US2569907A - Control means for weft ends in looms - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 2, 11951 R. G. TURNER CONTROL MEANS FOR WEFT ENDS IN LOOMS Filed May 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l RICHARD Q TURNER `ATTORNEY OC- 2, 1951 R. G. TURNER CONTROL MEANS FOR wEFT ENDS 1N LOOMs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1950 V. v .Ml/

INVENTOR RICHARD G. TURNER ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass., -as'signor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts A Application May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,167

12 Claims. (Cl. 139-247) This invention relates to improvements pneumatic thread control systems for weft replenishing looms and more particularly the thread holder and thread collector.

The weft ends of reserve bobbins in the magazine for weft replenishing looms generally lead to some form of thread holder one purpose of which is to hold the thread of a transferred bobbin so that the shuttle may be at least partially threaded on its first flight subsequent to replenishment. `In recent years pneumatic thread holders have gone into extensive use more, particularly on multicolor weft replenishing looms. These thread holders are made with an intake mouth and a` passage leading to a thread accumulator or collector Within which subatmospheric pressures exist. The weft ends from the reserve bobbins enter the mouth and extend through the passage into the collector and become matted with each other to form a mass of yarn which serves as an auxiliary or supplementary holder. transferred bobbin is cut at the cloth selvage it. is drawn pneumatically through the holder into the collector where it is confined so that it cannot be whipped into the warp shed by the shuttle.

In the Weaving `of certain fabrics difiiculty is experienced in effecting satisfactory patial threading of the shuttle on the flrst pick subsequent to replenishment. This diflculty arises more particularly in connection with reverse wind Wefts, but it is not necessarily limited to such wefts. In order to take care of this condition I have heretofore proposed, as shown for instance in my co-pending application Serial No, 932793, led May 17, 1949, now Patent No. 2,531,177, a mounting for the holder and collector by which these parts are moved rearwardly from their normal position to facilitate threading of the shuttle and are then moved forwardly so that the thread of the freshly transferred bobbin will 'be drawn toward theo'rk of 'the center filling stop motion. When the thread holder and collector move away from the magazine the weft ends are subjected to a tension whichmay break them, and in order to relieve this tension the aforesaid application shows the` holder and collector mounted to swing around a center on their supporting lever so that there f will not be an appreciable increase in the length of the weft ends extending from the bobbins to" the thread holder.

It is an important object `of the present invention to provide the thread collector lwith a When the thread of a` thread retainer roll mounted for rotation inthe collector and around which the weft ends are Wrapped; When the thread holder and collector move awayfrom the magazine the roll has l a reverse turn to pay oif a suiicient length of weft *ends to compensatefor -the increase in distahoe between the thread holder and the maga-` zine'.- When thefholderv andlcolle'ctor return to` ward the magazine a stream of air entering the collector from the threadholder iscdirectedtanf gentially against theroll or thethreads thereon toturn the roll in such direction as t'o vtake up slack `inthe weft ends.

Itlis-anotherobject of the invention tomountthe thread roll in the collector so that it can belreadi-ly removed from the support on which it turns to `enable the weaver to remove an excess accumulationof waste threadsfroin the thread collector.

It is a `stillfurther" object of the invention to make `the roll inthe form of a `cone Whichtapers andA collector unit bymeans of which it can be.

swung backwardlyand forwardly in the loom at the time of a bobbin transfer, this mounting eliminating some of the structure set forth in the aforesaid copending application.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as the'description proceeds, the in.-

vention residesv in the combination and arrange-, ment of parts hereinafter decribed and set forth.

In the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a convenient-embodiment of the invention is set forth, f

Fig. itis a side elevation of part of a weft re-` plenishing loom having the invention applied thereto, the lay; Shuttle and shuttle box being shown in ,cross section,

Fig. 2 isa plan view looking inthe direction` of arrow 2, Fig. 1',

Fig. 3- is a diagrammatic view showing the thread `holder in its front andl backpositions,

Fig. 4` is `an enlarged horizontal section on Fig. 5 is a vertical-section on line' 5-5, Fig. 4, Fig'. .6l isa diagrammatic view illustrating 'the` manner in which-*thestream of air entering the threadvcollector tends to rotate the thread retainer reifen which-the wert ends are wrapped; p `and an air passage 8 located in a base 9. As shown in Fig. 4 a tube II), preferably rubber, leads from the right end of passage 8 into athread collector C.

The magazine M is rocked around its'pivot 3 by a train of connections including a-rod II and a second rod I2 connected to a hook I3 movable into and out of the path of a pin I4 on a normally stationary lever I5 rockedfby lever I6 incident to a weft replenishing operation.

The stand 2 supports a Atransferrer arm Il movable to insert the lowest bobbin in one or the other of the stacks l or 5, dependingupon the position of the magazine, into a shuttle S on the lay L. The magazine is intended more particularly for use in a loom -having two shuttles which may be called at will, and the magazine will normally be in the position shown in Fig, 1 with the lowest bobbin of one of the stacks under the transferrer arm I'I. If the shuttle corresponding to this stack is to be replenished there will be no rocking of the magazine, but if the other shuttle is to'beA replenished a downward pull of rod I2 when lever I5 is rocked will place the lowest bobbin in the other stack in transfer position. The levers I5. and I6 may be controlled for instance as set forth in my prior Patent No. 2,162,490.

A pneumatic pump 20. connected by hose 2I to the top cover 22 of collector C may be used to create subatmospheric pressureswithin the collector. Cover 22 may be lifted upon release of a bail 23 for removal of waste threads.

In the operation of the matter thus far described subatmospheric pressures within the collector C cause a stream of air to enter mouth 1, pass out of tube Ill, and enter the collector. AAny weft ends in this stream will be drawn into the collector and will be held taut. When a bobbin is transferred into ashuttle its weft end will be held by the holder 6 to effect at least partial threading of the shuttle when the latter is picked.

As has already been stated there are some conditions of weaving under which it is desirable to move the thread holder in order to effect proper threading of vthe shuttle and also correct placement of the thread ofthe transferred bobbin under the filling fork as the replenished shuttle crosses the lay.` Theserconditions Aare shown in Fig. 3, where the lay is shown in full lines in picking position and in dotted lines in a position it can occupy while the shuttle is in flight and beyond the filling fork F` If the shuttle has been replenished by a bobbin drawn for instance from the front stack, its thread, identified here at T, will extend from the holder 9 to the shuttle and in order .that thelatter maybe at least partially threaded during its first flight after `transfer the thread holder nwill be inthe full line position shown in Fig. 3, that is, al position corresponding to approximately top center position of thelay.V When the thread holderis thus related to thel If the thread holder should remain in the relatively rearward position shown in full lines inl Fig. 3 the thread T might be too far behind the filling fork F to support the latter and the loom would be stopped unnecessarily. In order to prevent this stoppage the thread holder is moved forwardly, to the left in Fig. 3, to the dotted line position so that the thread T will be drawn forwardly to a position favorable for cooperation with the filling fork F. These conditions are similar to those described in the aforesaid copending application.

In order that the thread holder and collector unit may be mounted for bodily movement to the two positions indicated in Fig. 3 the base 9 is clamped as at 25 to a foot 26 on a lever 21 pivoted as at 26 to a stand designated generally at 29 and bolted to th-e loom frame as at 30. The lever 2l has an arm or finger 3l connected to one end of a tension spring- 32 the other end of which is connected as at 33 to a small stand 34'secured as at, 35 to the support V29. Stand 34 has front and back stop screws 36 and 31, respectively, positioned for engagement with the lever 2'! to limit its swinging movement about pivot 28.

A flexible connector dll, which may be a cableY nector lli) extends downwardly and is attached to a spring lli the lower end of which is connected to a lrelatively small lever 45 on a stationary pivot 136 and extending under a pin 11 on lever I5.

The thread holder and collector C and mount-Y ing therefor will normally be in the position shown in Fig. 2 with spring 32 acting to hold the lever 2l against forward stop screw 36 so that the thread holder and collector will be forward corresponding to the dotted line position of these parts shown in Fig. 3. When a weft replenishing operation occurs pin 4l will be depressed by lever I5 and the cord l0 will be stressed through spring 4d, which is strong enough to overpower spring- 32.1 The lever 2l thereupon swings in a counter-clockwise direction around pivot 28 as viewed in Fig. 2, until it engages the rear stop screw 3.7. This will locate the thread holder and collector in a position corresponding to the full line position indicated in Fig. 3, and the holder and collector will be in this position at about the time the freshly replenished shuttle is picked. While 'the shuttle is still in iiight and reaches some such position as shown in dotted lines in Fig.V 3, the pin 4l will rise with the rear end of lever i5, Awhereupon the spring 32 will return the thread holder and collector to their normal forward positions to place the thread of the freshly lineto the full line position the distance between the reserve bobbins of the magazine and the thread holder will be increased andthe weft ends,

particularly those of the front stack of bobbins.

ends.Y

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the baseA 9 mhas secured thereto andA 4extending upwardly theref from a rigid upright or support rod 50 which isH preferably coaxial with the vertical Vhollow cylinder 5,! :of the thread collector C.. V.This ,rod isxed replenished shuttle favorably for the lling fork" attacca so.` that l it does-.not rotate: but has:` ai thread retainer roll R mounted for rotation on itsv RolllR may be made asa` hollow conicallshell 52 the upper interiorpart of whichthas secured therein a wear plug 53- resting on the top of rod 50. The latten holds rollR high enoughlso that -its lower large` end will bespaced slightly above thetop surface 540i base 9 within the threadl collector.

A1 sheet metal web `55= secured within the roll has# an aperture to receive rod 5|] and limits swinging motionV of the roll on therod.

As illustrated diag-rammatically in Fig'. 6 the tube lillV is'so disposed that the stream\ of a-ir issuing from it into thecollector is directed tan`l gentially of ther roll R and tends to turn the roll inea-direction to wind the weft ends onit.. rIhis turningA of the roll is counter-clockwise-as viewedin Fig. 6, and as-theweft endsfWI' andl W2 issue from the tube It' they will tendA tolwra-p around theouter surface of the-roll which may, if desired,

be` roughened in order toinsure better holding break as-the'lever 21 swings rearwardly. When` the threadY holder and collector return to theirfor-wardposition the weft ends WI and W2' may becomemomentarily slackened, but the existence of subatmospheric pressures within the' collector C' and also the tendency of air entering the collector to rotate the rollI will act quickly' to drawl thefthreadV slack back intothe'collector andthe weft ends will again become taut and be held" abovethe lay.

'It will thus be seen that the' thread holder, the thread collector andthe base can' be rigidly secure'das a unit to thelever21andthat thelatterl can swingfabout its pivot 28 without danger of` breaking the weft ends; and further'thatasV the" result of pneumatic action theroll upon resumingV its normal tendency to rotate counter-clockwise asviewed in Fig. 6 will quickly takeup any slack in the weft ends resulting from return of' thev thread holder and collector to their normal forward position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth means by which the thread holder and thread collector can be secured rigidly to the lever 21 and swing rearwardly with thelatter without danger of breaking the` weft ends WI and W2 due to a reverse turning of the rollR inV the thread collector on which the weft ends are wrapped. Because of the ability of ithe` roll R to rotate it is not necessary to mount the base 9 for angular movement relatively to the lever 21. It will also be apparent that when a considerable amount of thread accumulates on the roll the cover 22 may be removed and the roll lifted out of the collector so that the waste thread therein can be removed. Furthermore, the roll is supported by the support rod 50 so that its lower end is above the supporting base and does not drag on or frictionally engage it.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes and modiiications of the foregoing specic disclosure may be made without departing from the'` spirit and` scope o1'` the ini? vention.

What is `claimed as new is:` c l. In control mechanism for the weft endso'f reserve bobbins ina weft replenishingv loom,ya1V thread holder for said weft ends, ahollowthreadl` collector into which said weft ends extend froml the thread holder, means mounting saidtholder` and collector for movementfrom on'epositioxr` relatively close to the reserve bobbins toy another` position relatively far from said reserve l'iobbins,A and a rotatable thread retainer within thetcollf lector around which the weft ends are wrapped?,l

said retainer rotating in a direction to unwrap alengthk of said weftends to compensate` for-the? difference in distance of the two positions ol the-1r thread holder and collector from the'reservebobf bins when saidholder and collector move` from'l said one position thereof to the other position:

thereof'.

2A In control mechanism for the weft ends-of reserve bobbins in a. weft replenishing loorx'i-ba` hollow pneumatic thread holder; a thread col-1 lector'within which subatmospheric pressures'ex-A ist and the interior of which isV inpneumaticl communication with the holder, a thread re#- tainer rotatably mounted within the collector, the weft ends extending from the reserve bobblnsf through the holder into the collector andl"'being` wrapped around'said retainer, and-means mount-1y ing the holder and collector for movement inl a`v direction away from the reserve bobbins; saldi'` retainer during said movement rotating to pay" oi allength of weft ends corresponding tothe in-` crease in distance of the holder andcollectorv from said reserve bobbins accompanying said movement.

3. In control mechanism for the weft ends ofv reserve bobbins in a weft replenishing loom, a

hollow pneumatic thread holder, a hollow thread collectorl Within which subatmospheric pressures i exist and the interior of which is in pneumatic communication with the hollow thread holder, aY thread retainer rotatably mounted within the thread collector,` the `subatmo'spheric pressures existing within the thread collector causing a stream ofair to move through the thread `holder into thecollector, means directing said stream :ofi

air tangentially of said retainer to cause said* stream. of airto'` tend to turn said retainer in a given direction, the weft ends extending fromv the reserve bobbins through the holder into the containerand'being wrapped around said retainer an'dlbeing normally taut due to the tendency off saidstream` of air to rotate the retaineriin said" given direction, andmeans mounting said holder` and collector for a movement from a position relatively close to said bobbins to another position fartherfrom said bobbins, said retainerlduring saidmovementturning in a direction oppor site `tosaid `givendirection to pay off an amount offrweft ends tocompensate for the increase in ing said stream tangentially ofgsaidroll tending'` to cause rotation thereof in a given direction, thefor the increasein distance of the unit from the` bobbins when the unit has'said movement thereof. Y y

5. `In control mechanism for the weftends of reserve bobbinsin a weft replenishing loom, Va thread control I unit comprising a pneumatic thread holder and a hollow vertical cylindrical thread collector in which subatmospheric pressuresV exist, said unit having a movement away from the bobbins incident to a weft replenishing operation, an upright within said collector, a thread retainer roll within the collector supported by' said upright for rotation thereon, the weft ends extending through the thread yholder into the collector and being wrapped around-said retainer roll, said subatmospheric pressures causing a stream of air to move from the thread holder into the collector, and means directing said ystream tangentially of said retainer roll tending to turn the latter in a direction to keep the weft ends taut, said retainerroll rotating on said upright to pay oiT a length of weft ends equal substantially to the increase in distance of said thread control unit from the bobbins incident to said movement of the unit away from the bobbins.

6. A pneumatic thread control mechanism for a loom having weft ends extending from reserve bobbins, said mechanism comprising a pneumatic thread holder, ahollow pneumatic thread collector the interior of which is in pneumatic communication with the thread holder, a thread re.

tainer roll within the collector, and means mounting said roll for rotation within the collector. Y

'7. A pneumaticA thread control mechanism for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a weft replenishing loom, said mechanism comprising a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow thread col-V lector the interior of which is in pneumatic communication with the thread holder, and a thread retainer roll rotatably mounted within the thread collector rotatable in one direction to move a thread wrapped therearound from the holder toward the collector and rotatable in the opposite direction to enable the thread to unwrap and move from the thread collector toward the thread holder. y

8. In thread control mechanism for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a weft `replenishing loom, a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow cylindrical thread collector the interior of which is in pneumatic communication with the thread holder, an upright within the collector coaxial therewith, and a thread retainer roll mounted on said upright. .for rotation Vthereaboutirelative to thethread collector. Y 1i l :x; V9. In thread controlmechanismrforthefweft, ends of reserve bobbins in a weftreplenishingloom, a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow cylindrical thread collector the interior of which is in pneumatic communicationat one end thereofl with the thread holder, a support within said collector coaxial therewtlrand a thread retainer roll rotatable on said support, said support maintaining the end of said roll adjacent to Vsaid end of the collector spaced from the latter.

10. In thread control mechanism for the weft ends o f reserve bobbins in a weft replenishing loom, a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow Vcylin-4 drical pneumatic thread collector in pneumatic communication at one end thereof with sa i dv holder, a support secured to the collector at 'saidone end thereof, and a thread retainer roll rotate ably and removably mounted on said support; f said retainer roll being removable from said j support by movement in a direction away `from, said end of the collector.

'11, In thread control mechanism for the weftJ ends of reserve bobbins in a weft replenishingjloom, a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow cylin drical thread collector in pneumatic communication at one end thereof with said holder, va support extending coaxially of the collector secured to the latter at said end thereof, and a conical thread retainer roll rotatable on and removable; from said support and tapering in a directionaway from said end of the collector, said SuppOrtmaintaining the large end of the cone out ofj engagement with said end of the collector and` said retainer roll being removable from the support by movement in a direction away from said 1 end of the collector.

l2. In a weft replenishing loom, a reserve bob-j bin magazine from which weft ends extend, a normally stationary lever having a motion in cident to a weft replenishing operation of theloom, and weft end control mechanism opera-l tively interposed between the magazine and lever including a pneumatic thread collector havingrotatably mounted therein a roll around which the weft ends are wrapped and including also connections operated by the lever when the latter has said motion moving said Vcollector away from the magazine, whereupon said roll turns to unwrap the weft ends to compensate for'the inf: crease in distance between the magazine and collector. 5

RICHARD G. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thej, le of this patent: Y v.

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTs Date Y Turner Feb. 1, 1949 f.

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