US3329175A

US3329175A - Checking device

Info

Publication number: US3329175A
Application number: US489177A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles C Ayers; Joe R Garrett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-09-22
Filing date: 1965-09-22
Publication date: 1967-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-04

Description

July 4, 1967 c. c. AYERS ETAL CHECKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22. 1965 RT M m A Y mmm M med W mm T LE A

V. I B .9 ll B 8 W /fi/wH M K W m i 1 w; a I C mvfl .w m M M a m a M United States Patent *ce 3,329,175 CHECKING DEVICE Charles C. Ayers, 12 Sequoia Drive, and Joe R. Garrett, Rte. 4, both of Greenville, S.C. 29605 Filed Sept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,177 3 Claims. (Cl. 139-164) This invention relates to looms, and more particularly to means for checking the movement of the picker stick.

Many problems have been associated with the check strap by those skilled in the art relating to looms. Some of these problems are occasioned by the check strap assembly being crudely constructed from a multiplicity of parts and others are occasioned by lack of control of the assembly parts over the check strap itself. During the weaving operation, as the shuttle is urged back and forth across the lay by the action of the picker stick, it is well known that proper checking of the picker stick on its forward and rearward stroke is essential to permit theproper boxing of the shuttle and operation of the parts of the loom associated therewith. Since this checking action is repeated and violent in nature, the flexing of the check strap causes rapid wearing of the check strap. This problem is increased due to the fact that when the loom is stopped, such as over the weekend, the check strap firms up due to the cooling of the strap and due to loss of humidity.

Check straps of leather or other materials, as is well known, do not have a long life and are a source of considerable expense in the production of woven fabric since they are relatively costly and must be replaced at frequent intervals. These straps fail for a number of reasons, but is well known that they frequently start to tear at the edges and, of course, when an edge becomes torn or frayed, it is only a relatively short time before the entire strap becomes unfit for further use.

In attempts to eliminate the problems encountered in leather check straps, checking apparatus have been constructed utilizing frictional devices. The frictional devices include a checking member for engaging the picker stick and another member for frictionally engaging the checking member. Means are usually provided for adjusting the amount of friction between the two members. However, there is a problem in such devices in maintaining the friction contact in adjustment due to the violent blows that the checking device receives.

Another problem associated with loom checking is wearing of the picker due to the numerous number of times that the shuttle comes in contact therewith during the weaving operation. The picker has to be replaced when a larger hole is worn therein or the midget feeler will knock out the bobbin before the maximum amount of filling is used therefrom. On the other end of the lay it is important that the shuttle be stopped in the same spot each time in order to insure proper transfer of the shuttle. Still another problem encountered in checking devices is replacing the lay end leather. The lay end leather is worn by the continuous banging of the picker stick thereagainst during the checking operation.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide an improved checking device for a loom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a checking device that has a long life and does not require frequent replacement of parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple, efficient and economical picker check which may be applied to the usual type loom and which is particularly adapted for automatic filling replenishing looms in which it is necessary to arrest the shuttle precisely at a predetermined point.

3,329,175 Patented July 4, 1967 Still another object of the present invention is to provide a checking device for a loom which compensates for the wear of the picker by the shuttle to arrest the shuttle at the same predetermined point as the shuttle wears a larger hole in the picker.

A further object of the invention is to provide a picker check with an adjustable frictional device which engages a slidable checking member to check the motion of the picker stick.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a picker stick having a shock absorbing device between an adjustable frictional device and a slidable checking member to aid in maintaining the frictional contact between such members in adjusment.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a checking device which arrest the shuttle abruptly at a predetermined point at the end of the checking operation.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of one end of a lay of a loom with a checking device constructed in accordance with the invention mounted thereon,

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a partial transverse sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1.

The drawing illustrates a checkingdevice for use on a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a shuttle, a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay. The checking device includes a rigid guide member A which is attached to the lay of the loom. An elongated slidable checking member B is carried within the rigid guide memher A for reciprocal movement therein. The elongated checking member B has inwardly extending portions about each end for receiving the picker stick and outwardly extending stop members carried adjacent each end. An elongated friction bearing member C is carried adjacent the slidable checking member B in frictional contact therewith for checking the movement of the checking member when the picker stick comes in contact with the checking member. The slidable checking member B and the friction bearing member C include frictionally engaging surfaces wherein one-of the surfaces is plastic and the other is metal. The elongated friction bearing member C has ends for contacting the stop members to stopthe movement of the slidable checking member B abruptly after the frictional checking of the picker stick. An adjusting means is provided for regulating the frictional con tact between the friction bearing member and the checking member. A shock absorbing element is disposed between the friction bearing member and the means for adjusting the frictional contact for absorbing the shock of the friction bearing member C striking the stop members. Means D is provided for adjusting the position of the friction bearing member C relative to the guide members to regulate the distance for checking the picker stick and the slidable checking member.

In operation, the frictional contact between said friction bearing member and the checking member checks the movement of the picker stick and the stop members restrict the movement of the checking member to a preselected distance.

The drawing illustrates one end of the usual lay 10 of a loom and a portion of a picker stick 11 with the checking device mounted on the lay. Another checking device is mounted on the other end of the lay. The frame of the loom is broadly designated at 12 and has associated therewith the usual shuttle box assembly 13 with a binder 14 and a binder spring 15. A lay end leather 16 is shown on the lay end 17 since the loom is a conventional loom, but the lay end leather is not necessary when utilizing the checking device constructed in accordance with the subject invention.

The picker stick 11 is activated in the usual manner, by means (not shown), causing a picker 18 mounted on its top to propel a shuttle 19 across the 100m, The movement of the shuttle and the picker stick is checked by a checking assembly that this invention is particularly concerned.

The rigid guide member A in the preferred embodiment is cast of iron and is mounted on the bottom of the lay by a pair of bolts 20. The guide member A includes a horizontal portion 21 through which the bolts 20 extend for attaching the checking device to the lay. A pair of vertically extending standards 22 are integral with the horizontal portion and have a channel shaped member 23 attached to their free-ends. The rear portion 24 of the channel has apertures 25 therein for dissipating heat generated during the checking operation. An upwardly extending vertical flange 26 is integral with one side of the horizontal portion 21 and fits flush against the side of the lay. The vertical flange 26 has a pair of threaded holes therein for receiving bolts 26a for attaching the binder spring. A pair of vertical arms 27 extends downward from the vertical flange 26, and each has a threaded hole 27a adjacent its free-end. It is noted that the vertical arms 27 extend Outwardly as well as downwardly so that they are in spaced relation with the channel shaped member 23. The entire guide member A, which consists of the horizontal portion 21, the standards 22, the channel 23, the vertical flange 26, and the vertical arms 27 may be cast as a unit.

An elongated slidable checking member B is carried within the rigid guide member A for reciprocal movement therein. The elongated checking member B has an elongated slot 28 therein with rounded ends for receiving the picker stick. A longitudinal portion 29a on one side of the slot 28 is carried within the channel 23 in frictional contact with the rear portion 24 of the channel. The frictional contact between one side of the longitudinal portion 29a and the channel aids in restraining or checking of the picker stick. The other side of the longitudinal portion is in frictional contact with the elongated friction bearing member C. The checking member B is constructed of a hard plastic material so as to minimize wear due to frictional contact with the surrounding metal. The plastic checking member B has a much longer life than leather straps and is not adversely affected by humidity and temperature changes. Outwardly-extending stop members 29 are carried adjacent each end of the elongated checking member B for arresting the slid-able checking member at the same preselected point each time during the checking operation, The manner for adjusting the point where the slidable member may be arrested is discussed below.

The elongated friction bearing member C is positioned in the channel 23 and has a flat rectangular surface 30 in frictional contact with the checking member B. The frictional contact between the checking member B and the rear of channel 23, and the friction bearing member C causes the movement of checking member B to be restrained or checked. The checking of the movement of checking member B causes the movement of the picker stick 11 to be checked when it comes in contact with one end of the slot 28.

The elongated friction bearing member C has planar end-s 31 for contacting the stop members 29 to stop the movement of the slidable checking member and the picker stick at the same predetermined point after the checking operation. This point may be changed by adjusting the position of the friction bearing member C relative to the bracket or guide member A. Normally, when the shuttle wears a larger hole in the picker such has to be replaced because the shuttle is no longer being arrested in the desired preselected point. In the subject invention rather than replacing the picker, the position of the friction hearing member C may be adjusted to compensate for the hole worn in the picker. Moreover, since the picker stick is stopped by the stop members 29, the picker stick does not hang into the lay end and lay end leather. Thus, the lay end leather does not have to be replaced.

An adjusting means generally designated at 32 is provided for regulating the frictional contact between the friction bearing member C and the checking member B. The adjusting means includes a metal plate 33 carried between the pair of vertical arms 27. Bolts 34 extend through holes 35 adjacent the ends of the plate 33 and threadably engage the threads in holes 28 in the vertical arms 27. The plate 33 has an elongated horizontal slot 36 which freely receives a tension adjusting screw 37. One end of the tension adjusting screw 37 has a reduced portion 38 which fits into a shock absorbing member 39 carried by the friction bearing member B. The shock absorbing member 39 fits into a cylindrical hole 40 in the friction bearing member B. The shock absorbing member 39 in the preferred embodiment is constructed of hard rubber and has a small cylindrical opening 41 for receiving the reduced end 38 of the tension adjusting screw 37. The shock absorbing member may be attached to the tension adjusting screw in any suitable manner, such as by fusing or vulcanizing. A washer 42 is carried on the reduced end 38 and fits flush against the outer surface of the shock absorbing member. A threaded metal plate 43 is threadably carried on the tension adjusting screw 37 adjacent the rear of vertical arms 27. When the adjusting screw 37 is rotated in one direction, the plate 43 is drawn tightly against the rear of arms 27 thus increasing the frictional contact between the channel, the slidable checking member B, and the friction bearing member C. If the screw 37 is rotated in the opposite direction, the frictional contact between the members is reduced. It is noted that the pressure created by the adjusting screw 37 is transferred to the friction bearing member C through the washer 42 and the shock absorbing member 39. The shock absorbing member aids in maintaining the tension adjusting means in adjustment, as Well as absorbs the shock generated when the stop member 29 contacts the friction bearing member C. A nut 44 and a washer 45 are carried on the tension adjusting screw 37 to lock the screw in position relative to the plate 33.

The means D for adjusting the position of the friction bearing member C relative to the guide member A includes the plate 33 with the elongated slot 36. When the tension adjusting screw is not under pressure, it can be moved laterally in the slot 35. This lateral movement permits the position of the elongated friction bearing member C to be shifted. Thus, the point where the planar ends of the friction bearing member C contacts the stop members 29 can be changed.

FIGURE 2 of the drawing illustrates in broken lines the movement of the checking member during the checking operation of the picker stick. The shuttle strikes the picker 18 when the picker stick 11 is in the position shown in broken lines on the left. The picker stick is moved to the right and comes in contact with the slidable checking member B. The slidable checking member B moves to the right to the position shown in broken lines, checking the motion of the picker stick. When the stop 29 strikes the planar end 31 of the friction bearing member C the picker stick is stopped abruptly. It is noted that frictional contact between the slidable member and the channel 23 and friction bearing member C may be adjusted by tensioning screw 37. On the power stroke of the picker stick, the slidable checking member is moved back to the left.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A checking device for use on a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a shuttle, a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay, the improvement comprises: a rigid guide member; an elongated slidable checking member carried within said rigid guide member for reciprocal movement therein; said elongated checking member having inwardly extending portions about each end for receiving the picker stick and outwardly extending stop members carried adjacent each end; an elongated friction bearing member carried adjacent said slidable checking member in frictional contact therewith for checking the movement of said checking member when said picker stick comes in contact with said checking member, said elongated friction bearing member having ends for contacting said outwardly extending stop members to stop the movement of said slidable checking member abruptly after the frictional checking of said picker stick; said slidable checking member and said friction bearing member comprising frictionally engaging surfaces wherein one of said surfaces is plastic and the other is metal; means for adjusting the position of said friction bearing member relative to said guide member to regulate the distance for checking said picker stick and said slidable checking member; and means for adjusting the frictional contact between said friction bearing member and said checking member whereby the frictional contact between said friction bearing member and said checking member checks the movement of the picker stick and the stop members restrict the movement of the checking member to a preselected distance.

2. A checking device for use on a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a shuttle, a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay, the improvement comprises: a rigid guide member; an elongated slidable checking member carried within said rigid guide member for reciprocal movement therein; said elongated checking member having inwardly extending portions about each end for receiving the picker stick and outwardly extending stop members carried about each end; an elongated friction bearing member carried adjacent said slidable checking member in frictional contact therewith for checking the movement of said checking member when said picker stick comes in contact with said checking member; said elongated friction bearing member having ends for contacting said stop members to stop the movement of said slidable checking member abruptly after the frictional checking of said picker stick; means for adjusting the frictional contact between said friction bearing member and said checking member; a shock absorbing element disposed between said friction bearing member and said means for adjusting the frictional contact; said slidable checking member and said friction bearing member comprising frictionally engaging surfaces wherein one of said surfaces is plastic and the other is metal; and means for adjusting the position of said friction bearing member relative to said guide member to regulate the distance for checking said picker stick and said slidable checking member whereby the frictional contact between said friction bearing member and said checking member checks the movement of the picker stick and the stop members restrict the movement of the checking member to a preselected distance.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for adjusting the frictional contact is a threaded bolt threadably engaging said guide member, one end of said bolt engaging said shock absorbing element, and wherein said shock absorbing element is a resilient member carried by said elongated friction bearing member for absorbing the shock between said bolt and said friction bearing member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1918 Prosser 139165 6/1965 Zobrist 139-164