US3013586A - Replenishing mechanism for looms - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1961 w. H. BANKS REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1959 INVENTOR. WALDO H. BANKS Dec. 19, 1961 w. H. BANKS 3,013,586

REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e7 67 as .22 25 24' INVENTOR. WALDO H. BANKS.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,013,586 REKLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Waldo H. Banks, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed May 29, 1959, Ser. No. 816,793 7 Claims. (Cl. 139-257) This invention relates to looms for weaving, and, in particular, to an automatic replenishing mechanism for removing the tip or filling bunch from the end of a bobbin to be transferred to a shuttle and for controlling the filling end while the shuttle is picked and for disposing of that end as well as an end of the filling of the exhausted outgoing bobbin.

It is a general object of the invention to provide simple and effective means for removing the tip bunch from bobbins so equipped and for holding that bunch while the bobbin is transferred to a shuttle and the shuttle is picked and then, after the thread end has been severed by the selvage cutter, releasing the thread end for disposal in a pneumatic device at the same time disposing of the filling end of the exhausted, outgoing bobbin, all in timed sequence with the transfer parts of the loom.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a control mechanism for removal of the tip bunch from bobbins whose operation is initiated, upon indication of exhaustion of filling on the bobbin in a shuttle, by movement of the transfer parts which at the same time actuate a timer mechanism which sets into operation a pneumatic means for a predetermined period of time whose function it is to withdraw the filling end of the incoming bobbin until that end adjacent the selvage is severed by the temple cutter at which time that end is discharged into a waste receptacle, the pneumatic means at the same time Withdrawing the filling end of the exhausted bobbin and disposing of it when it is released by the usual Stafford type cutter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an extractor means for removing the tip bunch from bobbins and which has associated therewith a clamping means which acts to retain the filling end or bunch for one pick of the loom at which time the clamping means is released and the filling end is withdrawn into the pneumatic device.

It is a further object to provide a simple and regulatable timer device for controlling the duration of air application to the pneumatic device.

Other objects will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

One well known type of automatic battery for effecting transfer of bobbins in fly shuttle looms employs bobbins having a finder or tip bunch wound on the end thereof. The purpose of such a bunch is to permit automatically functioning, mechanical means to engage this bunch in a positive manner and to displace it outwardly over the end of the bobbin to be engaged by other means and to be held thereby for a period of time sufficient to permit the transfer to take place and also for the shuttle to make its initial pick through the warp so as to permit the filling to become interlocked in the fabric before the held end of the filling thread is released. One such automatic battery is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,566,880 employing a swinging, bunch removing instrumentality including two opposed gripping members resiliently urged toward each other adapted to engage and remove the tip bunch from a bobbin to be transferred to a shuttle, a picker for engaging the removed bunch and transferring it to a comb where it is held while the transfer takes place and ice until the hunch is subsequently displaced by subsequent bunches. Movement of the gripping members and picker is taken from the transfer mechanism already present on the loom.

According to the invention, an improved mechanism has been devised for effecting removal of the tip bunch wherein the bunch is removed from the bobbin end by an extractor means, then clamp-ed against the extract-or until transfer takes place and the shuttle is picked, and finally the filling end is discharged into a waste receptacle by pneumatic means after it has been severed at the fabric edge by the usual temple cutter. The pneumatic device is adapted also to remove the filling end of the exhausted outgoing bobbin. At the same time a timer means is provided for automatically opening a valve to permit entry of air to the pneumatic means at the proper instant for a predetermined period of time. Both the extractor device and timer means are simultaneously actuated by a control mechanism operable upon movement of the starter rod of the loom.

The extractor is so constructed that the clamping means comes into play to retain the tip bunch as soon as the latter has been removed from the bobbin end. The clamping means is released when the extractor moves into position over the end of the next bobbin to be transferred after a one pick delay. Since the pneumatic device is actuated as soon as the starter rod is moved into position, the filling end is withdrawn into a suction device as soon as it is released by the clamping means and is held thereby until the thread is severed.

Air supply to the suction device is controlled by a time delay means, preferably a mercury switch which closes a circuit to open a normally closed solenoid valve for about ten or twelve picks, or until the filling ends of both the incoming and outgoing bobbins have been severed by the temple cutter.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the replenishing mecha-v nism; I

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking toward the right side of the loom and showing the control mechanism for actuating the replenishing mechanism and also showing the mercury switch and solenoid valve;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the extractor looking toward the right side of the loom;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the extractor;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the right hand side of the air timer means'and its connecting mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a portion of the linkage system for the air timer means.

In FIG. 1 an automatic battery is designated by the arrow 10 at the right hand side of the loom through which replenishing bobbins progress to a transfer position as is occupied by the bobbin 11. 'From such a position this bobbin is transferred to a shuttle when required. Exhaustion of filling on the bobbin in the shuttle is determined by the usual filling feeler which with other mechanism causes a starter rod 12 (FIG. 2) to rock in a well known manner to set the loom for the replenishing cycle.

One end of anextending arm 13 is fixed to the starter rod as seen in FIG. 2 and the opposite end thereof is connected to an adjustable rod 14 threaded at both ends. A pair of bearings 15 are supported by an L- shaped bracket 16 which is fixed toahopper stand '17.

The latter is fastened above the right hand loomside. A stud 18 is oscillatable within the bearings 15. A hub 19 is fixed by means of a pin or other means to one end of the stud and has an outwardly extending arm 20 co-extensive therewith. The free end of the arm is linked to the adjustable rod 14. A second hub 21 having an upwardly extending flat plate 22 is fixed to the stud 18 by means of set screws 23 which. also permit adjustment of that hub With respect to the stud so as to vary the rest position of the plate. This position may also be adjusted by rotation of the threaded rod 14.

A self-aligning bearing 24 is set in an opening in the hopper stand in alignment with the upper end of plate 22. A rod 25 is supported by the bearing and one end thereof is spaced from the fiat plate as seen in FIG. 2. The other end of the rod is pivoted intermediate the ends of an actuating lever 26 wihch itself has one end pivoted at 27. The other end of the lever has a flattened free end portion 28.

An extractor, generally denoted by the arrow 29, is supported on a rod 30 which is slidably mounted in a bearing 31 which may form an integral part of the upper chute 32. A bracket 33 is fastened to the side of the upper chute and has an opening therein aligned with the opening in the bearing 31. The rod 30 may thus be reciprocated to the right or left while supported slidably by the bearing 31 and bracket 33. The rod has a cut-out portion 34 in its upper half including a shoulder 35 at right angles to the axis of the rod. An L-shaped latch 36 is pivotally mounted at the intersection of its two arms to the bracket 33 and is biased toward rod 30 by a torsion spring (not shown), one of its arms 37 extending substantially in a horizontal direction to engage the cut-out 34 and shoulder 35, while its other arm 38 extends downwardly from the pivot point. The arm 38 is struck by an adjustment screw (not shown) fastened to the lay only when the extractor assembly is in a latched position. When unlatched the arm 38 is slightly forward of its latched position so that a slight clearance is maintained between the adjustment screw and the arm when the lay is in front center position. A second rod 39 is fixed to the extractor at one end and its other end is slidable in a second opening in the bracket 33 so that both rods 30 and 39 are in substantial vertical alignment. The rod 39 lines up the extractor parts with the end of the bobbin to be transferred. A spring 40 is fixed at one end to the hopper stand and at its other end to the top portion of the extractor so as to urge the latter to a bobbin engaging position to the left.

It may now be seen that movement of the starter rod 12 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 Will raise the arm 22 to its dotted line position causing it to strike the rod 25 which pivots the actuating lever 26 to the right causing the free end portion 28 to move the rod 30 and thus the extractor and rod 39 to the right. The cut-out 34 moves a substantial distance beyond the latch 36 and as the extractor is returned to the left, the lay of the loom has started to move toward back center and the arm 37 is engaged by the shoulder 35. The usual filling cam (not shown) delays return of the transfer rod to its rest position until the lay has started toward back center. The extractor is thereby held in withdrawn position until the arm 38 is struck by the lay to release the latch, which takes place on the next pick. This one pick delay permits the next bobbin to be transferred to drop into transfer position before the tip bunch extractor is permitted to return to the left so that it engages the end of the bobbin in readiness to withdraw that bobbins tip bunch upon the next call for transfer.

The tip bunch extractor and its clamping means are a novel combination and are shown to enlarged scale in FIGS. 3 and 4. The extractor includes a pair of jaw members 41 and 42, the former being fixed and an integral part of a base member 43, and the latter being pivoted on the base member at 44. The fixed jaw is cut away in part at its lower end so as to permit the filling thread to pass freely out of the opening 44' defined by the jaws after the tip bunch 45 has been removed from its bobbin. A torsion spring 46 urges the movable jaw toward the fixed one and is held in position by a retaining element 47. The opening 44 is cone shaped as seen in FIG. 4 so as to permit ready passage of a bobbin end thereinto. The pressure exerted by the spring 46 is such as a result in a firm sliding contact between the jaws and the bobbin end. A rubber stop 48 positions the extractor over the bobbin end by its abutment with the bearing 31. On the opposite side of the base members 43 is a rubber bumper 49 which prevents overthrow movement of the extractor by striking against the bracket 33. D

To the right side of the extractor jaws is a clamping device which cooperates therewith and includes a pair of side members 50 and 51 pivoted at 52 and connected at their lower end by a flat plate member 53 which is biased toward the right hand side of the jaw members by a torsion spring 54. A short extension 55 is welded or otherwise attached to the lower end of the plate member as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The mechanism for withdrawing the filling end and disposing of it once the filling bunch has been removed from its bobbin end will now be described. For this purpose a pneumatic device is utilized which includes a venturi 56 which may be identical to that shown in United States Patent No. 2,872,943. A conduit 57 introduces air from some suitable external source to the venturi. A suction tube 53 is fastened to the side of the bobbin chute 32 so that the inlet end of the tube is located immediately rearwardly of the filling path which is assumed by the extracted bunch. A similar tube 59 is provided for receiving the filling end of the exhausted, outgoing bobbin and has one end thereof adjacent the usual Stafford cutter of the loom while its other end also extends into the venturi.

In order to control the air supply to the venturi so that air is drawn only when necessary, a solenoid valve 60 of conventional design is placed in the air inlet line 57 as shown in FIG. 2. This valve is of the type which is normally closed so that it opens when current is ap plied across its leads. The valve is grounded to the loom at 61 and a second lead therefrom is connected to a time delay mercury switch 62 enclosed within a casing 63. Power is supplied to the circuit through the OB. switch of the loom. The casing 63 is pivoted at 64 on a bracket 65 which is fixed to the hopper stand and is biased by a torsion spring 66 in the direction of a stop screw 67 mounted on one portion 68 of the bifurcated end of the bracket 65 and which controls the atrest position of the casing. A second stop screw 67' is threaded on the other end portion 63 and prevents overthrow of the casing when pivoted. The position of the casing as shown in FIG. 5 is the normal or at-rest position. Adjacent the hub 21 (as seen in FIG. 2) a further hub 69 is fixed to the stud 13 and has an arm 70 extending horizontally therefrom toward the hopper stand. The other end of the arm is pivoted to one end of an actuating lever 71 which is slotted at 72 to receive a pin 73 fixed to the right hand side of the casing 63. The mercury switch is a conventional one and may be of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,849,550.

A fiat plate 74 is fixed to a hub 75 on the transfer stud 76 so as to overlap the extension 55. A hooked member 77 is attached to the side of the bobbin chute adjacent the tube 58 to guide the filling thread thereinto.

The operation of the device will now be described. Upon indication of lack of filling on a bobbin in a shuttle by the usual feeler mechanism, the starter rod 12 is caused to turn slightly in known manner to set up the parts for transfer. At the same time the arm 13 is raised to move the arm 22 to the dotted line position of FIG. 2. The separation of the plate 22 and rod 25 provides lost motion to allow the transfer parts to start their movement before contacting the ejector parts, thereby moving the extractor assembly toward the right side of the loom, removing the tip bunch 45 from the end of the bobbin. As this occurs, the plate 53 of the clamping means, which is normally held out away from the jaws due to abutment of the plate 74 with the extension 55 of the clamping means, is caused to be released to press against the right side of the jaws and to hold the extracted bunch in a positive manner thereagainst. As the rod 30 thus reaches the limit of its movement to the right and begins to return toward the left side of the loom, it is latched in place due to engagement of the shoulder 35 by the arm 37 as explained above, and in which position it is held until the next forward movement of the lay, at which time the extractor jaws move into position over the end of the next bobbin and at this time also, the clamping means is held out away from the jaws by the plate 74 causing a release of the filling thread end of the bobbin now in the shuttle which is then withdrawn into the suction tube 58 in proximity to which the filling thread is held by a hook 77 from the time the tip hunch is removed from the bobbin.

Movement of the stud 18 also trips the mercury switch to close the circuit, due to tilting of the casing 63 by downward pull of the pin 73 by the lever 71. As soon as the transfer rod 12 returns to its rest position, the casing 63 also is returned to its normal position by the torsion spring 66. The closing of the circuit opens the solenoid switch to permit air to be delivered to the venturi, which sets up suction in tubes 58 and 59. As the bunch from the bobbin transferred into the shuttle -is reduced by the clamping means, it is withdrawn intothe tube 58 where it is held until its end adjacent the selvage is cut by the temple cutter at which time this filling end is free to be discharged into a waste receptacle. As the filling end of the exhausted outgoing bobbin is cut at the selvage, it, too, is withdrawn through the tube 59 but is retained therein until it is released by the Stafford cutter and binder at the next transfer cycle.

The delay period in the mercury switch permits air to be supplied to the venturi at least until the filling threads of both the incoming and outgoing bobbins have been cut by the temple cutter so that they may be with drawn into their respective suction tubes. The provision of a slot in the lever 71 permits manual operation of the switch to permit air to be applied to the venturi should the loom stop shortly after transfer and before the filling ends have been cleared. The time delay period of the switch can be varied slightly by adjustment of the stop screws 67 and 67' or a switch with a different delay period may be used, if desired.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom for weaving having a bobbin feeding means for retaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply of bobbins having filling wound thereon an end of which is wound in the form of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end, transfer means for moving the leading one of said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call for replenishment, a combined means for removing the bunch from bobbin ends and retaining the filling end while the shuttle is picked which comprises a filling bunch extractor having a generally circular opening therein adapted to maintain a firm sliding contact along the major portion of the circumference of said bobbin end during removal of said filling bunch, and a clamping means including a pivoted member adapted to hold said bunch against said extractor after its removal from. said bobbin end.

2 In a loom for weaving having a bobbin feeding means for retaining and presentingfor transfer to a loom shuttle a supply of bobbins having filling wound thereon an end of which is wound in the form of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end, transfer means for moving the leading one of said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call for replenishment, a combined means for removing the bunch from bobbin ends and retaining the filling end while the shuttle is picked which comprises a filling bunch extractor having a generally circular opening therein adapted to maintain a firm sliding contact along the major portion of the circumference of said bobbin end during removal of said filling bunch, and a clamping means including a pivoted member adapted to hold said bunch against said extractor after its removal from said bobbin end, and a suction device for withdrawing said bunch after its release by said clamping means.

3. In combination in a loom for weaving, a bobbin feeding means for retaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply of bobbins having filling wound thereon an end of which is wound in the form of a tip bunch adjacent the bob-bin end, transfer means for moving the leading one of said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call for replenishment, extractor means for engaging and pulling the tip bunch from the bobbin being transferred to the shuttle, pivoted clamping means for holding said bunch while said shuttle is picked, pneumatic means for withdrawing said bunch after its release by said clamping means, and control means for said pneumatic means which comprises a valve opened coinciden tally with a movement into action of said transfer means, and a timer means for controlling said valve for a predetermined interval.

4. In combination in a loom for weaving, a bobbin feeding means for retaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply of bobbins having filling wound thereon and end of which is wound in the form of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end, transfer means for moving the leading one of said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call for replenishment, extractor means for engaging and pulling the tip bunch from the bobbin being transferred to the shuttle, pivoted clamping means cooperating with said extractor means for holding said bunch while said shuttle is picked, pneumatic means for withdrawing said bunch after its release by said clamping means, and control means for said pneumatic means which comprises a solenoid valve opened coincidentally with a movement into action of said transfer means, and a time delay mercury switch means for controlling said valve for a predetermined interval.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said extractor means comprises a pair of bunch engaging jaws at least one of which is movable with respect to the other, spring means biasing said jaws toward each other, said clamping means including a pivoted plate adapted to pinch said bunch against said jaws after said bunch is removed from said bobbin.

6. A filling bunch extractor for removing the filling bunch from the end of a bobbin to be transferred to a shuttle and for retaining said filling bunch while the shuttle is picked which comprises a pair of spring biased jaw members adapted to maintain a firm sliding contact along the major portion of the circumference of said bobbin end during removal of said filling bunch, and clamping means adapted to hold said bunch against said jaws after its removal from said bobbin end.

7. A filling bunch extractor for removing the filling bunch from the end of a bobbin to be transferred to a shuttle and for retaining said filling bunch while the shut tle is picked which comprisesa pair of bunch engaging jaws defining an opening therebetween, at least one of said jaws being movable with respect to the other to vary the size of that opening, spring means for biasing said jaws toward each other, and clamping means including a 3,013,586 7 pivoted member adapted to hold said bunch against said 2,566,880 jaws after its removal from said bobbin end. 2,892,470

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 731,354

1,060,831 Ehnendorf May 6, 1913 1,142,569 Koechlin June 8, 1915 8 Fiset et a1. 2- Sept, 4, 1951 Cornelinsson et a1 June 30, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 8, 1955

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