US2788025A

US2788025A - Weft stop motion for narrow ware loom

Info

Publication number: US2788025A
Application number: US438370A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis O Waterhouse; Cederlund Albert; Kenneth J Hall
Original assignee: Crompton and Knowles Corp
Current assignee: Crompton and Knowles Corp
Priority date: 1954-06-22
Filing date: 1954-06-22
Publication date: 1957-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-09

Description

- April 9, 1957 L. o. wATERHoUsE ET AL 22,788,025

WEF-T STOP MOTION FOR NARROW WARE LOOM Filed June 22, i954 3 RTHMZ 1.?

lNvENToRs 58 jo LEwls o. wATERHousE ALBERT oEDERLuND KENNETH .1. HALL Illia-172,1?.

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42 so 59 ATTORNEY United Statesv Patent O tra WEET STOP MOTION FOR NARROW WARE LOOM Lewis O. Waterhouse, Oxford, and Albert Cederlund and Kenneth J. Hall, Worcester, Mass., assignors to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 22, 1954, Serial No. 438,370 13 Claims. (Cl. 139-371) This invention relates to improvements of wett stop motions for narrow ware looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide a simple means operating electrically to stop the loom whenever the thread of any shuttle of the loom is broken or becomes unduly slack.

Narrow ware looms operate with a gang of quillcarrying shuttles each of which is moved positively through its warp shed back and forth from one shuttle block to another on the lay. A rack running lengthwise of the lay meshes with a pinion rotatable on each shuttle block and meshing first with one shuttle and then another. Unless weft breakage or slackness can be detected promptly in each shuttle there is the risk that a web corresponding to a shuttle with a broken thread may fail to be woven. It is an important object of the present invention to provide each shuttle block with a normally open electric switch and a closer therefor which can be operated by a detector on either of two shuttles which may be in the shuttle block to close the switch.

The shuttle block ordinarily has a bearing, such as a stud or bolt, for its pinion and it is a further object of the invention to make the switch and its closer part of a unit which is held to the shuttle block by this bearing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a unit comprising a support or base held in iixed position on the shuttle block and having the switch closer pivoted thereon to be engaged by a shuttle carried detector normally held in raised position when the thread is taut but falling upon breakage of the weft to a position where it can, due to motion of the shuttle, actuate the closer to close the switch. The latter is supported on the unit preferably forwardly of a dat back or wall of the unit which is held against the shuttle block.

The switch as set forth hereinafter is of the type utiliz ing a plunger to be depressed by a spring arm on the switch which due to its resilience is normally held away from the plunger but is pushed toward the latter by the closer to depress the plunger for the purpose of closing the switch. The closer will tend by its momentum to close ,the switch as the lay approaches front center. lIt is a further object of the invention to provide means for adjusting the position of the switch to vary the degree of force exerted by the spring arm on the closer to prevent the latter from moving forwardly due to its momentum and thus cause a false closure of the switch.

The detector is preferably provided with an eye through which the thread passes to hold the detector in nonindicating position when the thread is in normal condition. The detector may be in the form of a wire the ends of which are inserted into the shuttle on opposite sides of the quill compartment to provide a pivotal mounting and the shuttle is provided with a stop shoulder to engage part of the detector to determine its angular position when in indicating position with respect to the shuttle. It is a further object of the invention to cause the detector when in indicating position to be inclined downwardly and forwardly in such position that the Patented Apr. 9, 1957 force exerted by it when operating the switch closer will pendent upon presence of the thread eye on the detector.-

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates by way of example an embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of part of a narrow ware loom having the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detailed front elevation of the detecting and indicating unit and part of the shuttle block to which it is secured,

Fig. 4 is a side view partly in a section looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed vertical section on line* closer and detector in side elevation and indicating a closer in pivotal closing position in dotted line.

Referring to Fig. 1, the lay 1 of the loom is mounted on layswords, two of which are indicated at 2. Secured to and extending upwardly from the lay are shuttle blocks of which four are indicated herein at 3, 4, 5 and 6. The shuttle blocks are spaced from each other to provide room for the reeds 7. shown herein the shuttle blocks accommodate circular shuttles three of which are indicated at S1, S2 and S3. Each shuttle block is provided with a pinion 8 meshing with a rack 9 extending lengthwise of the lay and reciprocated in well known manner by a mechanism not shown herein. Each shuttle block is provided with two intersecting arctuate grooves or slots 10 and 11 which extend respectively upwardly to the left and to the right.

a bearing, such as bolt 12, see Fig. 4 having a head 13V' and a nut 14.

Each shuttle is provided with a quill compartment 15 to accommodate a weft quill 16 rotated on a rod 17 which is held on the shuttle in the usual manner and extends across the compartment as shown in Fig. 2. The usual brake 18 engages the weft W on the quill to resist rotation of the latter and the shuttle is provided with

eyes

19 and 20 mounted on springs 21 the ends of which areanchored in the shuttle. is provided with a delivery eye 23 and has a wire 24 secured thereto along which travels a ring 25 through which the weft is threaded. When weaving the weft passes through the ring 25,

eyes

19 and 20, then through an eye 26 to be described in more detail hereinafter, and thence through the delivery eye 23.

Except for the eye 26 the matter thus far described is of usual construction and operates in the usual manner.

ln carrying the invention into eiiect the shuttle is pro vided with a detector designated generally at D formed as shown herein oi a wire which is curved and lies sub stantially in a plane. The ends of the wire are bent as at 30 to t loosely into holes 31 in shuttle serving as bearings for the detector. The inner end of each hole 31 opens into a recess 32 having top and bottom shoulders or

walls

33 and 34 respectively which servev as stops to limit angular motion of the detector D. As

In the form of the invention'- The bow 22 of the Shuttlerefreshes contemplated herein ,therecesses 32 will Abetorrned Vin the shuttle on opposite sides of the compartment 15, although the invention is not necessarily limited to the use of both recesses. The previously described eye 26 is located at midpoint-along thelength ofthe detector on the side thereof toward the lquill as shown forinstance in Fig. 2, and the detecter is bowed forwardlyas at 35 in a direction `away fromtthe quill. Ordinarily, the detector will be in the raised nonindicating position shown in Fig. `4 when the weft ist-aut, but uponbreakage or undue slackness of the weft the detector will Yfall .to the position shown in Fig. 8, being limited in its downward motion by shoulder 34 which holdsthe detectorin an oblique position which is inclined downwardly and forwardly, see Fig. 8.

The switch and switch closing Vunit U includes a llat wallor base titl and a forwardly extending bottom 41 terminating in an upturned front wall 42 substantially parallel to the back wall. The previously described bolt 12 passes ,through the base wall 4G and its head 13 holds the wall rmly against the front wall 45 of `the shuttle block. As indicated Yin `Fig. 3 the bolt 12 is located centrally of the width of its shuttle block so that the artis thereoi:` is directly underthe intersection of the two curved slots and 11.

The wall 4G is formed with two forwardly extending

cars

46 and 47 located respectively at the right and left sides of the wall as shown in Fig. 3. The switch closer, designated generally at C, is shown herein in the form of a wire the left end of which is bent as at 48 to pass through the ear 47 which serves as a bearing for it. The right-hand end of the closer vis bent to the right at 49 and passes through the ear 46,-which serves as a bearing, and is then bent forwardly to form a finger 50 extending over a normally open switch designated generally at E. The switch closer is of the general form shown in Fig. 3 and has secured to the upper part thereof an arm 51.. which extends forwardly and has its front end curved upwardly as at 52 to form a hook for engagement with the detector D.

The switch. E has a plunger 55 normally in raised position corresponding to the open condition of the switch. When the plunger is depressed ,the switch will be closed.

ecured to the switch is a flat spring 56 extending over the plunger and under the finger. The spring 56 is formed of sheet metal the left-hand end of which, see Fig. 3, extends downwardly at 57 and is fastened to the switch in any approved manner. "fhe wall 42 is formed with a horizontal slot 58 and screws 59 passing through the switch and the slot 53 are threaded into a clock 6-3 behind the wall 42. When screws 59 are loosened the switch E and the block 6) can be moved horizontally on the wall d2 so as to vary the distance between the downturned part 57 of the spring arm 56 and the finger 50. The switch may be connected to

wires

61 and 52 which in turn are connected to a loom stopping mechanism not shown herein but effective when the wires are electrically connected by plunger 55l to stop the loom promptly. Loom control means similar to that shown in Hutchins Patent No. 2,512,428 can be used if desired.

ln operation, the shuttles will move back and forth along their curved paths and so long as their wefts are under proper tension each detector D will ne held in raised position, as shown in Fig. 4, and `the fingers 56 of the closers C will be prevented fromclosing their switchesE by their spring arms 56 andthe switches'will remain open. With cach passage of a shuttle its detector D `will traverse a pathA above the hooked end 52 of the c.f.n'respo1i iing cl ser and the latter will be held/inthe position shown in full lines` in Figs. 4 and S by spring arm 5 thereby permitting continued running of the loom. if the thread of any shuttle should be broken as indicated for instance at 65 in Figs. 7 and 8, or become unduly slack, its detector will not be sup 35 of the detector will engage the curved end 52 of the closer and move the latter forwardly from the full line to the dotted line position, thereby depressing the finger 50 and arm 56 to push the plunger 55 down with resulting closure of switch E and stoppage of the loom. During this operation the force exerted by the detector on the closer will .be in a plane vpassing through -thc axis of the detector and the latter will not be subjected to a lateral force which might bend it. The `radius of curvature of part 35 of the detector which engages the closer is preferably less than the radius of the path of the shuttle to insure correct forward movement of the closer C when the latter is engaged by the detector.

As the lay moves forward the momentum of. the closer C will tend to move it from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8, but this tendency is counteracted by the spring arm 56 which exerts an upward force on finger 50 to hold the closer against base 40. The adjustment of the switch along the slot 5S as already described provides means for varying the amount of upward force exerted by spring arm 56 against linger 59, the downturned part 57 of the spring arm serving more or less as a pivot around which the arm swings. The manner of this adjustment will be understood from Fig. 6.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth a simple form of stop motion for narrow ware looms wherein the detector D, when unsupported due to a fault in the weft, will engage the closer C and move the latter forwardly to effect closure of switch E which will result in loom stoppage. The unit U `includes the base di), the

ears

46 and 47, the closer pivoted on the earsJ and switch E. The switch. can be adjusted horizontally to vary the upward force exerted by spring 56 on the finger 50 to Overcome the tendency of the closer due to its momentum to give a false indication as the lay approaches front center position. Also, the shut tle is provided with notches 32 which define

walls

33 and 34, the purpose of which is to limit angular motion of the detector, the latter wall causing the detector when in dropped or indicating position to lie in a plane 'which is inclined downwardly and forwardly from the axis of the detector. The force exerted on the closer by the detector passes through the axis of the latter and there is no tendency to bend the detector laterally of its plane. The eye 26 in the detector insures proper lifting action 0f the weft on the detector and prevents the weft from sliding along the detector to a position where it might not be able to support the detector. The arm 51 and its upwardly curved end 52 are located symmetrically with respect to `a vertical plane passing through the intersection of the slots 10 and 11` in the shuttle block and the axis of bolt 12, so that the detector of each of two shuttles which can occupy a block can cooperate with closer C. This arrangement enables the loom to be stopped on any beat thereof on which a weft fault occurs. Also, the bearing means, such as stud or bolt 12, .is utilized to hold the unit U in position on the shuttle block.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, which is claimed is:

1l. In an electric switch and switch closing unit for the shuttle block of a narrow ware loom operating with a shuttle .movable in the .shuttle block and having a detector in indicating position when lthe weft of the shuttle is broken, said unit comprising a base including a flat wall for attachment to the shuttle block, spaced ears on said wall providing bearings, a normally open electric switch mounted on said base forward of said wall and `'the axis of said bearings, a switch closer for engagement with the detector pivoted on said bearings and having a part extending forwardly from the axis of said bearings and movable with the closer to close the switch, and resilient means on the base normally exerting a force holding the closer with said part in nonclosing position relative `to the switch, said closer when moved pivotally on said bearings away from the nonclosing position thereof causing said part to eect closure of said switch.

2. The unit set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient means is between the switch and closer and transmits force from the closer to the switch to close the latter.

3. The unit set forth in claim l wherein the resilient means is fastened to the switch and provision is made to adjust the position of the switch and resilient means on said base in a direction toward and from said part of the closer to vary the force exerted by the resilient means on said closer tending to hold the latter in nonclosing position.

4. The unit set forth in claim 3 wherein the base has a second wall forward of said flat wall provided with a horizontal slot and holding means extending through said slot holds the switch in adjusted position -along said second wall to vary said force exerted vby the resilient means on the closer.

5. In an electric switch and switch closing unit for the shuttle block of la narrow ware loom, said unit comprising a fiat base for engagement with the shuttle block, ears extending forwardly from said base providing aligned bearings having an axis forward of said base, a wall forward of the axis of said bearings integral with and forward of and substantially parallel to said hat base, a normally vopen electric switch on said wall, a closer pivoted in said bearings and having a part extending forwardly from said axis `over said switch, land resilient means exerting a force normally holding the closer in nonclosing position, said closer when moved pivot-ally away from the nonclosing position thereof causing said part thereof to close the switch.

6. The unit set forth in claim 5 wherein said wall has a horizontal slot substantially parallel to the axis yof said bearings and means extending through the slot provide for holding the switch in adjusted position parallel to said axis and along said wall, and said force exerted by` said resilient means holding the closer in nonclosing position is variable, depending upon the position of the switch along said wall.

7. The unit set forth in claim 6 wherein the resilient means is a flat spring secured to and moving with the switch and is located between the switch and said part of the closer.

8. In a stop motion for a narrow ware loom having a shuttle block to receive a shuttle which carries a weft quill, a normally open electric switch supported by the shuttle block effective when closed to stop the loom, a switch closer mounted for pivotal movement `on rthe shuttle block normally in nonclosing position with respect to said switch, a detector pivoted on the shuttle having on the side thereof facing the quill -a thread eye through which the weft passes normally held in nonindicating position relative to the shuttle by the weft when the latter is intact but moving to indicating posi- `tion when the weft is broken or slack, 'and cooperating means partly on that part of the detector opposite to the quill and partly on the switch closer effective due to motion of the shuttle in -the shuttle block when the detcetor is in indicating position to move the closer pivotally with respect tothe `shuttle block to close ythe switch.

9. The stop motion set forth in claim 8 wherein the detector when moving to indicating position is engaged by a part `of the shuttle which causes the detector to be inclined downwardly and forwardly.

l0. The stop motion set forth in claim 9 wherein said part of the shuttle is defined by a recess in the shuttle and a hole in the shuttle leading away from the recess provides a pivot bearing for the detector.

1l. In a narrow ware loom shuttle block having intersecting curved grooves for two shuttles each having a weft detector, one groove for each shuttle, a pinion for cooperation with each shuttle, bearing means for the pinion supported by the block having -an axis in vertical alignment with the intersection of said grooves, a supporting base held to the block by said bearing means, an electric switch supported by the base, and a closer for said switch having pivotal connection with the base spaced laterally from said bearing means and having a part in substantial Vertical alignment with said axis for engagement with the detector of either of said shuttles.

12. ln stopping means for a narrow ware loom having a shuttle block into which a shuttle moves, Ia detector on the shuttle normally in nonindicating position when the weft of the shuttle is taut but falling to indicating position when the weft i-s broken or slack, said detector lying :substantially in a plane and pivoted to the shuttle to move about an axis lengthwise of the shuttle, `a base secured to the shuttle block, an electric switch on the base normally open but effective when closed to stop the loom, a switch closer pivoted on the base normally in nonclosing position with respect to the switch having `a part for engagement with the detector when the latter `is in indicating position as the shuttle moves into the shuttle block to be moved by the detector to close the switch, and stop means on the shuttle for the detector holding the latter when in indicating position so that the force exerted by the detector Ion the closer passes through said axis.

13. In an electric switch and switch closing unit for the 'shuttle block lof ya narrow ware loom operating with a shuttle movable in the shuttle block and having a detector in indicating position when the weft of the shuttle is broken, a ilat wall having provision for attachment -to the shuttle block, ears on opposite sides of wall extending forwardly therefrom having bearings therein the axis of which is substantially parallel Ito and forward Iof the wall, a second wall substantially parallel to and forward of the flat wall, a normally open electric switch secured to the second wall, a spring secured to the switch, and a circuit closer pivoted in said bearings having an arm for engagement with said detect-or and yhaving a finger, said spring normally acting on said finger in `a direction to move said arm toward said wall, said detector when in indicating position during motion of the shuttle moving said arm away from said fiat wall and causing the finger vto move said spring and cause closure of said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,512,428 Hutchins June 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 549,290 France Nov. l5, 1922