US2776675A - Loom - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1957 J. c. HocHMAN LOOM l1 Sheets-Shea?I l Filed July '7, 1949 S n m 0 m WF. o New m wmwl/ FL IW ab luren. ...v-.anim

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Jan. 8, 1957 J. c. HOCHMAN LOOM 1l Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7,A 1949 Jan. -8, 1957 J. c. HocHMAN LOOM Filed July 7. 1949 1l Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTOR.

Jan. 8, 1957 J. c. HocHMAN 2,776,675

v LOOM Filed July 7, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 PHA.

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LOOM

Filed July 7, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JfzzZzwSCHoczmn ATTR/VTS Jan. 8, 1957 J. c. HocHMAN 2,776,675

LOOM

Filed July '7, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 QQi 505 @CMM/wf,

ATTO/ENEMY Jan. 8, 1957 J. c. HOCHMAN 2,775,675

LOOM

Filed July 7, 1949 l1 Sheets-Sheet 7 ooo 30g INVENTOR.

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Loon/1 Filed July 7, 1949 1l Sheets-Sheet 9 1N V EN TOR. JzzZazzS C Hackman BY MMOv/WMXM Jan. 8, 1957 J. c. HocHMAN 2,776,675

LOOM

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Lfoom Filed July 7, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 FTQ-ZE. 297

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O LooM Julius C. Hochman, New York, N. Y. Applicatiun July 7, 1949, serial No. 103,405

39 claims. (01.,139-1-1) This invention relates to the art of weaving machinery and more particularly to high speed 'looms' for weaving narrow strips of fabric. j i

As conducive to a clear understanding 'of the invention it is noted that heretofore where a loom utilizes reciprocating mechanism, the stress and strainincurred at the speeds used to give an economical output necessitates a machine having strong heavy parts which are relatively large and expensive 'and at best the speed of the machine is low as is the resultant output, and the wear of the parts due to the stress and strainmay cause frequent breakdown and necessitate replacement of parts with the resultant stoppage of production.

With conventional heddle plates, the reciprocating stroke thereof is necessarily substantial'and the machine must be run at relatively slow speed vto avoid excessive shock and vibration with resultant low output `Even at such low speed, the shock and vibration, due to the movement of the heddle plates and the actuating mechanism therefor, is considerable and likely to cause frequent breakdowns with resultant stoppage for maintenance and repair.

Where the operating parts of the loom are exposed, the lint and dust generally prevalent in a mill tend to clog the loom, with the result that frequent `stoppages are necessary for cleaning and replacement of partsfwith consequent reduction of output and enhanced cost of maintenance and furthermore the exposed parts are likely to cause injury to the operator.

If in order to change the pattern of the woven `strip or to replace broken heddle wires orto change the number used or to tie broken threads, the loom must be partially disassembled, such adjustments result in loss in output during the relatively long time the machine remains idle.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide a weaving machine of the above type which is relatively compact and rugged in construction, and operates with a minimum of noise, in which the needle, the reed for beating the woven weftthread andthe heddle plates are 'as close to the fell of the woven-strip as possible to minimize the stroke of the parts so as to get high speed with a'minimum of shock and vibration, which utilizes uniform rotary motions wherever possible and has a minimum number of reciprocatngelement's, thereby minimizing the strain and wear inherent inhigh speed reciprocating machinery, which is capable ofcoutinuous operation for long periods'without attention and at relatively high speeds, utilizing as it does moving parts that are light `in weight, lyet that are not .delicate and hence not likely to become out of order, in which the working parts are readily accessibleifor maintenance and repair and the cost of upkeep of which-is low, in which substantially all moving parts are fully .enclosed running in oil to minimize clogging of the machine, to reduce wear thereof and to prevent injury tothe operator, in which Athe pattern of the weavemay quickly 'and readily be changed with but a few `simple adjustments fice and Without disassembly of the machine, and in which broken heddle wires or heddle plates may readily be j replaced and in which heddle wires may readily be rethreaded upon breaking of any of the warp threads.

According to the invention, vertically reciprocable narrow heddle plates of thin,preferably sheet metal stock, are mounted with a minimum of spacing therebetween and at such small distance from the vfell of the shed, that the latter has substantially only the length required to accommodate the needle which is located to move through the shed in close contiguity to the fell and to accommodate the reed which practically fills, in its retracted position, the space between the path of the needle and the first heddleplate.

The shed is of small vheight conforming to its short length for which reason the stroke of the heddle plates as well as the stroke ofthe reedl is correspondingly short. While separate mechanism could be used to reciprocate the -heddle plates and 'the reed, it is preferred according to another feature of the invention to operate both the heddle plates and the reedfrom a rotary drive mechamsm.

According to another feature, the rotary drive mechanism includes an endless chain having thereon rollers to'operate the reed and removable cam keys to operate the heddle plates, whereby the device may be set to provide a selected pattern.

The needle is desirably triangular in cross section with an angle thereof adjacent the fell of the shed and preferably has a beveled nose portion to facilitate passage thereof `through the warp threads.

The weft thread carried by the needle is desirably caught `by a rotating 'hook and thereupon passed around a bobbin case which the rotating hook encompasses and around a 'border warp lthread carried on a bobbin rotatably mounted in said bobbin case.

The reed is preferably in the form of a comb, the opstanding ngers of which straddle the warp threads in the shed, vand the vcomb is desirably mounted on a pivoted member .which may be oscillated through a short path between` the first heddle plate and the fell.

According to another feature of the invention, substantially all of the cams, gears, driving rods and shafts are positioned in a central casing and preferably two weaving heads are provided, one at each end of the machine, both actuatedl by the same mechanism to provide enhanced output at a relatively low initial cost, the machine desirably being compact in size to enable one operator to watch yseveral machines.

In the specic embodiment of the machine herein chosen to illustrate myinvention, although many dierent arrangements could be used, a particularly desirable arrangement of the various cams, gears and sprocket wheels for operating the constituent elements of the machine is shown, arranged in timed relation to be driven by a commonLrnotor.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one `or lmore ofvarious possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. l is adiagrammatioperspective view showing the gear drive mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a .top plan view of the machine with parts broken away,

i Fig. v2a is a fragmentary detail View on a larger scale taken along line Za-Za of Fig. 2,

Fig...2b.is a sectional detail view taken along line Fig. 3 is a:fragmentaryside-elevational view of the machine lwith parts broken away,

Fig. '3a is -a sectional'view taken along line 3x1-3a of Fig. 3,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the machine taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 4a is a sectional detail view taken along line 4a--4a of Fig. 4,

Fig. 4b is a view taken along line 4b--4b of Fig. 4a,

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View of the left hand of the machine taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5a is a detail transverse sectional view on a larger scale taken along line S11-5a of Fig. 3, n

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 partly in cross section taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line '7--7 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale of one of the operating stations of the machine,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view on a larger scale and with parts broken away showing the reed, the heddle plates and the drive mechanism therefor,

Fig. l0 is a side elevation View partly in cross section and with parts broken away, taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in cross section similar to Fig. l0,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the reed with parts broken away,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view on a larger scale of the heddle plates and bobbin and hook assembly,

Fig. 13a is a detail view with parts broken away taken along line 13a-13a of Fig. 8,

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the needle,

Fig. 14a is a side view of the needle,

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Fig. 13a,

Fig. 15a is a detail transverse sectional view taken along line 15a-15a of Fig. 15,

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view ofthe hook and bobbin case,

Fig. 17 is a View similar to Fig. 16 but from the other side showing the support horn,

Fig. 18 is a detail View on a larger scale taken along line 18-18 of Fig. 17,

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the tension compensation arm, the take-up discs, and the tension devices,

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20-20 of Fig. 19,

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of one of the heddle plates with a single heddle wire mounted thereon,

Fig. 22 is a front elevational view of the heddle plate blank,

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary perspective View of the bobbin and hook assembly, the needle and the bridge piece, and,

Fig. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the bobbin, the bobbin case and the hook.

The general construction of the machine will first be described and then under appropriate titles will be described the component structural parts of the preferred specific embodiment shown herein.

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION As shown in Fig. 3, the loom comprises a heavy, rigid, box-shaped, oil tight casing open at the top thereof, and having an opening 42 at the bottom thereof closed by a plug 43 removable to facilitate draining of oil from casing 35. The casing 35 is desirably made from a unitary casting, with extensions 32 at each end thereof to each of which is desirably affixed, as by bolts 33, an upright or standard 34. The machine may be mounted on a table 36 and as best shown in Fig. 6, secured to such table by means of bolts 37 which pass through the bores 38 in bosses 3S positioned in extensions 39 and 41 on the front and rear respectively of the casing 35.

As the operating mechanism of the respective weaving heads at each end of the machine are substantially symmetrica] and to all intents and purposes identical, it will suffice to describe one of the weaving heads and the associated operating mechanism therefor. It will be understood, however, that while `the duplex arrangement is preferred, an operative loom could, if desired, have only one weaving head.

As shown in Fig. 2, to afford convenient access to the interior of the casing 35, the open top thereof has a removable cover plate 44 aixed thereto by screws 45, cover plate 44 having an oval hand hole or opening 46 therethroughwith an upstanding peripheral rim 47. The hand hole Ai6 is covered by means of an oval plate 53 which is secured to the face of rim 47 by screws 47 to prevent the entry of dirt or dust into the casing.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, a drive mechanism is provided, comprising a main drive shaft 56 positioned transversely of the casing 35, and journalled in bearings 5? and 53 in front and rear walls 59 and 61 (see Fig. 4) respectively and protrudes beyond said walls. Av drive pulley 55 is keyed on lthe drive shaft 56 near the rear end thereof and is connected desirably by a belt 54 to the drive motor (not shown) located beneath table 36. A hand wheel 62, which also acts as a flywheel, is affixed to drive shaft 56 at the end thereof adjacent pulley 55.

A sleeve 69 (see Figs. l, 3 and 4) is affixed to the main drive shaft 56 by set screw 68 between bearings 57 and S8. Sleeve 69 which thus rotates with drive shaft 56. has spiral gears '73 and 74 at the front and rear end thereof, respectively. Gear 74 meshes with a spiral gear 75 keyed to a vertical transmission and crank shaft 76, the latter being journalled at its lower end in bearing socket 77 (Sec Figs. 1 and 3) on the floor of the casing and near its upper end in bearing block 78 rigid with and extending inwardly from the rear wall 61 of the casing 35. As gear 74 and gear 75 are of the same size, vertical shaft 76 will make one complete revolution for each revolution of the main drive shaft 56.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, afxed to the upper end of the vertical shaft 76 and protruding above bearing block 73 is a horizontal balanced crank member 81, whichl cornprises a semi-circular counterweight 32 having an arm 83 extending radially therefrom. Pivotally connected at one end as at S4 to the free end of arm 83 is horizontal ecnnecting rod 85, the free end of which has a hub thereon with a vertical bore therethrough. Referring to Fig. 3, the reduced portion 37 of a vertical clamp member 38 is inserted through the vertical bore in hub 85, with shoulder 89 formed by reduced portion 37, resting on the top of hub 86. The clamp member 3S is pivotally re tained in hub 86 as by a cotter nin 9i? which extends through a transverse opening on the lower extremity of reduced portion 87, a washer 8l? desirably being provided between the cotter pin and the bottom of the clamp member 88. Clamp member 83 has a hub 9.1 integral therewith at the upper end thereof having a transverse bere therethrough, through which a horizontal needle rod 51 extends, the latter being Securely aixed in the bore of hub 91 by means of a set screw 92.

As shown in Fig. 3, rim 47 of hand hole 46 has opposed lateral bearing openings 48 therethrough each with an outwardly extending bearing 49 in which horizontal needle rod 51 is slidably mounted, the needle rod by reason of the gearing and linkage above described being moved back and forth at each complete revolution cf the main drive shaft 56. Clamp member 8S is positioned directly beneath hand hole cover plate 53 to provide for convenient assembly of needle rod 51 through the transverse bore of clamp member 88, for properly adjusting the cnd to end position of needle bar 51 and for connecting it to thc driving mechanism by means of set screw 9.2 and also to afford access to the hub S6 to permit ready insertion of cotter pin 90.

As shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4, gear 73 on sleeve 69 meshes with a spiral gear 184 affixed near one end of a weft thread tension control sleeve 181 rotatably mounted 0n horizontal transmission shaft 127 journalled in bearfarmers 'ings 128 and :129 (seefFigsA) [inthe sidewalls 98'ax1d .-100 respectively `of thevcasing ,-35,1shaft 1h27 ,extending-beyond .bearing `129. Ascgears 7-3and f184 are=ofthe-,same:size, sleeve E181 will make Yonecomplete revolution for each revolution ofthe main `drive shaftand hencetensioncontrol cams `182 and 183 whichare also `rigidly zaixed to sleeve 181 and .offset '180 ydegrees with :respect to each other will operate the weftthread tension .eontroLdevices 231fand 232, respectively, asshown'in Fig-4.

Atl'xed on the end of sleeve r181-opposedto gear 184 `isa spur gear 185 whichdrives a hoOlQ-Shaftspur gear 186 fixed on a horizontal hook lshaft 1851. As the ratio lof :gear `1&5 to 186 isillustratively two toene, hookshaft '18.7 will maketwo revolutions for ever-yrevolution of the main drive `shaft 56 land .each reciprocation of the needle rod 51.

Hook shaft y18.7 iis journalled in .bearing 188 (Fig. 4) in -side iwall 98.101? the lcasingzand in.anelongatedgbearing bore .1S9rextending'through a horizontal boss y1191 unitary with and extending .longitudinally along the inner -face of the casing and which .boss Iprovides for Ian intermediate bearingsupport as at 192 and for an end support 193 for .the rapidly rotating `hook shaft V18'7.

Axed -to vertical shaft 76 near thezlower-,endthereof i above -bearing .77 is a worm 93 .which meshes with a worm gear 94 keyed on a horizontal ,patternand reed control shaft 95. The latter, as best seen in Fig. 3, is journalled in bearings 96 and 97 von thednner faces ,of the left side wall 9S and right side wall 99 .of the .casing 35 and extends beyond said side walls, the .shaft 95 being restrained from lateral movement, as shown in Fig. 3, by collars 95 affixed to shaft 95'by set screws 96. The ratioof worm 93 to worm gear 94 is illustratively 4 to 1.. Thus shaft 95 will rotate 90 degrees foreach Vcomplete revolution of vvertical shaft 76 and each, reciprocation sof theneedle rod 51. Atixed on shaftSSwithinV casing, as `-shown in Figs. 1, 3 and .4, isa worm 119 which meshes with a worm gear 121, aixed on the lower end of a vertical counter shaft 122, the latter being journalled in a long vertical bushing 123 affixed by set screw 124' ina bearing block 123 extending laterally inwardly from and desirably integral with the inner face of front wall 59 of the casing. Y'

.In the embodiment shown herein theratio of worm 119 to worm gear 121 is illustratively 15 to 1. `Thusit will require revolutions of worm 119 to turnI worm gear 121 ,one revolution. As -shaft 95.turns lone ,quarter of a revolution for each revolutionof the maindrive s'haftS and each reciprocation of needle rod '51, it will take (it) revolutions of the main drive shaft56 to turn countershaft 122 one revolution.

Afxed onA countershaft 122 near its upperend` which extends beyond bearing block 123 is a worm 124, .the lower end of which is seated .on bushing 123 asshown in Fig. .3. The upper extremity of shaft 122 isthreaded to receive a nut 125 which securely holds .worm`124 on shaft 122. Worm 124 meshes with a worm gear .126 which ils affixed on horizontal take-up tension shaft '127. The'ratio of'worm '124 to worm gear 126 is illustratively 1,to 4. lt will therefore require four revolutions of thecountershaft -122 to turn horizontalshaft 127 one revolution. As it requires 60 revolutions of the main drive shaftf56 .to turn countershaft 122 one revolution, it will require 240 revolutions of themain drive shaft56 tov turn wormgear 126 and take-up shaft 127 one revolution'.

A horizontal fabric take-up shaft 138 is positioned near the top of the casing adjacent to and in front of the front wall 59 and journalled near its midpoint in a bearing block 142 (see Fig. 2) affixed to front wall..59 of the casing and near its ends in ,bearings 144, and' 144 formed in the upperportions of standards 34 respectively and eX- tends beyondl said'bearings V144 and 144'. AShaft 13S is driven through a transmission from a changeable takeup gear`132 Whichfis desirably keyed on. the end of shaft 127 protruding beyond bearing 129 inside wall` 100 and` :removablyfaxed on `said Vshaft 1127 by a nut 131 (see inadjusted position. Idler gear 133 meshes'with aspur gear I141'(see Figs. 1 and 7) 'keyed on :horizontal takeup.y shaft 138 .to rotate thelatter.

With .the adjustable vdrive mechanism thus described :for the take-up-shaft 133, -it'is thusconvenient to change the speed of rotation of shaft 138 in accordance withthe number .fof picks per inch, itis desired .to vweave in the finished .product The details of this `operation willhe Vfurther described hereinafter.

-Having thus described the general'construction'of the Vdriving.mechanismof the loom, the component parts tof the weaving heads will `now-be described in detail.

I. Shed forming (a) NEEDLE STRUCTURE (Figs. 14, 14n) Each of the weaving heads has a weft thread .carrying needle `associated .therewith respectively designated by the -numerals ,52 and 52. As the needles are identical, only the former, i..e., needle 52 is shown in Figs. 14 .and 14a. The needle which is relatively `narrow in width, desirably has a right angled extension `25 at the rear end thereof by means of which it is aflixed, as shownin Fig. 19, as by a screw 27, to the fiattened end 26 of the needle rod 51, the rear end of extension 25 abutting against shoulder 26' formed at .attened end 26. The nose 29 and the .rear end of each of the needles are provided with openings :oreyes 30 and 313', respectively, through which the weft thread W may be threaded as shown in Fig. 1.43 anda broadnotch 23 is .provided in the underface of the needle at the nose thereof.

The needle shank desirably has a at top to provide strength and substantially the entire .length thereof is triangular in cross section as .shown Vin Fig. 11 so that `it may t.into the vortex of the substantially triangular shaped shed formed in the warp threads as hereinafter described. The nose 29 of the needle is beveled as at ,29' so that as the needle is moved through the shedl it may push away loose filamentsof the warp thread which tend to cling together in the shed and block the needle path and also deflect any sagging warp threads.

The .triangularshape and narrow width of the needle lthusrpermit it to be located close to the feel of .the shed thereby minimizing the space required therefor.

' (b) HEDDLE PLATE ASSEMBLY (Figs. 2, 3, 5, 8 and 13V) In order to provide the shed through which the needle `may pass to weave the strip which will illustratively be 'threads or more or less Vrubber threads could be used.

As-shown in Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 13 this assembly desirably comprises a pair of spaced, parallel upstanding heddle plate guides 291 and 292 positioned between standard 34 and the side-wall 98 of the casing. As shown in Fig. 5, a guide plate 291 is aflxed by screws 294 to the inner face .of standard V34 with the rectangular portion 293 thereof.protrudingabove the standard, and a guide plate 292 (vFig. 8) is affixed by four screws (not shown) threaded ,into the .upper holes 295 Fig..6) in apad 296 integral with the outer .face of side .wall98 of the casing. In .order properly to position the guide plates .when af- .xed to their respective supportsso that the vertical narrow guide slots 297 (Figs. 13 and 23) on the opposed faces thereof will be transversely aligned, a pair of dowels 298 (Fig. 6) is provided in pad 296 and a corresponding pair 299 (Fig. in standard 34 which fit into corresponding openings in the guide plates 291 and 292 respectively. The four lower screw holes 295' in the pad 296 are used to secure the warp thread guide bars (not shown) to the casing 35.

After the guide plates have been atiixed as above set forth, a long bolt 303, as shown in Fig. 2, is inserted through standard 34, guide plates 291 and 292 into a threaded opening 296 in pad 296 with a sleeve 304 (Fig. 2) encompassing the bolt to act as a tie rod for standard 34 and as a spacer between the guide plates 291 and 292.

Slidably mounted in each pair of aligned slots 297, of which twelve pairs are illustratively shown in Fig. 13, is a heddle plate generally designated by the numeral 305 and specifically referred to by the numerals 3051 to 30512. The guide slots 297 are desirably spaced only 0.1 inch apart with the slots 297 carrying heddle plate 30512 being spaced .125 inch from the slots carrying hedelle plate 30511 to provide for heavier heddle wires in plate 30512 to accommodate the highly tensed and relatively thicker rubber warp threads which heddle plate 30512 illustratively controls in the embodiment herein described. As shown in Figs. 2l and 22, each heddle plate may preferably be formed from a blank desirably of thin light Weight metal which comprises a short leg 308 rising from one end of a base 307 and having laterally inward projecting tongues 309 integral therewith near its root end and near its upper end, each tongue having ears 311 at the upper and lower edges thereof bent at right angles to the tongue. Upstanding from the other end of base 307 is a short leg 312 which when initially formed is tilted from the vertical. as shown in Fig. 22. Desirably integral with the leg 312 near the base 307 and at the top thereof are laterally extending short arms or rails 313 and 314 at right angles to leg 312 and lying in the same plane therewith. Thus it can be seen that arm 313 is spaced from leg 308 as at 315 and arm 314 is spaced from the upper end of leg 308 as at 316. The heddle plate also has a flexible finger 317, extending downwardly from base 307 in the same plane and integral therewith. Leg 312 may be bent until it is parallel to leg 30S. in which position the ends of arms or rails 313 and 314 will be aligned with the respective tongues 309 on leg 308 and positioned behind such leg.

As seen, the heddle plate is of order of thickness no greater than the heddle rails 313 and 314 and is preferably as described an integral stamping with said rails. The thickness of the heddle rails is of the order of the width of a slot which can be made in a standard narrow heddle wire, all as shown in Fig. 21. The term thin as applied to the heddle plates in certain of the claims is a thickness such as defined in this paragraph.

To complete the assembly of the heddle plate, a plurality of very short heddle wires 319, only one of which is shown, are mounted on each of the heddle plates. To this end each heddle wire 319 desirably comprises a liat wire, as shown in Fig. 21, and having an eye 327 through its midpoint 326 into which a warp thread may be inserted and also desirahly having a slot 321 at each end thereof through which may be passed arms 313 and 314. when the ends of the latter are moved slightly away from leg 30S. With ears 311 straddling the ends of arms 313 and 314, an eyelet, split rivet or other readily detachable connecting elements 322 is thereupon passed through openings 323 and 324 in the tongues 309 and arms or . rails 313 and 314 and headed to complete the assembly, the removable character of connecting element 322 facilitating speedy replacement of broken heddle wires or removal or addition of heddle wires as required.

With the heddle plate 305' assembled as shown in Fig. 2l, a slot 320 is thereby provided between arm 313 and base 307. Thus the heddle wires may readily be moved laterally along the lengths of arms 313 and 314.

The short legs 308, 312 provided for the use of extremely short and therefore stiff heddle wires, while the short arms 313, 314 form extremely stitf rails on which the heddle wires are mounted. This special construction provides simple, light weight heddle units, which are even stronger than the large, heavy construction of conventional looms, and yet so light in weight as to permit very high speed operation.

In order that the relatively small space between the parallel adjacent heddle plates be sucient to accommodate the latter without contact when they are mounted between the guide plates, as shown in Fig. 13, the legs 308 thereof are alternately positioned so that no two riveted portions of successive hed-dle plates will be aligned.

With the construction and arrangement of the heddle plates herein described, it is apparent that the distance between heddle plates 3051 to 30512 will be only slightly greater than one inch, thus providing an extremely compact arrangement and a very short vertical movement of even the most distant heddle plate 3051, yet as the heddle plates and short heddle wires are stiff and strong by reason of their special construction above set forth, such compactness is without loss of strength or durability.

(e) HEDDLE PLATE ACIUATING MECHANISM (Figs. 5, S to 11 .and 13) Associated with the heddle plates 3051 to 30512 is the operating mechanism therefor comprising a plurality of levers 328, illustratively thirteen in number, twelve of which correspond to the number of heddle plates 305 plus an additional lever for heddle plate 30512 which, as shown in Fig. 9, preferably is operated by two levers for the reason hereinafter set forth. Each of the levers 328 (specifically numbered 32812 and 3281 to 32812 inclusive, as shown in Fig. 8, with levers 32812a and 32812 operating plate 3051) is pivotally mounted near its mid point on a transverse rod 329 positioned at one end in a socket 331 on side wall 98 of the casing and extends through a threaded opening 332 in standard 34, the entire set of levers being positioned between collars 333. In order properly to space the levers 328 on rod 329, washers 337 encompassing the rod are interposed between consecutive levers. The outer end of rod 329 is threaded as at 335 and has a nut 336 thereon securely to lock the rod in position.

Each of the levers 328 has a roller 338 (Fig. 11) rotatable in a slot 334 formed therein. A coil spring 339 is atiixed at its lower end to an opening 341 in the rear end of the lever. The upper end of the coil spring is connected to the end of an adjusting screw 342 (Fig. 8) extending upwardly through a horizontal support bar 343 aixed between standard 34 and side wall 98 of the casing. The protruding ends 344 of the screws each has a nut 340 threaded thereon and by means of which the tension on the spring 339 may be adjusted, thereby varying the tension on lever 32S, the nuts 340 being locked against accidental rotation by a central upstanding ridge 343' on the upper face of support bar 343.

To provi-de room for springs of large size and long life, the rear ends 350 of adjacent levers, as shown in Fig. ll, alternately vary in their distance from pivot rod 329, thus arranging the springs in two parallel rows and the associated adjustment screws 344 are correspondingly spaced on support bar 343, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to limit the pivotal movement of the levers 328 under the pull of springs 339, a stop bar 329 desirably of fibre, is provided aiiixed between Wall 9S and standard 34 by screws 330 (Figs. 5 and ll). The lower end of the stop bar 329 is desirably beveled as at 331 so that the levers 328 will engage with the width of the stop bar.

As the distance of heddle plate 3051 from pivot rod 329 is greater than that of. heddle plate 30512, it is apparent that the length of the portion of the levers from the rod .329 ito fthe front `end. ethernet :will vary :respectively, .dependinglupon :which @of lthe heddle plates :the associated .llever ,actua-tes.. However, aasone vof :the :heddle plates, i. e., heddle plate 30512., .which :in the embodiment herein carries all ibut one 1(i.;e.ithe bdbbinwarp thread) of the normally rhighly tensioned l:rubber warp threads utilized in the lwoven strip of.fabric,.a :finger 317 is desirably provided on each side of heddle plate` .30512. Consequently the levers .32,812 and :32812.a neareach end of rod 329 'which both .desirably actuate heddle plate 30512 are both of the same `length and` .ensure that the tension of the rubber .threads ywill. not fcause heddle plate 30512 `to tilt when moved .Jup ,anddown .aandi'bin-d finits guideways. or grooves '297.

In ad-dition to heddle plate 30512 'being spaced from plate 30511 by a greaterdistance than the spacing .of the others and'vdesirabl'y `differing `from the otherheddle plates in that it hasy two fngers .317, it also differs therefrom in that thev distance between transverse arms 313 and 314 .is less. Thus heddle wires .31'9 thereof are shorter., with alcorrespondinsinsrease inz-strengthrto en.- ahle such wires to withstand the strainof the plurality of tensed rubber warp threads.

.As Ishown in Fig. 9 -lever 32811 isconnected v4to, finger 317 of heddle plate 3.0511 which is to the rear of the rubber heddle `plate .305121. `,Consequently vlever 32811 .is

slightly longer than levers32812 and 328.121fwith finger 317 of heddle plate 30.511 `beingslightly tothe rightyof finger 3.1'7 of heddle plate 30512. Thisyarrangementgcontinues progressively until v.the .twelfth-orlast heddle plate 3051 which is farthest.fromurubberheddle plate 3051-2tand consequently will have the longest lever arm'3281 and the finger 3.17- thereof will be. slightly Vtogthe leftof linger 317 of rubber heddle plate 30512 which coacts with lever 328122.

It is to be Inoted thatas lever 3281isfthe longest, its throw will belgreaterthanithat'of :levers 32812 and. 32812*JL and `consequently heddle plate 3.051 will move up and down a greater distance ytl'lanrubber.heddle-plate .30512. In order that the heddle plates and the heddle wiressubstantially conform in size to facilitate vmass yproduction thereof, .all the heddlelplates, exceptthe rubberheddle plate 30512, are made the same size `.between .the arms 313 and 314 thereof l as the heddle plate .3.051, which latter requires the maximum distance .between arms 313 and 314 thereof in order to provide `clearance for the warp threads passing therebetween. Eor the same reason heddle plate 3281 is lidentical r.with heddle plate .32811, heddle plate 3282 is identical with heddle plate 32810 etc., merely turning the heddle plate rover resulting inpositioning flexible finger .317 symmetrically .on opposite side .of the center line. Thus only seven ,different kinds of yheddle plates are needed for the twelve heddleplates shown.

To provide a long :wear `life .of .the small machine elements `involved aswell as to provide afree pivotal action Ybetween the ends .of ,the rhivers and the ends of flexibleiingers .317 rof; thefheddle .plates .to `which they are connected,arockertypejoint is .desirably provided with the parts thereof adapted for ,ready manu-facture of the hardest metallic substance. To this end as shownin Fig. 1l each of the levers has .an arcuate cavity 35.1.therein in which the transverse tip 31,8 at the .end ofeachof the corresponding fingers Vmay bc-ppositioned, which `tip preferably is-made separate fronrthefinger and welded thereto. Tip 318 is retained in its seat by a capmember 352 aflixed to the leverby screw. 354I and having a corresponding arcuate cavity 353 therein. As tip 3.18 and cap 352 are desirably made .of tungsten carbideor other `wear resistantmaterial, they will have. a longlife` To reciprocate the' heddle :plates '305 jin predetermined cyclic sequence to form theshe'd requiredfor the weavling operation, a patternchain assembly:isprovidedwhich is constructed 'and arranged to permit settingup fof. even complicated patterns witnease andarapidity and also w permit ready and convenient changes in thepattern without dsassembling themachine and-.with the resultant enhanced production and reduced cost of operation. To this end the pattern chain assembly includes a wide sprocket wheel 101 having a plurality Vof circumferential grooves therein illustratively thirteen in number as shown and designated by the numerals 112122 and 1121 to 11212 inclusive as shown in Figs. 8 and9. Sprocket'wheelf101 is aixed to the end of shaft between sidewall 98 of the casing and standard S11-and has riding thereon a continuous pattern chain 102. Thelatter asshown in Figs. 1 and 5, extends through openings 203 and 104 in extension 32 and table 3.6 respectively and is stretched' be tween sprocket wheelf101 and an'idler sprocketwheel 105 mounted `on a shaft 106 supported by and `vertically adjustable in brackets 107 afxed to the undersurface of table 36. Thus the position of idler sprocket wheel with respect to sprocket wheel101 can be adjusted vertically in accordance with ythe length of the pattern `chain being used. As shown in Fig. l the idler sprocket wheel and a portion of the pattern chain are enclose'clQinan oilcase 108 affixed beneath table 36 tollubricate the chain and to prevent dust and dirt accumulatingkthereon and also to avoid accidental soiling of the twovenmaterial or yinjury vto the operator. l

Pattern .chain 102 preferably `comprises side links 109 which are joined by elongated transverse cross pins 111 each of which has a pluralityof parallel` annular grooves Y therein,,illustratively thirteen in number corresponding to the number Vof levers 328.andithe numberV of grooves in sprocket wheel `101.

Pattern chain 102 has a roller 1f13 rotatably mounted thereon at .each end of every fourth `cross pin. Thus at every revolution of the mainy drivey shaft 56 and every reciprocation of needle rod 51, sprocket wheel 10.1 will rotate 90 degrees thereby `moving each roller thereon through an angle of 90 degrees around Asprocket .wheel y101.

In order `to provide for greatest ease and speed of pattern change, pattern cam keys 114 are-provided, shown in Fig. '11, and adapted tot into `theaaligned groove-1x10 of two successive cross pins. Each key desirably comprises a yoke-shaped cam member of resilient -material having an arcuate groove 115 in opposed edges of each of the legs 116 thereof. The pattern key is fitted into two aligned grooves 110 with'the legs 116 thereof straddling the successive cross pins 111 and extending therebelow into ygroove 112 -i-n sprocket wheel 101. The resilient legs 116 `thus grasp the cross pins 111 securely -to hold the pattern key in position. The lower inner extremities of each of the legs r116 are beveled as at 155 to facilitate insertion of such legs over the cross pins 111 and the lower outer extremities of each of the legs 111il are beveled as at 156 so that the legs of adjacent keys may clear each other as the'chain curves and passes around the sprocket wheel. The lupper portion or lcam edge of the pattern key which extends upwardly above vthe level of the teeth of the sprocket wheel 101 may have a gradually inclined surface 117 or 1-17, or an arcuate surface 118, which cooperate vwith the associated roller 338 on a lever 328 to raise, lower-or hold the latter and reciprocate the heddle plates in accordance with therequirements of the pattern to be woven. Eachof thegrooves 110 and 112 is of sufficient width to permit the legs of two pattern keys to be inserted therein inside by side relatiornand as theextending legs of the keys t into the grooves 110 in cross piece 111 and grooves 112 in sprocket wheel 101, the keys will not vibrate or tilt when they abut against the -roller 338.

In order to prevent accidental'soili-ng of the woven material or injury Ito the operator, a protective plate 252 is =provided, mounted between standards 34 and -side walls 98 so as to cover the pattern chain and issecured by screws i253 to the extension 39-in the front of the '75 loom.

Il. Weft thread controls (at TENSION CONTROLS (Figs. 2, 4, 4a, 4b and 19) In order to control the tension on the weft threads W and W which illustratively extend from spools S and S respectively through eyes 30 and 30 at the rear and nose of each of the needles, the tension devices 231 and 232 heretofore mentioned and tension arms 255 and 255 are desirably provided.

Tension devices 231 and 232 which are identical, are shown in Figs. 4, 4a, 4b and Fig. 19 and are mounted on the front wall 59 of the casing. As shown in Figs. 4a each tension device preferably comprises a bushing 233 which extends through front wall 59 and protrudes therefrom on both sides thereof. Bushing 233 has a rod 234 therein, slit or bifurcated as at 234. Bushing 233 is reduced as at 2 7 near the inner end thereof to form a bearing 237' and enlarged as at 238 to rctain cam follower ball 239. Encompassing rod 234 and seated against shoulder 235 formed by the end of bushing 233 are a pair of tension discs 241, the rims 242 of which form a groove 243 therebetween when the discs are in juxtaposition, in which a thread may be inserted to slide between said discs 241. A clamp disc 244 having a cross bar 245 across the opening 246 therein also encompasses rod 234 with the cross bar extending through slit 234 and the rim 247 of the clamp disc is urged against tension discs 241 by a coil spring 248 encompassing said rod 234 and retained thereon by tension adjusting nut 249 screwed on the threaded outer end of rod 234. A slidably mounted releasing rod 251 extends through axial bore 236 of rod 234 and bearing 237 of bushing 233 and is confined between cross bar 246 at one end and ball 239 at the other.

Associated with said tension devices 231 and 232 are the identical tension control cams 182 and 183 respectively. Thus, as follower ball 239 of each of the tension devices is retained against the rim of its associated carn 182 or 183 and forced outward by such rims the rods 251 will alternately reciprocate as the cams rotate, thereby to relieve the pressure of clamp disc 247 against tensions discs 241 to relieve the pressure on the thread therebetween.

Tension compensation arms 255 and 255 which are identical as shown in Fig. 2 are mounted respectively near each end of the cover plate 44 at the front of the machine. As shown in Figs. 2a and 19, each tension compensation arm is desirably mounted on a base 256 slidably amxed to the cover plate in slots 257 by bolts 256 and has an upstanding ear 257 at right angles thereto extending past the .front edge of the cover plate 44.

A tension adjusting screw 258 machined so as to be substantially square in cross section as shown in Fig. 2b is inserted through a correspondingly square opening 261 in ear 257. A knurled tension adjusting knob 262 which is threaded on the end of the screw 258 has a slot 263 in its shank 264 transversely thereacross. A substantially U-shaped spring clamp 265 is provided having au arcuate bend 266 in one leg thereof which, when the clamp is placed over the shank 264, will encompass the periphery of the latter with leg 267 of the clamp lying in slot 263 against a flat surface 268 of the adjusting screw.

The free end of adjusting screw 258 has an eye 271 therein to which one end of a coil spring 272 is connected. The other end of the coil spring is connected to an eye 273 at the end of an arm 274 pivoted at its mid point by a screw 275 to base 256. The free end of arm 274 has an upstanding portion 276 integral therewith with an opening 277 therein through which a weft thread may pass.

By the arrangement herein described, the position of the tension compensation devices may be shifted along cover plate 44 to vary the position of 'such devices with reference to the needle positions at the inner and outer extremities of the needle bar stroke, according to the width of the fabric being woven, and the weft thread tension may be adjusted even when the machine is operating, by merely rotating adjusting knob 262.

Positioned adjacent the tension compensation device 255 and rigid with the cover plate is a guide bracket 273 (Fig. 19) the laterally extending leg 279 of which has a pair of openings 281, 281 therein through which the weft threads W and W' may be inserted. A guide bracket 282 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is also provided adjacent tension device 255', which has an upstanding arm 203 through which weft thread W may pass, the latter being threaded through an upstanding guide 290 affixed to the front wall of the casing.

(b) \VEFT THREAD SLACK TAKE-UP DISCS (Figs. 4, 6, 10, 20)

Associated with the weft threads W and W from spools S and S are a plurality of slack take-up discs 63, 64 and 65 affixed in coaxial relation on the end of shaft 56 which extends through bearing 7 on the front wall 59 of the casing.

As can be seen from Fig. 20, disc 63 has a mounting hub 60 at its axis aixed to shaft 56. Discs 64 and 65 are not directly atiixed to shaft 56 but disc 64 is coaxial with disc 63 and aixed thereto by an arcuate connecting web 66 which joins the discs 63, 64 near the periphery thereof with a slight space therebetween. The third disc 65 is coaxial with disc 64 and affixed thereto by an arcuate connecting web 67, degrees removed from web 66 and which joins the discs 64 and 65 near the periphery thereof also with a slight space therebetween.

(c) WEET THREAD LOOPING CONTROL-(1) HOOK AND BOBBIN ASSEMBLY (Figs. 13a., 15, 10, 17, 18, 23, 24)

Each end of hook shaft 187 which protrudes well beyond bearings 188 and 193 has a rotary hook member thereon with a hub 197 affixed to the hook shaft by means of set screws 196 (Figs. 15 and 17).

The hook member 195 is substantially cup-shaped in configuration and has an outwardly diverging recess 401 extending the height of its side wall 400 so that each end 402, 403 of the side wall forms an obtuse angle with the edge of the rear wall 202 of the hook member. The edge of the forward end 402 of the side wall 400 is beveled as at 404 and a metal strip 405 is welded along said edge so as to form a weft thread engaging hook having a notch 406.

As clearly shown in Fig. 24, an arcuate slot 407 is provided in the periphery of the hook member in the rear wall 202 thereof, from the leading edge of notch 406 to nearly the edge 403. The open mouth 198 of hook member 195 facing toward standard 34 has nested therein a substantially cup-shaped bobbin case 199 with the rear wall 300 of the case slightly spaced from the rear wall 202 of the hook member. Integral with the bobbin case 199 at the top thereof and extending upwardly from the outer edge 407 thereof which extends outwardly as at 408 is a support plate 408 having an inclined slot 409 therethrough which extends into the bobbin case. The support plate 408 has a tooth 202 extending laterally outward and upward therefrom which, as shown in Fig. 13a, passes through an opening 200 in an arm 204 affixed by screws 205 to the upper end of standard 34 on the outer side thereof. Thus as hook member 195 is rotated by hook shaft 187, bobbin case 199 will be loosely supported and restrained from rotation.

The end wall 300 of the bobbin case 199 has an axial resilient split collet 206 rigid therewith and extending axially forward therefrom on which a bobbin 207 of large diameter and capacity may be rotatably mounted, the resilient forward end of collet 206 being preferably formed with outwardly extending ears 206 which normally lmaintain the bobbin in position on the collet, The

13 bobbin has openings 207 therein-in which a hook may `be rinserted torfacilitateits removalfrom thefzcolletf206. The 'hoolc member,195, bobbin,case.199 and bobbin 207 are positioned in a .substantially :arcuate recess ..208 '(Fig. 13a) in the `upper end of standard 34.

A supporthorn 211-is provdedrigid -withsupport plate 43S and extending laterally inward vtherefromover the hook member 195. Support.horn.211,.which tapers downwardly toward. its. free end yasshown in` Figs. .15 .and l7, has a groove 212 along `.thetop edgethereof and a notch 213 near the aixed end thereof leading intotsaid Agroove 212. The free .endof the. support hornhas a temple or edge wire 214 affixed thereon .at right .angles thereto extending towardthefront of the loom which acts to maintainA the width. of thewoven strip in the manner hereinafter described.

,The thread from Ithe bobbindesignatedby the letter R, which in the embodimentshown, illustratively isofrubber, passes through slot 409 insupport plate 408, through slot 215 in thebObbincaSe .,199 and behind a resilient tension ,arm `216 ,adjustably securedtosupport plate `408 by screws 217. The arm 216 has acurvedend portion 218` which acts. as a guide to direct the thread .which will pass behind-the arm and be lfrictionally tensed between `Sucharm and the rear face of support plate S408 and also retains the thread inthe groove 21`2`in top of support horn 211. n

,Referring to Fig. 13a, vthe loom operator is protected by a cover 221 hingedto lthe top of the standard"34 as `at.222 and curved overthe top `of support horn 211 and the hook member 195, the free end 223 of the cover' being releasably retained closed against the top ofthe standard by spring latch'224.

To cover the side of the bobbin case as shown inv Fig. 8 a cover plate 225.is also provided and`is aiiixed by screws 2,26 to the side edge 227 ofthe cover 221. Thus when the cover is pivoted upwardly about its'hinge`222, the bobbin will be readily accessible.

fnl. Reed (Figs-8, 9,-10,.1f1` andas) In order to beat the1weftthread as.it.is,woven,avlight weight and short .strokereed361 is provided whichvdesirably comprises =a thin sheettmet-al plate ,3.62 curved 4near theupper .end thereof asat 363,.and,having `a laterally extending stiffening wall .-364-.on eachside edge thereof atfright angles to theconvex faceoftheplate. The .side walls 364 extendbeyond the loweredge A365 of the plate to form a yoke, thearms 3,66 and 3,67 of which arepivotallymountedbn the outerzface of the end wall 9S of thecasing ,by a-screw 3 68 and on the inner face of the standard 34 by screw 369. The armseach have a curved notch.371 therein (Fig. l) which providesclearance for rod 329 on which the levers 328 are mounted.

Extending lfrom each of the walls 364 in the same plane thereof are ngers 1372, Aeach having `a coil spring 373 axed at theend thereof as at 374. As .shown in Fig. 8 the upper end of the coil springis connected to the eye end 37,5 of a screw 376 extending through. mounting block 343 and held therein bya nut 377 by means of which the tension on spring.373 and hence on reed 3.61 can beadjusted, nut 377 being locked against undesired rotation by centralridge343' formed .onblockv 343.

Arms 73.66 and 3 67 respectively at,the.lower..extremity of the reed each hasa ro1ler'37S1(Fig. 1.0,) mounted on the inner face thereof each .atxed thereto by a shouldered screw 379. The rollersarealigned with the rollers '113 on thepattern chain 102to be periodically engaged. thereby as the pattern chain rotatesinthe manner hereinafter set forth. v

As shown in Figs. 9., and 19,.the. plate 362 at'its upper end carries fa readily detachable. combtype reedunit having a plurality of upright lingers '3S1sothat each finger may bestraddled by a number ofzwarp Ithreads asdesired.

rthe comb unit asshownin Figs. 9zand lf2 comprises a rodi 383 desirably :threaded fat ,Seach :end thereof aand preferablyfformed :with ammtegral-tshoulder 394x211; one endhaving anintegral'rkey395. The iingers 381,. eacfn of which has an integral hub portion 382, are assembled `on-rod'Y 383 with interveningV spacing washers 384 as' may be requiredlby the fabrieto be woven. 'The fingers .and washers areA thereupon: securelysclamped together zagainst shoulder 394-by anut.396 (Fig.=9) threadedon'the end of rod 383.

To mount the reed unit on plate 362, the right hand end of rod 333 is-slippe'd into la hole in the corresponding side wall364 of. theplate 3.62and the key 396 at=the.left hand. end of rod.363.is,positioned.in the U-shaped notch 385 in thecorrespondingside wall 364. The reed unit is thereuponsecurely affixed togplate V362 by means of lock washers v386and nuts 387 [threaded on the-.ends of rod383.

By reason of key -395 in notch 385 and as theiingers 381extendupward'from the` hubportion 382 at an angle thereto, with the base 388 thereof rseated against theiface of plate 362,.the fingers will no trotate on rod 383 and in back `position as .best shown in dot and dashlines in Eig. l0 the fingers will bevparallel -tothe heddle plates' between the rubber heddleand the feliBof the woven article. In order accurately to locate the comb or reed inits voutermostposition to prevent the fingers of the reed from strikingthe heddleplates, and to provide a Yclear passage for the movement of the need-le, astop13'89 is provided therefor close .to its top or operating end against *.which plate 362 may abut.

As shown i-n Fig. 23 the stop 389comprises a sublstantially"U-shaped member having a beveled cross piece 422. Thearms 423 of the stop are affixed -to the front edges of the heddleguides 291, '292 by screws 424.1and

Vnotches 425.areprovided in sucharms 423 which act as bearings or guides for the needle as it reciprocates.

As can be .seen by particular referenceto Fig. 9, the back and forth movement of the reed is extremely short and entails a vibratory movement of only a few degrees, this slight movement together with the light weight of the comb permitting substantially shockless oper-ation at high speed.

-IV. -Table plate (Figs. 13,15, 15a and 23) wardly and outwardly directed lip 415 integral therevwith, which lip 415 is slid under the table plate 391 beyond a notch 417 in the latter as shown in Figs. 1'3 and 23. As lthe'free end of the resilient bridge will normally be urged upward from the :table plate by reason of abutting portion 418 on `the bottom face thereof adjacent hinge 4111 when lip 415 is positioned beneath the table plate, the'lip will be retained securely in position by the'frictional drag of themoving fabric, but the bridge is capable of being freely lifted without ,the use `of tools when required, as in tying in a broken warp thread inthe opera tion of theV loom.

Aiiixed on the table plate 391 as shown in Figs. l5, 15a and 23 in juxtaposition to the end of support horn 211, spacedfrom bridge413 so as to permit pivotal opening lof thelatter, and mounted on a pin 39S, is an upstandmg roller 420 against which support horn'211 bears and between which the yweft thread slides in the manner herevinafter described.

The positionv of the roller 420 closely adjacent the edge wire 214 prevents frietional drag of the weft threads sliding along the temple or .edge wire and thetensedbobbin thread R from pulling the 4horn vout of position which would cause it to shift and pivot the bobbin case so that tooth 202' would press tightly against the sides of opening 200 and thus prevent free escape of the weft thread loop.

An upstanding guide piece 421 preferably integral with and rising1 from the table plate 391, is `aligned with the slot 407 in the periphery of the hook member to guide the weft thread W therein as the hook pulls the weft thread loop around the bobbin case.

V. Fabric tension take-up mechanism (Figs. 2, 3, 3a, 5a, 8)

A fabric take-up mechanism is provided to supply constant tensio-n on the warp threads as the fabric is woven and to take up the woven strip at a predetermined rate.

This mechanism as shown in Fig. 2 includes a driven sleeve 145 encompassing the respective ends of take-up shaft 138 and rotatably mounted thereon. The sleeve is journalled in bearings 144 and 144 in standards 34 and extends therefrom, said sleeve having an annular takeup drum 146 integral therewith.

The inner end of each drum 146 has a toothed face 147 which may mesh with the correspondingly toothed face 148 of a driving member 149 which is slidably keyed on shaft 138, and encompasses the latter to form a clutch.

As shown in Fig. 3a, driving member 149 has a radial hole through one side thereof in which is lodged a steel ball 151 which is urged into a depression 154 in shaft 13S by a coil spring 152 retained in said hole by a screw plug 153. When teeth 147 and 148 are engaged, the ball 151 retains the driving member 149 in driving position and when said teeth are disengaged, take-up drum 146 may be rotated by rotating hand wheel 155 affixed as by key 150 to the outer ends of each of the sleeves 145. A second depression 154 is provided in shaft 138 to retain the clutch in open position.

As shown in Fig. 3, drum 146 preferably has a fine knurled periphery which coacts with a horiz-ontal tension roller 158 to provide tension on the fabric as it is being woven, in the manner hereinafter described. As shown in Fig. a, roller 158 which preferably has a rubber surface, is idly mounted on a horizontal rod 159 aixed between the legs 161 of a substantially U-shaped roller frame 162. The roller frame 162 is pivotally mounted on a rod 163 the ends of which extend through the legs 161 of the frame 162. As shown in Fig. 8, one end of rod 163 is positioned in an opening in a boss 164 on the inner face of standard 34 while the other end of rod 163 is positioned in a socket 165 on the side wall 98 of the casing 35. Rod 163 is retained in position by means of collars 166 affixed by set screws 167 and positioned between legs 161 of the roller frame and the adjacent wall of standard 34 and side wall 98 of casing 35 respectively. Each leg 161 has a stud 16S, Fig. 5a, near the pivot point of the roller frame 162 .and extending laterally therefrom, to each of which. studs is affixed the lower end of a coil spring 169. The upper ends of the coil springs 169 are affixed respectively to studs 171 extending laterally from the opposed inner face of standard 34 and side wall 98 of the casing 35, thereby pivoting roller frame 162 about rod 163 to urge take-up tension roller 158 against drum 146.

Journalled in a socket in the side wall 98 of the casing and in a socket in boss 164 on the inner face of the standard 34 is a rod 173 which as shown in Fig. 5a has attened cam portions 175 along the length thereof which normally rest on the upper edges of the legs 161 of frame 162. A lever 176 is afiixed to said rod 173 near one end thereof and extends downwardly between leg 161 `and standard 34.

Thus when lever 176 is lifted it will rotate the flat cam portions 175 to force legs 161 downwardly, thereby moving the tension roller 158 away from drum 146, the raised lever acting as a tell-tale to indicate the spacing of drum 146 and roller 158. y

16 OPERATION To facilitate a clear understanding of the operation of the specific embodiment of loom shown in the drawings to illustrate my invention, the weaving of a strip of fabric having twenty-five warp threads, seven of which are of rubber and eighteen of which are cotton will be described in detail.

Referring now to Fig. 13, the cotton and rubber warp threads referred to by the letters a to x inclusive are wound on a warp beam (not shown) in back of the machine.

In order to produce a simple in and out weave, for example, it is necessary that the odd warp threads a, c, e, etc. be vertically spaced from the even warp threads b, d, f, etc. to permit the passage of the needle 52 therebetween. Although to achieve this end, two heddle plates would suffice, one carrying the even threads b, d, f, etc. and the other the odd threads a, c, e, etc., such arrangement would lack versatility for the larger the number of heddle plates the greater the variety of patterns that can be woven and in the high speed loom herein described twelve heddle plates have been illustratively shown.

The warp threads may be so distributed that each of the multiplicity of heddle plates controls the minimum number of threads practically feasible. Accordingly the greatest number of variations in the relative movements of the warp threads may be achieved by the arrangement of the cams on the pattern chain without the need for rethreading the heddle plates for each pattern to be woven. Also the threads will be distributed equally among the heddle plates to minimize the tension on any one plate.

A desirable arrangement for setting up the warp threads to afford the versatility above noted and shown in Fig. 13 is as follows:

The first warp thread a which is of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3051, the second warp thread b of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3052, the third warp thread c of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3053 and the fourth warp thread d which is of rubber is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 30512. The fifth warp thread e of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3054, the sixth warp thread f of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3055, the seventh warp thread g of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3055, the eighth warp thread h which is of rubber is passed through the second heddle wire of heddle plate 30512. The ninth warp thread of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3057, the tenth warp thread j of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3058, the eleventh warp thread k of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 3059, the twelfth warp thread l which is of rubber is passed through the third heddle wire of heddle plate 30512. The thirteenth warp thread m of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 30510, the fourteenth warp thread n of cotton is passed through the first heddle wire of heddle plate 30511, the fifteenth warp thread o of cotton is passed through the second heddle wire of heddle plate 3051, and the sixteenth warp thread p of rubber is passed through the fourth heddle wire of heddle plate 30512.

This arrangement is repeated until all the warp threads are passed through the heddle wires of the associated heddle plates, each thread passing through the eye of but a single heddle wire. It is to be noted that in the simple illustrative arrangement above described no two adjacent warp threads pass through the eyes of the heddle wires in the same heddle plate. As the result of this arrangement the odd and even warp threads may be displaced with respect to each other as alternate heddle plates are reciprocated and each heddle plate will carry the smallest number of warp threads possible with the exception of heddle plate 30512 which carries six rubber warp threads 17 in accordance with the usual procedure of having al1 the rubber threads change their position from over to under after each pick.

Also desirably passing through the sixth heddle wire in heddle plate V30512 along with the rubber warp thread x is the edge wire 426 which is affixed at its rear end (not shown) to the frame and which extends parallel to warp thread x under the bridge 413 and which serves to strengthen the border of the fabric as -it is woven. However, be-

cause of the larger diameter of the rubber thread, the edge Wire 426 may be in a separate heddle wire.

After the 24 warp threads are' positioned as above described, they are passed under bridge 413 which is pivoted to open position, and between take-up drum 146 and roller 158 which is spaced therefrom by lever 176 to permit the passage of the warp threads therebetween. The bobbin warp thread R is thereupon threaded through slit 409 in support 408, through slit 215 `in the bobbin case, passed in back of tension arm 216 and through notch 213 in support horn 211 and along groove 212 therein 1engthwise of said horn to the end thereof. Thread R is thereupon passed around roller 420 and along edge wire 214 beneath bridge 213 so as to extend between take-up drum 146 and roller 158.

Bridge 413 is closed and lever 176 is thereupon released so that roller 158 is resiliently urged by springs 169 against drum 146 to clamp the twenty-five warp threads therebetween.

By manually pushing on driving clutch member 149 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 it may thereupon be slid away from drum 146, this movement being possible inasmuch as ball 151 is only rcsiliently retained in depression 154. As teeth 14S of clutch member 149 will no longer engage teeth 147 of drum 146, the sleeve 145 is free to be r0- tated on shaft 138. The operator thereupon turns handwheel 155 so as to pull the warp threads between drum 146 and roller 158. When sucient tension has been applied to the Warp threads while still holding the handwheel to prevent rotation thereof, the operator slides clutch member 149 back against drum 146 so that teeth 147 and 148 are in mesh at which time ball 151 will be snapped into depression 154 on shaft 138. Thus drum 146 will be securely retained against rotation under the urging of the tensed warp threads as shaft 138 will not rotate until the main drive shaft 56 is actuated.

As the horizontal arms 313 and 314 of the heddle plates are behind the vertical leg 308, the drag of the tensed wrap threads on the heddle wires carried by the horizontal legs will tend to pull the latter against vertical ieg 308 between the associated pairs of bent ears 311. 'Ihus the rivets 322 will have no horizontal strain and as the ears 311 also prevent vertical movement of horizontal arms 313 and 314 the rivets will have no vertical strain.

The next step in setting up the machine is to thread needles 52 and 52 at each end of the machine. This is done asv follows: i

As shown in Fig. 19 the weft thread W from spool S is passed through eye 228 rigid with the front wall of the machine and then between the discs 241 of tension device 232. The thread W is then passed in back 4of tension device 231 so as not to be engaged thereby `and over stud 229 rigid with the front wall of the machine. The thread W is thereupon passed between take-up discs 63 and 64 around web 66 therebetween, through opening 281 in bracket 278 and opening 277 in tension compensation arm 255 and through eye 30' at the end of needle 52. The thread W extends the length of the needle and is passed through eye 30 at the nose thereof as shown in Figs. 13 and 14a. As can be clearly seen` in Fig. 13, the end of the thread W is thereupon tied as at T to rubber warp thread x.

Needle 52 is threaded in asimilar manner as needle 52 except that the thread W' comes otf spool S and is passed through eye 230 rigid with the'frame, then between discs 241 of tension device 231, over stud 229, between takeup discs 64 and 65 and around web 67. Thread W' is thereupon passed through opening 279 in bracket 278 through support 290 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, through bracket 282 and the opening at the end of tension compensating arm 255 and through the eye at the end of needle 52. The thread W extends the length of needle 52 Vand is passed through the eye at the nose thereof. The end of thread W is then tied to the rubber warp thread on the vother end of the machine as shown in'Fig. 2.

The next step in setting up the machine is to set the pattern chain. It is to be noted that to weave an in and out pattern such as the one to be illustratively described it is necessary that the weft thread carried by the needle be introduced between alternate warp threads. Thus heddle plates 3051, 3053, 3055, etc. must be raised and lowered simultaneously to lift the odd warp threads a, c, e, etc. The length of the pattern chain is therefore arranged so that there are an even number of units of four links therein and pattern keys 114 are inserted in those grooves in pins 111 of the pattern chain aligned with the rollers 338 on the levers connected to the heddle plates 3051,` 3053, 3055, etc., i. e., levers 3281, 3283, 3285, etc. respectively.

It is apparent that where a pattern is desired which would require an odd number of units, it is a simple matter to remove a unit of four links from the chain and where a different pattern is required using an even number of units of fourlinks in the chain, it is a relatively simple matter to change such even pattern by merely shifting the cams, which operation will take but a few minutes and does not require disassembly of the machine.

As shaft 95 which drives the keys 114 rotates 90 degrees for each reciprocation of the needle rod 51, it is necessary in order that the needle may enter'and Withdraw from the warp thread before theytreverse their position, that sufficient keys be used to occupy degrees of the sprocket wheel 101, and as illustratively shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2, the point of the needle is withdrawn from the edge of the Woven strip a distance sufticient to provide the necessary time for the reed to move forward to beat up the last woven pick after the needle point has emerged from the shed.

The positioning of the keys is clearly shown in Fig. 11. Thus, for example, when roller 338 on lever 3281 is engaged by the sloping forward edge 117 of the iirst key 114, the lever will be pivoted about rod 329 to lift the associated heddle plate 3051. With continued rotation of the pattern chain thelv roller 338 will ride on the top surface of the keys 114 and thereupon ride down the sloping edge 117 of the fourth key 114, at which time it has traversed 90 degrees of arc.

In order that all the odd and even heddle plates be raised at one time respectively to give an in and ou pattern, as seen in Fig. 8, the notches designated 11212, 1122, 1124, etc. and the notches designated 1121, 1123, etc. respectively will have the keys therein transversely aligned across the pattern chain 101.

With the loom setup as above described, it may be manually driven for a few picks to start the weave by meansof handwheel 62. As main drive shaft 56 is rotated it will also rotate gears 73 and 74 thereon; gear '74 through meshed gear 75 rotating shaft 76 and crank member 81 causing needle rod 51 to reciprocate in its bearings 49. Thus needle 52 and 52 will move in and out for each revolution of the main drive shaft. At the same time as needle 52 is moving inwardly carrying with it the weft thread W, shaft 76 is rotating worm 93 which meshes with worm gear 94 in a one to four ratio, to turn the pattern chain shaft 95 which will rotate 90 degrees with each complete reciprocation of the needle causing the alternate heddle plates to be raised to form a shed in the warp threads between the fell and the heddle plate 30512 prior to the introduction of the needle therebetween.

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