US2625181A

US2625181A - Loom picker head

Info

Publication number: US2625181A
Application number: US49691A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert E Chouinard
Original assignee: Graton and Knight Co
Current assignee: Graton and Knight Co
Priority date: 1948-09-17
Filing date: 1948-09-17
Publication date: 1953-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 1970-01-13

Description

Jan. 13, 1953 A. E; CHOUlNALRD LOOM PICKER HEAD Filed Sept; 17, 1948 mmvrozz. :4/Jer7 5 Ciao/bard 9. awn. IQ'MJJQ A T TOR/VEP Retentcd Jan. 13, 1953 Albert E. Chou-inard, Worcester, Mass.,

to 'Graton & Knight Company,

.as'signor orcester,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts .Avl licatiohseptember 17,1943, Seli'alfNbj. 49.691

'2 Cla'ims. 1

This invention relates "to a loom picker:

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved loom picker, andmore particularly loom picker head of the loop type, which is constructed in such manner as to insure the maintenance of a snug and tight fit between the 1100p of the picker head and the picker stick when the picker head is subjected to use over long periods of time.

With this general object in view, and such others as mayhereina'fter appear, the invention consists in the loom picker-head and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims atthe endof this specification.

In the drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention, Figs. '1 and 2 illustrate in side elevation two modified forms of the present picker head mounted upon the usual picker stick; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the picker head shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the picker head shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly useful in producing the picker heads shown in Figs. '1 to 4; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of picker head embodying the invention.

Prior to the present invention considerable difiiculty has been experienced with prior constructions of picker heads of the loop type, because of the tendency oifithe-pickeriheads to work loose on the picker stick during the operation of the loom. Heretofore, it has always been considered that the looseness which has developed in this manner has "been due to the stretching and elongation of the leather straps forming the loop, which extends around .and embraces the picker stick. The effect of thelooseness is a serious one, because of the fact thatthe picker head is distorted from its trueposition so that during the operation of the loom it will not follow a predetermined path of movement, and, asa result, defective picking of ,theshuttle occurs, and this results in .thread breakage, as well as the production of defective grains of cloth. In addition, because of the fact that the picker'head is distorted froma true operating position the face of the head is subject'to engagement with the point of the shuttle at various angles, and as a result the picker head itself is subjected to excessive wear, and the life thereof becomes relatively short.

In studying the problem, I have found that the development of the loosenes-s between the loop of the picker head and the picker stick, which has been experienced with prior types of picker heads of the loop type after having been used for extended periods of time, while in a slight degree resulting from elongation of the loop itself, nevertheless appears to result principally from the enlargement of the loop caused by compression of the impact inember of the picker head. In some instances, I have found that prior constructions of picker heads embodying compressible impact members resulted in a compression of the impact member in a direction longitudely of the picker head, in very substantial amounts even up to 3% of an inch. It is therefore apparent that thecompression of the impact member enlarges the longitudinal dimension of the space within the loop by an amount equal to the compression of the impactmember in such direction.

As a result of research-and study of this problem, I have developed various forms of picker heads of the loop type embodying a construction of impact member which is designed to reduce to a minimum the longitudinal compression thereof during theoperation of the loom. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, I prefer to utilize an impact member made up of aplurali-ty of individual pieces of rawhide, preferably cemented :together into black form and mounted-within an em-bracing leather strap loop in suchmanner asto present theend surface of the rawhide :members "to the thrust of the picker stick andtothe-iinpact of the point of the shuttle withthe face of the-picker'head. The-embracing straps forming the loop;may, and preferably will embody an end portion -of--rawhide,--which is pref erably of a length and is disposed to extend aroundthe-two sides and across the face of the impact member and to be wound to form a multi-ply 'loop structure. The impact member and'th-e'embracing plies 10f the loo-p are preferably securely riveted together, and while theusual two rivets maybe employed, I have experienced additionally gooderesults'utilizing three rivets, as will be described.

In another mcdi-ficationof the invention, I may prefer to form the impact member rolling a strip of rawhide and then compressing the same into substantially rectangular form as will 'be described.

Referring now to the drawing, It represents a picker head of the loop type which is mounted upon the usual picker stick l2'with the loop forming a space Id of a size to permit the loop to be readily slipped over the head or upper end of the picke stick l2, and to tightly embrace the picker stick with the front face l5 of the picker stick 3 in engagement with the rear face I6 of an impact member I! and with the rear surface of the picker stick in engagement with the inner face IQ of the back of the loop of the picker head.

In constructing the picker head, I prefer to produce the impact member ll, of an assembly of superimposed pieces of rawhide, which may be cut from a sheet of rawhide into rectangular form of the desired size. These individual pieces of rawhide may be and preferably will be cemented and pressed together into block form and then cemented on to the end surface of a composite strap 20 as shown in Fig. 5. This strap is provided with an end piece 22 of rawhide to which the rawhide impact assembly I! is cemented. The under-surface of the end of the strap 22, is tapered at 24 as shown in Fig. and the second end of the rawhide strap 22 is tapered as at 26 and cemented to the complimentary tapered end of a leather strap 28. With this construction, it

is possible to wind the composite strap about a mandrel so as to form the picker head shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the rawhide strap 22 extending around and in contact with the two sides of the impact member ii and across the front face thereof. The leather portion 28 of the composite strap is then wound around the mandrel to form a multi-ply loop such as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and to provide a triple-ply structure across the face of the impact member ll. The

component parts of the picker head thus described may, and preferably will be united under pressure and with the use of suitable cement so as to form a strong, durable and wear-resisting structure.

As shown in Fig. 1, I may prefe to secure several plies of the loop structure to the impact member by means of two rivets 39 arranged in substantially vertical alignment and extending transversely through the impact member of the picker head substantially the center line thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 2, three rivets, 32, may be arranged to extend transversely through the multi-ply loop and picker head, two of the rivets being preferably arranged in substantially vertical alignment disposed slightly forward of the center line of the impact member, while the third rivet is extended through the rear portion of the impact membe and in a position as illustrated in Fig. 2, disposed slightly above the longitudinal center line of the picker head. The efiect of the three rivets is to materially stiffen the structure of the impact member and to assist in preventing compression thereof under the severe strains to which it is subjected during use, both in checking the shuttle and inthrowing the same.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, I may prefer to form the impact member I! of rawhide in one continuous strap rolled up into a tightly rolled condition preferably with the three :plies cemented together and pressed into substantially rectangula form such as is illustrated in Fig. 5, but wherein the rawhide end will be of such length as to permit it to be rolled to form the impact member shown in Fig. 6, of the desired size and shape.

From the foregoing description of the several embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that the rawhide impact member, particularly of the multi-layered structure mounted to dispose the layers in such relation with respect to the blows of the picker stick, substantially reduces the liability of excessive compression of the impact member. This construction coupled with the three rivet structure insures a minimum of compression of the impact member and the results of extensive testing has demonstrated the ability of the present constructions of picker head to remain in tightly fitting relation upon the picker stick even after exceedingly long periods of constant use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A loom picker head comprising an impact member and a multi-ply loop structure within which the impact member is secured and through which the picker head is secured to the picker stick, said impact member being of a construction to minimize compression thereof under the impact of the shuttle, said impact member consisting of a laminated block with the laminations disposed longitudinally of the picker head made up entirely of a plurality of rawhide pieces assembled in side by side relation, said loop structure comprising a composite strap of durable fibrous material having a rawhide portion and a longer leather portion, said composite strap being wound about the impact member to form a double-ply loop portion and a triple-ply portion, the latter including the rawhide portion of said strap, said rawhide portion surrounding two sides and the front face of the impact member, said impact member extending the full width of the loop por-- tion of the picker head, and a plurality of rivets extending through the triple-ply portion of the loop structure and transversely through the im pact member.

2. A loom picker head as defined in claim 1 wherein three rivets are provided transversely extending through the. triple-ply portion of the loop structure and through the impact member, one the rivets being extended through the rear portion of the impact member at substantially the center line of the picker head.

ALBERT E. CHOUINARD.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nrunber Name Date 730,476 Rodgers June 9, 1903 1,283,747 Hamilton Nov. 5, 1918 1,332,102 Bullard Feb. 24, 1920 2,091,302 Brahs Aug. 31, 1937 2,308,393 Shivell Jan. 12, 1943 2,353,454 Gillet' et a1 July 11, 1944 2,458,936 Fuller Jan. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,409 France Aug. 19, 1907 217,199 Switzerland Oct. 15, 1941