US2517454A - Picking mechanism for looms - Google Patents

Description

Allgl 1950 H. M. VAN ALSTYNE Erm. 2,517,454

PICKING MECHANISM FOR Looms Filed March l, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l gli ' 2 Miiy f/ y] Aug 1 1950 H. M. VAN ALSTYNE ETAL 2,517,454

PICKING MECHANISM FOR Looms Aug. 1, 1950 H. M. VAN ALsTYNE 'ETAL 2,517,454

, PICKING MECHANISM FOR Looms Filed March 1, 1949 3 sheets-sheet 3 Patented Aug. l, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-1er".N

PICKING-MEOHAN ISM FR LOOMS Howard M. Van Alstyne and Walter Bell, RensselaeiglN. Y., assignors `to F. C. Huyck & Sons, Rensselaer, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York .sparsamer/rasen 1, 1949, serial No. 78,928

(ci. iss-142) 5 Claims. l

kOur invention .relates to improvements in picking mechanisms .for llooms and particularly to improvements in mechanisms of the .general type disclosed in our U. S. .LettersPatent No. 1,966,704, dated July 17, 1934.

The aforesaid `Letters rPatent discloses a de vice which is actuatedby the .energyin a rotating ily wheel for `pulling `the picker .straps which are `attached to, the picker sticks, and the operation of which is controlled, in part, by a reciprocating sleeve moving in -synchronisin with the lay ofthe loom,.and, Ain part, by a timing device actuated by the pattern mechanism of the loom. Whether the reciprocating sleeve effects or does not effect `an operation of the picking mechanism .is controlled by said timing dev-ice.

One of the `objects of our invention is `to provide a picking mechanism of .the general type disclosed in our Letters Patent aforesaid in vwhich the various elements are `of an improved design, cooperate in diierent manner, and 4may be easily adjusted to `function in smooth, precisely timed relation to each other with a `minimum of shock and Wear.

AAnother object is to .provide a picking mechanism which maybe so adjusted that there is substantially no lost 4motion between the various elements, with the result that shock, which other wise would occur due to the taking up of vthis motion when the mechanism is actuated, is e1imi .A

nated.

.Another object is to provide an improved means for actuating the picking mechanism and an improved `means cooperating therewith for con trolling the timing thereof. A

Another object is t provide an improved,` readn ily accessible means for precisely adjusting the interval during which the clutch elements are held in engagement.

A further object is to provide 'a picking mechanism having animproved 'cam 'and cam follower combination `or assembly in which the followers, except during the actual picking motion, are stationary.

We accomplish these objects by means of the novel elements and the combinations and arrangements thereof described below 'and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which--u Figgl is a plan view of our device:

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof` withportions broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 1 in the plane 3-3 Fig. 4 is aside elevation view of our` device.;

Fig. 5 isa Aside elevation View of two Of our deadjusted position by means of the set screw 19.`

2 vices, one of lwhich .is disposed at each loom;

Fig.. 6 is a section ofFig. 1 in the broken plane 6-5 but with the timing control mechanism "in ene `or nie" p the non-picking position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan View with portions broken away showing a modication of our de? vice; i Fig. 8 is a section of Fig. -7 in the plane 8--8`;` and lFig. 9 is an enlarged` section in the ,plane `8=8 of Fig. 7 showing morefclearly a detail also shown in Fig. c. VReferringto the drawings- 1 i Our device comrisesa stationary, horizontal shaft I `vvl'iich is rigidly secured in the upriglits` 2 on the base s b'ymeans of the bearing-like caps d and cap screws 5.

Rotatably mounted on bearings `6` on the shaft l is a comparatively heavy 'fly wheel 'l which, as illustratedhas a, V-shaped, 'circumferentially-extending groove 8 therein adapted to receive the belt 9 driven by thelmot'or Il] (see Fig. 5). vThe inner 'surface II ofthe rim of the .fly vwheel is fru'sto-conicai and forms the'female driving. ele-1` ment of a clutch. Both 'slidably vand rotataloly` mounted on the shaft I is the male, frusto-coni-` cal, driven `element l2` of the Clutch having circumferentially-spaced recesses in the irujstoconical surface thereof in which 'are securedfric;-` tion blocks I3. On the side opposite the fly vvl'i'eel,` the element l2 .is provided with a comp'aratively` large hub I4, the radius of curvature of' the pee` ripheral surface l5 ci which increases uniformly from the tcp thereof when the parts are 4in the non-picking position, shown in 3, to thebottom. Secured to the top of the hub i4, when this position, .is the picker 'strap I6 which fis adapted to be wound partially aroundfthe Vsur-` face i5 ofthe hub when the clutch element I2 is rotated in the direction of the` arrow, `shown 'in l1 which normally holds these elements out; of"

cooperative relation. The distance which the element l2 may move away from the element l` is .adjustably limited by means ofthe collar AIB` which is threaded on the shaftl and secured in Surrounding the .shaft Iy in spaced relationi 3 thereto and adjustably secured to the end of the hub i4 on the element I2 by means of a plate and cap screws 2i, is a cam 22 having two, circumferentially-spaced, arcuate, raised surfaces 23 and 24 which are coplanar and normal to the axis of the shaft I.

Slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft I is a sleeve 25 having oppositely-disposed arms 25 and 27 thereon extending towards the cam 22; and rotatably mounted in the ends of these arms, are the follower rollers 28 and 29 adapted to cooperate with the cam 22. Pivotally mounted at 34 on the sleeve 25 are two oppositely-disposed links 32 and 33 which are connected together by the upwardly-extending, clevis-like element 3| to form a timing element which controls the operation of the picking mechanism. The right hand ends of the links 32 and 33, as viewed in Figs. l, 2 and 4, are semicylindrical, for a reason which will be explained below, and the left hand ends of the links are also illustrated as semicylindrical and coaxial with the pivotal mounting 33. The axis of the semicylindrical portions at the right hand ends of the links and the axis of the pivotal mounting'SIl are parallel and, when the timing element is in picking position are coplanar with the axis of the shaft I. The links 32 and 33 and the element 3I can rotate freely in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 4, but rotation in a clockwise direction beyond the position shown in Figs, l, 2 and 4 is prevented by the bottoms 36 of the recessed portions 3'! in the sleeve 25.

, Our preferred mechanism for swinging the links 32 and 33 upwardly, or in a co-unter-clockwise direction about their pivotal mounting 3D, is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, as is also our preferredmeans forming an adjustable stop for` limiting the movement of the sleeve 43. However, we have illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 4, 5 and 6l a modication thereof. in which a horizontal, shaft 3T' parallel to the shaft I is mounted in a.

bearing. on top of theasleeve member 25. Secured to one end of the shaft is the upright arm 38 which is adapted to be connected, by means of a rod 38' (see Fig. 5), to the pattern mechanism of theloom or to means controlledby the pattern mechanism of the loom for rocking the shaft 31 in its bearing. The shaft 31 extends between the branches of the clevis-like element 3I, as best shown in Fig. 2 and, between the bran-ches is provided with a laterally-extending projection 39 which, when the arm 3811s moved to the position shown in Fig. 6, is adapted to oooperate with and swing the .element 3i and the links 32 and 33 in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of the mounting 39, as shown in Fig. 6 and in dotted outline at 32 in Fig. 4. A helical spring 43, lighter than spring I'I, surrounding the shaft I is compressed between the collar I8 and the sleeve 25 and normally holds the sleeve 25 against the adjustable collar 4l which is secured to the shaft I by means of a set screw 42.

vSlidably mounted on the shaft I is a second sleeve 43 which is normally held against the adjustable collar 44, secured to the shaft I by the set screw 45, by means of the helical spring 46 which is compressed between the sleeve 43 and the adjustable collar 41 which is threaded on the shaft I and secured in adjusted position by means of the set screw 48.

Pivotally mounted on the sleeve 43 at 49, is the lever or bell crank 50; the axis of the pivotal 4 mounting being horizontal and coplanar with the axis of the shaft I. The lower portion of the bell crank 5E! is bifurcated and straddles the sleeve 43 so that there are arms 5I and 52 thereof on each side of the shaft I. Rollers 53 and 54 are pivotally mounted in the extremities of the arms 5I and 52, respectively, and are adapted to cooperate with the adjacent semicylindrical ends of the links 32 and 33, as shown in the drawings. The bell crank 53 is adapted to oscillate about its pivotal mounting 49 on the sleeve 43 and this oscillating movement is effected by the eccentric mechanism, represented generally by the numeral 55 in Figs. l, 2 and 4, which is driven from the main shaft 56 of the loom in synchronism with the lay of the loom (not shown). The length of the eccentric rod 51, which is pivotally connected to the bell crank 53 at 58 may be adjusted by means of the nut 59. Thus, as the bell crank 52 is oscillated by the eccentric mechanism, the common axis of the rollers 53 and 54 may oscillate in a cylindrical surface indicated by the dot and dash line 50 in Figs. 2 and 4, so

. that, at times, the common axis vof the rollers 53 `and 54 is below the axis of the shaft I, and

at other times, above the axis of theshaft I.

`When in operation, it is to be understood that the bell crank is being constantly oscillated in synchronism with the oscillating movements of the lay of the loom. When the links 32 and 33 are in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4, which is the picking position, the downward movement of the rollers 43 and 54 brings them into rolling conta-ct with the semicylindrical ends of said links. This contact of the rollers with the semicylindrical ends of the links 32 and 33 forces the sleeve 25 to the left against the compression of spring 40, and the rollers 28 and 29 which lie against, or substantially against, the raised surfaces 23 and 24 of the cam move the driven clutch element I2 against the com-4` pression of spring I1 into frictional engagement with the driving clutch element '1. When the normally non-rotating, driven element engages the rotating driving clutch element it is immediately picked up thereby and rotated in the direction of the arrow, shown in Fig. 3, and the picker strap I6 is wrapped around the surface I5 of the hub I4 to impart a quick and rapidly but smoothly accelerated movement to the picker stick 54 to which it is attached at 65 (see Fig, 5).

The rollers 28 and 25 continue to bear against the flat raised surfaces 23 and 24 of the cam, and hold the clutch elements in engagement, until they drop abruptly into the spaces 5I and 62 between said surfaces as said cam is rotated with the driven clutch element. The timing of the drop can be precisely adjusted by loosening the cap screws 2l, rotating the cam, and tightening said screws to hold the cam in adjusted position. When the rollers drop olf the raised surfaces of the cam the clutch elements areimmediately disengaged by the spring Il, and the driven element is rotated back Ato its nonpicking position by the pull exerted on the picker strap by the tension spring 53 attached to the picker stick on the opposite side of its pivotal mounting BB from the point of attachment of said strap. The return movement of the driven element is limited by the stop 66.

As illustrated in the drawings, the rollers 53 and 54 are on dead center with the semicylindrical ends of the links 32 and 33 and thekdriven clutch element is then in full engagement with the driving clutch element. However, as the rollers 53 7 elementrotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft :and adapted to slide into frictional engagement with said rst element to be driven thereby; a picker strap actuated by said second element; a cam on said second element having two, circumferentially-spaced, at, coplanar surfaces thereon; a first sleeve slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said shaft; a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on said sleeve and positioned to cooperate with the Aflat surfaces of said cam for moving said second element into engagement with said first element; a first spring cooperating with said second element and normally holding it out of engagement with said first element; a second vspring cooperating withsaid sleeve and biased to urge said rollers away from said cam; means-,for adjustably limiting the movement of said second element away from said rst element and the movement of said rollers away from said cam; a lever; means pivotally mounting said lever on said shaft with the end of one arm thereof adjacent said sleeve; means for oscillating saidlever in synchronism with the lay of said loom; a link pivotally mounted on said sleeve adapted to swing into positive cooperative relation with said arm for sliding saidsleeve axially of saidshaft and effecting an engagement of said clutch elements when said arm moves in one direction only; and means adapted to be actuated by the pattern mechanism of said loom forv swinging and holding said link out of cooperation with said arm.

3. -In a loom picking mechanism of the character described having a shaft, a driving clutch element rotatably mounted thereon, a driven clutch `element both slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a picker strap attached thereto, and a spring cooperating with said driven element and biased normally to hold it out of operative engagement with said driving element; the combination with means slidable on said shaft -and cooperating with said driven element for sliding it into engagement with said driving element, of mechanism for actuating said slidable means comprising a lever, a pivotal mounting for said lever on said shaft adapting said lever to oscillate through a zone extending each side of the axis of said shaft; mechanism lfor oscillating said lever continuously, when said loomis in operation, in timed relation with the lay of said loom; a link cooperating with said slidable means; a pivotal mounting therefor adapting said link, to swing into and out of a position in the. path of movement of said lever; means for positively holding said link in said path when said lever is moving in one direction only to effect an actuation of said slidable means; and means adapted to be controlled by the pattern mechanism of said loom for controlling the position of vsaid link.

,n 4. In a loom picking mechanism of the character described comprising a shaft, a driving clutch. element rotatably mounted on said shaft,

a driven clutch element rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft to move into and out oi' engagement with said driving element, a picker strap actuated by said driven element, a spring cooperating with said driven element and normally maintaining it out of engagement with said driving element; the combination with mechanism slidably mounted on said shaft and cooperating with said driven element for moving it into engagement with said driving element, of means for actuating said slidably mounted mechanism comprising a lever, a, mounting therefor on said shaft providing both a sliding movement of said lever axially of said .f shaft and a rocking movement thereof about an aXis at right angles to the axis of said shaft, means adapted to rock said lever in timed relation to the movements of the lay of the loom, means on said mechanism, including a mounting therefor adapting said means to move into a position to cooperate with said lever for effecting an actuation of said mechanism by the movement of said lever, and into a position out of cooperation with said lever to prevent actuation of said mechanism thereby; and means cooperating with said last mentioned means for controlling the movements thereof.

5. In a loom picking mechanism of the character described comprising a shaft, a driving `clutch element rotatably mounted on said shaft,

a driven clutch element rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft to move into and out of engagement with said driving element, a picker strap actuated by said driven element, a spring cooperating with said driven element and normally maintaining it out of engagement with said driving element; the combination with mechanism slidably mounted on said shaft and cooperating with said driven element for moving it into engagement with said driving element,

of means for actuating said slidably mounted mechanism comprising a lever, a mounting therefor on said shaft providing both a sliding movement of said lever axially of said shaft and a rocking movement thereof about an axis at right angles to the axis of said shaft, means adapted to rock said lever in timed relation to the movements of the lay of the loom, means on said mechanism, including a mounting therefor adapting said means to move into a position to cooperate with said lever for effecting an actuation of said mechanism by said lever when said lever moves in one direction, and into a position out of cooperation with said lever to prevent actuation of said mechanism thereby; and means Acooperating with said last mentioned means for holding the latter in a position out of cooperation with said lever.

HOWARD M. VAN ALSTYNE. WALTER BELL.

No references cited.

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