular one of: the series-of heddle frames, a corresponding pattern control bard! having its rack teeth 48 meshedwith the companion. pinion 45 moves to the. right (as viewcd-inFig, 59-. This causes the corresponding shifter bar 44 to move to the'right (as also vie-wed in Fig-,5), drawing the corresponding pinion 39 bodily to the right into mesh with the rack bar 40 so; that the: companion release key 2i canbe. oscillated by such rack bar. Conversely, whenthe'pattern does not call for release of. a heddle from a particular frame, no movement is imparted toithe corresponding pattern control bar. '41 and-shifter bar 44, so that the appropriate pinion 39' remains in disengaged relation with respect to the rack bar 40.. In such disengaged position, the pinion and its release key are held positively against rotation by a lug 49 on thepinion engaging. witha notched stop member 50 fixed to the housing 33.

For shifting the release keys 2] endwise a corresponding. series of arms El'keyed to a rock shaft 52 (Figs. 2.; 3 and 5) are operatively connected Withthe key shafts 23. Thus the bifurcated upper endsof the arms carry rollers 53 received between a pair of spaced flanges .54 fixed to the respective release key shafts 23. A depending follower arm 55, also keyed to the rock shaft '52, carries onits lower end a follower roller 56 re'- ceived in the groove of the open-faced cam 31. For each rotation of the cam shaft 26- the release key shafts 23 are thus thrust forward by the rocker arms Sl and then pulled back to their initial positions.

Theoperation of the disclosed apparatus will in general be clear from the foregoing. By way of brief recapitulation, it may be observed that theseriesof heddle frames such as l I are-initially-set'upon the machine and the release keys 2| positioned as shown in Fig. 5 for compacting the corresponding bunches of heddles against the backers. The machine is set in operation and for each revolution of the cam shaft 26 a heddle l2is released from each pack selected by the pattern controlled mechanism. Thus, as the camshaftZB revolves the cam controlled rack bar 34 is-rthrustztothe left (as viewed in Fig. 5) ,turning the detentshafts Mfrom the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6 where the detents 22 are located to engage and hold their corresponding packs of heddles as the latter moveforwardly slightly uponithe subsequent axial advance of- :the release keys. While the-detents 22 dwellin such position: the rocker arms. 5| thrust the release .key shafts 23 axially forward, freeing their keys 2| from frictional engagement with the bunched heddles; Those: of the release key shafts which have been selected for operation by the pattern controlled shifter rods 41-(th1=ough engagement of their pinions- 39 with the rack bar 40.) are turnedthrough a half revolution. After'having been thus turned, the release key shafts are shifted, axially to return their keys for engagement Withtheheddles. v Those keys which have been turned now engage the second heddle in the pack, passing through the eye in the first heddle. Thereafter the detent fingers are-oscillated back to their freedor. starting position, whereupon the front heddles. of. the selected packs springforwardoutof the pack, I n zthe noneselectedpack he. rslt e: e sn h vin be ea ri iedr 13.- l

i c engage the first heddle in the pack so that no heddle is released. These operations are repeated,- for eachqrevolution of the camshaft 26,..freeing successive vheddles from selected packsas the patternmay require.

I I claimas my invention;

1. In a warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with a pack of heddles frictionally supported at opposite ends on said frame and slotted intermediate their ends to form eyes relatively offset in the case .ofadjacent-heddles, the combination of a traveling-carriageland mechanism on said carriage for releasing heddles one at a time from said pack, said mechanism includin a shaft threaded throu h the heddle eyes. andhaving a, key thereon antuated successively into two positions. respectively alined withthe eyes of adjacent heddles, and detent means engaging with. the foremost heddleto hold. the same against release from the pack during the movement ofithe release key from one position to the other, said detent means being-operative into disassociated: relation to the foremost heddle following movement of the release key into one of said positions.

2.111 a warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with'heddles supported at opposite ends and arranged ina pack;

to restrain the foremost heddle against release from the pack during such movement of the release key, said release mechanism being operative to draw the heddles along the supportin frame so asto-eflect a bowing of the heddles as an inci-.

dent to the engagement of the free ends thereof with the hedd'le'supporting frame.

3. In a. warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with spaced par-- allel bars with which the opposite ends of the heddles frictionally engage, a release mechanism acting upon the heddles intermediate their ends so as'to effect a bowing thereof whereby to place the heddles under tension, said release mechanism comprising a release key movable successively into two positions and operative in the respective positions to release successive ones of the heddles for separation from the stack, and other means coacting with the release key to temporarily restrain a separating movement of the foremost heddle during movement of the release key from one of said releasing positions to the other.

4. In' a warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with a pack of heddles frictionally' supported at opposite ends on said frame, a release mechanism foreffecting the separation of said heddles one at a time from the pack, said mechanism comprising selectively operable release means movable from a position in holding engagement with the foremost heddle into. a releasing position with respect to such heddle, said release mechanism being operative to place the heddles in said pack under tension so as to cause the foremost heddle to separate from the pack as permitted by said release means, and other means for temporarily holding the fore most heddle against separation from the pack as permitted by said release means and timed with respect to. the operation of the release means to move out of. holding relation with respect to the 7. foremost heddle upon movement of the release means-out of holding position.-

5. In a warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with'a pack of heddles frictionally supported at'opposite ends on said frame, a release mechanism for effecting the separation of said heddles one ata time from the pack, said mechanism comprising selectively operable release means movable from a position in holding engagement with the foremost heddle into a releasing position with respect to such heddle, saidrelease mechanism being operative to place the heddles in said pack under tension so as to cause the foremost heddle to separate from the pack as permitted by said release means, other means movable into holding relation with the foremost heddle preliminary to the movement of the release means into its heddle releasing position, and means for shifting the release means into disassociated relation to the foremost heddle preliminary to the movement of the release means into its said releasing position.

6. In a warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with a pack of heddles friction-ally supported at opposite ends on said frame, a release mechanism for effectin the separation of said heddles one at a time from the pack, said mechanism comprising selectively operable release means movable from a position in holding engagement with the foremost heddle into a releasing position with respect to such heddle, said release mechanism being operative to place the heddles i said Pack under tension so as to cause the foremost heddle to separate from the pack as permitted by said release means, and other means movable into holding position with respect to the foremost heddle to retain the same during movement of the release means into its said releasing position with respect to such heddle, said other means being operative in such movement to engage a previously released heddle with a positive action so as to insure separation thereof from the pack.

'7. In a warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with a pack of centrally apertured heddles frictionally supported at opposite ends on said frame, a release mechanism for effecting the separation of said heddles one at a time from the pack, said mechanism comprising a shaft threaded through alined apertures in the heddles and having a key thereon movable from a position in holding relation to the foremost heddle into a releasing position with respect thereto, said key being operative in each such position to release a heddle from the pack, and a detent movable into holding position with respect to the foremost heddle preliminary to the movement of the release key into releasing posi tion with respect to such heddle.

8. In a warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with a pack of centrally apertured heddles frictionally supported at opposite ends on said frame, a release mechanism for effecting the separation of said heddles one at a time from the pack, said mechanism comprising a shaft threaded through alined apertures in the heddles and having a key thereon movable from a position in holdin relation to the foremost heddle into a releasing position with respect thereto, and a detent movable into holding position with respect to the foremost heddle preliminary to the movement of the release key into releasing position with respect to such heddle, said detent being reciprocable so as to move out of engagement with the foremost heddle and then into engagement with the next heddle, and being operative in the latter movement to effect a positive movement of separation of the first heddle from the pack by cam engagement with such heddle.

9. In a warp drawing machine having means for supporting a heddle frame with a pack of slotted heddles frictionally supported at opposite ends on said frame, a release mechanism for effootin the separation of said heddles one at a time from the pack; a shaft threaded through alined slots centrally of the heddles with the slots of adjacent heddles extending in opposite directions and including a laterally projecting portion movable successively from a position in blocking relation to the foremost heddle at one side of the slot therein into position in registry with said slot, said mechanism acting on the pack of heddles to place the same under tension while the release key is in its said blocking position, and means operative upon the heddles to relieve frictional engagement between the release key and the foremost heddle during movement of the key from said blocking position into its said releasing position.

I 10. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack of the same in which the heddles each have a slot therein overlapping the slot in the next adjacent heddle of the pack but with the slots in adjacent heddles ofiset in opposite directions, the combination with a release key shaft adapted to project through the overlapping portions of the slots and having a key on its forward end registerable with the slots in successive heddles in corresponding successive half turn positions of said shaft, of means including a detent movable into and out of engagement with the foremost heddle in the pack for temporarily holding the pack bunched out of contact'with said key while the latter is rotating.

11. In a mechanism for releasing heddles from a pack, the-combination with means including a rotatable release key for retaining the pack of heddlescompressed and for releasing successive heddles from the pack in successive predetermined angular positions of said key, of means for shifting said release keylongitudinally out of engagement with the pack preparato to each successive rotational movement of said key, together with detent means for temporarily retaining the pack bunched while said key is out of engagement with the pack.

12. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack of the same in which the heddles each have a slot therein overlapping the slot in the next adjacent heddle of the pack but with the slots in adjacent heddles offset in opposite directions, the combination of a release'key shaft adapted to project through the overlappingportions of the slots and having a key on its forward end registerable with the slots in successive heddles in corresponding successive half turn positions of said shaft, a detent swingable into'and out of a position in front of the pack, and means for actuating said release key and detent in timed relation to effect, first, movement of said detent into holding relation with the foremost heddle, second, separation of said release key from such foremost heddle, third, rotation of said release key to position the same in registry with the slot in said foremost heddle, fourth, movement of said release key through the last mentioned slot into holding engagement with the next adjacent heddle, and fifth, movement of said detent out of holding engagement with said foremost heddle whereby to releas it. 13. In a mechanism for releasing heddles from a pack supported in front of-a backer on a pair of rails along which the heddles are slidable lease key longitudinally out of engagement with the pack preparatory to'each successive rotational movement of said key, together with detent means for temporarily retaining the pack bunched while said key is out of engagement'with thepack. I a

14. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack of the same in which the heddles each have a thread eye therein overlapping the eye in the next adjacent heddle of the pack but with the eyes in adjacent heddles offset in opposite directions, the combination of a'release .key shaft adapted to project through the overlapping portions of the heddle eyes, a key on the forward end of said key shaft registerable with the eyes in successive heddles incorresponding half turn positions of said key shaft, a rock shaft extending in parallelism with said key shaft and laterallyoffset therefrom to lie alongside the pack of heddles, a detent finger on the forward end of said rock shaft shiftable by rocking of the latter into and out of position to engage the foremost heddle in the pack, and means for turning alternate ones of said rock and .key shafts through quarterand half turns respectively in timed relation with each other. a

15. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack of the same in which the heddleseach have a thread eye therein overlapping the eye in the next adjacent heddle of the pack but with the eyes in adjacent heddles offset in opposite directions, the combi nation of a release key shaft adapted to project through the overlapping portions of the heddle eyes, a key on the forward: end of said key shaft registerable with the eyes in adjacent heddles in corresponding successive half turn positions of said key shaft, arock shaft extending in parallelism with said key shaft and laterally offset therefrom tollie. alongside the pack of heddles, -adetent finger on the forwardend of said frock shaft shiftable by rocking of the latter into and out of position to engage the foremost heddle in the pack, and cam actuated means for not only turning alternate ones of said shafts, with a half turn of said key shaft intervening between successive quarter turns of said rock shaft in opposite directions, but for also recpirocating said key shaft endwise away from the pack and back toward the same after each, turn of said rock shaft to swing said detent finger toward the pack and prior to the succeeding half turn of said key shaft.

16. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack of the same in which the heddles each have a thread eye therein overlapping the eye in the next adjacent heddle in the pack but with the eyes in adjacent heddles offset in opposite directions, the combination of a release key shaft adapted to project through the overlapping portions of the "10 heddle eyes, a key on the forward end of said key shaft registerable with'the eyes in adjacent'heddles in corresponding successive half turn positions of said key shaft, to thereby release successive'heddles in successive half turn positions of said key, means including a detent movable into and out of engagement with the foremost heddle in the pack'for temporarily holding the pack bunched while in engagement with such heddle, and means for actuating said key shaft and detent in timed relation with each other to successively bring said detent into engaging position, shift said key'away from the pack and back while rotatingit through a half turn, and

:finall-y withdraw said detent from'the pack.

1'7. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack of the same of engagement with the foremost heddle in the pack for temporarily holding the pack bunched while in engagement with such heddle, means for actuating said key shaft and detent in timed relation with each other to successively bring said detent into engaging position, shift said ke away from the packand back while rotating it through a half turn, and finally withdraw said detent from the pack, and means for disabling said last-named means against effecting rotation of said key shaft. p

18. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack, of the same key shaft and positioned relative to the latter to' extend alongside the pack, said rock shaft carrying a detent on its forward end movable into and out of engagement with the foremost heddle in the pack of said rock shaft, pinions carried by each of said rock shafts, a pair of reciprocable racks meshed with respective ones of said pinions, and power operated means for reciprocating said racks in timed relation with each other, I

19. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack of the same in which the heddles each have a thread eye therein overlapping the eye in the next adjacent heddle in the pack but with the eyes in adjacent heddles offset in opposite directions, the combination of a release key shaft adapted to project through the overlapping portions of the heddle eyes, a key on the forward end of said key shaft registerable with the eyes in adjacent heddles in corresponding successive half-turn positions of said key shaft, to thereby release successive heddles in successive half-turn positions of said key, a rock shaft paralleling said key shaft and positioned relative to the latter to extend alongside the pack, said rock shaft carrying a detent on its forward end movable into and out of engagement with the foremost heddle in the pack of said rock shaft, pinions carried by each of said rock shafts, a pair of reciprocable racks meshed with respective ones of said pinions, power operated means for reciprocating said racks in timed relation with each other, the one of said pinions carried by said key shaft having a splined connection with the latter, and means for shifting the last-mentioned pinion out of mesh with its associated rack to disable the latter against turning said key shaft while said rock shaft is turning.

20. In a mechanism for releasing, one at a time, successive heddles from a pack of the same in which the heddles each have a thread eye therein overlapping the eye in the next adjacent heddle in the pack but with the eyes in adjacent heddles offset in opposite directions, the combination of a release key shaft adapted to project through the overlapping portions of the heddle eyes, a key on the forward end of said key shaft registerable with the eyes in adjacent heddles in corresponding successive half-turn positions of said key shaft, to thereby release successive heddles in successive half-turn positions of said key, a rock shaft paralleling said key shaft and positioned relative to the latter to extend alongside the pack, said rock shaft carrying a detent on its forward end movable into and out of engagement with the foremost heddle in the pack of said rock shaft, pinions carried by each of said rock shafts, a pair of reciprocable racks meshed with respective ones of said pinions, and power actuated-means for not only reciprocating both of said racks in timed relation with each other but for also reciprocating said key shaft axially in timed relation with the reciprocation of said racks.

21. In a mechanism for releasing heddles from a pack supported in front of a backer on a pair of rails along which the heddles are slidable while in frictional engagement with the same, each heddle having a thread eye therein overlapping the thread eye in the next adjacent heddle of the pack but with the eyes in adjacent heddles offset in opposite directions, the combination of a release key shaft adapted to project through the overlapping portions of said eyes and having a key on its forward end registerable with the eyes in adjacent heddles in corresponding successive half-turn positions of said shaft, the'pressure of said key against said heddles serving to bow them centrally toward said backer, means for shifting said shaft endwise to free said key from the heddles during turning of said key, 7 and means including a detent movable into and out of engagement with the foremost heddle in the pack for temporarily holding the pack bunched out of contact with said keywhile the latter is rotating, said detent being operative as an incident to its movement into engagement with the heddle next to be released from the pack to impart a movement of separation to the heddle last previously released.

22. In a warp drawing machine, the combination of a heddle frame having a pack of heddles frictionally supported at opposite ends and each having a thread eye intermediate its .ends, and mechanism for releasing heddles one at-a time from said pack, said mechanism including a traveling carriage, release means on said carriage shiftable selectively into and out of holding position with respect to successive heddles and also movable in a direction longitudinally of the heddle frame to bow the heddles and place them under tension, detent means also-shiftable into and out of holding position with respect to the heddles, and means for actuating said release means and said'detent means in timed relation to'eflect, first,movement of the release means longitudinally of the heddle frame and into engagement with the foremost heddle so as to place the heddles of the pack under tension, second, movement of the detent means into holding engagement with the foremost heddle to maintain the heddles under tension, third, movement of the release means into releasing position with respect to the foremost heddle and, fourth, movement of the detent means out of its holding position with respect to the foremost heddle.

BURT A. PETERSON;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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