US2841184A

US2841184A - Heddle control mechanism for looms

Info

Publication number: US2841184A
Application number: US557683A
Authority: US
Inventors: Montgomery B Penman
Original assignee: Magee Carpet Co
Current assignee: Magee Carpet Co
Priority date: 1956-01-06
Filing date: 1956-01-06
Publication date: 1958-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 1975-07-01

Description

July 1, 1958 M. B. PENMAN" HEDDLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Jail. 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MONTGOMERY B. PENMA N ATTORNEY July 1, 1958 7 MB. PE NMAN 2,841,184 HEDDLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Jan. s, 1956 w 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MONTGOMERY B. PENMAN ATTORNEY July 1, 1958 M. B. PENMAN 2,841,184

I HEDDLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Fiied Jan. 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet s lllllllll Illa-Ill llill iilli INVENTOR MONTGOMERY B. PENMAN ATTORNEY July 1, 1958 M. B. PENMAN :HEDDLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LO'OMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 6, 1956 m H T N m m. 1 1 Wm W n Mm. A MINI. RAVE w B QW W r m. l. E N MM. M w T N o M United States Patent HEDDLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Montgomery B. Penman, Bloomsburg, Pa., assignor to The Magee Carpet Company, Bloomsburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 6, 1956, Serial No. 557,683

16 Claims. (Cl. 139-56) This invention relates to mechanism for operating the heddles of a loom and more particularly to mechanism for selectively controlling the operation of the heddles whereby a great variety of fabric patterns may be woven.

It is an object of the invention to provide an electrically controlled mechanism for selectively raising and lowering the heddle frames of a loom which is more simple then shed forming mechanism heretofore employed.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a series of heddle frames having independent operating means and electronic means for selectively controlling the operating means in accordance with a pattern.

A further object of the invention resides in providing selectively controlled operating means for raising and lowering the heddle frames of a loom having solenoids for controlling the operating means to select the heddles to be raised or lowered, the solenoids being controlled by rotary circuit closers provided with adjustable contacts arranged in accordance with a pattern.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the heddle operating mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the arrangement of the pinions for operating the heddles,

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the eccentric shaft and circuit controlling disks,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one of the circuit controlling disks,

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit connections between the solenoids and circuit closers,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the latching means for controlling the reciprocating rack bars,

and,

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the operating means for the reciprocating rack bars.

Referring to the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, the numeral 10 designates the frame of a velvet loom having a plurality of heddle frames 11 mounted in spaced parallel relation for vertical reciprocating movement. The number of heddle frames may vary but in the present instance six frames are shown and each frame carries the usual heddles for manipulating the warps to formsheds for inserting the regular needle, shuttle or weft and wires employed in weaving a fabric.

A pinion shaft 12 is mounted above the heddle frames having one end journaled in bearing 13 mounted on the ice? 2 each of the heddle frames, the first two gears being fixed on shaft 12 to rotate therewith and the remaining gears each being fixed on one end of sleeves 17 rotatably mounted on the shaft and within a central bearing 17'. A second series of pinions 18 are mounted on the rear end of shaft 12, one gear being fixed on the shaft and the remaining gears being fixed on the rear ends of sleeves 17. The sleeves 17 are of graduated length and rotate independently of each other and the shaft 12. The pinions 18 are rotated by a series of longitudinal reciprocating rack bars 19 in mesh with the pinions, the bars being slidable in guide slots 20 formed in bracket arm 16 and supported on roller bearings 21 carried by U- shape linings 22 fitted in the slots 20. The pinions 16 are in mesh with vertical rack bars 23 extending upwardly from the heddle frames with the rack bar of the first heddle frame disposed on the opposite side of the shaft 12 to that of the other rack bars so that the first two heddle frames always move in opposite directions upon rotation of the shaft, as the pinions in mesh with the first two rack bars 23 are fixed to shaft 12 and rotate together.

The longitudinal rack bars 19 are reciprocated by a pair of

push bars

24 and 25 extending across the rack' bars which have their ends connected by

pitmans

26 and 27 to

straps

28 and 29 of eccentrics 311 and 31 mounted on shaft 32. The eccentrics are set to move the push bars towards and from each other upon rotation of shaft 32.

Connection between the push bars 24 and 2S and rack bars 19 is established by rocker arms 33 pivotally attached intermediate their ends, as at 34, to the side of the rack bars between the

push bars

24 and 25. The ends of the rocker arms are notched at 35 to provide lips for latching engagement with the push bars when the rocker arms are moved to project one or the other end into the path of movement of the push bars. Each rocker arm has a central depending arm 36 connected at its lower end to one end of a solenoid core 37 by a pivot pin 38.

.The solenoid core 37 has an intermediate insulated portion 39 and is slidably mounted through the coil of a solenoid 40 mounted on a bar 41. A coil spring 4-2 having one end connected to the rack bar and its opposite end to arm 36 normally moves the rocker arm to elevate the left hand end to position the lip in the path of movement of push bar 24 whereby the movement of the push bar will move the rack bar to the right thus rotating the pinion 18 in mesh therewith. Rotation of pinion 13 will rotate the corresponding pinion 15 thus raising the rack bar 23 in mesh therewith to elevate the selected heddle frame 11. In order to rock the rocker arm 33 to lower the left hand end below the path of movement of push bar 24, solenoid 46} is energized thereby moving core 37 to the right which pulls arm as to swing the rocker arm. With the left hand end of the rocker arm lowered the push bar 24 will pass over the rocker arm and the rack bar will not be moved. When a rack bar 1 .is moved by push bar 24 it moves core 37 through the solenoid and .upon tie-energizing of the solenoid, spring 4?; moves the rocker arm to its normal position with the left end elevated and the right end lowered beneath the path of movement of push bar 25. If it is desired to move rack bar 19 to the left, solenoid 4th is energized thereby rocking the rocker arm 33 to lower the left end and elevate the right end for latching engagement with the push bar 25. Thus, it is seen the rack bars 19 may be selectively operated to control the raising and lowering of the heddle frames. The vertical movement of the rack bars 23 is guided by guide rollers 5h mounted in frames 51 carried by cross bars 52. The shaft 32 supporting the eccentrics is driven by sprocket wheels 32' connected to a drive shaft of the loom.

The 'means for controlling the energizing of the solenoids consists of a series of disks 43, one for each sole noid which are fixed on a rotatable shaft 44. The shaft 44 is driven by a gear 44 in mesh with a gear on a drive shaft of the loom. A series of contacts 45 are adjustably secured around the periphery of each disk being secured by bolts 46 that fit in the perforations 47. A brush contact 48 is disposed above each disk for contacting engagement with the contacts 45 as the disks revolve. The contacts of each disk are connected to a source of current 49 in circuit with the solenoids and each solenoid is connected through a brush contact with one of the disks. By arrangement of the contacts 45 on the disks the solenoids may be selectively energized to control the selection of the rack bars 19 to be moved either in a direction to the right or to the left.

In operation, the

push bars

24 and 25 are reciprocated along the rack bars 19 in opposite directions. Connection between the bars 19 and push bars is effected by operation of the rocker arms 33 which are controlled by springs 42 and solenoids 40. The springs 42 normally rock the arms 33 to swing the left end upwardly into the path of movement of the push bar 24 but when a solenoid is energized the arm is rocked to swing the right end upwardly into the path of movement of the push bar 25. The solenoids are in circuit with circuit closing disks 43 there being one disk for each solenoid. The contacts 45 on the disks are arranged to selectively control the closing of the circuits to the solenoids, thereby determining which of the rocker arms Will be positioned in the path of the push bar 24 or the path of the bar 25. If the solenoid of a rocker arm is not energized then the rocker arm will be disposed in the path of the push bar 24 and as the bar moves to the right it will engage the rocker arms and thereby move the rack bars to which the rocker arms are attached. Movement of the rack bars will rotate the pinions l8 and 16 which will operate the rack bars 23 to raise the heddle frames 11. The frames 11 will remain raised until the rack bars 19 are moved to the left which will be determined by operation of the rocker arms under control of the solenoids. Thus, it will be seen the heddles may be selectively raised or lowered to select the desired warps to form a shed for insertion of the weft and wires and by changing the order of selection a great variety of fabric patterns may be woven. The heddle selecting mechanism may be easily installed on a conventional velvet loom and when installed may be easily set to weave different fabric patterns.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is a preferred example of the same and changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of vertically movable heddles, individual gear mechanisms for raising and lowering said heddles including reciprocating means for operating each gear mechanism to raise or lower said heddles, movable latches carried by said reciprocating means, oppositely movable means for engaging said latches to operate said reciprocating means to raise or lower said heddles, and solenoids for selectively controlling said latches.

2. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of vertically movable heddles, individual gear mechanisms for raising and lowering said heddles including reciprocating means for operating each gear mechanism to raise or lower said heddles, movable latches carried by said reciprocating means, means on opposite sides of said latches reciprocable to engage said latches to operate said reciprocating means and solenoids for selec tively controlling said latches to move the latches into and out of engagement with said reciprocable means.

3. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of vertically movable heddles having vertical rack bars, individual gears in mesh with the rack bars of said heddles, a shaft for each of said gears, a second gear on said shafts, reciprocating bars for rotating said second gears, rockable latches carried by said reciprocating bars, reciprocable means on opposite sides of said latches movable in opposite directions, and means for selectively operating said latches to rock the latches into engagement with one or the other of said reciprocable means.

4. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of vertically movable heddles, individual gear mechanisms for raising and lowering said heddles, reciprocating bars for operating each gear mechanism, rockable latches carried by said reciprocating bars, reciprocable means on opposite sides of said latches movable in opposite directions for engagement with said latches to move said reciprocating bars, and means for selectively operating said latches to move the latches into engagement with one or the other of said reciprocable means.

5. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of vertically movable heddles, individual gear mechanisms for raising and lowering said heddles, reciprocating bars for operating each gear mechanism, rockable latches carried by said reciprocating bars, reciprocable means movable longitudinally of said reciprocating bars on opposite sides of said latches and in opposite directions for engagement with said latches to move said reciprocating bars, and solenoids for selectively operating said latches to move the latches into engagement with one or the other of said reciprocable means.

6. A heddle control mechanism for looms as described in claim 5 including means for normally holding said latches in engagement with one of said reciprocable means.

7. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of vertically movable heddles, rotatable means for independently raising and lowering each of said heddles, slidable means for operating said rotatable means, movable latches carried by said slidable means,

reciprocable means on opposite sides of said latches movable longitudinally of said slidable means in opposite directions, and means for selectively actuating said latches to connect said slidable means with one or the other of said reciprocable means.

8. A heddle control mechanism as described in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means are solenoids.

9. A heddle control mechanism as described in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means are solenoids and including a pattern mechanism for controlling said solenoids.

10. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of heddles having vertical rack bars, a series of gears meshing with the rack bars of said heddles, reciprocating bars for rotating said gears to raise and lower said heddles, rockable latches carried by said reciprocating bars, reciprocable means on opposite sides of said latches movable in opposite directions longitudinally of said reciprocating bars, and means for selectively operating said latches to rock the latches into engagement with one or the other of said reciprocable means.

11. A heddle control mechanism for looms as described in claim 10 wherein said last-mentioned means are solenoids.

12. A heddle control mechanism for looms as described in claim 10 wherein said last-mentioned means are solenoids and including pattern mechanism for controlling said solenoids.

13. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of heddles having vertical rack bars, individual gears meshing with the rack bars of said heddles, a series of concentric shafts for mounting said gears, second gears mounted on each of said shafts, reciprocating bars for rotating said second gears, rockable latches carried by saidreciprocating bars, cross bars extending across said reciprocating bars on opposite sides of said latches, means for reciprocating said cross bars lonigtudinally of said reciprocating bars in opposite directions and solenoids for selectively operating said latches to move the latches into engagement with one or the other of said cross bars.

14. A heddle control mechanism for looms as described in claim 13 including pattern mechanism for controlling said solenoids.

15. A heddle control mechanism for looms comprising a series of heddles having vertical rack bars, a series of gears meshing with the rack bars of said heddles, reciprocating bars for rotating said gears to raise and lower said heddles, rockable latches carried by said reciprocating bars, reciprocable means on opposite sides of said latches movable in opposite directions longitudinally of said reciprocating bars, arms extending from said latches intermediate their ends, solenoids having a slidable core with one end of said core pivotally connected to said arms, and means for selectively energizing said solenoids 6 to move said core to rock said latches into engagement with said reciprocable means.

16. A heddle control mechanism as described in claim 15 including spring means connected to said arms for rocking said latches in the opposite direction when said solenoids are de-energized.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 274,913 Crompton Apr. 3, 1883 1,090,536 Houget et a1. Mar. 17, 1914 1,504,881 Eggart Aug. 12, 1924 2,136,090 Tandler et a1. Nov. 8, 1938 2,674,272 Werner et a1. Apr. 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 255,378 Switzerland Jan. 17, 1949 323,522 Italy Dec. 26, 1934