US3137321A

US3137321A - Weft end tucking means

Info

Publication number: US3137321A
Application number: US172523A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maurice J Wasylewiez
Original assignee: SEYDOUX ET MICHAU REUNIS ETS
Current assignee: SEYDOUX ET MICHAU REUNIS ETS
Priority date: 1962-02-12
Filing date: 1962-02-12
Publication date: 1964-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-16

Description

June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlz wEFT END TUCKING MEANS Filed Feb.12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 asa :76a faf/ 9 n VETa MQW ya? Mgt/M95@ mi June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLl-:wlEz 3,137,321

wEFT END 'rucxmc MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwn-:z 3,137,321

mr END 'rucxmc MEANS med Feb. 12, 1962 11 sheets-sheet a June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz 3,137,321

wm' END Tucxmc mns Filed Feb. l2, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz wm END TucxING MEANS 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. l2, 1962 June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz wrm END Tucxmc ums 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 IIIIII. lllllllllllflIliilllllldl. l

June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz 3,137,321

\ man END TucxING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dfi/Eys I June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz 3,137,321

lWEIF'I END ING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz 3,137,321

WE1-T END TUCKING mns Filed Feb. 12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 ,www im may June.16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz wm END Tucxmc; mns

11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 June 16,` 1964 M. J. WASYLEWIEZ WEFT END TUCKING MEANSl 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 Ill' f A United States Patent O 3,137,321 WEFT END TUCKING MEANS Maurice J. Wasylewiez, Beauvais-en-Cambresis, Nord, France, assigner to Etablissement Seydoux et Michau Reunis, Paris, France, a company of France Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,523 12 Claims. (Cl. 139-124) This invention relates to improvements in looms, and is more especially, though not exclusively, applicable to looms of that type in which the weft is shot through the shed in the warp by a system of needles rather than a shuttle and quill.

This `application is a continuation-in-part of my prior patent application Serial Number 738,211 tiled May 27,

195 8, now abandoned.

The improvements to which the invention is directed relate chiey to the formation of the selvages of the woven fabric and it will be understood that woven fabrics produced by means of the improved looms of the invention are new articles of manufacture covered by this invention.

In a weaving process the warp yarn along the edges of the web which are to form the selvages of the fabric is subjected to repeated stress due especially to the friction exerted by the needle heads or other weft-inserting components, and also due to the tension of the weft.

Where the warp yarn is made of delicate and/ or extensible material so that substantial tension cannot be imparted to it, such yarn tends to be carried over or displaced inwards towards the central area of the web. As a result, the reed as it presses the weft yarn home acts on the selvage threads to return them to their correct position and this results in distortion of the selvage in the finished article. The resulting selvage is warped, irregular and easily frayed.

One improvement according to the present invention lies in associating with the weaving frame a gripper or presser device adapted to engage the edges of the web extremely close to the apex of the shed i.e. the fell of the web, throughout the near totality of the weaving cycle, so as to retain the selvage threads in correct position, said presser device being so operated that it only releases the web as the reed begins to press the web yarn home.

The device of the invention thus prevents the selvage threads from being displaced towards the center of the web under the effect of needle friction and/or friction from other weft inserting members, and the tension of the weft. The selvage threads are only released at such a point in the Weaving cycle where the stresses applied to them are negligibly low since the width of the web at the end of the shed is then the same as the width of the reed.

Consequently, internal tension stresses Within the web are eliminated and the -woven fabric is discharged from the loom with faultless selvage which can if desired be subjected to subsequent tentering and sizing treatment without any deformation.

The improvement just described is applicable to any type of straight weaving frame or loom regardless of the particular method of weft insertion (shuttle or needles) used therein and it is especially advantageous where the width of the web as discharged from the loom tends to drop below the width at the reed.

In the special case of shuttleless looms using needles for weft insertion, the invention further contemplates means for maintaining the weft yarn uniformly stretched during extension and until fully settled into the web, thereby averting the formation of wavy or warped weft and imparting faultless grain to its fabric regardless of the particular texture.

The invention further includes improved means for inserting the weft pick into the shed and turning or tucking in the ends of each pick of weft into the shed next formed in order to form the selvage.

Further improvements according to the invention relate to the provision of a device for taking over the weft thread from the head of a weft drawing needle as soon as the head has moved outside of the shed, thereby enabling the needles to be moved away any distance from the selvages without resulting in excessive waste of weft thread, and imparting greater flexibility in the synchronization of needle motion with the motion of the means serving to tuck in the ends of the weft yarn into the selvage.

These last described improvements likewise permit the afore-mentioned means to be adapted to any of the various types of shuttleless looms regardless of the type of needle operation used in them, and specically, both in those types involving a slowing down or a stationary period of the needles at the ends of the web and those in which such a period is not present.

The ensuing description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings given by Way of example but not of limitation, will provide a clear understanding of the manner in which the invention can be performed.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, of one form or embodiment of a weaving frame or loom of the so-called shuttle-less or quill-less type improved in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a corresponding view in plan some parts being emitted for clarity.

The figures numbered 3, 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d and so through 6, 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d are diagrammatic views, some of them on an enlarged scale, illustrating the operation of the components shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in some cases showing details of those components, other components being omitted for sake of clarity.

FIG. 7 is a plan view with part in longitudinal section showing the weft yarn delivering and pick-up needles.

FIG. 8 is a corresponding view in elevation partly in section.

FIG. 9 is a section on line XII-XII of FIG. l1.

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. l0 showing the needles in a different position.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10 showing the needles in yet a different position.-

FIG. l2 is an elevational view of drawing-head takeover mechanism, some parts in section and omitted for clarity. Y

FIG. 12a is a corresponding view in plan.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 12 and FIGS. 14 and 15 are plan views similar to FIG. 12a, all illustrating the mechanism in dilferent stages of operation.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view in elevation showing `a second form of embodiment of a weaving frame according to the invention.

FIG. 17 is an end view partly in section on line XX- XX of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a plan view corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 17.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are partial views similar-to FIG. 18 illustrating some of the components in altered positions.

FIG. 21 is a larger-scale view of the device for pressing and cutting the weft pick and inserting the end of it into the shed.

FIG. 22 is a section on line XXV-XXV of FIG. 2l.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, only those components of the loom have been shown which are required for a description of the invention, including principally a conventional front breast-beam 1 and batteri Z carrying the reed 3, which hatten is pivoted on a fixed a pivot 4 (see FIG. 3) of the frame. The parts of the loom, including the shedding means, are conventional.

In accordance With the invention, a support 5 is secured in a transversely adjustable manner to the front breast beam 1. The support carries a conventional temple 6 (shown in dotted lines and more clearly seen in FIG. 2) serving at all times to hold down the web 7 at the point of weft insertion or shed apex line, i.e. at the fell of the fabric being woven, designated X in FIGS. 2, Saz-6a, and 7.

The support 5 is further provided with a pin 8 on which is provided a lever 9 (shown with a reduced transverse dimension in FIG. l compared to FIGS. 3b-6b), the lever being biased by a spring 9a against a stop 9b on the support 5. Connected at 10a and `11a to the lever 9 are the

branches

10 and 11 of a presser or gripper device adapted to clamp the warp threads forming the selvage of the web at a point slightly rearward of, but extremely close to, the shed apex line X. For this purpose, each

branch

10 and 11 carries a small vane or foot element 10b, 11b at its free end, directed transversely to the web.

As may be seen, e.g. from FIG. 3b, the branch 10 is rigidly attached to lever 9 while branch 11 is pivoted at 11a to the lever. The branch 11 moreover has rigidly connected to it a small stop lever 11el adapted to cooperate with a stop 12 (shown in detail in dotted lines in FIG. 1) carried by the batten 2 to rock the branch 11 to open position.

Further, the support 5 carries a set of weft cutters or scissors, and weft-clamping means, illustrated in detail in FIG. 3c. This weft cutting and clamping assembly comprises a lever 13 formed with a slot 13a whereby the lever is slidable upon a iixed pin 14 projecting from the support 5. The lever en d 13b (more clearly seen in FIG. 4c) is formed to'act as a stationary scissor blade, co operating with a movable cutter or scissor blade 15 pivoted to the stationary blade by way of a pivot 16 and having an extension 15a which cooperates with a stop 17 on batten 2. Blade 15 has a sufficiently tight fit on pivot 16, that, although movable, it remains ina given position until positively moved to a dilierent position. A pin or roller 15b on the lower end of the cutter blade 15 cooperates with a camway or ramp 18 (see FIG. 2) formed on a rocking member 19 pivoted at 2G to support 5. The rocking member' 19 further has another cam or ramp surface 19a (see FIG. 2) formed on it and adapted to be engaged by the shank 21a of a lever 21 pivoted on a pin 22 (see FIG. 1) projecting from the support 5. Lever 21 is, formed with an extension 2lb cooperating with a stop 23 on batten 2. Rocking member 19 vis spring-biased by` spring 19b to its starting position shown in FIG. 2 determined by a detent 19C.

' Lever 13 has its rear end pivoted by a pin`24 to a lever- 25 pivoted at 26 (see FIG. 3) on a xed pin of the loom frame (not shown). Lever 25 carries on its lower end a roller 27 engaging a cam 28 secured on the shaft 4 which serves as the pivot shaft Yfor batteri 2. Pivoted to a pin 29 also on the loom frame is another lever 30 carrying at its lower end a roller 30a riding the contour of a further cam 31 also secured on shaft 4. The lever 30 at its upper end carries a pin 32 on which a lever 32a A(see FIG. 1) is pivoted, connected through a pivot 34 with a lever 33 formed with a slot 33a cooperating with a fixedA pin 33h on support 5. Y l

Projecting from the upper side of lever 33 is a roller 34a riding in a slot 34b (see FIG. 2) formed in a xed member 34C carried by support 5. A rocking member 36 is pivoted at its lower end on pin 35 to lever 33 (pin 35 being shown in FIG. 1 but omitted in FIGS 3d-6d). Member 36 terminates at its upper end in a strip portion 36a engaged by a movable strip 37. As may be seen on FIG. 2, strip 36a has a curved edge 36a1 on its side directed towards the fabric and strip 37 is a little narrower,

said strip 37 being provided with a straight edge 371 ex-M tending chordally of edge 36:11. Member 36AV has aside,

i arm 36b (see FIG. 2) projecting from it, to which is pivoted a link 36e extending through a guide member 36d secured to the support 5, so that movement of the member 36 to the left in FIG. 2 will rotategthe member along with both

strips

36a, 37 bodily towards the shed. Strip 37 is pivoted at 38 (FIG. l) to the part 36 and is held in engagement with the strip 36a by 'a leaf spring 39 secured to the part 36. Strip 37 is formed with an exteni sion 37a (see FIG. 3d) adapted to be actuated by a stop 37b pivoted at 37e` to lever 25, the actual structure of stop' 37b being illustrated in FIG. 1 with the manner depicting the stop in FIGS. Scl-6d being diagrammatic. The support 5 further carries a pivot 40a (see FIG. 2) on which a small resilient lever 4t) is pivoted, which acts on the lever or latch 41 (see FIG. 3a) of the needle 42 serving to insert the weft 43, to release the weft from the needle.

As will be best seen from FIG. 3, the batten 2 is operated through a link 44 actuated from a crank 45 rotated by a shaft 46, which shaft is rotated at the same angular speed as the afore-mentioned shaft 4.

In the illustrated construction, weft delivery and insertion are effected by the afore-mentioned needle 42 and a cooperating needle 47 associated with a weft yarn supply reel 48, needle 47 being arranged to form the selvage on the right side of the fabric facing the loom.

Needles

42 and 47 are diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 3a to 6a and, in greater detail, in FIGS. 7 to 11 to which particular reference will now be made.

As already indicated, the weft inserting needle 42 has a small lever 41 pivoted in it serving to release or dis engage the thread 43 which is retained in engagement with the nose 42a of the needle by a latch spring 41a. The weft delivery needle 47 has a small aperture 47a formed in its upper part through which the thread 43 from supply reel 48 is passed. The thread is then clamped against the body of the needle by a spring strip 47b and thence passes into a small slot 47C having a cutter blade 47d positioned adjacent to it. Further, the needle has a heel, 47e projecting from it. The weft delivery is effected as follows:

On closure of the shed by the heddles (not shown) in the conventional manner and as the shed starts to open up in the opposite direction, the needle 47 moves towards the middle of the web along the apex line X (FIG. 10). The needle carries the weft thread 43 which has one end attached to the reel 48 and its opposite end connected with the end 4919 ofthe preceding weft pick 49 over which the shed has closed in. The needle in its inward movement folds down the end 49h along the shed apex line while maintaining it applied against said line by means of the heel 47e, and the tension thus exerted by the needle upon the said end causes the thread to be cut o by the` cutter 47d. Interchange of the weft threads is effected as the

needles

42 and 47 meet each other at the center of the web, as seen in FIG. 10, and as now described.

As the nose 42a of needle 42 penetrates into the recessed needle 47, the spring 41a encounters the length of Weft thread stretching between the aperture 47a and spring strip 47h and picks up said length of thread so that the latter is now clamped between lspring strip 41a and a surface on nose 42a. Both needles then move apart, needle 42 carrying the thread 43 with it, so that the latter slides through aperture 47a in needle 47 (FIG. ll).

The various stages Vof the operation of the device of this invention will now be explained in detail with refer-, ence to FIGS. 3 to 3d through 6 to 6d. In each of these Sets of FIGURES, FIGS. 3 through 6 schematically illus trate the device as a Whole. FIGS. 3a through 6a are corresponding partial views in plan; FIGS. 3b through 6b are larger-scale views illustrating the selvage presser device, two of which devices are provided, one for each selvage on each side of the web. FIGS. 3c through 6c also are large-scale views showing the weft-cutting and weftclamping assemblies, and FIGS. 3d through 6d are large scale views of the strip means serving to tuck in the end of the weft thread in forming the left-hand selvage of the fabric.

In FIGS. 3 to 3d, the batten 2 occupies a position designated as A. The shed is open and the

needles

42 and 47 have met at the center of the shed for exchanging the weft yarn as described above. At the apex of the shed adjacent the web selvage is firmly held by the

presser

10, 11 as shown in FIG. 3b. Lever 25 is in its idle, or extreme forward position near the breast-beam 1 of the frame. The weft-cutter and weft-clamping device 13, is closed as shown in FIG. 3c. Lever 30 (FIG. 3) is at its rearmost position near the batten 2 and, in moving rearward, it has constrained roller 34a carried by lever 33 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to ride the slot 34b and assume the angled position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Owing to this, the part 36 has also assumed the dotted position; the

strips

36a and 37 have been inserted into the shed. During that insertion the left hand end 49a of the preceding weft thread 49 has slid out of the strips as will be explained below and is maintained folded along the apex line X of the shed by the said strips. Stop 40 is in its idle position (FIG. 3a) as are lever 21 and rock member 19 which control the operation of the weft cutter-

clamp assembly

13, 15.

At the right side of the web, the end 49b of the preceding weft thread has just been inserted by needle 47 as described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11.

As the crank 45 starts to rotate part dead center, batten 2 advances toward the support 5.

Needles

42 and 47 completes the weft interchange and begin to be retracted from the shed which is still open.

Presser

10, 11 con- -tinue to retain the web 7 clamped adjacent the selvages. Lever 25 is still idle but, under the action of cam 2S will soon start to move forward. The weft cutter-

clamp assembly

13, 15 is still closed. The lever 30 is still positioned substantially at the rearward end of its path toward the batten 2. The remaining members stay in the same positions as in FIGS. 3 to 3d. The weft thread 43 is being drawn towards the left yselvage by the needle 42, while needle 47 is returning towards the reel 48.

In FIGS. 4 to 4d, the batten 2 has moved closer to breast-beam 1 and is in a position designated C. Needles 42 and- 37 are completely withdrawn out of the shed (FIG. 4a). Needle 42 has completed its feed from bobbin 4S and has therefore. extended a full length of weft yarn 43 within the shed. Stop 12 (FIG. 4b) has not yet engaged. lever 11C, so that the

presser

10, 11 arestill maintaining the web clamped at the selvages. On the other hand, lever 25 has now assumed its rearmost positionv toward batten 2, carrying the weft cutter-

clamp assembly

13, 15 rearward, the movable blade 15 being pivoted Slightly away from the stationary blade 13b of lever 13y by the action of ramp 18 onA pin 15b, opening the assembly and allowing the end of thread 43 to extend between the blades thereof.

The shed is nearly completely closed. Lever 30, which is at i-ts extreme forward position near breast beam 1, has moved the lever 33 forward and the lever in turn has restored the strip assembly 36aand 37 to a retracted position outside the shed as shown in FIG. 4a and in solid lines in FIG. 2. The thread end portion 49a of the previous weft thread, which has escaped the

strips

36a, 37, as stated above, remains folded along the apex line X of the shed.

Meanwhile, owing to the rearward movement of lever 25, the stop 37b has engaged the extension 37a and the strip 37 has been moved away from strip 36a, preparatory to picking up the new length of yarn 43 which lies between the separated strips. The yarn is gradually beaten up against the fell of the web by the action of the reed 3' carried by the batten.

In FIGS. 5a to 5d the batten is at position D. The

needles

42 and 47 are still positioned at the end of their stroke outside the shed and away from the selvages. Needle 42 is still holding the thread 33 extended and stretched within the shed and the shed is fully closed. The stop 12 (FIG. 5b) on batten 2 has engaged the lever 11c and the

branches

10 and 11 of the selvage pressers are thereby moved apart for a short time, permitting the web to be advanced. Lever 25 is still positioned at the end of its stroke towards the batten, the weft cutter-

clamp blades

13, 15 are still open, and strips 37, 36a are also open. However, lever 30 is still positioned at the end of its stroke near the breast-beam and is holding the latter strips outside the shed. The remaining members are in the same positions as before.

Batten 2 then moves on to its extreme forward position, completing the beating up of the thread 43 and end portions of thread 49 to 49a, 49b against the shed apex line.

Needles

42 and 47 are still positioned outside the shed and away from the selvages while lever 2S remains at the end of its path nearest the batten. The stop 17 on the batten engages the extension 15a of scissor blade 15, pivoting that blade to close the scissors and thus clamp and cut the end 43a of the weft thread. This is made possible by the fact that the stop 23, acting on lever 21, caused disengagement of the ramp 18 to pivot counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and away from pin 15b which functioned to open the scissor blade. The needle 42, displaced together with the batten, has moved closer to the resilient stop 40 which has pivoted lever 41 to open latch spring 41b, stripping the needle of the waste length 43C of the weft thread which no longer is retained and will be removed next time the. scissor blade 15 opens. The remaining components retained their positions in the foregoing operating stage,

inoluding clamp

10, 11 which is still open. As batten 2 starts its return movement, the high point of cam 28 will very shortly pass from under roller 27, permitting lever 25 to pivot forwardly at its upper end, thus removing stop 37b from contact with extension 37a of strip 37. This allows strip 37 to close on strip 36a holding the left end 43a of weft 43 thread therebetween.

In FIGS. 6 to 6d, batten 2 is at position F and is beginning to return towards the rear end of the loom.

Needles

42 and 47 arestill positioned outisde the shed which is gradually opening. The stop 12 on the batten has moved away from lever 11C, and clamp 10, 11 has again closed in upon the selvage of the web just forward of the shed apex line X.

Levers

25 and 30 are positioned substantially at their extreme forward positions toward breast beam 1.v In returning to forward position, lever 25 carries the cutter clamp assembly away from the shed apex line back to starting position and as the batten has retreated from the shed apex line, stop 23 has .been withdrawn from extention 21b on lever 21, allowing the rocking member to be returned to starting position by spring 19b, lever 21 being similarly returned v by virtue of the coniguration of cam surface 19a. All

the remaining components are in idle condition. In other words, the weft cutter-

clamp blades

13, 15 are closed, strips 36a and 37 are closed with the weft thread 43 gripped therebetween, and the latter strips are, moreover, positioned outside the shed. The lever 41 of needle 42 has moved away from resilient stop 40.

From position F, the batten 2 continues to move rearward back to its starting position A. The shed continues its gradual opening movement and the web selvage is pressed near the shed apex by presser-10, 11.

Levers

25 and 30 are positioned idly near the front breast-beam of the loom. All of the means operated by these levers are idle. Thus the weft cutter-

clamp assembly

13, 15 stays closed and strips 36a and 37 still hold the ends 43a of the weft yarn 43 clamped between them, which weft yarn will be tucked into the shed and disengaged from the strips during the forthcoming stage in a manner similar to the tucking in of end portion 49a of the preceding pick of weft yarn during the operating stage stated above with reference to FIGS. 3 to 3d. The loca- -tion of

blades

13, 15 with respect to the nearest edge of the fabric, that is to say the length of the end 43a which projects out of the shed, is selected in such a manner with respect to the length of travel of the

strips

36a, 37 during their projection into the shed, that the said end 43a, which is retained by the outer warp threads of the fabric about which it is folded, escapes the said strips by sliding therebetween, before the said strips have reached their innermost position within the shed. The particular form of the edges 36a1 and 371 of said strip shown in the drawing promotes said escape. After having been released by the strips, end 43a remains pressed by the edges of said strips against the apex line as already stated. The

needles

42 and 47 again travel toward the center of the loom. Needle 42 is free of thread while needle 47, of course, holds a new pick of weft yarn which has one end attached to bobbin 48 and its other end to the end portion of the preceding pick 43. Needle 47, in its forward movement as it enters the shed tucks or turns the end portion of the weft yarn in at against the shed apex line and cuts it off as previously described with reference to FIGS. and 11. The selvage is thus completely formed on the right side of the web.

The next operating stage is the same as that described in connection with FIGS. 3 to 3d and the cycle is repeated.

It will be noted that the selvage on the right side of the web may be formed with any desired type of needle 47, using the same instrumentalities shown and described hereinbefore with reference to the left side, i.e. providing on the support 5 a further set of weft cutter-clamp blades, tuck-in strips, and so on, as well as symmetrically disposed operating levers and 30 therefor.

The mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 12, 12a, 13, 14 and l5 is a weft clamping mechanism arranged to take over the thread from needle 42 as the latter moves out of the shed and pulls the weft thread 43 towards it, thereby enabling the needle thus made free of the weft thread to proceed on its course without any limitation and so as to make possible the use of the loom for Weaving fabric webs of different width.

The mechanism comprises a lever `51 pivoted on a pivot 52 secured to hatten 2, said lever being formed with an arm 51a adapted to cooperate with a fixed stop 53 secured to the front frame 54 of the loom. The lever 51 carries a pin 55, having threadwise engagement at one end with a nut 55a, on which is pivoted a lever 56 carrying a roller 57 adapted to ride in an arcuate slot 5S supported from a part 2a carried by hatten 2. Lever 51 is further biased by a spring 59 into engagement with a stop 59a (see FIG. 12a). Pivoted freely on the pin 55 between lever 51 and lever 56 is a jaw member 60 of arcuate shape cooperating with a similarly shaped movable jaw 61 (FIG. 12) pivoted at 62. A normally non-tensioned spring 60a is arranged to act between extensions 56a and 6tlb of lever 56 and jaw 60. The jaw 61 is resiliently urged towards jaw 60 by a spring 63. law 61 carries an inclined ramp surface 64 cooperating with a follower roller 65 carried by the part 2a. The mechanism just described is arranged upon the batten above, and to either side of, the path followed by the weft picking needle 42. Its operation will now be described.

So long as hatten 2 has not moved close to the stop 53, the mechanism remains idle, since roller 57 is positioned at the left hand end of the slot 58. The position then is substantially that shown in FIGS. 12 and 12a. It should further be noted that the stop 53 is so positioned that it first contacts the lever 51 as the needle 42 is just moving out of the shed.

As the batten 2 proceeds to move in the direction indicated by arrow (lower line of FIG. 12a) towards the front of the loom, stop 53 rocks lever 51 clockwise. Simultaneously the inclined surface 64 engages under toller 65, causing the jaws 60, 61 (FIG. 13) to open, and

assume lpositions above and below the weft thread 43 carried by needle 42. n

When the roller 65 has moved past the top point 64a of incline 64 and drops down into the lower portion 64b which follows the incline (see FIG. l2), the

jaws

60, 61 close in about the weft 43 as can be seen in FIG. 14 and the needle 42, as it continues to recede, releases the weft thread now held by the jaws or clamp 60, 61.

In a subsequent stage (FIGS. 15) the needle continues to recede and the

clamp

60, 61 rocks further to follow the weft thread as it is beat up along the shed apex line, said thread being brought to a position within the range of action of the

strips

36a, 37 and the weft-cutting and clamping device 13, 1S which operates as previously described. During the return movement of the batten, the

clamp

60, 61 is forced open by a process reverse from that described and the mechanism is restored to its idle condition.

In the working embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 22, the breast-beam of the loom is again designated by reference 1, and the hatten is shown at 2 pivoted on shaft 4. Secured to breast-beam 1 is a support 5 which carries the temple or tenter 6 holding the web 7 near the shed apex line. The support 5 is held in place by bolts 66. The support 5 includes a slide- Way 67 upon which a slider carriage 68 is movable by means of rollers 69 riding the slideway. The carriage further carries an operating roller 70 engaged by a fork 71 formed at one end of a lever 72 pivoted on a fixed pivot 73 and carrying on its opposite end a roller 74 cooperating with a cam 7S mounted on the operating shaft 4 of the loom.

The carriage 68 carries thereon the fixed branch '11 of the presser device adapted to grip the warp threads forming a selvage of the fabric. The vane or foot 11b carried on the fixed branch 11 is preferably provided with a small cushion 11e of plastic material or the like, for avoiding damage to the threads. In front of vane 11b is located a projection 11d above which comes a little blade 10a carried by branch 10. Said projection and said blade provide for a local constriction of the warp threads in the selvage better to maintain the tucked in end of the weft yarn within the shed. The movable branch 10 of the presser is secured to a lever 76 pivoted on the carriage 68, and carries a roller 77 cooperating with a slot 78 rigidly provided on the slideway 67, which slot is so directed that when the roller 77 is positioned rearwardly i.e. toward the batten, the

presser

10, 11 is closed, While when the roller is positioned toward the front of the slot (toward the breastbeam) the

presser

10, 11 is open.

The support 5 is formed with an extension 79 below the means just described, and a slideway 80 formed in said extension supports a sliding carriage S1 by means kof rollers 82, said carriage having a downwardly projecting shank 83 carrying a roller 84 engaged by a fork 85 on one end of a lever 86. Lever 86 is pivoted on a fixed pivot 87 and carries on its other end a roller 88 cooperating with a cam 89 also secured on shaft 4 (FIGS. 16 and 17). Secured to the carriage 81 is a support 90 carrying a pivot 91 for a gripper 92 including a fixed branch 93 and a movable branch 94 pivoted on a small bracket 95 and urged to a closed condition by a spring 96. The branch 94 at its rear end is formed with a small incline 94a adapted to cooperate with a fixed roller 97 (shownin dotted line in FIG. 16) carried by support 5 so as to open the gripper when the carriage 81 advances towards the breast-beam.

The detailed construction of gripper 92 is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22. As shown, the branch 93 thereof is formed With an opening 93a into which projects a cuttingrblade 94b carried by the movable branch 94, thereby permitting said gripper to cut and grip simultaneously the weft thread 43 as the latter is clamped between the

branches

93 and 94. Gripper 92 is operated by mecl1a.

Y 9 nism shown in detail in FIGS. 18, 19, and 2O in position on the right side of the loom.

As can be seen from these figures, support 90 carries a lever 98 pivoted at 99 andcarrying at its end a finger 100 cooperating with an incline 101 formed on the slideway 80. The lever 98 is pivoted at 102 to a link 103 having its other end pivoted at 104 (FIG. 20) to a crank 105 carried by the gripper 92. In the idle condition Where finger 100 is positioned at the end of the straight portion 101a of incline 101 nearest the breast beam (FIG. 20), the

branches

93 and 94 of the gripper are retracted forwardly along the selvage of the web 7. The small incline 94a is engaging the xed roller 97 thereby holding the gripper open.

As the carriage 81 moves towards the hatten (FIG. 19), the finger 100 rst moves over the straight portion 101g. of the incline 101 and the gripper is advanced to grip the weft thread 43. Towards the end of this movement the incline 94a escapes from the roller 97 and the

branches

93, 94 close about the weft thread and cut it but still hold the cut-off length of thread clamped therebetween.

On continued displacement toward the batten of carriage 81 (FIG. 18) the finger 100 climbs the angled section 101b of the incline 101, rotating the

branches

93, 94 towards the shed apex line X and folding or tucking the end 43a of the pick 43 inwards into the shed. The length of travel of gripper 92 on carriage 81 and the extent projection of the

branches

93 and 94 of the gripper into the shed are so selected with relation to the length of end 43a to be tucked into the shed and the point along the length of the branches at which the end is clamped that the branches move into the shed a distance in excess of the end length to be tucked. Thus, as the branches pivot into the shed with the end clamp therebetween the branches tighten the thread at the selvage due to the frictional resistance of the clamping force as the limit imposed by the end length is approached and then, as that limit is exceeded by continued movement of the branches, the frictional resistance is overcome, pulling the extreme termination of the thread end free of the branches. In pulling free, the end lies along the forward edge of the branches and is pressed by that edge towards the fell of the fabric to become wedged into the shed apex to a position suitable for beating up along with the next pick.

To allow gripper 92 to operate as iust described, it is necessary that thread 43 be held as it is being brought forward Within the sled before gripper 92 comes into operation. This holding action is effected by a clamp 106 carried by a small bracket 107, in turn supported on a xed support which is shown as an extension 108 of the slideway 80 (FIGS. 16 and 19).

The clamp 106 includes a iixed branch 10611 and a movable branch 106i: pivoted at 109 to bracket 107. The movable branch is formed with an extension 106C (FIG. 16) adapted to be actuated by a pushrod 110 movable in a sleeve 111 carried by the support 108. A spring 11051 holds the pushrod 110 in the position corresponding to the open condition of the clamp. Closure of the clamp is produced by action of a stop finger 112 carried by batten 2 on the pushrod 110.

Under the action of the batten the thread 43, brought close to the shed apex line, is inserted in the clamp 106 and, as the iinger 112 engages the pushrod 110, the clamp closes in to grip the thread. The weft thread is thus caused to assume the angled configuration shown in FIG. 22 and thus is engaged between the

branches

93 and 94 of gripper 92 which cuts it olf and, in eiect, takes over from the clamp 106. The clamp 106 is directed at an angle towards the web as shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, so as to be positioned as close as practicable to the point where the weft thread is gripped and cut by the gripper 92.

Aside from the features explicitly described, the second embodiment operates generally in the same way as 1() the more diagrammatic embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. In this connection, it will be observed that the cutting and tucking mechanism of FIGS. 16-22 is shown on the opposite side of the loom from the arrangements of FIGS. 4-15, i.e. on the yarn delivery side, as would be the case where the needle 47 was not utilized in tucking the corresponding end of the weft thread. Obviously, the mechanism Vof FIGS. 16-22 could be provided on the same side as in previous embodiment with the tucking function ofthe weft end on the delivery sidebeing performed by the needle as before.

It will-be understood thatvarious changes may be made in the constructions shown and described. without exceeding thescope of the invention.

- What I claim is:

1..,In aloom forweaving-fabric from warp threads and pick threads, said loombeing of the type wherein said Warp threads are formed into a shed for the introduction of each new pick, and including beat-up means on one sideV of the fell of the fabric being woven oscillable toward and away from said fell to beateach new pick against said fell, said shed being open for the inserting of a new pick when said beat-up means is away from said fell and closed when said beat-upmeans is adjacent said fell, the improvement which comprises a pair of weft-picking` members oppositely reciprocable from inoperative positions outside the shed into and out of the shed kto insert each pick and adapted `when in said inoperative positionsV to hold the. ends of said new pick outside saidV shed, clamping means outside the shed and adjacent one selvage of the fabric being woven for clamping the corresponding end of said pick at a point between the selvage and the inoperative position of the corresponding weft-picking member, means for opening said clamping means to receive said pick end as said beat-up means approaches said fell and for closing said clamp as said beat-up means moves away from said fell, means operable to receive an exterior end of said pick and tuck the same into the shed mounted intermediate the corresponding selvage and said end clamping means, said receiving and tucking means being adapted for reciprocal movement towards and away from the opposite side of said fell from said beat-up means and for pivotal movement inwardly of said selvage at the limit of said reciprocal movement adjacent said fell, means for advancing said receiving and tucking means towards said fell and for pivoting the same after said beat-up means has retreated from said fell and said shed is open and for retracting the same before said beat-up means next approches said fell, said receiving and tucking means being normally inoperative to receive said pick end, means for rendering said receiving and tucking means operative to receive said pick end when said beat-up means approaches said fell and to hold the same when said beat-up means retreats from said shed end, said thread end being released from said receiving and tucking means after the latter has pivoted inwardly of the selvage, means for cutting said pick endon the side of said receiving and tucking means remote from said selvage at least prior to pivotal movement of said means, and means for engaging said corresponding selvage directly adjacent said fell at least while said pick end is being received and tucked to prevent the selvage from being deformed, and means for rendering said last-named means inoperative when said beat-up means is adjacent said fell.

2. A loom as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pick receiving and tucking means comprise a pair of interpivoted strip-like fingers elastically biased towards each other.

3. A loom according to claim 1, wherein said cutting means comprise a pair of interpivoted scissors-like cutter blades, and means carried by said beat-up means for pivoting said blades.

4. A loom as claimed in claim 1, including a supply of pick thread and wherein said first weft-picking member comprises an aperture through which pick yarn from said supply is threaded, a spring stripresiliently engaging said yarn at a point spaced from said aperture, and a cutter engageable with said yarn at a further point spaced beyond said spring strip from said aperture for cutting said yarn at said further point. Y

5. A loom as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first member further includes a lateral projection exteriorly of said member for engaging an end portion of said new pick and tucking it into said shed, said iirst member being disposed inA operative position on the side of said fabric opposite said engaging and tucking means, Whereby'said first member engages, tucks, and cuts one exterior end of said pick and said engaging and tucking means the other. 6. A loom as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second weft picking member is disposed in said inoperative position on the same side of said fabric as said clamping and receiving and tucking means and comprises a spring latch adapted to engage said pick yarn on interengagement of said members within the shed, whereby said second member completes the insertion of a new pick in said shed upon restriction thereof to said inoperative position, a latch lever engageable with said spring latch for releasing said yarn, and means operable as said clamping means closes for actuating said latch lever for releasing said pick yarn. 7. In a loom as claimed in claim 1 including take-over means adjacent the same side of said fabric as said second member and operable as said second member returns to said inoperative position with the end of said new pick engaged therein for taking over said new pick from said second weft-picking member as said second member reaches said inoperative position thereby releasing said second member from engagement with said new pick.

8. A loom as claimed in claim 7 wherein said takeover means comprise a pair of interpivoted elements bodily displaceable with said beat up means and camming means for` pivoting said elements relatively to each other into and out of engagement with said yarn adjacent said second weft-picking member for taking over said yarn from said second member.

9. A loom as claimed in claim 1,- including a weft supply at one side of said fabric and means on the corresponding weft-picking member for cutting o said pick yarn from said supply.

10. A loom as in claim 1, wherein said end cutting means is formed integrally with said receiving and tucking means whereby said pick end is cut as said receiving and tucking means is actuated to engage the pick end.

11. A loom as in claim 1, wherein said receiving and tucking means is mounted for pivotal movement on a carriage adapted for reciprocal movement along a path parallel and adjacent to said selvage and includes cooperating cam surfaces for pivoting the same adjacent the limit of said movement toward said shed end.

12. A loom as in claim 11 wherein said engaging and tucking means comprises a pair of relatively pivotable ngers biased into contact to engage said yarn and including cooperating cam surfaces for moving said fingers apart prior to their` engagement on said `yarnwhen said carriage is at the opposite limit of its path.

References Cited in the le of this patent `UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. IN A LOOM FOR WEAVING FABRIC FROM WARP THREADS AND PICK THREADS, SAID LOOM BEING OF THE TYPE WHEREIN SAID WARP THREADS ARE FORMED INTO A SHED FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF EACH NEW PICK, AND INCLUDING BEAT-UP MEANS ON ONE SIDE OF THE FELL OF THE FABRIC BEING WOVEN OSCILLABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FELL TO BEAT EACH NEW PICK AGAINST SAID FELL, SAID SHED BEING OPEN FOR THE INSERTING OF A NEW PICK WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS IS AWAY FROM SAID FELL AND CLOSED WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS IS ADJACENT SAID FELL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF WEFT-PICKING MEMBERS OPPOSITELY RECIPROCABLE FROM INOPERATIVE POSITIONS OUTSIDE THE SHED INTO AND OUT OF THE SHED TO INSERT EACH PICK AND ADAPTED WHEN IN SAID INOPERATIVE POSITIONS TO HOLD THE ENDS OF SAID NEW PICK OUTSIDE SAID SHED, CLAMPING MEANS OUTSIDE THE SHED AND ADJACENT ONE SELVAGE OF THE FABRIC BEING WOVEN FOR CLAMPING THE CORRESPONDING END OF SAID PICK AT A POINT BETWEEN THE SELVAGE AND THE INOPERATIVE POSITION OF THE CORRESPONDING WEFT-PICKING MEMBER, MEANS FOR OPENING SAID CLAMPING MEANS TO RECEIVE SAID PICK END AS SAID BEAT-UP MEANS APPROACHES SAID FELL AND FOR CLOSING SAID CLAMP AS SAID BEAT-UP MEANS MOVES AWAY FROM SAID FELL, MEANS OPERABLE TO RECEIVE AN EXTERIOR END OF SAID PICK AND TUCK THE SAME INTO THE SHED MOUNTED INTERMEDIATE THE CORRESPONDING SELVAGE AND SAID END CLAMPING MEANS, SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS BEING ADAPTED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID FELL FROM SAID BEAT-UP MEANS AND FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT INWARDLY OF SAID SELVAGE AT THE LIMIT OF SAID RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT ADJACENT SAID FELL, MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS TOWARDS SAID FELL AND FOR PIVOTING THE SAME AFTER SAID BEAT-UP MEANS HAS RETREATED FROM SAID FELL AND SAID SHED IS OPEN AND FOR RETRACTING THE SAME BEFORE SAID BEAT-UP MEANS NEXT APPROACHES SAID FELL, SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS BEING NORMALLY INOPERATIVE TO RECEIVE SAID PICK END, MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS OPERATIVE TO RECEIVE SAID PICK END WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS APPROACHES SAID FELL AND TO HOLD THE SAME WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS RETREATS FROM SAID SHED END, SAID THREAD END BEING RELEASED FROM SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS AFTER THE LATTER HAS PIVOTED INWARDLY OF THE SELVAGE, MEANS FOR CUTTING SAID PICK END ON THE SIDE OF SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS REMOTE FROM SAID SELVAGE AT LEAST PRIOR TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MEANS, AND MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID CORRESPONDING SELVAGE DIRECTLY ADJACENT SAID FELL AT LEAST WHILE SAID PICK END IS BEING RECEIVED AND TUCKED TO PREVENT THE SELVAGE FROM BEING DEFORMED, AND MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS INOPERATIVE WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS IS ADJACENT SAID FELL.