US3215167A

US3215167A - Loom filling stop motion

Info

Publication number: US3215167A
Application number: US271235A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward C Nichols
Original assignee: Draper Corp
Current assignee: Draper Corp
Priority date: 1963-04-08
Filing date: 1963-04-08
Publication date: 1965-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-02

Description

Nov. 2, 1965 E. c. NICHOLS 3,215,167

LOOM FILLING STOP MOTION Filed April 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l J5 m- /nn Il INVENTOR.

Y, A 9 EDWARD LA NICHOLS A TTORNE Y Nov. 2, 1965 E. c. NICHOLS LooM FILLING sIoP MoIIoN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1965 WH l.

Illillu Hill INVENTOR. EDWAIQD CL.I\1|C,|-|OL S ZYM ammo@ A TTORNE Y LOOM FILLING STOP MOTION Filed April 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 wammmmm INVENTOR. E DWARD C. Nici-1 CLS A TTORNE Y NOV 2, 1965 E. c. NICHOLS 3,215,167

LOOM FILLING STOP MOTION Filed April s, 196s 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. EDWAQD C. NICHOLS ha QM A TTORNE Y United States Patent O "ice 3,215,167 LOOM FILLING STOP MOTION Edward C. Nichols, Upton, Mass., assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Fiied Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,235 14 Claims. (Cl. 139-376) This invention relates to the filling motion stopping mechanism for so-cal-led shuttleless looms and, more particularly, to improvements in the actuating means for stop motions of the type which sense the presence or absence of the filling within the warp shed.

It is the general object of the invention to make the filling feeler portion of the type of s-top motion described more sensitive to filling defects at ever increasing loom speeds.

It is a further object of the invention to speed the sensing reaction to filling defects by continuous rotary motion of actuating cams.

It is a further object to devise a feeling mechanism which will react to a broken pick of filling that may extend beyond the feeling device.

It is another object to present a means to elevate a portion of the filling yarn above the lower warp shed and support that yarn while the feeler inspects its condition.

It is another object of the invention to con-trol the pressure which is applied to the feeling device in order not to form kinks in the filling yarn.

It is a particular object of this invention to devise a filling feeler to effect loom stoppage in the event of exceptionally tight picks of filling such as might be caused when the loose end becomes tied up during the passage through the warp shed.

With shuttleless looms of the type where reciprocating carriers are used, a length of filling in the form of a loop is inserted to a point near the center of the shed and transferred to be drawn through the extending member as it recedes from the shed. At the moment of transfer, both ends of the loop of filling extend toward the insertion side of the loom and, until the loose filling end is drawn beyond the center of the shed, it is not desirable for the feeler to act. The time in which the feeler may sense the condition of the pick is only a small portion of the pick cycle so that as loom speeds are increased, very accurate timing for the feeling mechanism is required.

It has been the usual practice in looms of this nature to raise the sensing mechanism and to signal for a loom stop by means of intermittent recip-rocating motion imparted to a shaft secured to the lay. As the loom speeds have been increased, the time allotted during each pick for this mechanism to react has been reduced to such a degree that many filling defects have been allowed to pass without the loom being caused to stop. This has often resulted in inferior quality material being produced which would have been avoided if the loom had stopped when the defective filling was inserted.

With center fork stop motions of the prior art, certain filling defects have passed the feeler undetected because of its inability to anticipate a broken short pick. After the loop of filling has been transferred and as the extending carrier recedes from the shed, the unheld end of the loop will, because of the yarn twist, tend to thrash about and gyrate violently. This will, on occasion, wrap around or hitch onto some part of the carrier or warp end and instead of being drawn to its full length, the filling end will break and result in a shortened pick which does not extend completely to the selvage. Also the small piece of cut off yard may be dropped by the carrier in a subsequent shed and would cause an additional defect. Before the filling end is broken in a case such as this, it becomes exceptionally tight and is referred to hereinbelow as a tight 3,215,167 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 pick. The filling feeler would normally be held suspended by such a pick and would not signal a defect. With the instant invention the feeler is capable of stopping the loom on a tight pick to avoid a cloth defect.

By utilizing continuously rotating cams to actuate the filling feeler and the filling supporting member, very accurate timing is possible and close relationship to the picking cycle can be maintained without the usual time loss through intermittent reciprocating action or overthrow of moving parts.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation from slightly above the horizontal of the invention applied to a loom;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side View of the filling feeler with the associated parts in -the normal running position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a portion of the view of FIG. 1 with the parts as positioned after detecting a tight pick;

FIG. 4 is -a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a tight pick;

FIG. 5 is a portion of the View in FIG. 1 with the parts as pos-itioned after detecting a broken pick or the absence of a pick;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a broken or loose pick;

FIG. 7 is a plan View of the filling feeler portion of the invention as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the cam and follower for the filling supporting fork shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken lon line 9 9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective side view of the filling feeler tension control device;

FIG. 1l is a plan view of the left-hand end of the loom and the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. l2 is a left-hand side elevation of the knock-off bunter driving and releasing mechanism;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal cross section on the center line of the knock-off bunter driving and releasing mechanism seen in FIG. l1;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view as seen from the right of FIG. 1l of the knock-off bunter showing the reversing motion imparted by the primary reset cam; and

FIG. 15 is `a similar view showing the further reversing motion and the holding position imparted by the secondary reset cam.

The frame 20 may be of usual construction for a shuttleless type loom, and as the instant invention is a center filling motion which derives its power from the left-hand side, only that part of the machine is outlined. The frame supports a tape guide 21 and a left-hand carrier 22 with a top mo-tion 23 extended upward to control the usual harness frames 24 by harness wires and straps 25.

The looms cam shaft 26 has a sprocket 27 firmly attached near the left-hand end for continuous rotation in the direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, which is over the top and toward the front of the loom. A link chain 28 extends between the sprocket 27 and a further simil-ar sprocket 29 of exactly the same size which is fastened to a stud 30 supported by frame 20. Keyed to stud 30 is a spur gear 31 which is in mesh with a similar gear 32 of the same size which is keyed on a second stud 33, also supported by the frame member 20. Fastened to the stud 33 and adapted to rotate therewith is a sprocket 34 which turns another link chain 3S which extends upward to the level of the loom lay 36 and a further sprocket 37 of the same size as the sprocket 34.

The purpose of the above sprocket and chain linkage is to transmit the same rotating speed from the loom cam shaft to the filling stop motion, to be further explained herebelow. It will be seen that the rotation of the cam shaft 26 (FIG. 1), through similar sized sprockets, will turn the gear 31 at an equal speed. The rotating direction is reversed by the rotation of the gear 32 but the ratio remains one to one as the gears are of equal size. The sprockets 34 and 37 are also of equal size, so for each revolution of the cam shaft which inserts a single pick by the loom, the sprocket 37 will rotate one turn and the filling feeler and stop motion may be timed accurately to coincide with each pick.

An L-shaped bracket 38 is securely fastened to, and extends outwardly and downwardly from, the lay 36. A second bracket 39 is fastened to the face of the lay 36 (FIG. l) as with a bolt 40 positioned inwardly from the left-hand end and at a point somewhat beyond the center of said lay. A continuously rotating shaft 41 extends between and is supported by the two brackets 38 and 39 with anti-friction bearings and is caused to rotate by the sprocket 37 in the direction shown by the arrow (FIG. 1).

The shaft 41 is inserted through a sleeve 42 which extends along the central portion of the shaft for a large portion of its length. The sleeve is free to rotate with the shaft 41 or may be caused to stop or to rotate in the opposite direction as will be later described. The sleeve 42 is supported for free rotation by two downwardly extending

bearing members

43 and 44 which are secured to the face of the lay 36 by bolts 45 and 46 (FIG. 1).

Secured at the left-hand end of the sleeve 42 is a bell-shaped casing 47 with a hub 43 fastened by set screws 49 (FIGS. l, 1l, l2, and 13). Attached to the hub 48, as by a welding, is a pointed bunter 50 which is adapted, when in the forward position (FIG. 1l), to strike a knock-off lever 51 and thereby stop the loom in a known manner by actuating a switch (not shown). The casing 47 is fastened to the left-hand end of the outer periphery of the sleeve 42 and the bell portion extends beyond the end of the sleeve 42 as shown in FIG. 13. A key member 52 is firmly attached to the shaft 41 by a screw 53 and is adapted to rotate on the shaft 41 within the bell casing 47 (FIGS. 12 and 13). The key 52 is fastened to the shaft in a somewhat eccentric manner with the longer arm being hollow to enclose a compression spring 54 to urge a ball bearing 55 into constant contact with the inner rim of the bell casing 47.

An indentation 56 is positioned in the path of the bearing 55 on the inner rim of the casing 47 and is made in the form of a spherical segment to fit the surface of the bearing 55 (FIGS. 12 and 13). The spring compressed key member which comprises the key 52, spring 54, and ball bearing 55 acts with the indentation to form a type of clutch to rotate the sleeve 42 in unison with the shaft 41 during normal loom operation. The depth of the indentation 56 together with the pressure from the spring 54 when in alignment will cause the sleeve 42 and the shaft 41 to rotate together. However, if the sleeve 42 is restrained in a manner to be further explained, the ball will become disengaged and rotate about the inner rim of the bell casing 47.

On the right-hand end of the sleeve 42 which extends to a point near the center of the lay is a sleeve stopping device comprising a hub 57, a tightening screw 58, an L-shaped upper hook 59 and a tooth-shaped lower hook 60. The two hook members are spaced apart on a radial line and are adapted to rotate with the Sleeve 42 (FIGS. 3, 4, and and become means mentioned above by which the sleeve may be restrained from rotating in unison with shaft 41. The mechanism for triggering either of the hook members will be fully explained below, but for the moment it will be observed that by setting the hook members relative to the bunter 50 at the other end of the sleeve, the rotating bunter 50 may be stopped in a position to pivot the knock-off lever 51 when brought forward by the lay and thus stop the loom (FIG. 1).

A continually rotating cam 61 for oscillating the filling detecting means in a manner to be later described, is firmly attached to the shaft 41 adjacent the right-hand end of the sleeve 42.

A generally U-shaped bracket 62 is bolted at 63 near the center of the lay with the arms extending in a forward direction and positioned slightly above the shaft 41 (FIG. 7). A shaft 64 is supported by the outer arms of the bracket 62 by anti-friction bearings which extend upon the shaft inwardly between the arms. Fixed rmly to the shaft 64 centrally of the arms of bracket 62 by an adjusting collar 65 and a screw 66 is a pivoting feeler time 67 of thin metal stock (FIGS. 6 and 7).

A cam follower 68 is welded to the end of shaft 64 where it extends through the left-hand arm of the bracket 62 and by oscillating with the rise and fall of the cam 61 it will pivot the feeler tine 67. The follower 68 is generally oblong in shape with the two long sides forming an upward curve to generally conform with the cam 61 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 7). The short upper side (FIGS. l and 3) serves two purposes by having a cam follower surface 69 (FIG. 6) at the right-hand end, and the center and left end adapted to trigger the hook members 59 and 61). The follower 68 is positioned between the

hooks

59 and 60 as they are rotated on .sleeve 52 during normal weaving (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, if the feeler tine 67 is fully raised or lowered at the moment when the cam 61 surface has fallen away, one -or the other of the

hooks

59 and 60 will be interlocked with the upper side of the follower 68 to stop the rotating hooks (FIGS. 4 and 6). The sleeve 42 with its associated parts, the bell casi'ng 47 and the bunter 50, will all be stopped and in the position to knock off the loom. The operation of the feeler tine 67 relative to the pick of filling will be further explained below.

A filling supporting means which comprises a two-tined fork 70, firmly secured with screws 71 into a threearmed bracket 72 (FIG. 7) is pivotally mounted on the extended anti-fraction bearings on the short shaft 64. An angle bracket 73 (FIG. 3) is fastened to the front of the bracket '72 by screws 74 to support a cam follower 75 which is attached to the bracket 73 by a screw 76 (FIGS. 7 and 8). The follower 75 tracks a face cam 77 which is fastened for continuous rotation to the shaft 41 by a screw 78. The fork 70 and the feeler tine 67 descend into a slot 79 in the lay 36 during the beat-up action (FIGS. 3 and 5).

As the lay moves back from the fell, the feeler tine 67 is raised to a sufficient height by the cam 61 to allow the left-hand carrier 22 to pass underneath. Transfer of the loop of yarn is made a little to the right of the feeling device so that as the left-hand carrier returns under the feeler tines, two ends of filling extend toward the right side. The supporting fork 7() is then raised upward through the lower shed to a predetermined height to support the filling yarn. As soon as the left-hand carrier has drawn the loose end of filling beyond the feeler, the tine is lowered to rest upon the held end of filling St) and will sense its presence and condition (FIG. l). Because each pick of yarn is held by the supporting fork at a constant height and as the feeler tine descends between the supporting arms, the tension and timing of the feeler tine can be much more accurately controlled than has been previously possible.

If the pick of filling is the full length and is being drawn through the left-hand carrier with the proper tension, the parts of the instant invention will be in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The tine 67 is held by the yarn 80 at an intermediate height, and the cam follower or stop indicating member 68 is held between the hook members or interlocking

members

59 and 60 so that the sleeve 42 and the bunter 50 continue to rotate in time with the shaft 41. As the lay comes forward to beat up, the feeler tine and the supporting fork are drawn away from the filling yarn and they drop below the shed into the lay slot 79.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the positions taken when a broken or very loose pick is sensed by the feeler. The tine drops to its lower position which will pull the stop indicating member 68 down to catch the lower hook 60 and thus stop the rotating sleeve 42 with the bunter 50 (FIG. 1l) held to knock off the loom.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 the effect of an excessively tight pick is shown. On occasion the loose filling end, as it is drawn through the left-hand carrier, in gyrating about will hitch onto the carrier or even a warp end. The carrier will oon- `tinue to pull outward and the yarn Will break which leaves a pick that is shorter than the cloth width and therefore a defect. The feeler being set to sense the yarn during the time it is becoming tight and before it breaks would not previously detect this condition and would not stop the loom. With the present invention a tight pick holds the tine 67 at its maximum height and holds the stop indicating member 68 in the path of the upper hook 59 which will also stop the loom.

To reduce the tension applied to the feeler tine, and to control that tension during the short time in which the feeler is permitted to function7 it has been necessary to supplement the usual compression spring. The reaction of a spring when the pressure of a cam is released is too slow and overthrow occurs making it unreliable. In FIG. 10 a means is illustrated which aids the spring by raising and lowering it in time with the feeler cam 61. The feeler tine need rely only in part on the compressive action of the spring. A cam 81 is fastened to rotate with the sleeve 42 and is contacted by a cam follower 82 held by one arm of a bell crank lever 83. A shaft 84 is inserted through the lower end of the bearing 44 as a pivot for the bell crank 83 which is urged upward against the cam 81 by a spring 85. Fastened to the lower end of the bearing 44 a bracket 86 extends toward the rear of the loom to support pivotally one end of a lever 87. A pin 88 fastened to the lower end of the bell crank 83 extends through a slot 89 intermediate the ends of the lever 87. At the forward end of the lever 87, a horizontal lever 90 is firmly attached to be raised and lowered by the motion of the lever 87. Loosely held by a screw 91 at the other end of the lever 90 a vertical rod 92 extends upward through a slot 93 in the forward end of the cam follower 68 (FIG. l0).

A compression spring 94 is adjustably held surrounding the central portion of the rod 92 by a nut 95, a check nut 96, and a spacer 97. Soldered to the under side of the cam follower slot 93 a hollow sleeve 98 encloses a roller bearing 99 in a horizontal position (FIG. 2). The

' rod 92 is extended through vertical holes in both the sleeve 98 and the bearing 99. The upper end of the spring 94 passes through the lower hole in the sleeve 98 to be in constant contact with the bearing 99. As the rod 92 is raised or lowered, the cam follower 68 will pivot on the shaft 64 and would normally cause wear on the rod by the edges of the slot 93. With the sleeve 98 oscillating on the bearing 99, the rod 92 is held centrally in the slot and the friction is eliminated.

Referring to FIG. l0, the cam 81 will make a complete revolution with each pick of the loom so that the timing may be accurately controlled to coincide with filling feeling and supporting function. As the cam follower 82 is pressed down, the pin 88 will raise the

levers

87 and 90 and the rod 92 will rise to aid the spring 94 in applying tension to the cam follower 68 and the feeler tine 67.

Now to return to the left side of the loom (FIG. l) for explanation of the mechanism to reset the clutch type means which rotates or releases the sleeve 42 upon signal from the filling feeler. A continually rotating shaft 100 .is positioned beneaththe shaft 41 and is supported with bearings in the downward extending portions of the bracket 38 and the bearing member 43. A sprocket 101, similar in size to the sprocket 37, is secured to the left end of the shaft 100 and is in contact with the link chain 35. Beneath and forward of the shaft 100 and supported by the bracket 38 is a stud 102 which rotates an idler sprocket 103 positioned to press the chain 35 into close contact with the sprocket 101.

A double cam is fastened to the right end of the shaft 100 and comprises a primary reset cam 104 and a secondary reset cam 105 which rotate in timed relationship with the bell casing 47 positioned above. Welded to the rim of casing 47 in an axial direction a first pin 106 is spaced apart from a second shorter pin 107 fixed in the same direction also on the rim of the casing 47. Pin 106 is adapted to be contacted by cam 104 and pin 107 by cam 105 when the casing 47 is held stationary in the knockoff position. The purpose of these two cams and pins is to reverse the normal rotation direction of the bell casing 47 and to then hold it stationary until the key member 52 completes its rotation and seats the ball bearing 55 into the indentation 56.

FIG. 14 shows in solid lines the position of these parts after the loom has stopped. The bunter 50 is in a horizontal forward pointing position after having struck the knock-off lever, and the large pin 106 is at the low point of its travel. As the loom is jogged forward, as a weaver would do in removing a defecting pick, shaft 100 is rotated clockwise and the cam 104 contacts pin 106 and rotates the casing 47 to the dotted line positions as shown in FIG. 14 marked by prime numbers.

FIG. 15 shows a continuation from FIG. 14 with the solid line drawing and the prime numbers being rotated to the dotted line positions and the secondary numbers. The small pin is held at the position 1072 by the high side of the cam 1052 as it rotates and the key member 52 has then rotated to reset the ball bearing 55 (FIGS. 12 and 13). Both

shafts

41 and 100 will then rotate together in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 14 and 15, with the cams not contacting the pins until the loom is again stopped by a filling defect.

The operation of the mechanism will be briefly reviewed. For the reasons previously mentioned, it was a prime purpose of this invention to actuate the feeling and stopping devices by continuous rotating motion. The loom cam shaft in one revolution will complete a cycle whereby a pick of filling is inserted and beat up into the woven material. Through chain linkage, shaft 41 is rotated by the cam shaft in a one-to-one ratio and in the reverse direction. Fxed to the shaft 41 for continuous rotation therewith, the feeler cam 61 and the filling support cam 77 will accurately control the timing of the feeler 67 and the support fork 70.

As the lay 36 moves rearwardly from the fell, the feeler tine 67 will rise through the warp ends to allow the left-hand carrier to pass beneath and rneet the inserting carrier. The left-hand carrier receives the loop of filling and as it is drawn under the feeler, the filling support fork rises through the warp yarn to raise the lling above the lower shed to a plane which is constant at each pick. The left-hand carrier continues its travel toward the selvage while drawing in the loose end of filling and paying out the held end. As the loose end passes the filling feeler, the cam follower 68 loses contact with the cam 61 andthe tine 67 is lowered to rest upon the filling end with tension controlled by the spring 94. The tension can be readily adjusted to meet varying conditions in weaving to avoid introducing filling kinks which may -becaused `by excess feeler weight.

The sleeve 42 is so adapted as to rotate with the shaft 41 while normal filling is being inserted into the cloth. While such a condition prevails, the

hook members

59 and 60 will rotate with the sleeve and the locking portion of the cam follower 68 will pass between them. The relative position of the cam follower 68 at that moment '7 is determined by the condition of the filling end as it affects the height of the feeler tine 67. If, for example, the pick is unusually tight by reason of hitching onto the carrier, the feeler will be raised to its maximum height position and the upper hook 59 will be caught on the cam follower 68 thus stopping the rotation of the sleeve 42. A slack pick or a missing pick would cause the same reaction by the feeler 67 dropping to the lower position which would place the cam follower 53 in the path of the lower hook 60. When the sleeve is stopped in this manner, the bunter ft at the left of the loom, and also fixed to the sleeve, is in the position to strike the knockoff lever 51 to stop the loom.

When the sleeve 42 is stopped abruptly, the loom continues for `a partial pick until stopped by the loom brake. This forces the spring compressed key member 52 (FIG. l2) out of contact with the indentation 56 and, in effect, throws the sleeve 42 out of gear with the shaft 41. To release the hook members and to speed the re-engagement of the key member, it is desirable to reverse the rotation of the bell casing 47 and the sleeve 42 for a fraction of a revolution. When the loom is started or jogged forward, the shaft 100 will turn the cams N4 and 105 successively against the pins 166 and 107 and thereby rotate the sleeve approximately a quarter of a turn. The bell casing will be then reset with the key member and rotation will be resumed in the usual direction as the loom continues to weave.

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, the combination of a lay, a filling detecting means mounted on said lay, said means being adapted to signal for loom stoppage upon sensing the absence of a filling pick, said means being further adapted to signal for loom stoppage upon sensing a loose broken pick, said means being still further adapted to signal for loom stoppage upon sensing an unusually tight pick, a filling supporting means to oscillate on said lay in timed relationship to the insertion of the filling yarn, and rotating camming means to oscillate said detecting means and said supporting means.

2. In a loom, the combination of a lay, a filling detecting means mounted intermediate the ends of said lay comprising a pivotally disposed feeler tine being movable upwardly between warp threads to an intermediate height 4above the filling as it is inserted and movable downwardly to rest upon the normally tensioned filling yarn, said tine being movable downwardly to a lower position upon encountering no filling yarn, said tine assuming said lower position upon encountering a loose broken filling yarn, said tine being movable upwardly to a maximum height position upon encountering an unusually tight filling yarn, said tine being adapted to signal for loom stoppage when in the said maximum height position and when in said lower position, a filling supporting means for raising the filling yarn above the lower shed in cooperation with said detecting means, a continuously rotating shaft mounted longitudinally on said lay, and camming means affixed to rotate with said shaft for controlling the pivotal movement of said feeler tine and said supporting means.

3. In a loom, the combination of a lay, a filling de-I tecting means mounted intermediate the ends of said lay comprising a pivotally disposed feeler tine being movable upwardly between warp threads to an intermediate height above the filling as it is inserted and movable downwardly to rest upon the normally tensioned filling yarn, said tine being movable downwardly to a lower position upon encountering no filling yarn, said tine assuming said lower position upon encountering aloose broken filling yarn, said tine being movable upwardly to a maximum height position upon encountering an unusually tight filling yarn, said tine being adapted to signal for loom stoppage when in said maximum height position and when in said lower position, a pivoting fork member positioned lbelow and movable upwardly between warp threads for cooperating with said feeler tine by raising and supporting a portion of each inserted filling yarn during the feeling action by said tine, a continuously rotating shaft mounted longitudinally on said lay, and camming means affixed to rotate with said shaft for controlling the pivotal movement of said feeler tine and said fork member.

4. In a loom, the combination of a lay, a filling detecting means mounted on said lay to detect the presence and the condition of filling in the warp shed, a filling supporting means to raise the filling yarn above the lower shed in cooperation with said detecting means, a continuously rotating shaft mounted on said lay, camming means affixed to rotate with said shaft for controlling the raising and lowering of said detecting means and said supporting means, a loom stopping mechanism, a knockoff lever pivotally disposed to Contact the said stopping mechanism, a knock-off bunter being releasably rotated by said shaft, and interlocking means for arresting rotation of said `bunter in a position to contact knock-off lever upon signal from said detecting means.

5. In a loom, the combination of a lay, a filling detecting means Imounted on said lay comprising a pivotally disposed feeler tine adapted to detect a defective pick of filling prior to the beat-up action of the loom, a filling supporting means for raising the filling yarn above the lower shed in cooperation with said detecting means, a continuously rotating shaft mounted on said lay, camming means afiixed to rotate with said shaft for controlling the raising and lowering of said detecting means and said supporting means, a loom stopping mechanism, a knock-off lever pivotally disposed to contact the said stopping mechanism, a knock-off bunter releasably rotated by said shaft, and interlocking means for arresting rotation of said bunter in a position to contact said knockoff lever upon signal from said detecting means.

6. ln a loo-m, the combination of a lay, a filling detecting means mounted intermediate the ends of said lay comprising a pivotally disposed feeler tine being movable upwardly between warp threads to an intermediate height above the filling as it is inserted and movable downwardly to rest upon the normally tensioned filling yarn, said tine being movable downwardly to a lower position upon encountering no filling yarn, said tine assuming said lower position upon encountering a loose broken filling yarn, said tine being movable upwardly to a maximum height position upon encountering `an unusually tight filling yarn, said tine being adapted to signal for loom stoppage when in said maximum height position and when in said lower position, a pivoting fork member positioned below and movable upwardly between warp threads for cooperating with said feeler tine by raising and supporting a portion of each inserted filling yarn during the feeling action by said tine, a continuously rotating shaft mounted longitudinally on said lay being adapted to rotate in timed relationship to the oscillating cycle of said lay, camming means affixed to rotate with said shaft for controlling the pivotal movement of said feeler tine and said fork member, a loom stopping mechanism, a knock-off lever pivotally disposed to contact said stopping mechanism, a means to actuate said knock-off lever upon the receipt of a signal from the said feeler tine comprising a knock-off bunter releasably rotated by said shaft, a spring compressed key member fastened to said shaft being adapted to rotate said bunter during normal lling insertion and when a defective pick is inserted to release said bunter in a position to contact said knock-off lever, interlocking means for arresting the rotation of said bunter operable by said feeler tine assuming said lower position, said interlocking means being operable for arresting the rotation of said bunter by said tine assuming said maximum height position, and rotating cam members for resetting said knock-off bunter and said key member in a mutual rotating position upon restarting the loom.

7. A filling detecting means for a loom which comprises a feeler member oscillatable between maximum and minimum height positions to detect the presence, absence, and tension of filling yarn being inserted in a warp shed, said feeler member being operable to effect loom stoppage When encountering no filling yarn in said shed, said feeler member Ibeing further operable to effect loom stoppage when encountering abnormal tension upon said filling yarn in said shed.

8. A filling detecting means for a loom which comprises a feeler member oscillatable between maximum and minimum height positions to detect the presence, absence, and tension of filling yarn being inserted in a warp shed, said -feeler member being operable to effect loom stoppage when encountering no filling yarn in said shed, said feeler member being further operable to effect loom stoppage when encountering abnormal tension upon said filling yarn in said shed, and a filling supporting means effective to position said filling yarn at a predetermined level for sensing thereof by said feeler member.

9. A filling detecting means for a loom which comprises a feeler member oscillatable between maximum and minimum height positions to detect the presence, absence, and tension of filling yarn being inserted in a warp shed, said feeler member being operable to effect loom stoppage when encountering no filling yarn in said shed, said feeler member being further operable to effect loom stoppage when encountering abnormal tension upon said filling yarn in said shed, and a filling supporting means effective to position said filling yarn at a predetermined level for sensing thereof by said fceler member, said supporting means being oscillatable in timed relationship to insertion of filling yarn.

10. A filling detecting means for a loom which comprises a feeler member oscillatable between maximum and minimum height positions to detect the presence, absence, and tension of lling yarn being inserted in a Warp shed, an interlocking member having upper and lower portions cooperable with said feeler member to effect loom stoppage.

11. A filling detecting means for a loom which comprises a feeler member oscillatable between maximum `and minimum height positions to detect the presence, absence, and tension of filling yarn being inserted in a warp shed, a loom stop indicating member fixed to said feeler member .and oscillatable therewith, and an interlocking member having upper and lower portions adapted to be engaged by said stop indicating member.

12. A filling detecting means for a loom which comprises a feeler member oscillatable between maximum and minimum height positions to detect the presence, absence,

and tension of filling yarn being inserted in a warp shed, said feeler member being operable to effect loom stoppage when encountering no filling yarn in said shed, said feeler member being further operable to effect loom stoppage when encountering abnormal tension upon said filling yarn in said shed, a loom stop indicating member fixed to said feeler member and oscillatable therewith, a spring tensioning means operable upon said indicating member for actuating said feeler member, and spring positioning means for anticipating the tension requirements upon said spring tensioning means and for speeding the reaction of said feeler member.

13. In a loom, the combination of a lay, a filling detecting means mounted on said lay comprising a pivotally disposed feeler member adapted to detect a defective pick of filling prior to the beat-up action of said lay, a loom stop indicating member fixed to said feeler member and -oscillatable therewith, Ia spring member operable upon said indicating member being adapted to transmit tension intermittently to said feeler member, spring positioning means `for anti-cipating the tension requirements upon said spring means and for speeding the reaction of said feeler member, a continuously rotating cam means for controlling the movement of said positioning means, a filling supporting means for raising the filling yarn above the lower shed in cooperation with said detecting means, a continuously rotating shaft mounted on said lay, camming means affixed to rotate with said shaft for controlling the raising and lowering of said detecting means and said supporting means, a loom stopping mechanism, a knockoff lever pivotally disposed to contact the said stopping mechanism, a knock-off bunter being releasably rotated by said shaft, and interlocking means for arresting rotation of said bunter in a position to contact said knock-off lever upon signal from said detecting means.

14. In a loom, the combination of a lay, a filling detecting means mounted on said lay, said means being adapted to signal for loom stoppage upon sensing an unusually tight pick of filling, a filling supporting means to oscillate on said lay in timed relationship to the insertion of the filling pick, and rotating camming means to oscillate said detecting means and said supporting means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,123,472 7/38 Lohsse 139-376 2,647,545 8/53 Budzyna et al. 139-376 X 3,012,589 12/61 Sakamoto 139-376 3,129,902 4/64 Juillard 139-370 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,009,546 3/52 France.

675,283 5/ 39 Germany.

400,891 11/ 33 Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A LOOM, THE COMBINATION OF A LAY, A FILING DETECTING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID LAY, SAID MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO SIGNAL FOR LOOM STOPPAGE UPON SENSING THE ABSENCE OF A FILLING PICK, SAID MEANS BEING FURTHER ADAPTED TO SIGNAL FOR LOOM STOPPAGE UPON SENSING A LOOSE BROKEN PICK, SAID MEANS BEING STILL FURTHER ADAPTED TO SIGNAL FOR LOOM STOPPAGE UPON SENSING AN UNUSUALLY TIGHT PICK, A FILLING SUPPORTING MEANS TO OSCILLATE ON SAID LAY IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP TO THE INSERTION OF THE FILLING YARN, AND ROTATING CAMMING MEANS TO OSCALLITATE SAID DETECTING MEANS AND SAID SUPPORTING MEANS.